Let’s hear it for the family of flower power greens!
For the past several years, just for fun, I’ve named a Retro Renovation Color of the Year. In 2011, my first year, it was simply “Orange“. In 2012, I fancied things up and chose a color with reference to something classic vintage: Bitossi Rimini Blu aka Cobalt blue. This year, I’m continuing the vintage honor roll tradition, declaring the photo Retro Renovation 2013 Color of the Year: “Broyhill Premier Chapter One Lime Green“, after the color of the plastic doors on the bright white Broyhill furniture line, shown above. The color I’m talking about also could, I guess, be called just key lime green, maybe even grass green, or acid green. More or less. Unlike the folks at Pantone, who will make their big 2013 color of the year announcement within the few weeks, my color pick is more of an “idea” of a color — the flower power family of greens — rather than one exact, single color chip.
So why did I choose this color?
Because I like it! The photo directly above is from Furnish Me Vintage — Thanks, Jackie! The first photo at the top is my own, taken of the same piece at Furnish Me Vintage this summer. How dark is the green? Depends on the light.
My big fat crazy retro office remodel included vintage wallpaper squares with shades of this color.This is when the 60s and 70s lime green really started to seep into my brain. Note: The richer green used for the ceiling trim is “Houseplant” from Sherwin-Williams. It coordinates really well. The whole room (now furnished) absolutely positively hit the funkadelic vibe I was aiming for.
The lime-washing continued when I found these Ikea kids storage units and transformed them into legs for my crafting countertop.
When I was renovating my office, I thought I might replace my gold carpet. My contacts at Shaw sent me a sample of the Citrus colored carpet from the HGTV line. I really like the color. But, I ended up just reinstalling my existing gold carpet, out of frugality and because the adjacent family room has the same carpet.
Modwalls makes a porcelain penny round tile called Key Lime. Yum.
Now that I am looking, I spot the color in vintage items on ebay. The Rosenthal-Netter bull plate above. (Photo used with permission of ebay seller; listing now ended and link removed.)
This Ikea steel chair is powder coated in a green that’s in the vein of what I’m talking about. Close enough.
Yes, I was saving images from my recent travels to Ikea. This shelving green also is close-ish. Green is such a friendly color.
Yup, the Kitchen Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer (<-affiliate link) is one nice looking hunka steel. These mixers come in 24 retro colors — and golly, I could name any one of them a Color of the Year, they are so beautiful. Above: Apple Green — not as acid as Lime Green, but all in the flower power family, as far as I’m concerned.
Marimekko Lumimarja Celery sheets, from Crate and Barrel.
And you know I luv me some Loudmouth Golf — Magic Bus pants, all new. Have a Nice Day!
Janice says
I love all shades of green and have it in several places in my house. I think of it as my version of beige – I can put it with anything and it looks fabulous. Excellent choice Pam!
tammyCA says
Speaking of lime green I just remembered my brother’s car in the ’70s…lime green El Dorado! Looked like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/that_chrysler_guy/7589384620/in/photostream/
Honestly, I miss those big boat cars..they rode so smooth you never felt the pot holes..and, you could lay across the back seat (well, we didn’t wear seat belts back then & people drove the lower speed limit). I also miss the COLORS of cars..I am so tired of black, silver, white cars & I once got into the wrong car that looked like mine.
Annie B. says
I’m channeling 1974: lime green walls with brilliant white trim; spider plans, scheffleras, jade plants; ornately scrolled white wicker furniture, bentwood rockers; sissal rugs; white wicker shaded swag light fixture.
Seems as if I remember blue and white Delft pottery as accent pieces.
Those were the days, Edith!.
tammyCA says
Don’t forget the macrame…I made macrame plant hangers back then…plants were very popular (and, ahem, other certain plants).
Annie B. says
Oh, yes, the macrame, tammyCA. And, “gro” lights for all those plants, especially the “ahem” type.
Jenny A. says
I painted the stairwell to my basement in that color. I love the color but I’m still on the fence about trying to tone it down a bit because it is so bright. Maybe I’ll keep it and tell everyone that it’s the color of the year, 2013. For once, I’m ahead of the curve 😉
tammyCA says
In the ’70s my dad’s wife had a lime green and yellow kitchen…it was fresh & pretty and I remember it was featured in a magazine. I have some splashes of what could be called lime in my house (have those Ikea leaves curtains). I like Chartreause, like what you see in ’50s lamps/pottery. The shade of the KitchenAid mixer is pretty (I have the aqua called Ice)…but… the other Broyhill green shade is just too harsh & I just don’t like it. I remember when it was called Acid Green in the early ’70s…along with Hot Pink, Neon Orange…we sure glowed back then!
jeanne says
tammyCA, wish we could see those magazine pictures of your dad & his wife’s kitchen!
tammyCA says
I never saw the magazine, was only told this info…but, I remember there was lime green paint, flowered lime, yellow, white wallpaper, white wicker and it was an older home so it seemed more “radical”. I do have some ’60s magazines with similar colors in room photos in it. I hope to learn soon how to scan & post photos to flicker or something for people to reference.
Robin says
The original owner of my 1962 rancher loved lime green as evidenced by the occasional peek of green under the layers of paint in nearly every room of the house. The exterior trim was also lime green – you can find the occasional glop of paint on the original siding.
I love green too but I’m more into the “pistachio” end of the scale. Kind of a subdued lime green.
RetroSandie says
This has always been a favorite color of mine, too, since I was quite little I loved the chartreuse dishes that were in my mom’s Branchell Colorflyte set. I would always make sure I got that color plate or dish. In the 70’s a friend redid her kitchen with the darker shade of lime green and navy blue. It was quite striking. It’s a good color, Pam. YES!! I like it!!! 🙂
jeanne says
I do have this green (and yellow) in my home. I use my third bedroom for a computer room/office and parakeet room. 🙂 It is paneled in a light wood – not sure what kind, maybe light maple or birch? The carpeting is the same color as the wood. So, for a pop of color, I found some pinch pleat drapes on ebay made of a 60s-ish pattern of two tones of green and yellow & gold on an ivory background. They really look nice!
I also still have the ripple pattern afghan my mother knitted (not crocheted, like most ripple afghans are) in the EXACT green you feature, yellow and ivory – which was for my groovy early 70s bedroom done in yellow and white daisy wallpaper with pinch pleats made in the matching fabric. My mother was an awesome sewer/knitter/crafty lady! I have a plethora of quilts and afghans that she has made.
Wendy M. says
I have a few splashes of this color in my kitchen- some in the curtains (it’s a retro-inspired Michael Miller fabric from a couple of years ago.) Also, I recently painted the back walls of my pantry closets, and one of them is what I call “granny smith apple green.” I painted the other two sunny yellow and aqua and it really works with both colors.
What Iove about the green you chose is it actually compliments many other colors and it doesn’t take much to make a statement!
Jody says
LOVE IT! We’re going to be using FLOR tiles as an area rug in our kitchen, and we’re going with a lime green (and royal blue). Such a cheerful, gorgeous color.