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It's about the color combining more than whether they are bright and bold or subtle and calm. While I strongly dislike pastels, if they are put together complementarily, then the end result can still work and look beautiful. My biggest objection to many of the submissions has been the over use of many colors so that the end result is a mishmash (sp?) of color rather than artful, successful combining.

I want to be wowed and I want to see something different, fresh and/or exciting! Some of the controversy comes about when you see an entry, that is lacking and disjointed, get rave reviews.

I vote 'Other' because I think the key is how the colors, whether bold or subtle, are integrated to create a whole. I don't like screaming colors that seem to be going for shock value, and I don't like wishy-washy neutrals. I love deep rich colors, even though I want major light in my space.

I think a common problem with many of the entries which you are describing as bright and bold is that they have a 'coloring book' feel, which most people just don't like.

When I first found AT about a year ago, the community was smaller with a generally shared preference for modern, clean, and bold. Since AT has gotten more press, I've definitely seen a shift towards more people who prefer something more middle-of-the-road. I've been particularly surprised by the results in the voting. Does anyone else think this is true?

I definitely think the bolder more daring colors featured lead to a more heated discussion, but I think that's true with everything, even people!

I hope this comes out right (!)...

I've observed that often people without design training believe that using bold colours indicates a mastery of colours, which is very far from the truth. I have seen a LOT of very bad very bold colour combinations.

I favour neither bold nor calm colour submissions, but ones that are subtle, clever, witty, gutsy and/or complex. Generally, I think that the more successful use of colour starts with the use of more complex colours and more subtle, less obvious, ways of introducing complementary and contrasting notes.

As an example, 2 recent entrants used very similar -- almost identical -- colour palettes. Both are very well done, but in my book, one ranks higher than the other. Alicia of Portland is more subtle and clever in her use of colour accents in her sewing room, and the effect is more natural and less contrived than that of Maiysha's living room, in which the colour accents are achieved largely through the use of a very limited range of identicial coloured throw pillows (plus, it seemed to me that Alicia's paint is composed of a greater variety of pigments than that used by Maiysha, which seemed flatter in comparison).

I agree with all of the above folks, and especially the idea that everything really works with each other, and has a little bit of subtlety and nuance in it, it can be wonderful either way.

It's interesting to me to see how some people manage to establish a pulled-together color scheme that hangs together as whole even with white walls, and how some people manage to create warm, calm, wonderful spaces even though they have color everywhere.

But the contest, overall, is a WONDERFUL way for us all to get an idea of how many different ways that color can used to get a huge variety of feelings. For instance, orange seems to be VERY popular, and yet it's being used pretty differently from entry to entry. I'm really enjoying this contest in a COMPLETELY different way this year, since I'm not a contestant!

GM, I agree with your observation.

In *this* contest I'm personally looking for excellent use of strong color, as opposed to grey and beige loveliness.

If you go wrong with a subdued pallet, all you risk is boredom...and that doesn't give people much to fight about!
Except for whether beige is a color. That seems to make some people heat up occasionally...
: )

That red rubber ducky really f*&%^ing pisses me off.

I am liking that red rubber ducky and wish I had one for myself.

You guys are just trying to drum up controversy on a day without fans shouting at one another.

AT can be so transparent at times.

For the love of Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, can we just get on with the designs for the home rather than ruminate on who's snarky? aren't we due a blow-by-blow summary of the NY Home section today?

I like strong color and great combinations. I'm not a design junky of any sort. It's purely a gut reaction to the scene. Serenity is nice, but I can fall asleep under any circumstances. I prefer to be stimulated and put in a good mood by lively colors.

I believe that color, and the way one chooses to live with it, is highly subjective. And it's true that what one finds bold and exciting, another could find obnoxious. Conversely, soothing could be interpreted as boring.

Every person has his or her own tastes and preferences. What I've found somewhat disconcerting is the pithy, unhelpful responses in some the comments. We all read AT because we enjoy good design or are looking for constructive advice and ideas.

Let's try to be more considerate of the innocent person on the receiving end of these comments.

Strong colors offer more to react to--I don't think it's a big surprise that those conversations get as bold as some of the color combos. Taupe just doesn't inspire fiery chatter.

What's interested me most in this whole thing (and has made me question if the chance at a gift certificate is worth inviting some of these people into my home) is trying to understand why some people feel the need to comment in the cranky/bitchy/whatever manner they choose. I didn't even get bashed that much on my color choices--and I actually welcome useful criticism. I would just encourage people who post to think about whether or not their comment really adds anything to the dialogue. Posting for the sake of making yourself feel smart or witty or just to blow off some steam from a bad day is a sorry use of typing skills. And remember, the contest entrants are inviting you into their home--there's no use to spew venom once you're in the door.

I think that everyone should be a little more thick skinned and not expect everyone to like everything. There's this dichotomy between "Hey, I like this" with the response of "Oh thanks for liking my stuff" and "I think this is crap" or "This doesn't work from a design point of view" with the response of "What's wrong with you, you're not playing fair, you're a hateful person."

Getting back to the original question, I think this just shows how much color ties into emotions. I hope I voted according to what I thought was good color design whether bright or subtle. There definitely is more to chew on when the colors are bright. Actually come to think about it, at work today we were dealing with a very limited bright color palette and it totally distracted me away from what I should have been focussing on which had little to do with the colors whatsoever!

"I think that everyone should be a little more thick skinned and not expect everyone to like everything."

Nobody is expecting everybody to like their style. If they are, they need a great deal more than apartment therapy. But I don't think it's unreasonable to expect people to lace their comments with respect instead of acid.