Mad about Tangerine Tango

Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year -- Tangerine Tango -- has been making quite a splash in the design world.

Here at Visual Jill, we've always loved this vibrant orange-red -- just look at our logo, above. Last week we were so inspired that we actually painted our dining room wall Benjamin Moore's Orange (2011-10).  It adds such energy to the room!

Of course, our affection for orange doesn't stop there! We restyled our couch with some new pillows too.

(Gold, orange and black/white pillows from CB2, Faces pillow from Erica Tanov, orange side table from CB2)

And elsewhere . . . we've infused some Tango into our entryway via pillows, artwork, a throw and a scarf . . .

(Pillows from CB2 and BoConcept)

. . . and brought the brightness to our kitchen through a new teapot and our favorite barstools!

(Tea kettle from Le Creuset, Jam Lift barstools from KCC Living)

The Tangerine Tango craze is showing up all over the blogosphere and print publications. Last Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle Style section focused on the hue, and the Note to Self blog pulled together a sampling of tangerine goodies too.

We're so glad the world is embracing this sunny, optimistic color. We think it's here to stay!

One Love: Metal Stock Tanks in the Garden

If your garden is full of terra-cotta and painted pots, why not try something different? We love this metal stock tank (also called a cattle trough) that's housing our new herb garden.

We bought ours at our favorite local nursery -- Flowerland in Albany (which was also recommended by Berkeley designer Erica Tanov in the September '11 edition of  Elle Decoration UK). These troughs come in different sizes (3-8 feet long), and they complement all types of spaces--from urban rooftop to country garden. They are especially great for growing bamboo, which can become unruly if planted directly in the ground.

Maybe it's the juxtaposition of the industrial (metal) vs. the natural (earth); maybe it's the contrast of the green against the silver. Any way you look at it, these are beautiful and modern alternatives to more traditional container gardens. Special thanks to Marco, our landscape designer!

Color Fever: Spearmint

Fan deck - Benjamin Moore :: Matisse painting - Inspiration by Tricia Guild :: Scarf, necklace - Matta, from Erica Tanov :: interior images - Think Color by Tricia Guild

Spearmint, wintergreen, seafoam, verdigris...we've been noticing a strong trend of this patina-ed hue lately, and we're pleased as peas to see so many fabulous shades of such an interesting, directional color.

Elle Decoration :: House & Garden

In the magazine's we've seen it mixed with purple, mauve, pink, camel, even acid yellow. For such a unusual shade, it comes out looking surprisingly classic.

RoomService

Imagine our delight when we found these fantastic pieces during a quick field trip to Hayes Valley! Room Service is a new shop in the neighborhood, and it's a modern color-lover's dream: bright yellows, reds, and oranges; sharp blues and greens; hot pinks and purples. Be sure to check them out!