The spirited colour of orange

Pumpkin Walk

As the weather turns chill out of doors and our children anticipate another profitable evening of trick or treating, it occurs to me that this is the first time in years that this holiday's signature colour has been invited indoors. From coral to apricot, tangerine to nutmeg, and terracotta to pumpkin - orange is this season's most spirited shade. But don't let that scare you away; it's a colour that has its roots firmly planted in tradition.

Historical Orange

A combination of red and yellow, orange shares common attributes with those colors but has a personality all its own. Soothing, earthy orange reds enjoyed feverish popularity at the beginning of the 19th century as a result of the discovery of the wall paintings at Pompeii. Mellowed with yellow, shades of pale orange were favoured in the design schemes and fabrics of Art Nouveau and Art Deco as well as 1960s interiors. Fiery shades of orange are balanced with complimentary blues, evoking the primitive opposites of fire and water in the post impressionist tropical landscape paintings of Paul Gauguin.

Orange Today

"Orange is not a colour for the faint of heart," says interior designer Carol McFarlane. "However, from November to March our climate begs for the warmth and vitality rich colour delivers and orange has an energy and dynamism that is unsurpassable. Orange gives any room a lift."

In a recent project McFarlane incorporated liberal doses of brick and terracotta orange throughout the home of favorite clients. "This particular couple is such fun, and they entertain so frequently, orange was a perfect fit for their robust personalities." The homeowners had already amassed an extraordinary collection of furniture, artwork, and antiques making McFarlane's job a simple task of updating the space and, in her words, "adding some bounce".

In the well-appointed sitting room seen here, McFarlane worked with a neutral background but created a colour story in attention getting details such as the stylized floral and velvet pillows from Scalamandre (available through Primavera). The matching pair of built-in cabinets was outfitted with a notable collection of Imari, Meissen, and Royal Crown Derby, which McFarlane selected from Lorenz Antiques on Mt. Pleasant. "When you're working with clients who appreciate fine quality, you must work with dealers you can trust and I have always been impressed with the selection and knowledge I find at Lorenz."

McFarlane prefers to create a union between the old world elegance fine antiques offer and the contemporary charm afforded by modern colours and fabrics. This philosophy comes to life in the rosewood chair with hand-painted flowers, upholstered in a modern cut velvet fabric from Primavera. The combination is "classic without being traditional," says McFarlane, "just the way I like it." The paisley throw from La Compania is the masculine detail that keeps the vignette from becoming frivolous.