Contemporary Condo Living Room in ChicagoContemporary Living Room, Chicago

“Yikes, tough crowd?! Seems cozy and vibrant, chic but on a budget, and by all accounts to the client’s taste. Job well done! :)” — Houzz user kloptyThank you, klopty. Sometimes I think people forget that the rooms on Houzz were worked hard on by designers, and that the homeowners are proud of them — and that both read the Comments section, excited to see people’s reactions. Constructive criticism is OK, but please consider the golden rule ("Do unto others …") before hitting Send. Anyway, this was one divisive room, and from what I can tell, it’s mostly because people either love or hate orange — there is no in between — and that’s OK! Personally, I think this room is hot — I love bold, I love orange, and I especially love orange with blue and orange with gray. Thus, it’s a smash hit for me. A man in his mid-20s getting his style on like this — color me impressed. Full story: Room of the Day: A Chicago Living Room Puts Boyishness Behind

Henton was charged with making the room work with the orange wall color the client had chosen, and with working on a relatively tight budget. Her first purchase: a gray sectional that seats several guests without cutting off the flow to the balcony. “Gray goes well with almost anything, and it’s a timeless color,” she says. Orange and gray patterned custom pillows bring the color palette together.A glass-topped coffee table doesn’t take up much visual space, and the rounded edges allow visitors to comfortably circulate around it. “I thought this piece looked masculine and stylish,” says Henton. The abstract artworks above the sofa are affordable finds from HomeGoods. “The pattern reminded me of a map of subway lines but in black and white,” says Henton.The room doesn’t have a lot of overhead lighting, so the designer selected two floor lamps from West Elm to make the sofa a good reading place.

Like the orange and blue together

Like the furniture style, pillows, patterns and colors (but the orange wall is too much)

Orange, grey, teal, yes. Apricot no.