Inside the Home of Martha Stewart's Protege + Giveaway!

WE'RE SORRY, BUT THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. CHECK BACK FOR MORE GIVEAWAYS COMING SOON Martha's right-hand man, Kevin Sharkey, shares the ideas and inspiration behind his apartment renovation and decoration. Plus, one lucky winner will get a virtual color consultation from Kevin himself!

For the last year, we've been following Kevin Sharkey's apartment overhaul in the pages of Martha Stewart Living and on his Home Design blog. As Senior Vice President and Executive Editorial Director, Decorating, and Executive Creative Director, Merchandising for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (whew, is that one long title!), Kevin knows a thing or two about decorating a home -- and he does it with a level of precision and perfection that Martha herself is sure to appreciate.

The full reveal of Kevin's glam digs in New York City's West Village appear in the September issue of Martha Stewart Living, and there are gallery of the "big reveal" on MarthaStewart.com. The occasion of the reveal is so momentous that this is the first time anyone has ever appeared on the cover of Martha Stewart Living with Martha! ShelterPop caught up with Kevin to find out what influenced his design choices for the new apartment.

While some of his influences -- like the spectacular Hudson River views -- were obvious, others -- like a 1970s Faye Dunaway film -- were a surprise. Here are Kevin's five biggest influences (other than Martha, of course) for decorating his apartment:

The Eyes of Laura Mars
The 1978 thriller, The Eyes of Laura Mars, starring Faye Dunaway as Laura Mars is a surprising source of inspiration. "The character's New York penthouse is gorgeously understated," says Kevin. "The monotone palette and wall-to-wall carpet was incredibly sumptuous while maintaining a refined restraint. I kept coming back to it when making choices for the apartment -- like painting the entire space one color." You can see that Kevin's own pad is decked out with a similarly refined restraint of color.

Tip: Mimic Kevin's living space above with his caramel-like color choice 'Heath' or opt for a gray like 'Sharkey Gray' (named after Kevin himself!) both from Martha Stewart Living Paints at The Home Depot.

Karl Lagerfeld
We all find designer Karl Lagerfeld inspiring, but Kevin took a cue from Lagerfeld's decor sense. "I saw a photo of the private dining room at Chanel in Paris (outfitted, of course, by designer Karl Lagerfeld), and I was struck by the clever use of mirrors," says Kevin of the room, above left. "Mr. Lagerfeld had taken what was a traditional room and given it an architectural feel with a simple, reflective material. I recreated the look on one wall of my living room. Not only do the mirrors reflect the Hudson River, but they transform the view into art."

Tip: For a budget recreation of Kevin's look, consider hanging full-length, frameless mirrors horizontally on your walls.

A Bento Box
"Believe it or not, a Japanese bento box was the inspiration behind my bed," notes Kevin of his sleek bedroom furnishings. "Originally, I had a regular bed, which made sense with the high ceilings. But then I thought, 'I am just going to go for it,' and selected a platform bed with meticulously fitted bed coverings. My bedroom served as my living room for a time so that may have had a lot to do with the final outcome. I couldn't be happier."

Tip: For a similar stream-lined platform bed, try West Elm's Chunky Wood Bed Frame in the Chocolate finish.

Palm Springs
As timeless as the mid-century design it is known for, Palm Springs' abundance of tropical foliage inspired Kevin. "Martha and I visited Palm Springs recently, and I was struck by the dramatic foliage I saw there," Kevin reveals. "I wanted there to be a living presence (other than me) in the apartment, so I decided to go big when choosing houseplants. My 8-foot Cutleaf Philodendron in the living room is a striking statement."

Tip: Kevin reveals that Martha Stewart Living's deputy gardening editor Tom Bielaczyc taught him how to shine up foliage with a half water/half milk solution!

The View
It should come as no surprise that a home's locale influences its design (as architectural photographer Julius Shulman gracefully demonstrates in the photo, above left). Says Kevin, "Because my apartment is in a glass tower overlooking the Hudson River, I really wanted it to be about the spectacular views. To ensure that, I selected lower-scaled furniture. This allows myself and guests to feel that sense of expansiveness -- almost like you are standing on a boat."

Tip: Whether your view is a dramatic cityscape like Kevin's or a humble, country scene, be sure to consider what lies beyond your windows when planning your decor.

And now, about that paint...

We're crazy for Kevin's apartment, but we also wondered how he settled on the perfect color -- after all, this is a man who is not only an all-around expert on interior design but a total master of color, having played a major part in creating the Martha Stewart Living paint line at Home Depot (all 280 colors!). How'd he decide?

"When I chose a color during my apartment renovation, I followed the guidelines that we always pass on to our readers at Martha Stewart Living," he says. First, choose a color family and paint several swatches on the wall. Then observe the colors in all changing lights of day, and pick the color that works best with the space. "Fortunately, my apartment has no shortage of natural light, so when I put a variety of shades on the wall the change was dramatic. I settled on Heath from the Martha Stewart Living Paint line at The Home Depot. It's a great neutral-complex, warm and a good backdrop for the rest of the apartment."

Don't you wish you get his expert opinion on your home? We figured. So we asked Kevin to give one lucky winner a personal color consultation via email, and he generously obliged. Plus, The Home Depot will give the winner a $25 gift certificate to buy a gallon of Martha Stewart Living paint.

Here's how to win: Tell us what room in your home is due for a paint makeover! The winner will be contacted and asked to submit a photo for Kevin to review -- and your photo and Kevin's tips may appear on ShelterPop!

CONTEST RULES
* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us what room in your home is due for a paint makeover.
* The comment must be left before 5pm EST on Friday, September 3, 2010.
* You may enter only once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive a $25 Home Depot gift card (valued at $25) and a chance to submit a photo of their home for Kevin Sharkey to review and offer a personal color consultation over email. The photo and consultation may appear on ShelterPop with permission from the homeowner.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
* Click here for complete Official Rules. Winners will be notified by email, so be sure to provide a valid email address!