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Color Story: Orange

by GR Chair

When dreaming up idyllic restaurant interiors, orange probably isn't the first color that comes to mind. But, this passion-filled color can make a bold statement in commercial dining spaces—when used appropriately.

Dunkin Donuts, Hooters, Whataburger, Popeye's, and El Pollo Loco are just a few of the food service chains that have hung their hats on this hue. From muted shades of autumnal squash to sun-kissed saturated tangerine, the possiblities for orange are endless. Below are a few of our favorite ways to use orange (other than as a garnish for our favorite summer beers).

Go Big and Go Bold!

Draw inspiration from Verner Panton's color saturated Spiegel Verlagshaus dining hall (shown above), donning floor-to-ceiling orange in a menage of shapes, textures, and sheen, reminiscent of a psychedelic trip through the 70s. This type of bold design genius is a far cry from the sleek corporate cafeterias that most of us are used to seeing in the pages of Fast Company, but we love how it celebrates orange for what it can be: bright, vibrant, and slightly obnoxious.

Orange Used in Seating

Let the Seats Make a Statement

For the past few years we have seen restaurants really embrace the "colorful seating" trend, utilizing their FFE budgets for brightly painted steel seating.

Orange As A Pop Of Color

Pop for Perfection

When done properly, in small doses, orange can make a major visual impact within a space, like the sweetest icing on top of your favorite cake. Jonathan Adler coupled graphically structural white bricks with a pop of orange at the Parker Palm Springs for a legendary entrance, while Zachary Lynd's recent transformation of The Upsider, a once quaint wine bar, used orange to add a finishing touch to a beautiful space. Brass stools, a teal bar and Brendan Ravenhall light fixtures obviously act as a solid foundation for this extreme makeover, but the design would fall slightly short without the strategic use of orange as compliment to the crisp whites, metallics and teals throughout.

Modern Orange Color Schemes

For more orange inspiration be sure to browse through our pinboard, and then head over to our blog for last month's feature color, olive.

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