Orange Is Golden

Posted on Aug 16, 2010 in Featured, Get That Look | 4 comments

Orange can be tricky…

First of all, I would love for someone to help me answer this question: Is the fruit named after the colour, or the colour named after the fruit?

Whatever the case is, I have always been a fan of orange-hued accents, accessories and focal walls in a space.  While I was lazying around on Serendipity Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, I couldn’t help but notice how inspirational the beach landscape is.  I have always been influenced by the brilliant colours found in natural landscapes, which is why I find the beach to be a wonderful place to visit for inspiration.

I ended up curling up in a large wicker beach lounger to watch the sunset over the blue water when I noticed how picturesque my glass of Long Island Iced Tea looked sitting on the table in the magic-hour sunlight. (Weird I know, but inspiration can come in any shape or form…you just have to be able to recognize it.)

I started to think about how the radiant amber liquid set against the blue water and sky has a similar affect an amber toss cushion would have on a steel grey sofa in a cozy living room. It always goes back to design for me, and this scenario was no exception.

In celebration of the wonderful (not to mention delicious and dizzying) inspiration the Long Island Iced Tea had on me, here are some drool-worthy spaces where variations of orange (amber, mandarin, cantaloupe, salmon etc) rule.

I’ve always been a fan of adding colour (or wallpaper) tothe backs of shelving units. Here is a stunning example that gives the whole room a burst of colour without having to commit to an “orange” wall.

This combo of mandarin cushions and steel grey sofa is pretty much EXACTLY what I pictured while lazying on the beach in Cambodia. I love this colour duo – very chic, sexy and masculine (but not in an over-the-top machismo way).

The above photo comes from a fabulous blog that I read frequently that is written by the very lovely Michelle (who so kindly gave me permission to poach this image she used from Chicago Home & Garden in her post about why Nate Berkus is “the man” when it comes to design. You can read her entire post here.) The inverted white and orange decal on the chair backs makes me giddy – I LOVE LOVE LOVE these show-wood dining chairs. “Orangen’t” you smitten with them? Thanks, Michelle!

Thanks to Michelle Ardiel for handing over a copy of this space that she designed with subtle hints of orange. The best part about using orange accessories is that they can easily be swapped out if you’re a change-a-holic and find yourself suddenly obsessed with a new colour. Coloured accessories are great for making seasonal changes to your space – swap out the orange for red (and hang a little mistletoe), and voila, we have a Christmas-y space instead.

Ok, now the space featured above is one of my favourite examples of orange-goes-glam that was brought to my attention by my dear friend, Staci Edwards of Staci Edwards Design.  Here we see orange accents that really stand out because they compliment the heavy use of texture throughout the rest of the space.  See how the drapes and chenile throw have a decent weight to them (a.k.a. have a heavy “hand”), just like richly luxurious textiles should (as if the puddling of the throw on the floor didn’t give it away)? This opulent use of orange fits right in with the ornately patterned carpet and sofa as well as the lavish transitional furniture. Oh, and I love the 3D wall art too – stunning!

So there you have it – in a way, orange is golden when it’s used within a complimenting colour palette. I think this colour adds serious impact and mystery to a space (which is why I have used it in the past for a client’s dining room and family room, much to her satisfaction). Hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into what inspires me on my travels. Oh, and I just noticed that the wicker beach lounger I sat on had an orange cushion…was this blog post meant to be, or what?!

Thanks again to everyone who sent over photo options. xoxo