Pantone Color of 2012

I love when Pantone announces the "Color of the Year", it's so much fun! The Color of 2012 is Tangerine Tango and I really love it. It's a really fun color and is a little bit pink, a little bit orange, and a little bit red.

The tangerine is super intense and vibrant.

This orange linen fabric on this chair is...a tangerine dream. Yup, I said it. It's a traditional setting with a fun pop of color. Sara Bengur.

I should have included this in my last blog about vertical striped walls. The orange stripe mixed in with white, blue and taupe really makes it pop. I love the way it looks with blue, too. Sheila Bridges.

Muriel Brandolini designed this adorable fabric with a faded carrot background with bright orange flowers. Fabric.

Amanda Nisbet mixes a lot of bright colors together in this playful sitting room but grounds it with some dark blue and beige.

Yeah, I have some orange pants. These are very cute too from J. Crew.

I think I must really love the navy blue and tangie combination. The nautical blue stripes paired with the bright orange is very appealing to me. Massucco Warner Miller.

Do you like the tangerine color? Turns out I like all the new colors of the year. I guess I just really love color...surprised? According to these jokers, orange means enthusiasm, happiness, creativity, success, and stimulation. True that. When you use these in a room they are fun, dynamic, and creates action in the room.

Alicia B.

I want my world to be The World of Muriel Brandolini

Amazing designer Muriel Brandolini has always caught my attention but now she's about to release her first book and I am borderline obsessed with her. Her rooms are so unexpected but incredibly beautiful. She uses deep rich colors and amazing furniture pieces. She is half Vietnamese, and half French/Venezuelan and she actually started out in fashion in New York. I read a great article about Ms. Brandolini in the WSJ about her style and her upcoming book "The World of Muriel Brandolini."

In the article, antiquarian Louis Bofferding says "She plays old against new, mixes colors boldly and selects materials in ways that wouldn't occur to other decorators." Truth. Image from her website.

Notice how the bed is not facing directly at you and there is a little seating area (can you sit there??) in the foreground next to the bed. A little more fun than the typical bed, table on either side and a bench at the end. MB.

The color that I dislike, purple, (in this case its more like raisin) is the color that brings the room together with the midnight blue walls and the very very yellow rug. This room is full but it doesn't appear cluttered. MB.

This chair is literally a work of art. Imagine designing this chair--the panels, the tassels, the backing...

I LOVE the blues that she uses. This abstract rug is exquisite. WSJ.

This is a lighter, yet just as rich feeling room. Have you ever walked into a hotel lobby and seen one of those round sofas and thought, "No, never." Well this time, it not only works but it makes the room.

Is this why I love Muriel Brandolini? The bold blue door molding? The wallpaper on the ceiling and walls? The beautiful chandelier? All of the above.

Is there anything this woman isn't great at? She has a line of fabrics at Holland & Sherry which I wish I could use all the time. This one is called Pearl Grey 4.

Love this bold chevron pattern fabric, Tobac 1.

Her use of color and pattern is extraordinarily inspiring and I'm dying to meet her. She is giving a lecture at Philips de Pury Auction house and I would love to go. Muriel Brandolini is fearless when it comes to color which is probably why I love her work so much. So, who wants to buy her book for me?

Alicia B.

Friday Faves

Happy Friday! I couldn't be more over the moon jazzed that it's friday even though it looks like THIS today in NYC.

I'm absolutely OBSESSED with this little ad campaign with Bryce Dallas Howard (a beautiful redhead!) for Kate Spade. How gorgeous is she, and how fun and happy are these colors? You know I love color and nothing is making me happier than this. Except one thing, today is my last day at my current job and I feel like this picture looks. I've accepted a new job to work for one of my favorite interior designers (not an architect, like my current job) and I can't wait to get started!

This little interior makes me think of spring and warm weather. Lounging around with fresh air coming in and out of that huge window. Alexandra Angle.

This soft yellow is so calming and beautiful. This stunning interior is by Muriel Brandolini whos portfolio I HIGHLY suggest scanning through. It's surprising and different, yet I still love it.

Wish me luck in my last day working for a firm who's main color scheme is grey and black with pops of stainless steel and moving forward to a firm who loves color just as much as I do! What is new with all of you, my presh readers?? Weekend plans?

Alicia B.