See How This California Cottage Squeezes Color Into Every Room
Plants in Colorful Living Room Add Natural Beauty
This sitting area uses natural beauty to enhance the colors in this space. The tree by the French doors brings a vibrant green into the space, while the yellow flowers add a pop of color to the middle of the room. The natural green and yellow of the plants blend well with the pink sofa and the yellow couch cushions. To tie the space together, a multicolor rug rests under the coffee table.
Photo by: Alison Kandler
Alison Kandler
California-based interior designer Alison Kandler is no stranger to styling stunning, color-infused spaces for her clients, but what happens when the client to please turns out to be the designer's own family? Well, the possibilities are endless.
Alison's 1927 Santa Monica home underwent a complete down-to-the-studs remodel, doubling the square footage with an added family room, master suite and large kitchen. The once Spanish-style home was transformed into a cozy English beach cottage filled with tons of natural light.
The result? A blank canvas for Alison's creativity to take flight. And it soared. This color-enriched country cottage packs a punch of personality and lends a palpable sense of energy that inspires all who enter. It's no wonder this colorful country charmer won the hearts of HGTV fans, who selected Alison the winner of the HGTV Fresh Faces of Design Crazy for Color category.
Blue and Green Argyle Floor in Colorful Kitchen
This homeowner's love for color does not stop in the living room; this kitchen is chock full of color. The wood floor has been painted blue and green with an argyle pattern. A red kitchen island and blue double ovens accent the space. In the back of the bookcases, wallpaper has been applied to add more color to the space. The shelves are dotted with colorful pots, pans and dishes for easy access as well as decoration.
Photo by: Alison Kandler
Alison Kandler
For a designer whose work is heavily inspired by traditional architecture and interior design from the 1920s and '30s, Alison is well versed in incorporating old elements in a manner that reads new and fresh. Take this charming kitchen with its French blue, retro-style Lacanche range, scalloped hood and curvy corbels, for example. Although walls and cabinetry remain white, a multitude of colors such as corals, blues, greens and yellows take center stage and range from argyle-patterned floors all the way up to the wallpaper-backed shelving.
Pink Bedspread with Blue Accents in Colorful Bedroom
This elegant, feminine bedroom uses pinks and blues to make the space feel warm and inviting. The pink bedspread, accented by the blue throw and floral dust ruffle, makes the space feel warm and inviting. Color is added throughout the space with the exposed beams in the ceiling and the woven burlap rug at the foot of the bed.
Photo by: Alison Kandler
Alison Kandler
While effectively combining a variety of colors may seem like a daunting expedition, Alison views it quite simply. "Always start with colors that make you happy, and don't limit your palette," she advises. "Use as many colors as you like as long as you use them repetitively." The results of Alison's cheerful color repitition along with older, reclaimed elements are beautiful yet inviting spaces that beckon us to kick back and relax.
Shades of Pink in this Bathroom Make the Space Pop
In this bathroom, the different hues of pink make the space pop. The chandelier is made from pale pink milk glass, while bolder colors of pink make up the rug. The salmon colored bathtub, which is the statement piece of this space, is accented by pink floral wall curtains that tie all of these shades of pink together.
Photo by: Alison Kandler
Alison Kandler
Along with Alison's brilliant use of colors, the key to each space's success lies in the intended focal point. "I think every room deserves a focal point," says Alison. "In the master bath it is the coral claw foot tub, in the kitchen it is the French blue Lacanche range." Colorful features and focal points are further highlighted by large windows and skylights that flood every room with copious amounts of natural light. It's this natural light that allows Alison's chosen colors to be showcased in their truest form.
