Red Magazine: The Colour Issue

The moment I read the orange colour story in the interiors section of Red's March issue I knew I wanted to share it here on Bright.Bazaar. Exotic, uplifting and unforgivingly bright, the editorial - styled by Mary Norden and shot by Polly Wreford - is an inspiring guide on how to use orange in your home. From textiles to paints there's plenty to ignite your mind when it comes to this fiery hue. Plus, how cool is that doll's house? That's what I call knockout styling! As well as the feature, I've put together some market picks in case you feel like a spot of shopping. Well, it's mid week so we could all do with a little treat...!

Red magazine feature: Creative Director, Mary Norden | Photographs, Polly Wreford

Market Picks: Orla Kiely sofa | Wales and Wales chest | Jonathan Adler cushion | Donna Wilson cushion | West Elm side table | Heal's cup and saucer

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Happy Weekend

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This has been a favourite snap of mine for some time; the punchy orange hues serve to break up the deep brown and taupe tones of the walls, whilst natural light floods in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Yeah, I think a Mr.Bazaar would be right at home in this living room! It would be a fantastic party space, don't you think? Thank you for all your kind words and support this week, friends, I hope you all have wonderful weekend!

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Sunday's Bright Links

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Neutrals and rose colour inspiration.

It started snowing on Orchard Street, New York City.

Donna Wilson is having a sample sale, so if you're in London get this date in your diary!

Dusty Deco looks like a fab vintage store.

In the mood for some pastel hues? This post is for you.

Victoria rocked it this week, introducing us to mr. and mrs. globetrot and sharing a fab peek of Rue issue two.

Dagny's wedding post is so touching - happiness in post!

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Happy Weekend

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This weekend I'm hoping to do some writing, catch up with old friends who are in town and treat myself to a big bag of M&Ms after being featured on Apartment Therapy twice in one week. The AT team kindly wrote about my posts on Graham and Jo's London home and Kate Spade's London pop-up store tour. I hope you have a bright, happy and all-round wonderful weekend, friends!

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Home Tour: Delicious Darks Inside Location 78

Graham Atkins-Hughes is the talented photographer behind designer Abigail Ahern's book A Girls Guide to Decorating, and for those who have read the book you will be able to appreciate his ability to capture the personality of a space perfectly through his lens. Graham and Jo have recently decorated their East London townhouse in a glorious array of inky hues, with added punchy burnt orange accents to anchor the velvety dark shades. It's refreshing to see a home embracing dark colours across walls, floors and doors in the way the Atkins-Hughes have in their home. The mix of vintage vases, striking art works and the Racing Green armchair allows their living room to ooze class and sophistication, which continues in their bedroom with floor-to-ceiling teal cabinets. Quite simply: delicious. Whats more, if you are looking for a location to shoot in then stop looking because their home is available to hire for editorial and advertising shoots. Pop over to their website for all the details.

Graham Atkins-Hughes

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Colour Cocktail: The Orange Crush

Moving day is looming and the Mr. isn't happy about loosing his bachelor pad. "Yikes", shrieks the Mrs. over her second Apple Martini, "He's all X Box this, PlayStation that and I'm standing there thinking: 'What about my favourite Orla Kiely prints?!'" Fear not, as this Mr. and Mrs. needn't fret for long, no sirree. The orange crush will solve their decor dilemmas. This hot little colour combo will see them through their first place together, with punchy orange tones adding masculinity for the Mr. Meanwhile, the Mrs. can work in her favourite patterns, textiles and delicate prints to soften the look. Phew! Looks like it won't be handbags and PlayStations at dawn after all.

(left to right, from top): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

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{Orange}

This Bright.Bazaar guy is craving a little dose of orange in his life. Ok, maybe a bit more than a little! So there's only one thing for it folks, a triple helping of The Bright Stuff. From burnt hues to poppy brights, this colour is one of my all time favourites (I blogged about it's zing back in March). Kicking things off is a little combo of stripes and orange (1) which gives that home office some serious masculine charm. For uplifting and happy spaces I like the lighter, brighter hues (2, 4), especially those dining chairs (7) and the striped bench (8) in the breakfast bar. It turns out orange looks pretty darn good in a stripe pattern. That said, they're all tempting spaces for me, but it would be wrong not to pick a favourite or two, right?! I say: give me the artwork from that grey living room (4) and those hot orange stools (9) and I think my cravings will be satisfied. For now, anyway...

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

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{Colour Cocktail: Grey and Orange}

Oooo this is another of my fave colour combos. Grey is to orange like lemon is to Diet Coke - they just go together with such ease. When these two get together for a decor party you know you're onto a winner; the results of their matrimony are just so satisfying. These two can be make a simple, subtle yet stunning statement as seen in the dining room below; or can form part of a structured scheme as seen in the home office. I've posted that home office before, but I couldn't resist including it in this post as well because - I'm not gonna lie - I'm a little bit in love with it! Have you ever decorated with this statement duo of colours?

Images (left to right, from top): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

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{Orange Lamp Update & Bright Blooms}

Happy Thursday, Friends. We've nearly reached the weekend...wahoooo! Today I wanted to show you the shade I decided on for my orange lamp. Well, I went for a simple, but very scrummy white drum silk shade in the end. I wanted to let the base shine and bask in it's bright fabulousness! Thanks again for helping me think through the options - you guys are the best.

Now, let's check out the fresh blooms I've teamed up next to it. Inspired by last week's Colour Cocktail, I picked up soft orange blooms and some fun pink roses. I'm pleased that this little space in our living room is shaping up well. Ah, this decor stuff is fun, isn't it?!

Images and Layout: Bright.Bazaar

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{Colour Cocktail: Pink and Orange}

This week two of the world's pop colour heavy weights join forces to make a cocktail so strong it could blow the roof of the house off. Ok, not really, but these are two very bright and very determined colours. Pairing them up should spell disaster, but done right these two vibrant personalities don't clash. In fact, they get on pretty damn well. And anything that featured in Domino is our friend, right? Thought so! Thanks for another fun week, friends. Have a fantabulous weekend and I can't wait to see you back here on Monday. x

Images (from top, left to right): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

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{Luxury Bathrooms...}

...is there anything more glamorous? If you could esacpe for a purely indulgent evening of pampering and relaxation, which bathroom would you choose? I'd go for the gloriously light and airy (4) option; to me this would be a perfect place to unwind. That said, my love for bright colours draws me to that uplifting and invigorating orange awning (1) and I am enjoying that mediterranean-blue armoire (2), too!

Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

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{Wednesday Wedding Decor}

As a designer or stylist it's always a delight when you get the chance to create something a little outside the box; be it a super whimsical tablescape, a display of oversized balloons or an imaginative posy of blooms. Wedding decor can often provide the opportunity for some seriously fun and inspirational design ideas. My new feature is about celebrating wedding decor and, hopefully, inspiring you with ideas to introduce into everyday design. To kick things off, I've gone for an orange crush theme: Satsuma placeholders, the brightest orange plates and gorgeous pop tablescapes make for one heck of a wedding setting.

Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

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{Bright Blooms #4}

We've nearly reached the weekend guys... one more sleep! I took some downtime last night to arrange some fresh orange roses for this week's Bright Blooms post. Flowers bring me a lot of happiness and I'm keen to learn more about them, so if you read any great floristry blogs, I'd love for you to let me know.

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{Colour inspiration: Orange}

Orange is a great way to add zing to a room and can either be used extensively for a loud and vibrant look (image 1), or as a bold accent to lift an otherwise muted scheme (7). My favourite use of orange is the solid wall of orange tiles in the kitchen below (4); I think it's vibrancy would be wonderfully uplifting first thing, warming in the winter and suitably bright during the summer months. The berries (2) are a great example of how to use orange accents, whilst simultaneously maintaining a pretty and feminine scheme - this is often hard to do with such a masculine colour, so definitely use orange hues sparingly if this is the look you are after.

Images: 1. Secrets of domestic bliss; 2. decor8; 3. bellemaison; 4. angelo home blog; 5. Arren Williams; 6. littlebrownpen; 7. apartment therapy

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