CasaVerde: The Color Chronicles...ORANGE

What a COOL show today!!!  I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!  It just goes to show, that even when you KNOW a lot about a subject, you can always learn more.  I also love the synergy between Tara & me...we really DON'T speak ahead of time about the WHAT of what we're going to discuss...merely the specific color of the month.  I love how everything fits & supports what the other is saying...It also goes to show how much the "ancients" really KNEW and how much more we need to learn!

OK-first off, we found out that the Egyptians & Greeks used  A LOT of orange in their temples & healing rooms.  They got the color by grinding up orange agate, jade, quartz & garnet, as well as orange coral & mixing it with whale/fish oil.  They used this mixture to paint their skin, do hieroglyphics, paint temples/walls.

Orange is related to the 2nd chakra, or SACRAL chakra, which corresponds to the digestive & reproductive organs & kidneys.  Orange relates to creativity (think of GIVING BIRTH to something whether it's a person, piece of art or the like).  Orange is also 1 of the colors used in the RELATIONSHIP area of Feng Shui-you use it if you are "single & looking not for a "relationship" but sexual relations"...So, keep this out of the bedroom if you are married or in a seriously, commited relationship.

Orange is a POWER color-right between RED & YELLOW.  It is also one of the most controversial colors.  To bring color into your life, start small...bouquet of flowers, a pillow, a scarf/tie...Watch how people react to you, how you feel & even more "warm".

Orange is also a color used for SAFETY.  As orange is the color that is the easiest to see, orange is used in a variety of ways to promote safety: traffic cones, life jackets, hunting vests...Even OSHA requires that construction equipment be painted orange for it to "stand out".  AND when against a BLUE sky (blue is the contrasting color to orange), it stands out even more! 

***Orange is a great clothing color for kids if you are taking them to a playground or even daycare so it's easy to spot them & keep track of them admist the other kids!***

Orange is also used to feel "warmer" as it's a WARM color.  So if you're in a cold climate, utilize orange in your outerwear, north-facing rooms, blankets...Think of the national colors of Norway-ORANGE.  This color is used for ALL of their sporting teams!  They stand out, promote community/friendship & it's WARM!!

Other ways to use orange are to eat orange foods: sweet potatoes, carrots, tangerines, oranges...You can even wear orange-tinted glasses or drink water that has an orange crystal or other coloring in it.  You can even take a color bath of orange (or any other color!).  Check out Kohler's site for more on this...it's called CHROMATHERAPY: http://www.us.kohler.com/planning/detail.jsp?aid=1129574026469  You can also go to Color Energy: http://www.colourenergy.com/sunday.html  I LOVE their products (and have even written for their newsletter!).

Color is used for branding of companies that want to appeal to the millenials, or to appear high energy w/a sense of community.  Orange is also used heavily for fast food:  fast food that you get & eat fast!  (and again, also relates to the digestive tract!).  Beware of using orange in your kitchens if you are battling weight issues...you don't want to eat alot of food fast!  (use blue!).  For healthcare applications, orange can be used in Cardiac units, transitional spaces (hallways) & children's rooms as they respond well to orange.

Want more?....Listen to the show!! 

To contact Tara & learn more about what she's doing: tara@golittlefish.net or her company website at www.littlefishthinktank.com.  Also check out their 0 Margarita product that coming out!!!

Next up...Feb 14 and the color RED!!!

Remember to become a FAN of Bante Design on Facebook.  Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/bantedesign AND to sign up for the Bante Design newsletter on the home page of the show!!  To contact us, email us at the show or at info@bantedesign.com.

Until next time....DeAnna