Orange is the most controversial of colours. Many consider it to be the gauche legacy of the freewheeling '70s. But what an unfair reputation that decade has! To me, the '70s were when the counterculture became the popular culture -- and when adults finally felt liberated to embrace immaturity. You could be young again without having to be innocent! Orange shouted out to the world that you didn't take things too seriously: that you weren't old and crusty, that you were not your parents, and that you didn't have a living room full of plastic-covered furniture. Rather, your furniture was made of plastic -- and it was probably designed by Verner Panton.

Diss orange at your own expense. Orange says, "I'm fun!" Use it to draw out your inner child: grab a Fanta and an orange Tootsie Pop and feel your Happy Chic life expand.



Orange in the living room My cozy New York den is a design lab where I test out my latest creations -- as well as unorthodox colour combinations. Here's how I made orange and brown work together:

• A bold orange sofa sets the tone and anchors the room.
• The intensity of the sofa is echoed by the equally intense patterned lampshades, bold artwork, graphic rug and kicky throw pillows.
• Orange accent pieces on the coffee and side tables -- including lacquered trays and boxes-- bounce around the colour.
• Animals make for a happy menagerie: greyhounds, horses, bulls, snails, gazelles, birds and a leather rhino footstool.

 

Orange in the bedroom For our bedroom, I chose a palette of blue and brown livened with strong pops of orange. The classic Scalamandre brocade looks modern when executed in orange and white. I love this fabric so much that I used it everywhere: to create lampshades, to upholster chairs, as door panels, and to pad the wall behind the bed.

 

Orange in the dining room My dining room is a celebration of l'orange, from the lacquered planters to the zigzag carpet and glass face sculptures on the mantel. Lots of white space gives ample breathing room. Other tricks for creating balance:

• Blue is the main accent colour. A dab on either side wall balances things out and establishes symmetry.
• The repitition of circular motifs (the artwork, the globe lights, and the round chairs) softens the zigzag.
• Sunflowers provide a happy focal point.
• Perfect paint: Benjamin Moore white Marine Deck paint always looks amazing on floors.

---

BUY THIS BOOK
Excerpted from Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic: Colors by Jonathan Adler. Copyright © 2010 by Jonathan Adler. Photography Copyright © 2010 by Jessica Antola. Excerpted by permission of Sterling Publishing. All rights reserved.