apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

sorry. it may just be the picture but the colors look like they kinda clash. & the space doesn't seem to be living up to it's potential. i LOVE the bathroom though. i wish i was able to paint my place. that looks fun.

This is soooooooo Portland it hurts. And, it makes the typical mistakes that you see in Portland houses. I don't know how many houses I looked at when I was in the process of buying that had the same over-saturated and disjointed color schemes. Bright color is good in small doses, like the insides of closets and built-ins, but in entire rooms it can be just as oppressive as the gray Portland sky.

And here we're reminded why white or beige homes are popular -- they represent pretty accurately on everyone's computer monitor. I strongly suspect that what I'm seeing, while bright and lively, isn't exactly what's there, and that I'd appreciate the real thing more.

My favorite photo is the kitchen -- interesting tomato-and-beige scheme, almost like a Campbell's soup label.

I praise you for not being afraid of color but sometimes a little restraint is better. It's just kind of random and not cohesive. If it works for you then that's all that matters - as for the contest, not my thang.

Wende, the kitchen is cute, yes. Of all the colors, I like the ivory-yellow kitchen walls and the pink in the living room (I'd like it better about 2 shades lighter and with the hue a little more toward a brown, but I digress). And, those two colors can be pulled together with red and olive accents pretty easily.

But, if it were my house and that small (I'm only one room better at 903 sq ft), I'd would try to get a sense of continuity using color.

I know the colors don't represent accurately on the monitor, but I have been in quite a few houses here in Portland that really are day-glo bright with a different wall and trim color in every single room.

Maybe it's the many really bright colors? It seems awfully busy to me from an outside perspective, but as a color-lover, I can see that this might be just perfect for you!

I like the tribal rug in your living room.

Not my favorite, but I do love the bathroom!

Psymonetta -- Now that I've heard "so Portland it hurts" (your response wasn't posted when I was writing mine), I'm really curious about the Portland housing market and how people decorate up there.

I tend to think of your apartment as Total Portland -- the muted blue-green shades you showed in either a contest or a tour a year or so back -- and I gather it's just what I want Portland to be.

Wende,

People in Portland tend to fight the gloom with saturate colors in multiples. I think it's partially a throw-back to the more (shall we say) theatrical liberal (hippies) vibe the city had in the 80's and 90's, and partially a function of having a large population of young professionals in their first homes, which happen to be older homes.

Then, there's the "Oregon Home" decor, which tends to showcase Arts and Crafts homes (usually locals that have gotten over their theatrical liberalism) that use historic colors, or small bungalows that are tempered with an East Coast or European sensibility (ie the transplants/aliens/californians that have decided to move out of their 1760 historic farmsteads and downsize/simplify).

Me, I love Oregon. Period. That includes the gray. I also love the much neglected post-war housing stock here in Portland. So, overall, I tend to buck the trends a little.

I have a rich inner life, so a lot of bright colors in the exterior world tends to hurt my eyes and jar my aura. Messes with my vibrations. I need less jangly.

I am impressed by your embrace of color, though. I'm sure I could stand a stroke or two in my own place.

I have a rich inner life, so a lot of bright colors in the exterior world tends to hurt my eyes and jar my aura.

Ethernaut, I think you've just coined the ultimate answer to accusations that a person who likes neutrals is "afraid of color."

Every color-lover with a rich inner life will be up in arms, but it's still a good conversation-stopper.

Portland sucks. What someone said about liberalism is why. Liberalism is out of control in Portland, and we all pay the price in terms of roads that are deliberately congested with no new roads scheduled for the next 25 years. They blow billions on money-losing sky-rides (i.e. the Tram that should be spelled Scam), and on silly light rail that doesn't go anywhere and doesn't relieve congestion. They want to spend 6 billion on a new bridge, but not let cars drive on it, instead reserving at least 3 lanes for busses and light-rail.

That said, the housing market is out of control. Don't come here.

Saturate colors tend to cause me stress, and it's a physiological phenomena related to a condition I have that effects my optic nerve head(s).

I also just like colors that are a little more complex. If something just reads as "orange" I find that boring no matter how bright. I'd rather have a color that reads as tangerine with a hint of coral and lime etc.

The pink color in this entry is the color of dogwood. It would play off better against an oyster gray trim. The brown just removes the complexity and makes the obvious statement. Okay...no more free color consultation.

In these photos I think the kitchen is the best representation of why the color isn't working and why sometimes a light neutral (or even white!) is best. Against the (peach?) walls and (tomato?) trim, the bright white appliances and black storage unit really stand out. The walls actually recede.

I love the color-coded floor plan, though!

I covet your bathtub!

The color appears disjointed, but I'm also going to blame the monitor. I wish there was some continuity between rooms -- I'm getting 'pink room!' and 'yellow room!' etc. It's difficult to focus on what else is going on in the rooms besides the wall color.

another note; flash will increase contrast (and not complimentary so).

it takes guts to paint your place so brightly! while not my thing, i think its brave :)

i think we're also missing continuity that the bedroom would introduce with the yellow walls -> yellow trim in bathroom -> pale yellow kitchen -> mute red border in kitchen -> pink/reddish in living room.

I remember painting a similar bathroom in very much the same neon yellow and blazing orange combination in Philadelphia about 35 years ago because the owner did not wake up easily for his early trek to work.

A more coordinated color scheme throughout the house or a theme that the furnishings compliment would help provide some relative sense of cohesion. The azalea pink living room I see on my screen is screaming for something to ground it or team up with it - other than a book on the coffee table. Are the lipstick red tulips that seem to clash with the azalea walls actually picking up on the ?art? over the blue chair? Perhaps cushions in a print with at least 2 of the colors in the room now or pieces of artwork featuring several of the colors there would help pull the space together. Or take what looks like a great area rug and repeat feature colors in it to help hold the room together.

LOVE IT!! I love the colors-- I'm so glad someone is not afraid to use color and be themselves, rather than the boring ol beige! You are so creative!!

As for Portland, I have heard from several people who live there that is is beautiful during the spring and summer, but very very depressing the rest of the year. So your colors probally add some sunshine that is missing those six months.

Can't really get a good feel for the layout from the photos and blueprint. The colors, while not my thing, are a cool, bold choice.

VERY BOLD, but theres still somethings that need to be done to make this place perfect.

Also, pictures sans-flash improve the look of a room. I wish there were some without. D:

the wall colors themselves are pretty nice (the bathroom in particular is awesome), but some of the furniture/accessories hurt the eyes. while i like the purple pillows and the coffee table in the living room (they seem to tie in nicely with the trim), that blue chair is not doing it for me! the kitchen could also use some decluttering to be contest ready.

I *think* it's not my thang, but I bet it's better in person than in pictures . . .

Ethernaut said: I have a rich inner life, so a lot of bright colors in the exterior world tends to hurt my eyes and jar my aura. Messes with my vibrations. I need less jangly.

Ha. This is true for me as well, somewhat. I like bright colours, but only in small doses, and not in saturated tones. Also, I could never have so much colour because I change my mind so often I'd have a revolving door of decorative accessories.

All said, I think this space doesn't work for me because it has too much colour, and is too random in its application. It does seem a little jarring. I couldn't imagine performing my evening toilette in that bathroom.

That color in the living room is divine. I love the layout of your home, I would love to have a little home like this. I am not attracted to large homes, prefer 50s style ranches. I love your home because of its coziness. However, I would like to see your tired furniture updated. It looks comfortable, but not pretty enough for this sweet home. I like your lack of clutter, but would love to see more modern or classic pieces. Those pieces don't seem to go with your bold color. Maybe you'll win something from DWR! I'd love to see the prizes go to someone who needs something. Most of the entries I've seen don't need anything.

Portland sucks?

I happen to think Portland is one of the greatest cities in the entire country. This is a place that, as this entry clearly shows, thrives on creativity. It does get gray here during the winter, and one has to be able to accept that in order to live here. It looks to me like Rebecca's found a way to do that.

Cheers!

Rob - Sorry, yeah there's a lot of good stuff here. I like the Sellwood neighborhood, especially the antique shops and the dog friendly bakery. And I'm happy that there's going to be a new Ikea 10 minutes from me. And I like getting lost in Powells Books.

But you have to admit driving anywhere in Portland does suck - by design, and the recent influx of out-of-staters has made it almost impossible for most people to buy a house now.

But "greatest cities"? Depends on criteria. Weather? Sure. We don't have winter per se, except for maybe one or two days a year, just 9-10 months of rain. I like the cool temperatures. I like some of the architecture of the old buildings like the Schitzer. But the culture? Forget it. Portland is way too uber liberal for their own good. They need a healthy injection of conservatives, someone to put morons like Sam Adams in their place. Oh and let's not forget the brilliant "strategy" of dumping tons of gravel all over the freeways every "winter" and leaving it there, causing millions of dollars in damage to windshields...oh yeah, Portland is really "The City That Works". Not.

Boomer,

More roads in Portland is just not feasible and very short sighted. And your windshield example is ludicrous. How does a few instances of minor property damage end up costing millions? Salt will rust out your chassis and do a hell of a lot more damage than the off chance of a rock hitting your windshield. And, how many millions of dollars would be spent on caring for the victims of the freeway accidents caused by not adding traction sand/gravel to the roads? If you don't like driving, use the much more than adequate and only getting better public transportation system.

The housing costs here aren't the problem, the problem is the low prevailing wages caused by business interests that refuse to support a living wage. Overall, Portland is still affordable if you're willing to live small and invest in housing rather than expect a McMansion on a McDonalds wage.

It's a process, but eventually this will be a highly transit oriented city with well defined regional and town centers and employment centers. It's already a great city because it exists in a historically "favored place", and it will continue to be a great city because the planners here are brave enough to deal with the whiners and do what's right.

And seriously, quit blaming a political ideology for not jiving with your lifestyle choices. Sam Adams is a city council person which by definition is a non-partisan office. I won't get into the details of the lame blanket assumptions that are made about Sam's work in the city, but I will say they are lame and extremely unconsidered. There's a small enclave of pro-oil, pro-car pundits that like to target Portland (and Sam Adams) because it's an exemplary city. But, they're generally way off target, misrepresent the issues and have dubious agendas. My recommendations is that you stop listening to KXL and KGW et al and start making lifestyle changes that will make your stay in Portland a pleasant one.

I should also add that I notice you live in Vancouver. I am getting really tired of people that live in Vancouver, Washington County and Clackamas County criticizing Portland's elected city officials. Guess what, Portlanders get to decide what happens in Portland, not the suburbanites that don't live here or contribute to the tax base.

Getting back to design...

Good for you, Rebecca, for your courage with color. But you have way too many incoherent color themes going on.

The coral trim in the kitchen is great but that fleshy beige sucks all the life out of it.

I'd say the picture of the living looks the most successful.

Wow, I have to say you all are a very depressing bunch. I love my house, color and Portland. Enjoy your earth tones and Ikea while I enjoy my individuality!

Overall, this is not my thing - I love how brave the choices are, but they don't go together very well. That said, I love the bathroom: if I lived here, I would buy lots of citrus-scented bath products to make a cheery wake-up every day.

Mlle Kate--

We don't want to imagine you performing your evening toilette in ANY bathroom. ;)

Psymo-whatever--
"I have a rich inner life, so a lot of bright colors in the exterior world tends to hurt my eyes and jar my aura."

Pretentions like that is why people hate designers. While it may be true (hooray, your rich inner life!) the statement implies anyone who embraces color is somehow unstable or unfulfilled, and THAT'S painting with a broad brush...

Rebecca--
Keep up the color braverism, just enter again in the I've Got Color Contest. And in your defense, that first picture against the AT SF banner is NOT doing you any visual favors!!

WHOOPS--
Attributed that quote incorrectly.

It was ethernaut who first dropped that bomb.

Sorry, Psymo.

Rebecca,

I think that it is entirely possible to be "bold", creative and individual using brown or gray. Heck, my tiny hall is nearly black. I don't think that's a wishy-washy choice. And, using brown, gray, blue and green hues has allowed me to make my home feel more spacious, expansive and connected to the world outside, which really augments my creative process.

Patrick,

Thanks for clearing that up. I was hoping that you weren't thinking my ocular condition was a pretense. But, I have to say that while I wouldn't have worded it quite the way ethernaut did, there is something to be said about busy colors having a negative effect on the psyche of people who are inclined toward over-thinking in the first place.

I think that Rebecca actually is equally pretentious (of course none of use are really all that pretentious anyway) in her implication that saturate and unmitigated color use has a monopoly on creativity and individuality and that those of us that prefer more complex, harmonious and subtle color choices are depressing and lack individuality.

I honestly made no assumptions about Rebecca as a person, just suggested that the colors were over-saturated and lacked continuity. Heck, I'll even volunteer to come up with an equally colorful palette for her home that could actually be applied with continuity from room to room and would work better with the angled, polarized, northern light that makes Portland glow like Amsterdam or Oslo despite the gray skies.

Okay, i may be (read am) a bit biased because Rebecca is a dear friend of mine, but i love the colors. Her house has a 50's hawian feeling to me...reminiscent of Lovely Hula Hands when it was in the old location (i haven't been to the new one) which is a great restaurant here in Portland. The furnature doesn't necessarily say the same things as the colors she chose, but the eclectic scheme conveys much about her personality.

With regard to the comments on Portland color schemes, i agree we use bright color to fight the grey, but i like that. Rebecca is one of the few born and raised Portlanders and i think her house embodies that Portland aesthetic. I also like that people value fresh air and are not slaves to cars and highways. go Portland.

Few born and raised Portlanders? They aren't as rare as you think, especially if you remember that there are a lot of well ignored communities second generation immigrants and other cultures in this city that contain primarily born and raised Portlanders.

I consider myself a pan-northwesterner. Native Oregonian, raised in Coquille and Coos Bay, lived in Spokane and Seattle and settled in Portland. Of course, there's the Paris, Nice and Bucharest periods too.

But yes, go Portland. We Rock.

Um Psmo--
Were in Rebecca's pitch did you read *that*?

There was absolutely nothing pretentious about *her* wording, whatsoever.

Sorry, "Where" not "Were".

Patrick,

I was referring to this comment, which I'm assuming is Rebecca, since it says "my house".

"Wow, I have to say you all are a very depressing bunch. I love my house, color and Portland. Enjoy your earth tones and Ikea while I enjoy my individuality!"

In addition to preferring less color (or fewer colors) in my home, I don't particularly care for Hawaii or the Hawaiian motif. I'm not impugning Hawaii, the Hawaiian motif, or anyone who loves it or likes it just a little. I just don't care for it.

I'm not denigrating anyone who loves color and has a rich inner life or an impoverished inner life or whatever. I'm saying that the way my internal mechanism works, I prefer fewer high frequency colors amassed all in one place. I thought saying "I have a rich inner life" was funny. I still think it's funny, and I am laughing.

I like light. I like to travel light, and I like to live light. Airy, spacious, light. (I'm not saying that I've achieved this.)

Some might call my preference "depressing" and lacking in individuality (heh - see, and I find that funny as well), while I consider it tranquil, a necessary respite. Some might consider a color explosion cheerful and full of personality, and while I might agree with that assessment sometimes, I might also consider it manic, chaotic. Perhaps my comment would have passed unnoticed if I had said, "I have a chaotic inner life." There, happy now?

I absolutely love the bathroom, and the wall color in the living room is giving me ideas for my own Portland apartment. Your living rooms seems like it could use a bit more to jazz it up. I think you need some larger-sized art on your walls--or more small pieces that are grouped. You also need a little more pattern. It's all so solid on solid. Perhaps some interesting fabrics on throw pillows. Disappointed we didn't get to see the bedroom.

The ONLY things I would change about this house:

1- The kitchen needs a different color on the walls. Something bold to go with the rest. Turquoise maybe?

2 - I'm not the one living in it. The colors are FABULOUS. I am -so- sick of white walls in my rented house. I think your house rocks.

I like the colors but not the painted door knob. I'd look a lot less "college student going wild with paint!" if you removed the paint from the door knob.