Northwest #2: Shannon's Bright and Blue

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Name: Shannon
Location: San Francisco
Type of Home: Rented Apartment

What inspired you to use color? I lived here for two years abiding by the 'no painting' rule, and it was killing me. I broke down when I had a few days off when I changed jobs and just went for it (though I wish I'd had the patience to paint the living room too). I needed it. The blue makes me happy when I wake up. It's really that simple. I just pick colors in paint or accessories for my home that make me happy...

Color Tip: Never fear a bold color! I actually ended up with the peacock in the bedroom because my colorblind boyfriend identified it as blue when I tested it on the wall, and he called the other tester (that I was leaning toward) gray. The hallway was already getting painted gray, so I just couldn't make him live in a totally gray home and risk depressing him. But I'm so glad we went bright--we've been living with it for almost a year and I'm still not sick of it.

Colors Used: Benjamin Moore Eco-Spec; Timber Wolf in the hall and Blue Spa in the bedroom.

Comments (19)

I love the bedroom colors in the second picture!

posted by racheloncegentry on October 2nd 2008 at 10:21am
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I've always been a huge blue fan and I love ALL the colors here. So bright.

posted by michpc on October 2nd 2008 at 10:25am
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I love the tree triptych about the TV. Who is the artist?

posted by ashbadger on October 2nd 2008 at 10:53am
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love the hallway - the colors are very soothing.

Tabitha from http://www.fromsingletomarried.com

posted by Tabitha (From Single to Married) on October 2nd 2008 at 11:12am
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this is the kind of entry i like. it's creative, not insanely expensive, & possible for people w/ hardcore rental leases. READ: inspiring, not depressing

btw, i love the combo of the blue wall w/ the yellow sheets. charming.

posted by mariegael on October 2nd 2008 at 11:16am
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You have a beautiful home, but this is why I'm not entering this year...it's about colors, not just design. Love your peacock blue. Go a little crazy in the rest of your home. You won't regret it!

posted by Eebee on October 2nd 2008 at 12:05pm
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I love this color! It's so fresh and unassuming. I love that you decorate for happiness â that makes my day.

posted by ohgoblogaboutit on October 2nd 2008 at 12:57pm
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I love the blue wall with yellow sheets. That blue paint is delicious!

posted by amazonikon on October 2nd 2008 at 1:25pm
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love it! It looks awesome, you did a wonderful job

posted by mikelaan on October 2nd 2008 at 2:27pm
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I love that blue/grey in the hallway

posted by hanako66 on October 2nd 2008 at 2:39pm
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love the blue. I want to see more of this place!

posted by carlac on October 2nd 2008 at 2:43pm
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That blue is fantastic and the pops of color throughout your whole apartment are so bright and cheery. Nice work, I love it!

posted by tibby on October 2nd 2008 at 2:54pm
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I love the playful touches of color throughout your apartment! The colors all work really well together and I applaud your non matchy-matchy approach. So refreshing.

posted by BreakingUpWithBread on October 3rd 2008 at 1:56pm
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what a cute place! I would ignore the no paint rule too! It cries out for that definition and personality that paint gives! Great color choices!

posted by amiencc on October 3rd 2008 at 4:44pm
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darling! love the color-ADORABLE!! Come paint my apt-it needs your fabulous taste!

posted by micrenlev on October 3rd 2008 at 10:12pm
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Shannon is my hero.

First of all, I love cool paint colors, but have always worried that there were not enough of them to paint an entire home in them. Now I can happily stop making such an assumption.

Second, she painted her apartment despite the no paint rule! I love it. Maybe I will break down and paint mine too.

Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us, Shannon!

posted by SIUCarbondale10 on October 4th 2008 at 6:57pm
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Great entry!

posted by f.in.eur on October 5th 2008 at 1:55am
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I feel your pain. I live in a cottage with the no paint rule. But instead of all the walls being white, they are horrible combinations of pale yellow and a strange bluish-green that I can't quite define. Your choice of blue is very snappy. It goes very well with your bed and lights.

posted by decrappy on October 6th 2008 at 7:45pm
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Really nice color choices. Very well laid out. Suits apartment (and mood of SF too). Good job.

DECRAPPY: Make executive decision and override the no paint rule. Life is too short to hate your walls, which sound dreadful. Worse case scenario? You'll have to repaint when you leave.

posted by EAM on October 13th 2008 at 6:07am
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