Houzz Tours
25 Most Bookmarked Colorful Homes of 2012
Ready to be dazzled? These homes had Houzzers clicking all year to compliment their radiant interior and exterior hues
This was the year of color on Houzz. While we all still love our grays and browns, Houzz saw an explosion of homes with brilliant colors on the site in 2012, and readers embraced the welcome departure from all neutrals. Here we present the most bookmarked colorful homes on Houzz from the past year. From a weekend home in São Paulo, Brazil, to a budget remodel in Ireland and an unfolding apartment in Manhattan, these homes have bold, beautiful color.
2. Lively Meets Thrifty in Southern California
The turquoise front door of this happy home opens into a collected but refined family space. Splashes of turquoise draw visitors thorough the entryway, pattern-filled living room and family-friendly kitchen and dining space.
The turquoise front door of this happy home opens into a collected but refined family space. Splashes of turquoise draw visitors thorough the entryway, pattern-filled living room and family-friendly kitchen and dining space.
3. Modern, Entertaining Home in Florida
This Florida home proves that modern and minimalist don't necessarily mean sparse. Color makes its presence known in each room. Yellow office shelving, blue and orange art, a chartreuse children's room and the fun teen room shown here all help bring the clean-lined home to life.
This Florida home proves that modern and minimalist don't necessarily mean sparse. Color makes its presence known in each room. Yellow office shelving, blue and orange art, a chartreuse children's room and the fun teen room shown here all help bring the clean-lined home to life.
4. Gloriously Untamed Color in a Manhattan Home
The neutral shell of this New York City home plays host to an incredible array of colorful accents. This office, covered in Orla Kiely wallpaper, is just the tip of the iceberg. Houzzers loved the homeowners' fearless style, beautiful blue lacquered piano and modern custom playroom.
The neutral shell of this New York City home plays host to an incredible array of colorful accents. This office, covered in Orla Kiely wallpaper, is just the tip of the iceberg. Houzzers loved the homeowners' fearless style, beautiful blue lacquered piano and modern custom playroom.
5. Energy and Color Aplenty in a Live-Work Rental
Just because you're a renter doesn't mean you can't have style, as this colorful Philadelphia home proves. This designer outfitted her family's apartment in feminine hues that still feel family friendly. Houzz readers loved her daring but girly style — seen in this peppy pink sofa.
Just because you're a renter doesn't mean you can't have style, as this colorful Philadelphia home proves. This designer outfitted her family's apartment in feminine hues that still feel family friendly. Houzz readers loved her daring but girly style — seen in this peppy pink sofa.
6. Small, Vivid Island Home in Washington
Affectionately called the Salsa House for the salsa made on the property, this bold-colored home lives up to its lively nickname. Salvaged materials from around the neighborhood give the interior character, while the vivid exterior speaks for itself.
Affectionately called the Salsa House for the salsa made on the property, this bold-colored home lives up to its lively nickname. Salvaged materials from around the neighborhood give the interior character, while the vivid exterior speaks for itself.
7. Colorful Hand Painting Bedecks a Creative Home
It's clear these homeowners like to take risks in design — the purple, ombré, Southwest-style walls in the dining room serve as evidence. Pattern, color and handmade details explode in every room — it's no wonder so many Houzzers bookmarked this one for inspiration!
It's clear these homeowners like to take risks in design — the purple, ombré, Southwest-style walls in the dining room serve as evidence. Pattern, color and handmade details explode in every room — it's no wonder so many Houzzers bookmarked this one for inspiration!
8. Color Brings a Family-Friendly Show House to Life
Instead of opting for the standard beige palette that often appears in show houses, this designer paid tribute to her love of Dorothy Draper and cheerful hues. Houzzers loved the mix of patterns in the living room and the surprising shots of apple green.
Instead of opting for the standard beige palette that often appears in show houses, this designer paid tribute to her love of Dorothy Draper and cheerful hues. Houzzers loved the mix of patterns in the living room and the surprising shots of apple green.
9. Colorful, Architectural Gem in Ojai
Japanese, Southwestern and California Mission styles all come to life in this charming California home. Citron and a rich red-orange adorn the entry and the kitchen's custom built-ins and cabinetry. From the warm kitchen to the more soothing bedrooms, this home has plenty of ideas that Houzzers wanted to remember.
Japanese, Southwestern and California Mission styles all come to life in this charming California home. Citron and a rich red-orange adorn the entry and the kitchen's custom built-ins and cabinetry. From the warm kitchen to the more soothing bedrooms, this home has plenty of ideas that Houzzers wanted to remember.
10. Flea Market Glamour in Texas
If you have plenty of patience and a good eye, hunting for furniture in flea markets can pay off. This Texas couple loves to bring old items back to life, reupholstering, painting and refinishing flea market finds to make them modern treasures.
If you have plenty of patience and a good eye, hunting for furniture in flea markets can pay off. This Texas couple loves to bring old items back to life, reupholstering, painting and refinishing flea market finds to make them modern treasures.
11. Budget-Friendly Bohemian Ranch in Dallas
This Dallas ranch house shows how a paintbrush and a few good colors can change everything. A mix of DIY details and funky furniture gives this home a unique, eclectic vibe. Color adds depth to every part of the house — from the black dining room to the bright yellow master bed to the turquoise front door.
This Dallas ranch house shows how a paintbrush and a few good colors can change everything. A mix of DIY details and funky furniture gives this home a unique, eclectic vibe. Color adds depth to every part of the house — from the black dining room to the bright yellow master bed to the turquoise front door.
12. Eclectic Jewel Box Loft in Philadelphia
This Philadelphia loft has a divided open space with colorful nooks on almost every wall. Wallpaper, royal blue paint and a bold black allow for designated living, working and bar spaces.
This Philadelphia loft has a divided open space with colorful nooks on almost every wall. Wallpaper, royal blue paint and a bold black allow for designated living, working and bar spaces.
13. 400-Square-Foot Unfolding Apartment
A size of 400 square feet doesn't exactly seem entertainment friendly, unless you're visiting this innovative New York apartment. Thanks to a custom unfolding unit against one wall, a bed, desk and storage space can all be confined to one spot, leaving plenty of room for hosting guests and cooking dinners.
A size of 400 square feet doesn't exactly seem entertainment friendly, unless you're visiting this innovative New York apartment. Thanks to a custom unfolding unit against one wall, a bed, desk and storage space can all be confined to one spot, leaving plenty of room for hosting guests and cooking dinners.
14. Colorful Quirkiness in an Irish Home
This Irish couple wanted a home that would always feel inspiring, but they didn't have the budget to do a massive remodel. Although the kitchen cabinetry, bathroom tiling and flooring remain the same, the creative use of color and pattern gave the home a brand-new look.
This Irish couple wanted a home that would always feel inspiring, but they didn't have the budget to do a massive remodel. Although the kitchen cabinetry, bathroom tiling and flooring remain the same, the creative use of color and pattern gave the home a brand-new look.
15. A Cabin of Curiosities in Los Angeles
This Hollywood costume designer lives in a home that feels almost like a movie set. Eclectic textiles, collected taxidermy and knickknacks fill just about every nook and cranny. Houzzers loved the homeowner's unabashed style and artistic influences.
This Hollywood costume designer lives in a home that feels almost like a movie set. Eclectic textiles, collected taxidermy and knickknacks fill just about every nook and cranny. Houzzers loved the homeowner's unabashed style and artistic influences.
16. Sunny Colors Lighten a Century-Old Home
Colorful textiles interject playfulness into this classic East Coast home. The eye-catching mix of colors feels natural too. Painted vaulted ceilings and warm wall colors contrast with bright upholstery and patterned drapes, giving this traditional home a decidedly modern undertone.
Colorful textiles interject playfulness into this classic East Coast home. The eye-catching mix of colors feels natural too. Painted vaulted ceilings and warm wall colors contrast with bright upholstery and patterned drapes, giving this traditional home a decidedly modern undertone.
17. An Oregon Cottage With 21 Flavors of Color
This Northwest cottage has color on its most appealing architectural details. Red trim and a soft blue door perfectly coordinate with the flowers on the front porch. A purple and green kitchen and a soft blue bedroom offer only a taste of the cheerful color palette inside.
This Northwest cottage has color on its most appealing architectural details. Red trim and a soft blue door perfectly coordinate with the flowers on the front porch. A purple and green kitchen and a soft blue bedroom offer only a taste of the cheerful color palette inside.
18. Colorful, Casual Hawaiian Vacation Home
To blend the outdoors and indoors seamlessly, this designer made use of Hawaii's most brilliant greens and blues. Natural textiles tie all of the spaces together, and Houzzers fell in love with this home's soothing, tropical and contemporary color palette.
To blend the outdoors and indoors seamlessly, this designer made use of Hawaii's most brilliant greens and blues. Natural textiles tie all of the spaces together, and Houzzers fell in love with this home's soothing, tropical and contemporary color palette.
19. Splashy Colors Spark a Contemporary Guesthouse
This Arizona family refused to let their guesthouse feel second rate compared to their beautiful home. While they used durable materials that can stand up to kids, bright contrasting colors and dashes of chartreuse liven up the cement floor and simple layout.
This Arizona family refused to let their guesthouse feel second rate compared to their beautiful home. While they used durable materials that can stand up to kids, bright contrasting colors and dashes of chartreuse liven up the cement floor and simple layout.
20. Eclectic Chilean Home Embraces Trees
While the interior courtyard (complete with four ficus trees) first drew Houzzers to this home, readers fell in love with the diverse color palette. The living and dining areas remain fairly neutral, but this Chilean house explodes with color in the office, bedrooms and kitchen.
While the interior courtyard (complete with four ficus trees) first drew Houzzers to this home, readers fell in love with the diverse color palette. The living and dining areas remain fairly neutral, but this Chilean house explodes with color in the office, bedrooms and kitchen.
21. Boston Home Goes Ironic Traditional
This home's early 20th-century architecture looks traditional but has been injected with a fresh take on preppy style. From the outside it's hard to believe that rooms full of oversize plaids, bold orange upholstery, zebra rugs and chevron armchairs live inside this shingle-style home.
This home's early 20th-century architecture looks traditional but has been injected with a fresh take on preppy style. From the outside it's hard to believe that rooms full of oversize plaids, bold orange upholstery, zebra rugs and chevron armchairs live inside this shingle-style home.
22. Plastic Is King in an Out-of-This-World Home
Straight out of the 1960s, this retro-inspired, plastic-furniture-filled home makes use of almost every bold color imaginable. Located in the Netherlands, it has been remodeled into a retro design lover's dream. Bright oranges, blues and yellows are offset by white and brown modular shelving. Even the homeowner's retro dish set is in bright shades of orange!
Straight out of the 1960s, this retro-inspired, plastic-furniture-filled home makes use of almost every bold color imaginable. Located in the Netherlands, it has been remodeled into a retro design lover's dream. Bright oranges, blues and yellows are offset by white and brown modular shelving. Even the homeowner's retro dish set is in bright shades of orange!
23. Sunny and Cheerful DIY Home in Minnesota
Sweet and simple, this Minnesota duplex was lauded for its livability and happy style. The young owners fixed up their new home on a budget, using paint and wall art to make affordable design statements.
Sweet and simple, this Minnesota duplex was lauded for its livability and happy style. The young owners fixed up their new home on a budget, using paint and wall art to make affordable design statements.
24. Splashy, Sustainable Shack in São Paulo
A patchwork-style interior and exterior set this small weekend home apart from its São Paulo surroundings. This Brazilian designer couple wanted a retreat that would incorporate their love of nature and color. The multicolor design, which blurs the lines between the indoors and outdoors, does just that.
A patchwork-style interior and exterior set this small weekend home apart from its São Paulo surroundings. This Brazilian designer couple wanted a retreat that would incorporate their love of nature and color. The multicolor design, which blurs the lines between the indoors and outdoors, does just that.
25. Distinctive Edwardian 'Design Lab'
For many designers, their home becomes a place to experiment — as evidenced by this beautiful San Francisco Edwardian. Although the original architecture was retained, the house's unique color palette gives it a new, modern feel. Houzzers loved the contrasting trim throughout the home and the stunning plaid kitchen backsplash.
For many designers, their home becomes a place to experiment — as evidenced by this beautiful San Francisco Edwardian. Although the original architecture was retained, the house's unique color palette gives it a new, modern feel. Houzzers loved the contrasting trim throughout the home and the stunning plaid kitchen backsplash.
This homeowner — an artist and sheep farmer in Massachusetts — didn't hold back in her home's decor. Bright chartreuse walls, handmade wallpaper and eclectic details cover every available surface in this amazing home.