Fabrics for the Sun

Monthly Archives: February 2011

Take a Bite out of life with Orange Zest

Posted on February 20, 2011 | 4 Comments

Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow.” – Kandinsky

Orange as a color is taking a huge bite out of life. Orange is the color of excitement, enthusiasm and gusto. The word orange actually comes from the fruit which is naranga in Sanskrit. Orange is outgoing and flamboyant which makes it the ideal color to use when you want to uplift your senses. Orange is a powerful and vital color. It is one of the healing colors. Like the color red, orange increases the craving for food. This makes orange a perfect color for any space where you want to stimulate the appetite, promote creativity and encourage adventure.

The color orange is represented in apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, oranges, melon, papaya, peaches, persimmon, pumpkins, yams and saffron. Orange represents the sacral chakra located beneath the naval and is linked to the sexual organs and reproductive system. Gemstones that are associated with the color orange are carnelian, coral and jasper. The color orange is revealed in the many plants and flowers in nature. Poppies, poppies, poppies . . . .

Blue is the complementary color of orange directly across from orange on the color wheel which makes for an attractive and stimulating color arrangement. A very appealing color scheme is derived from using colors adjacent to orange on the color wheel which are yellow and red known as an analogous color scheme. Orange also teams well with fuchsia, purple, gray and the colors of the fall season which are brown, gold and green.

Let’s face it, ORANGE is youthful and FUN!

Barcelona Chair

Panton Chair

Stray Dog Designs Table

Maine Cottage Audrey Sofa

Maine Cottage Audrey Chair

Maine Cottage Fiddlehead Table

Maine Cottage Lamp

Company C Rug

Company C Pillow

Orange Paint Colors

PGA Professional Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler (my new Orange Crush) represents the new generation of PGA professional golfers sponsored by Puma in his signature color Orange.

Take a bite out of life with some orange zest!

Article tributes: Company C, Kravet, Vervain, Maine Cottage, Hermes, House Beautiful, Panton Chair, Barcelona Chair, Stray Dog Designs, and PGA Professional Rickie Fowler

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Posted in Decor, Design, Fun, Textiles

Tagged Color, Color Orange, complementary color, complementary color scheme, Decor, Design, dining room colors, interior design colors, Orange, orange color schemes, orange colors, Rickie Fowler

Fabrics for the Sun

Posted on February 12, 2011 | 4 Comments

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Spring is the season I most adore. I particularly came to appreciate spring when I lived in a cold climate in the State of Washington. I planted lots of bulbs in the fall and would anxiously await their arrival in March and April. The first bulbs to peak out from under the long winter’s snow were the crocus and grape hyacinth. It always amazed me that they could survive months of existence under a frozen blanket. I always considered them one of nature’s miracles. Shortly after the crocus and hyacinth were standing tall along came the daffodils and then the many varieties of tulips. While all the bulbs were coming to life, the trees and shrubs started to bud. I had lilac bushes, hydrangea, rhododendrons, and forsythia concurrently blooming in shades of purple, blue, red and yellow, respectively.

The birds that flew away to a warmer climate came back singing about the time of year as well. The season was always a time to go to the garden nursery and pick out more flowers and investigate the garden to see what survived the winter. The spring is a miraculous time of year when rebirth and rejuvenation is eminent all around in nature for us to behold.

Spring is the season to bring your living space outdoors. When decorating your outdoor living space, look for fabrics that are made specifically for the outdoors. Outdoor fabric is meant to be left outside, but it isn’t maintenance-free. The best attribute of outdoor fabric is its fade resistance quality against the sun. Keep cushions, umbrellas, and pillows out of the direct downpour of rain and they will have a longer life span. To spot clean, dip a rag in a solution of two parts bleach and one part water, and then wipe items clean. Mold and mildew stick to dirt, so shake out cushions often to get rid of dust, pollen, and dirt. If absolutely necessary, machine wash cushion and pillow covers in cold water, and line dry. Never put acrylic fabric in a dryer; it will melt.

Sunbrella® is one of the most popular manufacturers of outdoor fabric. Many fabric companies and manufacturers have launched their own outdoor line of fabrics. The prices can range anywhere from $20 to $200 a yard. The difference in price will vary according to the complexity of the weave, pattern design and color variations. They are typically made out of 100% solution-dyed acrylic and come in a myriad of styles and colors. Outdoor fabrics such as Crypton® are made with such a pleasing tactile hand and lovely design that they have become quite popular for the inside as well because of their durability with pets and children. Many of these fabrics come with a manufacturer’s warranty.

Here are some of the gorgeous lines of outdoor fabrics to choose from: