Oh, orange you tricky color, you.
You have me all confused.
I like your zesty brightness,
But you’re the boldest hue I’ve used.
I’m tempted by your playfulness,
You always make me smile.
But once I’ve put you on my walls,
Will your cheeky looks just rile?
I felt my heart strings tug,
when I saw you on these doors.
Then I saw you on this graphic rug,
And now I want you on my floors.
These orange rooms have caught my eye,
Now I can see your beauty.
And these stunning window treatments
Just have me feeling fruity.
With white, you make mouths water,
With blue, you simply pop,
But it’s with hot pink or purple
That you make my poor heart stop.
Oh orange, what memories you bring.
You inspire some blissful thoughts:
Of fireflies on summer nights,
Mai Tais, Tandoor ovens, bitter orange tortes.
But you demand commitment,
Once you go orange, you don’t go back.
I wonder, will I stay the course,
Or will my resolve soon crack?
Is this just a seasonal thing,
Inspired by sunny days?
Perhaps this is a summer fling?
In winter I’ll want my bluey-grays.
I’d like you in my toddler’s room
To give his walls a boost.
But will you make him race around,
like a cup of orange juice?
If I woke to find you in my room,
You’d quench my morning thirst.
But what if I’m hungover?
Will you make it worse?
I’d like to put you in my kitchen.
They say orange causes appetite.
But I’m afraid I’d eat too much,
And make my jeans too tight.
Orange brings out my true style:
Be it rustic, mod or mid-century.
But if I get it badly wrong,
They’ll think it’s 1970.
The blogs are full of great ideas
On how to make it work.
But this constant indecision
Is driving me beserk.
You made me write this poem.
See, I’ve really lost my cool.
But if this dreadful love turns sour,
Will you make me look a fool?
It’s clear I have an orange crush.
It’s crazy how I feel.
I think I know why this has happened:
Let’s face it, you have zest appeal.
Happy Monday! 
Photo credits:
1 – Tim Evan-Cook; 2 – Unknown; 3 & 4 – LivingEtc; 5 & 6 – Las Alamandas Hotel in Mexico; 7 – Habitat Hanalei; 8 – Daniel Farmer; 9 – via Apartment Therapy; 10 – Brugge Bed and Breakfast; 11 & 12 – LivingEtc; 13 – Tchochkes; 14 – Polly Wreford; 15 – my husband took this one!
Oh my God, this is the best post I may have ever read! Ever. Especially because orange happens to be my favorite color. So much so that I took the plunge and bought that orange chaise (in the bedroom photo) a few years ago. It was a risk because I’m so fickle but I have to tell you I still love it. It sits in our living room and it’s the piece that gets the most attention. Go for it! Get something orange.
From the right bank: thanks! I love that chair too! Think it features twice on here. Glad to hear you took the plunge and it paid off.
What a great post and a gorgeous selection of photos!
I wanted to share that my husband painted our bedroom a dark orange (Benjamin Moore Fireball) last October, and I love it! It is so rich, sensous and invigorating. We have these deep butter yellow drapes, and when the morning sun hits it is like being inside a piece of amber.
The color did not come thru correctly, but I have some photos on my blog that were taken in our bedroom here http://tandemantiques.com/2009/03/16/the-coolest-collection-of-blue-bristol-glass/
Thanks for your lovely work.
i love it all. the poem, the photo, your blog lay out,& best of all your lucy. i ‘m off to find an orang outfit.
I love your Ode to Orange! Made me laugh this morning. And it’s so true–orange is tricky. I always love it when I see it, and I use a lot of it in the Fall, which is always fun, but I’ve never been able to commit to it year-round. Great photos! -Julia
Thanks everyone for the nice comments. Glad it raised a few smiles!
I just discovered your blog and am gobsmacked! I’ll be spending a lot of time here
Have a lovely weekend!
Jane
What an awesome ode to orange! Thanks for sending me the link here-this gave me a good smile. I share all the same concerns as you do about orange as well. It’s kind of like a love/hate relationship!