Color inspiration: the Irish Flag

I don’t know about you – but growing up I feared forgetting to wear green on March 17th.  At my school, a lack of green left you open to a day long of pinching from any passerby-er who happened to notice.  Pretty un-PC… and now after all these years I read that it’s actually considered bad luck in Ireland to wear green ( unless acccompanied by white and orange- the colors of the flag) on this day.  Great now you tell us!

But that combination got me thinking about the fact that green and orange with an accent of white ( and a little red mixed in for good measure) is already one of my favorite color combos…. one -I realize- I’m already using all over my own house.

It’s a very pleasing palette- why else would my boxwood shrubs look so yummy in their terracotta pot or this faux coral bowl pop out against the green in my kitchen.

My dining room is green and orange- Benjamin Moore’s Crisp Khaki and Caramel latte…I pine for this red/white Dedar print fabric that will one day dress the windows…soon, I hope.

I even have orange pillows on my pale green velvet couch- I think I need to go into orange/green rehab!

A touch of pink thrown in gives the combo a feminine feel like in the photo from House Beautiful.

I’m loving these fabrics from Calico Corners together.  Blossom cotton ( in cinnabar ) and a nubley linen deep, mossy green for a sophisticated sitting room ( or home office…. which I need so much more).

A photo from Domino featuring a great outdoor room palette from Conran.

Again from Calico Corner’s Aviary ( in tangerine ) would make a great accent against a lambs ear inspired soft grayish green for an outdoor table setting or play it the other way and let persimmon cushions be accented by this kiwi colored silhouette print.

Pulled this picture of of GardenDesign& More… boxwoods and canna lillies- see nature always gets it right! I could be happy here, that’s for sure ( see how nice that touch of red looks- told you!)

Now wearing green and orange together can be a little tricky.. you don’t want to look like you are dressed as a pumpkin… but using one as the main color and one as an accent works nicely.  I love the idea of a bright orange dress with a turquoise green and blue necklace….

while just a touch of orange in the swimsuit by Milly livens up the mostly green print- coral earrings would be super cute ( tan not included).  All piece available at Intermixonline.com.

And what new green, white and orange will I be adding to my life- well right now painters are painting that same Crisp Khaki in my den ( keep your fingers crossed- I will post photos when it’s done) so now that my house is covered- it’s my wardrobe today that is lacking….

Have white jeans…would love to add this Chloe bag….

…but am guessing Chanel’s newest spring polish in Orange Fizz is a much more of a realistic reality ( but guess what color they just showed on nails for their Fall 2009 collection last month in Paris to follow up this pretty orange-  why, jade green of course!)