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Small Kids, Big Color 2009: The Finals!

Congratulations to our finalists! Out of the pool of hundreds of entries received, we posted fifty fantastic, colorful kids rooms. Over the past three weeks, the readers gave their "thumps up" and now, we've got the top nine rooms ready for your perusal and final vote. From joyful brights to gradient stripes to an an amazing mural...

 
 

...we've got a bit of everything including your top choices in the international division, from Canada, Italy and Australia!

Take a look back at our 9 finalists listed below (and shown above)...

  • Finn's Inherited Blue Nursery
  • Henry's Vintage Travel Mural
  • Carter's Punch of Color
  • Baby Cashew's Mix & Match Nursery
  • Ruby Jane's Bright & Cheery Nursery
  • Rosie's Happy & Bright Bedroom
  • Olivia's Modern Pink Nursery
  • Aiden's Robots in Space Bedroom
  • Sadie's Warm & Cozy Bedroom

    and then please give your vote to your favorite overall colorful kids room:

    Voting is for ONE day only - in 24 hours (approx 4:00pm EST on 11/20), we will stop the vote and the top three ranked entries will be our three winners of the prizes from DwellStudio.

    We have a separate final vote for the top 3 International entries. The highest ranked entry based on your vote today in this division will receive a Certificate of Recognition from Ohdeedoh:

    ohcci111909.jpg

  • Lily & Ruby's Rainbow Bright Bedroom
  • Tommaso & Lorenzo's Bright Bedroom
  • Felix & Theodore's Yellow & Black Nursery

    Congrats to all the semifinalists and thanks to all who entered their inspiring, wonderful kids rooms!

  • Comments (92)

    I vote for Sadie's room.

    posted by alexcrothers on November 19th 2009 at 4:33pm
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    I'm trying to vote for Felix and Theodore's room but it doesn't seem to be working.

    posted by ClothDiaperFashionista on November 19th 2009 at 4:35pm
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    Nevermind....I figured it out.

    posted by ClothDiaperFashionista on November 19th 2009 at 4:37pm
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    Thanks to everyone voting for Aiden's! :)

    R.O.S.I.E!

    Go Aiden's room!

    posted by MrsKristieAnn on November 19th 2009 at 4:47pm
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    aw, baby cashew is the winner by a long shot! it's no contest in my opinion.

    love felix & theodore's for the international finalists.

    posted by doubledutch on November 19th 2009 at 4:55pm
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    For me it was a tossup between Finn's and Aiden's room. In the end I voted for Finn's room because I can sympathize with inheriting a rental wall color.

    As for international, I went with Felix & Theodore's room.

    posted by alllebasii on November 19th 2009 at 4:56pm
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    Aiden's room is in a rental too! :P Our landlord lets us paint & do whatever we want though. Our old apartment was bare white walls with no other options and gross carpets. :(

    I like Aiden's room but I voted for Baby Cashew. It vibes more with my personal aesthetic.

    posted by Loki Parker on November 19th 2009 at 5:16pm
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    i'm sad that my submission was not included, my son has a wonderful and fun bedroom. maybe next year? but i loved being able to vote and enjoy all of the great entries! what a wonderful contest! <3

    posted by malcolmsmom on November 19th 2009 at 5:24pm
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    Baby cashew's room is by far the cutest! It looks so cozy and bright, just what a nursery should feel like:)

    I am voting for Ruby's room!

    posted by jenthomas3 on November 19th 2009 at 5:40pm
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    I think Sadie's room is by far the best one out there. I don't even know any of these kids or their parents, just browsing the web, saw this epic contest and had to get my two cents in here.

    Sadie's room depicts the fun, yet curious spirit of a young child. The wall color choice being blue is where the common person may scratch their head and say.. but she's a girl.. yes.. good point.. but that's where the stark contrast of pinks and reds come into play to re-assure the femininity and playfulness of the color blue when being the backdrop for a nice amount of pinks, reds, yellows, etc.

    The other contestants sure did put on a good show, but c'mon, let's be honest, better luck next year!

    sorry aiden! you were my second choice.
    i just can't get over henry's mural.

    posted by k8theriver on November 19th 2009 at 5:41pm
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    It's all about Ruby Jane for me - loving that nursery!

    posted by melaniejoy on November 19th 2009 at 6:03pm
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    I LOVE Ruby Jane's room. Being a professional interior designer, I completely think that that room is leaps and bounds above the rest! Such a beautiful job!

    posted by phpalmer88 on November 19th 2009 at 6:06pm
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    I agree with AshyLarry and vote for Sadie's room. That blue is awesome and makes the pinks and reds pop!

    posted by mikemccarney on November 19th 2009 at 6:14pm
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    i love felix and theodore's room

    posted by cheekypoet on November 19th 2009 at 6:18pm
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    I think Ruby Jane's room is awesome! It gets my vote.

    Henry you rock!!! Your room is awesome. I hope your room wins!!!

    posted by dancetchr68 on November 19th 2009 at 6:41pm
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    Aiden's room!!!!!!

    sadie got my vote this time but my second choice was carters room! i am still amazed at the color in a white room .

    posted by jackied302 on November 19th 2009 at 6:50pm
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    I am voting for OLIVIA'S pink MODERN ROOM! From what I've read ALL the items are handmade and how cool is that? The walls are so unusual and fun and the black and white artwork really captures the baby's attention. You get twice as much bang for your buck - adorable and stimulating as well! Any baby or little girl that I know would LOVE this room!

    posted by mrsportable on November 19th 2009 at 7:09pm
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    Go Katie and Olivia! Love, love, love the room! I've seen it in person and it's even more beautiful than the pictures!

    posted by shanicherie on November 19th 2009 at 7:20pm
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    Finn's room makes me smile.
    Finn's is it.

    Henry has a great mural, but his room lacks warmth. I vote for Finn's room, warm and bright, great for a little guy!

    thanks for the votes for baby cashew's nursery! good luck to all the entries!

    the handmade, eclectic little space is still waiting for our very overdue baby. this contest is a great distraction! :)

    Wonderful & worthy finalists! Great job, all:) Henry & Rosie, I wish I could vote for BOTH of you. Can we have a girl's room category and a boy's room category?!

    Wish I was Henry - I'd sleep quite well and never argue about naptime.

    Oh Henry, you got the greatest room.

    posted by altoidhenry on November 19th 2009 at 8:46pm
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    what a wonderful bedroom

    posted by altoidhenry on November 19th 2009 at 8:48pm
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    Thank you to ohdeedoh and dwell for such a fun contest! Thank you to all the gracious voters as well. I feel so blessed to be involved and included and to have so many great inspirational rooms to check out because of this contest. What a grand treasure chest of ideas and color and creativity! My friends have loved looking at all the great ideas from the different rooms as they've come to vote.

    Aiden's room hands down. I want to be a kid again just so I just stay there. Lol

    posted by tashnicole on November 19th 2009 at 9:15pm
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    Ruby Jane's room is the best!

    posted by jandscrown on November 19th 2009 at 9:22pm
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    Olivia's Room is darling!

    Great job to everyone!!!!I voted for Aiden's room, I love the clean modern look of it. :-)

    posted by brenda_679 on November 19th 2009 at 9:26pm
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    Sadie's room is the BEST.....she is one lucky little lady!!!

    posted by susannataylor on November 19th 2009 at 9:44pm
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    THE COLOR SCHEME FOR OLIVIA'S ROOM IS A UNIQUE USE OF COLORS....AND I LIKE THE USE OF BLACK AND WHITE PAINTINGS THROUGHOUT.I HAVE HEARD THAT THE USE OF BLACK AND WHITE PATTERNS STIMULATES INFANTS BRAIN CAPACITY AND CREATIVITY

    It takes a great designer to know one, and I am voting for Ruby Jane's nursery! In that room are many new and clever ideas you can accomplish without hiring a professional muralist or contractor. The color combination is happy and delicious. I'd love to wake up in that room! Thank you Ruby Jane for showing us we can all have great design at our fingertips!

    I absolutely love Lily & Ruby's Rainbow Bright Bedroom!
    I love the canvas above the bed!

    posted by sunnysidemom on November 19th 2009 at 10:37pm
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    Olivia´s room made it to the final 10!!! Congratulations, now that I have all ten rooms to compare, my vote is for Olivia´s. Using the hand made art on black and white colors on the walls and mobile is a marvelous idea, this room is thought out for the baby and her brain patterns at this important developmental stage. Good lucK!!!

    Baby Cashew's Room all the way!
    Go Annie.

    Aiden's room all the way!!Mostly because its so creative I want to turn 6 again and live in it myself :P lol

    The colors used by Henry's muralist match the colors of nature that surround the house. There is a gacefull flow of color and nature from wall to window to wall. What a great room for young Henry to grow up in!

    good luck katie

    I love Little Ruby Jane's room. So precious.

    Aiden's robot theme is the best one.

    posted by girlinterrupted on November 19th 2009 at 11:45pm
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    Good luck Ruby! Congrats on making the finals :)

    posted by sleepingbeauty37 on November 19th 2009 at 11:54pm
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    I vote for Lily and Ruby's room!

    posted by jacquelinefish on November 20th 2009 at 12:11am
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    YEAH FOR CASHEW's nursery

    me too, i vote for lily & ruby's room!

    I love all the details in Aidens room

    Rosie's room by a mile! I agree that Henry's mural is lovely but not warm or childlike.

    The contest was so fun, I picked up a lot of good ideas. Can't wait to enter next year!

    posted by TheLittlestChicken on November 20th 2009 at 1:41am
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    Aiden's room has my vote!

    posted by issummerlove on November 20th 2009 at 3:08am
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    sadie. done.

    I love Henry's room. The mural is amazing. One talented Mom. Bet Henry is a happy little boy playing in there. Can't imagine it looking that neat all the time. Let's scatter some of those toys in the floor.

    I think Aiden's room is the best. Look at all the toy's he can play with! I didn't see hardly anything in the other rooms. And the lights on the bed! How is there any competition? Haha great rooms though, wish I had these rooms when I was a kid. Great job everybody.

    I vote for Henry!

    Ruby Jane's room rocks!

    posted by callitidwell7 on November 20th 2009 at 9:17am
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    Trying to vote for Sadie's room (my clear choice) but after hitting the button nothing happens. Please count my vote!

    posted by bobbigglesworth on November 20th 2009 at 9:24am
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    I'm rolling with Sadie. Love the "blue" on the walls; warm indeed.

    Henry's room is the most original. LOVE IT!

    sadie

    i really love all the little details in aidens room, the lights, the robot hangers, the textures even, beautiful. my kids would have a blast in that room!

    Baby Cashew's room has my vote! Love love love the eclectic colors and design!

    aidens mom clearly had a plan before she started the room - i love it!

    They certainly don't make voting easy for the finals--poor to no directions, too round about. This time I couldn't even get to the Thumbs Up sign, and when I tried before my vote wouldn't register. Is answering the survey the same as voting?

    PLEASE NOTE,I VOTE FOR SADIE'S ROOM, HANDS DOWN.

    I voted for ROSIE'S room! It was no contest for me. It's just so bright and cheery and age appropriate - love the yellow with turquoise and excellent use of wallpaper, patterns, textures, and architectural elements. And after finding the mama's blog and learning that so many of the elements were repurposed and DIY - makes me love it that much more. A unique and happy space for a lucky little girl!

    Love it!

    Carter's Room!

    My vote is for Olivia's Modern Pink Nursery!

    SADIE is my vote!

    Ruby all the way!

    posted by Workingfulltimewith2 on November 20th 2009 at 12:10pm
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    Hoorah for Finn's room! A vibrant palette with wonderful visual punch from great complimenting patterns in the fabrics used here. Love the salvaged metal drawer unit too-industructable!

    jeg elsker aidens!

    Ruby Jane has the custest room I've EVER seen!!! I hope she wins!!!

    Go Ruby, Go!!!

    I vote Baby Cashew!

    Aiden's room rock

    Such a hard choice between Henry's room and baby Cashew's room... i finally picked Henry's, but it was a tough call. Wish there was an option to pick a runner-up!

    Sadie's Room is extra cozy

    I'm voting for you Annalea Hart and baby Cashew!

    posted by lady0peace on November 20th 2009 at 2:56pm
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    Henry's Room! I wish I could sleep there, or get his mom to paint my bedroom!

    I think Aiden's Room should win! The top room right now is a great painted room, but it isn't childlike to me at all.

    posted by underscorelife on November 20th 2009 at 3:14pm
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    I kind of agree, underscore. The other ones are absolutely gorgeous and definitely an inspiration! Aiden's room is for an older boy and I definitely think it's unique and suitable! The story that her boy wants to be a robot engineer melts my heart!

    I love Sadie's room, but I also love Henry's. The murals are gorgeous and it reminds me of Up.

    posted by reginaregina on November 20th 2009 at 3:32pm
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    Finn's room is the awesomest. Hands down.

    still loving OLIVIA's room the best! these entires could all only be cuter if the little mugs were in them too. i hope they are all enjoying their lovely baby suites!

    Baby Cashew!!!! The best hand-made details. Super cute.

    posted by MuchAdo330 on November 20th 2009 at 4:09pm
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    where's the international division? hello... canada?

    posted by letsbereal on November 20th 2009 at 4:13pm
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    Too bad, I thought the voting was through tonight, I missed voting!
    I would have voted Rosie's or Sadie's. I think the speak about color the most although Henry's travel room is my favorite room.
    Congratulations to all the entries - they are fabulous and creative rooms that really inspire and brought a smile to my face!