Citrus Delight

Design: Melissa Haynes, Photo: Hector Sanchez, via Southern Living

That orange lantern is outrageously good. And this space makes the case for white walls - they are crisp and fantastic paired with juicy, citrusy colors. But the upholstery on the Klismos chairs keeps everything in check so it doesn't get too colorful. 

Simply stunning...the perfect inspiration for Spring.

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Tangerine + Lavender

I know y'all have seen this image from Lilly Bunn Interiors. How can you forget lavender grasscloth with a tangerine couch? But I recently saw it anew and am just so into the color palette. Perhaps it's Carter's complete devotion to Clemson* as college football starts to take over OUR LIFE in this house that has me focused on this palette?

I think lavender has been having a moment for a long time (read three blog posts about it here). It's such a great secondary color to a bold primary. And just last week I pulled the trigger on a lavender area rug to sit below some vintage wicker chairs with orange cushions and it's going to be great.

How do you feel about this bold color combo? Yes? No?

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*Let the record show we went to the University of Virginia. But as a South Carolinian, Carter has a Clemson allegiance hailing from childhood. The man always bleeds orange - he just pairs it with blue or purple depending on who is playing.

Howell Wingback

If you've seen this chair, the Howell Wingback from Anthropologie, you knew it was only a matter of time before I posted it here on the blog.

I think its whimsical lines and bold orange color would work really well as the tension in a traditional room. Something warm and woodsy like the photo below from this post:

They would also be great as a pair in front of a rustic fireplace with pale pink silk pillows. Or just one in a corner with a brightly patterned pillow could draw your eye into a room. I can think of so many ways to use it!

Do you like it?

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Friday Crush

Design by Kelly Wearstler via materialgirlsblog.com

A crushtastic little girl's bedroom from Kelly Wearstler in dreamy tones of violet and tangerine. Wow! I know orange goes with everything, but I had not considered it with a light lavender tone and seeing as how lavender, plums and orchids are all the rage, I thought this bedroom was spot-on with current decor yet totally timeless and classic in its appeal and lines. And that, my friends, is a run-on sentence.

Have a fantastic weekend...see you Monday!

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Orange Parsons Desk

I know I've been posting a lot on orange furniture lately, but I keep seeing it! And I get excited every time. I think this piece might actually be my favorite so far - an orange parsons desk.

I also think this orange parsons bookcase is AMAZING, and a little more subtle than the desk (ie a parsons desk is nothing new, but the bookcase is a little less common):

Aren't they fantastic? I really, really want the bookcase but it's that same issue of having nowhere to put it. But I'm 100% certain that it would make the most fabulous of focal points in a room.

Buy the desk here...
Buy the bookcase here...

 

Orange Velvet Arm Chair

Today, I'm telling you that you need an orange velvet arm chair. And you should pair it with a color-drenched, patterned pillow and paint the room where it will sit a shade of minty-aqua. Like so:

Kudos to Home Decorators for selling this chair because the price is reasonable at $399 and it comes in orange velvet - a risk, as I would guess that the masses don't realize the potential of such a combination. Good thing we do.

 

The Power of Orange

Imagine a room with lavender walls and any single item below, and tell me if it's not the most amazing imaginary combination ever.

Orange. It's always amazing.

All of these goods are available for you via Jill Sorensen's "orange shop" at LiveLikeYou. Want to shop other colors? Click here.

 

Traditional Orange Zebra

Photo Source

So orange+zebra interiors typically don't qualify as traditional, but this rooms oozes classic design to me. The elements are all timeless and elegant, but the orange pillows and zebra walls offer the perfect juxtaposition to keep this room modern.

Take away the zebra, paint the walls a light aqua, and the room remains incredibly beautiful. I would sell my soul for that tortoise coffee table.

Man, I love design.

OKL Space

I just caught the new landing page image One Kings Lane has up - I love how they change the image with that cute dog in a cool space for each season. And this room, well, I love it. So autumnal, rich and my eye was all over the place.

Reasons why I like this space:

1) The checkerboard floor in what I assume is the foyer. I don't think I will ever dislike this floor treatment - it's so classic and whimsical. I think in this case its marble, which is definitely my favorite material for the pattern.

2) The flower arrangement - I'm sure it's styled just so for the picture, but the colors in that arrangement excite me.

3) The fabric on the upholstered armchairs.

4) Hello orange geometric blanket. I need you in my house. Notice how the small touches of orange really set off the room.

5) The gold garden stool and the birdies on the entrance table.

6) Wood paneling. Done right, I looooove wood paneling. It's so warm and makes a room feel casual and elegant at the same time.

I also love basically everything else in this room. I'll be further examining this picture as I gear up for autumn chez AO.

p.s. Thank you all SOOOO much for the kind words and emails yesterday on the blog anniversary - they meant a lot and I was so happy to hear from everyone :)

Friday Crush

Busy day, and late post! So, last week I came across two AMAZING orange Chinoiserie bedrooms on two of my favorite blogs. Last week's Friday Crush was the first one, and I saved this phenomenal bedroom for this week. It is designed by Domicile Interior Design and was featured on Chinoiserie Chic. There is literally not one thing I would change about this room. I am a big believer in orange interiors but actually never thought how the color could work in a bedroom, until I saw both of these examples.

This room is fueling my obsession for Chinoiserie panels, which I desperately covet. And I am giddy over the end tables (love the stacked pillows underneath the right one). This room is perfection and so inspirational...just my style!

Have a stellar weekend...see you Monday!

Friday Crush

image via massuccowarnermiller.com

Walls covered in delicious de Gournay, orange [velvet?] chairs and glossy gray molding, courtesy of Massucco Warner Miller. I love the lines of the chairs (especially the legs) and the height of the head chairs. Is it just me or could the room user a larger light fixture hung a bit lower? Either way, this room is wonderful...definite dining room inspiration.

I plan to make more progress on our bathroom this weekend in the hopes of actually finishing it! We'll see how it goes. Hope you have a great weekend - see you Monday!

Oldie but Goodie Bedroom Stunner

Short post today, but with big impact. Good things come in small packages, right? (As evidenced by my visit with my nephew Charlie...it was pure bliss, btw)

I know these images from Traditional Home (2007, I believe) of a bedroom designed by Kendall Wilkinson are/were darlings of the blogosphere, but allow me to showcase them here yet again as I hold them in high esteem. They were the inspiration for the AO blog color scheme.

The Paradise Background (Quadrille) fabric used on these window treatments gives me heart palpitations on a regular basis...and don't get me started on the fact that it's the orange colorway...and the pagoda pelmet boxes...and the lacquered walls...well, it's just too good.

images via traditionalhome.com; photos by Andrew McKinney

Peacocks and Oranges

There are no words.

 

 

 

 

Seriously. None.

Except that Mary McDonald is a genius. And these pictures are heavenly. And peacocks and oranges are my new favorite combination for Christmas decorating.

Ok, that's it. That's all I've got. These images need nothing else.

Design by Mary McDonald; All images via veranda.com; Photos by Miguel Flores-Vianna

*Thanks to Jenn at Department of the Interior for sharing these...it's where I spotted them...

Friday Crush

image via fschumacher.com

An ad by Schumacher for Celerie Kemble's fabric line. Orange and turquoise, need I say more? Celerie's book (in this picture nestled among the gorgeous fabric) is also currently on my nightstand and I am enjoying it immensely.

Our weekend plans have us wine-tasting on Halloween. Our dear friends are moving and we shall toast their departure with Virginia wines. Not a bad way to go...

I'm also trying to convince Carter that we should take a drive and see some Fall color on Sunday...we'll see if house projects take over, or if we sneak away.

Weekend design adventures MUST be emailed to me.

See you Monday.