Mad Men Meets The Ellington

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ellington in Jack London Square, Oakland’s stylish high-rise community, announced the winner of its new homeowner design contest. Homeowners Jeff Pittelkau and Erik Olvera-Pittelkau were the inaugural winners in the contest intended to allow homeowners to showcase their creativity, foster a fun sense of community and to demonstrate that The Ellington is not a one-size-fits-all building.

Noting the popularity of interior design television shows and blogs that are popping up, over 4,000 votes were cast in the online contest, attesting to the growing interest in DIY interior design and the rising influence of social media in real estate, interior design and architecture.

Homeowner entries featured a design aesthetic ranging from Asian to boho chic to modern urbanism, but the contest ultimately crowned a duo’s poolside patio condo the winner. Homeowners Jeff Pittelkau and Erik Olvera-Pittelkau, pictured above, moved into their two-bedroom pool south-facing home at The Ellington in the fall of 2009. Intending to go for a “Mad Men” mid-century look, they ultimately landed far into the 1960s and “went with it.” The art hanging behind the couple – Jeff is an advertising executive and Erik is a marketing and communications executive – is a pop art inspired self-portrait, which reflects the ’60s whimsy and panache they bring to their home.

Voters agreed awarding the couple more than 2,300 votes in less than four days through the online contest, a testament to the power of social networking, not to mention more than 30 friends who cross posted the link for the contest on their Facebook and Twitter pages. One friend even shared the contest link with her knitting group, and another with his volleyball league – adding to the overall number of Jeff and Erik’s votes.

“Living here feels like we’re constantly on vacation. We very rarely bring our work home, making it a special place where we relax, and often entertain friends with barbeques and spur of the moment cocktail parties. Being poolside is one of the best perks of our place. Jeff even cancelled his health club membership when we moved here because we now have a heated pool literally in our backyard and an amazing gym with nearly all the equipment of an upscale facility. Honestly, The Ellington is perfect and we couldn’t ask for anything more,” said homeowner Erik Olvera-Pittelkau.

Profiles and photos of all the finalists can be seen at www.theellingtonexperience.com.

About The Ellington

The Ellington’s 134 one bedroom condos, two bedroom condos and penthouse suites opened its doors in May 2009 to rave reviews and a kick-off party featuring former Oakland Mayor, Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown. The Ellington joins Joie de Vivre’s Waterfront Hotel and Blue Bottle Coffee, as well as veterans such as Kincaid’s and Yoshi’s in the transformation of Oakland’s Jack London Square. The Ellington is adjacent to The Jack London Market, an 185,000 sq. ft. marketplace rivaling Seattle's Pike Place Market – and the centerpiece of a proposed $300 million expansion of Jack London Square. The Ellington is a perfect location for those interested in modern, urban living with the West Coast’s version of an emerging “Brooklyn” as their backyard. The Ellington launched its Ellington Club Residences in April 2010, offering homeowners their first chance to enjoy a club living experience in the East Bay.

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