Color Story: Orange

The fact that no other word in the English language rhymes with orange also extends to the color's unrivaled ability to up the ante of any home. Here, Dwell's favorite homes featuring orange hues all show that the secret to using this often-feared color is a balance of neutral tones and plenty of natural light to reflect the color's citrusy brightness. Slideshow

One family in Seattle, Washington, looked past a sloping landscape and instead saw the opportunity to build their dream home. Resembling a modern day metal treehouse, the Hale and Edmonds residence is nestled within the edges of a wooded park. The house's exterior of paneled gray is perfectly balanced against the accent of the orange frame, proving that there's a chance for subtlety with the bright color.