The Inside Man | Presented by Valspar Paint and Apartment Therapy

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The Big Kickback
Quintessential Style from Valspar Paint

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As part of our ongoing Inside Man guide to guy style, Valspar Paint, Apartment Therapy, and the GQ Design Group are looking at how color in a man's home reflects his personality. The 'Big Kickback' is a casual, down-to-earth style. It's for the kind of guy who feels at home in sneakers, cowboy boots, or maybe even a well-worn pair of flip-flops.

Power Play: The Interiors of Rubicon
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While not as iconic as those on Mad Men, we've been taking note of the interiors of AMC's new show, Rubicon. The spaces are almost oppressively dark and masculine, but there's something we can't help but find appealing about the stuffy men's club aesthetic.

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The Inside Man: James' Treehouse Bedroom
Phase 3 - Progress Report

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Name: James Omedo
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Style: Cool, calm bedroom

James' bedroom is the last of five room re-dos I've been working on all summer with Valspar Paint. On Thursday, I'll be revealing the final pictures, but in the meantime, here's a preview.

This project was really about simplifying a small space by cutting down the clutter, adding color to the walls, and creating a sense of calm. James and his wife have a one year old, and I want their bedroom to be a place where they can relax.

Well Hung Men, Guys' Kitchens, & Masculine Headboards
Inside Man Hot Posts

Over the summer, we've been covering all aspects of guy style at The Inside Man — here are the top posts from our writers on everything from the best guy designers to how to dress your bed. Read on for the top 10!

1. Two Guys and a House Tour
2. Well Hung Men
3. Kitchens for the Man of the House
4. Masculine Headboards

A Roundup of Modern and Rugged Table Lamps
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Some table lamps are just a bit too conventional for my taste…all ceramic and white and boring. I prefer something with an edge, an unexpected detail and texture. These lamps feature brass, wood, molded iron and glass creating looks that feel hand crafted and a bit rugged.

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The Big Reveal! Michael's Design District Home
The Inside Man

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Name: Michael Brandes
Location: Design District, Dallas, TX
Style: Old World Traditional

Every one of our Inside Men posed a challenge, and Michael's room was no exception. We stayed traditional in our styling and used the absolute softest of all the Valspar Paint colors so far to brighten and open up this little room off of a kitchen. I know that there were some doubters of this color, Poppy Petal, in my last progress post, but I think you'll all be pleasantly surprised when you see what a great new twist this is on a man's room.

Desktop Style
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Whether it's those black plastic cups and trays or freebie logo mugs as pen holders, most of us go for the cheap defaults when it comes to desk accessories. We tend to forget that our workspace is as much a reflection of us as our personal space. And, more importantly, an organized and appealing desktop can help keep those workaday blues away. Here is a roundup of accessories in three mix-and-match categories.

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Inside Man Q & A's
We're Here to Help with your Decor Dilemmas

Q: I've FINALLY decided to go wireless in my home, and I'm ditching my old ginormous retro speakers for a shiny new iPod dock. (I know, I'm a little behind the curve.) What's the best iPod dock in your opinion? Is there a big difference between Apple, Bose, Tivoli, Geneva, etc? - Sent from Maurice in Los Angeles

Appliance Envy
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Appliances are power tools for the kitchen. Appliances can nuke, broil, blend, pressurize, or chill - but not all look good while doing it. Stainless steel and glass are materials that endure, are easier on the environment than their plastic counterparts and let's face it, just look better.

The Mad Scientist Decorates
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Sure, he may be performing all manner of uncouth experiments before school gets back in session, but even a Mad Scientist can exhibit a mean sense of style. Here's are all the resources you need to add a dose of laboratory chic to your own ~~asylum~~ space.

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The Inside Man: Michael's Design District Home
Phase 3 - Progress Report

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Name: Michael Brandes
Location: Design District, Dallas, TX
Style: New contemporary construction in need of character

This is the story of how one color can totally change the feel of a room. With the help of Valspar Paint, I've been helping Michael redesign his Dallas apartment, and we're preparing for the final reveal on Thursday.

I have to give Michael a shout-out for being really brave on this room re-do and trusting us to try an out of the ordinary color. Before, his living room accent wall was a deep "Chinese Red." It was the previous tenant's choice, and it "worked" but it didn't feel good to Michael. We chose a rustic, Tuscan rose that was much more in line with his aspirations...it was a small color change with a big impact.

The Old-Fashioned Shave on Display
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The look of traditional shaving accessories have a vintage cool that always stands out. As visually appealing as they are useful, here's a look at a few tools on display:

Home Accessories Without the Frills
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Before I offend anyone, let me preface this by saying that I am married to a guy's guy who loves all things sports. The last thing he would ever think of purchasing for our home would be throw pillows or candle holders, especially when flat screen TV is also an option. So, when finding decorative accessories for our abode I have to be careful not to drift into girlie territory with flourishes, rosettes, ruffles or pastels.

Designer Portfolio: Giò Ponti
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Giò Ponti (1891-1979) was one of the great designers of the 20th century. His vision of modern life was a blend of elegantly stylized Neo-Classicism, a Mod interest in color and geometry, and a romantic fantasy of La Dolce Vita.

Storing Hiding Your Tools
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They live in my kitchen, fill my shed, line my drawers, overwhelm my closets, and get stashed in my guest room. Tools are the necessary baggage of my DIY lifestyle, yet a hindrance when entertaining, cleaning or trying to please the wife. Here are some ideas on where they should live instead.

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The Inside Man

Nothing against Decorator's White or Swiss Coffee, but Valspar Paint's commitment to style leads them to develop the kind of colors that convey a more personal, sophisticated, and yes, masculine point of view. By joining forces with Apartment Therapy and the GQ Design Group, Valspar created a home style super group. So fold up your futons and hide your beer posters. Valspar and the Inside Men are here.

Explore Valspar Colors

Paint-can Color instantly transforms a room. Check in with the pros at Valspar Paint and learn how paint can inject personal style into your space.

Follow our Tour

Map

This summer, Maxwell went offline and got on the road, traveling across the country to help five guys re-design one room in their home and add some amazing color. Check out the results of his room re-dos from the East Coast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, and West Coast.

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan

is an interior designer, author and the founder of Apartment Therapy, originally an interior design service and now a network of blogs devoted to helping people make their homes beautiful, organized, and healthy. Maxwell and his brother launched ApartmentTherapy.com in 2004. The network now includes five sites — ApartmentTherapy.com, TheKitchn.com, Ohdeedoh.com, Unplggd.com, Re-Nest.com — reaching over 4 million unique readers per month.

Brett Fahlgren

helps guide men's fashion choices through comprehensive style tips and one-on-one personal shopping consultations. Brett's connections with top menswear designers and fashion editors make him a go-to resource among celebrities and professional athletes. In addition to his role as GQ's Style Correspondent, Brett has also hosted and produced GQ's Milan Fashion Report.

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Submit a Question

Every other week, we're posting Q&As from Apartment Therapy readers about men's color conundrums and style questions. From sofas with cup holders to brilliant bachelor pads, we're focusing on the decor dilemmas men often bring to us. Send in a question.