Tuesday, June 09, 2009

A New Favorite Color

I've had orange on the brain lately. Not a vibrant, clear shade of orange. Something a little more like chestnut.


I think that if you took some of that brown and mixed it with Hermès orange, you might get the color I'm taken with.


Maybe it's close to the warm, rich tones of the Amber Room minus the gilt.


Rita Hayworth was known for her auburn hair, but the color I'm taken with is lighter and has more orange.


The shade is close to the paneling in the dining room of Radburne Hall, decorated by John Fowler.


Or maybe a bit like the walls in Nancy Lancaster's Gothic Bedroom at Haseley Court.

So why have I been thinking of this color so much lately? I blame it squarely on him:


Alfred "Alfie" Boles, the new arrival to my household. The actual shade that I'm taken with? Blenheim.

(Image of Radburne Hall dining room: John Fowler: Prince of Decorators. Lancaster bedroom from Nancy Lancaster: English Country House Style)

33 comments:

  1. How can someone not love orange, specially during the summer!

    Such a vibrant and almost decadent is always inspiring.

    P.S. LOVE Alfie Boles!!!

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  2. Jennifer, he is precious!

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  3. Jennifer-I have had two Cavaliers-Mandy, a Blenheim, and Julia, a Tri-color. Alfie is precious. You might end up with two-they are addictive and they hate being alone and two can keep each other company!

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  4. Orange is my favourite colour, actually, most shades, except traffic-cone orange.

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  5. They are the cutest dogs, and I hear they make wonderful pets. Good with children!

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  6. Erik and Courtney- Thank you!! I think he's cute too.

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  7. Beth- You're not the first person to tell me about having two. I just need to get through the puppy stage first!

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  8. Aesthete- Wasn't orange Frank Sinatra's favorite color as well? Wonder what shade he preferred?

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  9. love this... i have orange on the brain as well... great post.

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  10. He is wonderful, I love his eyes! I know these dogs are wonderful companions, full of personality and happy! Jones (huge poodle) is the infamous at the dog park (for all of the right reasons) and life just would not be the same without him. Enjoy, I agree with Style Redux, maybe two would make it even better.

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  11. Definitely digging orange this summer!

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  12. I am not a fan of orange but I am a great lover of Blenheim. Cavaliers are wonderful. Best of happiness with your new orange crush!

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  13. Edward11:26 AM

    If you have "New York Apartments - Private Views" published by Rizzoli, There is a wonderful orange and chocolate brown library done by Henri Samuel on page 77. It has always been one of my favorites (altho I have never been able to convince anyone to "adapt" it).

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  14. Sophie- That's what I've heard as well, which is why I got one!

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  15. Red Ticking and Rachel- Glad to meet other orange fans :)

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  16. Home- I love that- "orange crush"!!

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  17. Edward- I do have that book, but absolutely do not remember that room. I must look at it this evening. It sounds divine.

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  18. Courtney... When we rebranded our agency last summer, the designer showed us a lot of oranges. It was a long road to get my boss to like it, but he finally did. We ended up using Pantone 1385, a brownish orange. You can see it here, or on our website here.

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  19. HERMES...

    CUte

    Cute
    Cute
    cute cute cute

    PUPPY!

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  20. Funny you mentioned orange. I have been totally obsessed with it this last month. Looking for orange-colored items for my website. If you run across any interesting vintage orange items, please let me know!

    Great post!

    Lynn

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  21. Yes, orange was indeed Frank Sinatra's favourite colour but sadly it was the WRONG orange.
    Not that any of us is turning to Frank for tips on interior decoration.

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  22. Alfie looks quite at home on the furniture - there's no way to do it but spoil them.

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  23. Ok he is terminally cute! I would fall in love with the shade myself after looking into that little face!!!

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  24. Orange is my favorite color; what a cutie Sir Alfie!
    Adorable baby.....
    Leslie

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  25. I love Rita Hayworth, not only for her hair, but for everything else.

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  26. Aw - I have someone who Alfie needs to meet: Mimi.

    http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2009/06/tanglewood-house-final-chapter.html

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  27. Anonymous8:23 PM

    Will you please explain write vs wrong orange - you lost be on that one...

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  28. He's such a cutie!! My Alfie (same name and blenheim) will be a year on the 15th! They're great pups!!

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  29. Look at how proud little Aflie is to be with you. What a cutie pie!

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  30. He's just adorable!

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  31. Love your blog post ...I have a cavalier...kudos to you! Love the angel. Good luck! All the best. Keep up the good work. Follow Katherine and me on www.thedeuxluxe.com
    we love your stuff!! xo Brandie

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  32. What an adorable new friend you have. He has also great taste, I am sure he has chosen that chair to be his own. What a treasure!

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  33. love your blog

    I am in search of a paint chip/name that is as close to hermes orn=ange as possible, off to the store tomorrow, in search!! I am changing all red accents in my home from red to Oh range...

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