Colour Focus - It's Easy Being Green

Photo courtesy Western Interiors via Material Girls
Green is a colour that can't be ignored in design. If your view outdoors is wonderful, your home design often takes advantage of the view. Green is an essential hue that is sometimes overlooked, because it`s a backdrop. When clients say they aren't interested in green or neutral colours with green undertones, I often have to remind them that their windows are like art; the green is in their views, and bringing a bit of the outdoors into the indoor scheme is often a great look.

Sherrill Canet Interiors,Photo via HGTV

Vibrant kelly green looks bold and Draper-esque with a black and white scheme.

Photo via Decorpad

Green somehow maintains it's identity, even if it is muted, muddied, or watered down....it's green, just softer and subtler. With a vibrant colour like red, the watered down version changes to pink and it's no longer considered 'red'. Like the variegated leaves of plants in a summer garden, different greens can be harmonious together.

Fabric from Designer Fabrics, Toronto.

The psychology of green indicates it is a colour of growth, life, wealth and health, and it has a calming effect. Many celebrities relax in`the green room` before they take the stage. On the downside, green is also a colour associated with sickness and jealousy. Feng Shui describes green as a healing, earth colour, a colour of good luck and new beginnings.

Photo via decorpad.
A dining Room with capiz chandelier and soft green upholstered chairs by Phoebe Howard Designs.

Photo via decorpad
This fabulous photo is actually a garage from Simply Seleta. A bit of green colourblocking makes a dramatic statement, and brings outdoor freshness inside.

Green room by Greg Natale via Desire to Inspire.

Green is the compliment of red on the colour wheel, and this photo reveals how well they can work together.

photo courtesy Pantone.

Designer Charlotte Moss used this soft celery green hue in her own home, which exudes the freshness of spring.

Young Wheat Pantone 12-0521, the colour used in Charlotte's room above. paint photos above and below from House Beautiful.

One of Kelly Wearstler's favourite accent colours for trim, Pratt and Lambert's Clover #22-20

Barbara Barry has been quoted to have an affinity for greens. Here, the Macguire furniture ad for Ms. Barry's collection shows the subtle yet dramatic use of green in the paneled wall and the hit of fresh green in florals.

Designer Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors uses bold lime green and orange in this room,

with the rug as a jumping off point for the palette.

Ms. Kemble also has designed a line of fabrics for Schumacher, including some wonderful greens, like this 'Betwixt' fabric, in grass and ivory.

Photo by Mihn Wass

Kelly Wearstler's design for the bathroom of the Viceroy Hotel.

A lounge at the Viceroy by Kelly Wearstler-charcoal gray and green look so wonderful together.

Love these Malachite boxes from Global Views!

Photo courtesy Pottery Barn

Green in pale hues feels beachy!

Duralee's 'Pavilion' fabric.

Gold Coast Collection Green Floral Rug in New Zealand Wool from Domestic Modern.

Photo courtesy UKTV
Romo Ciprini Wallpaper in Linden green

Green Ikat tableware from CB2.

A traditional dining room by Mary Macdonald looks fresh and uplifting in green.

Nick Olsen's gorgeous apartment was featured in Domino Magazine. Nick is the assistant to the talented Miles Redd. The green looks wonderful with the zebra rug!

This stunning lamp is from Bobby Berk Home.

Photo courtesy toniguy.blog

Green is fresh in fashion as well this year. Who can forget Angelina Jolie sporting the plump 115-carat emerald earrings by Lorraine Schwartz at the 2009 Academy Awards?


Photo courtesy orignauxmoose
Chanel's fantastic fall collection for 2009 is featuring seafoam green.

The adorable Baypointe Stella bag from Kate Spade.

Earrings from Banana Republic.

Michael Kors Montgomery slingback wedge - great with navy and white this summer!

Smell the green! Enjoy the Persian Lime essential oils collection from Willliam Sonoma.

Embrace green! It's a natural and neutral addition to your spaces and your wardrobe...add a bag, shoes or a cardigan in kelly green to anything black and white in your wardrobe. Add some gorgeous green monstera or palm leaves in a clear vase to your dining table. We are hooked on green! Check out what others are hooked on at http://www.hookedonhouses.net.

Colour Focus: Hot for Orange!

Delmar sofa from Restoration Hardware.
As the weather heats up and we spend evenings and weekends outdoors, a favourite summer hue comes to mind that is versatile and fresh. Vibrant and juicy, orange is a jolt of radiance for both indoors and out.

Pottery Barn dining room via Willow Decor.
Orange is modern yet warm and inviting when paired with white walls and rustic furniture.

Photo by Thomas Loof, styling by Tristam Steinberg
This orange, red and pink room featured in O at Home looks luxurious and inviting.

Love how the round dark mirror and greek key ottomans punctuate this bold orange room!

The psychology of colour suggests orange is a jovial colour that stimulates conversation, energizes and fosters creativity. It is also a colour representing health in Feng Shui. Orange always radiates warmth, and its colour family has seasonal longevity: think pale apricot in spring, bold tangerine in summer, and rustic pumpkin in fall.

Kitchen by La Cuisine Royale, UK
Orange adds warmth and whimsy to this modern kitchen.

Design Diva Kelly Wearstler likes orange, too....here's a peek in her closet!

Photo courtesy Jessicaclaire's world.
Sarah Richardson combines orange and pink in this lucky baby girl's nursery.

Photo courtesy Design Basics.
Some orange paint can add instant drama to a space. This craft room definitely inspires!
Photo via William Waldron for sohaute.
This combination of orange, gray, ivory and charcoal in stripes from Sheila Bridge's room is stunning.

How does Housewears use orange? We added a bold splash of orange to a pool cabana and outdoor living space. This photo shows inside the cabana, where there's plenty of room for a quick change and blowdry after a refreshing swim. The room acts as a protective storage space for the outdoor furniture in the winter. Flooring: limestone subway tiles, Chair: Philippe Starck's Louis Ghost Chair for Kartell.

An elegant orange wedding table display courtesy of Weddings on the French Riviera.

A collage of orange fabrics from Veranda Magazine.

Sigornia Firenze Blossom bedding from Neiman Marcus.
Orange gloss rococo mirror from The Conran Shop.



Orange harlequin wallpaper from Blue Mountain.

FWB Wallpaper in co 008 from Walnut Wallpaper.

Pottery Barn's Collette stool in Orange Spice.

Fun Morocco Dinnerware from cb2.

Orange and pink is a beautiful thing! Louis Vuitton ad via lacouturienyc.

Lora Piana stola Nuvola Aspara wrap from Bergdorf Goodman.


Neon Orange watch from Toywatch.



Hermes bracelet via iheartthat.

Coral Diane Von Furstenberg jersey dress from Neiman Marcus.

Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis bag in orange via eluxurycity.com

How can you add a slice of orange to your life?

Start small! Small hits of orange in pillows, candles, vases can make a great statement without blowing a budget. The same goes for a wardrobe... a chic orange tote and a chunky orange bracelet add a summery statement to a white linen blouse and jeans.

This week, we're hooked on orange! Check out what others are hooked on by visiting Hooked on Houses!