Old Sweetwater

Old Sweetwater

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Raise The Red Lantern Decor

In 1991 a beautifully  haunting film, "Raise the Red Lantern" was released. Set in 1920s, the movie (which is subtitled), tells the story of a young woman who becomes one of the concubines of a wealthy man in China during the Warlord Era. The movie is noted for its opulent visuals and sumptuous use of colors. The red lantern was symbolic throughout the movie, so let's celebrate red. Red symbolizes anger, passion, love, pain and sacrifice and those words describe the movie.
Have you seen the movie? Would you ever be daring enough to put red and another bold color together in your home?  Photos: Living room with Asian Red wallpaper; Close up of Asian Lamp; Waverly fabric sample; Martha Stewart dining area; Movie photo and Sweet and Sour Chicken - red, orange and delicious!








45 comments:

Shay said...

I LOVE red, and used to have red bedroom as a kid ...red and pink and gold...well it WAS the 1970's.

I still love red (have a red car), love red shoes, but would never think to put it in my home these days.

I'm loving that red paisley print though!

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Janean,
Yes, of course! I LOVE red. It makes such a statement. I have received so many nice compliments from my guests, over the years at the Inn, about my red toile wallpaper and red formal living room. Hope you having a good day!
xo
Robin

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Mornin sweetie!
Been there, did that, with the red house years ago...
and loved it too!
Still have a red bedroom in my all white and pastel house...
Had a remnant of red that I just couldn't part with when switching over to lighter....
soooo, made One room contain it all!

Have a wonderful day!
xoxo~Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Anonymous said...

I'm loving me that fireplace screen.. was just toying with the idea of zipping up my old one here.. but what to do.. what to do...

love the red, have it everywhere here.

with love,
Olivia

Dawn said...

You have to ask? Stop by any of my Rednesday posts for the answer!
Hugs,
Dawn

Becky Garrison said...

I've never been a fan of Asian or oriental design. I can admire it in someone elses home - in moderation - but don't care for it in my own home. I do love Chinese food, though! :o) Becky

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Good Morning Janean! I'm afraid I've gotten a bit behind in reading my favorite Blogs but I'm catching up. I LOVE red! I don't have any red walls in this house but in the one renovation we did in the city I did red walls in my kitchen with 'cashmere' (creamy white' cabinets...the red made everything POP! Then since we opened the wall into the dining room from the kitchen I put one red wall in there...everyone loved it as it added wonderful character to the room. Not sure if I'll do that again here on the farm but I certainly have red scattered here and there. Love your photo's as usual. Hope you have a wonderful day! All the best....Maura

Midsummer Stitches said...

I love red, about ten years ago I had it in the hallway on my walls!Now I just stick to it in splashes around the house and off course SHOES :-)

Tammy @ tinselshop.com said...

Yes, I did see the movie. It was a required film for a class in college. If I remember correctly it was beautiful and made me want to see more foreign films. I am not a fan of Asian decor but I would LOVE a red dining room full of red transferware!

Best wishes,
Tammy

Andrea said...

Love these vibrant colors, today.
Hugs, andrea

Nola said...

Doesn't EVERYONE love red? There's something so full of energy about it, I can't help but love it. There are bits of red in every room of our home.

Anonymous said...

I love red.It depends on my mood.Sometimes Im into a softness of blue white.My living room is I want to say maroon but its a bit lighter more of a pink touch added to it.

Thanks for visitng my blog today, have a nice one!

Anonymous said...

I just became a member of this SWEET blog.How did I miss this one,LOL.Cant wait to visit again soon!~~Becky

Barb said...

Red is my favorite color - and I adore paisley, so the two of them together will win my heart, anytime! What a beautiful, and inspiring post!

Blessings,
Barb

It's me said...

I think..you wearing red today............my dear janean...have a nice evening hugs from me.............woman in red bye!!

GardenOfDaisies said...

The sweet and sour chicken sure looks yummy! :-)
Red does look nice in other people's homes, but doesn't really fit into mine much, except at the holidays. :-)

Cindy said...

I love red as well, but like other strong colors prefer to enjoy it in small doses as focal points rather than a theme for an entire room.

The Farmers Oldest Daughter said...

Red is my FAVORITE color and I have lots of it in my home, my kitchen, bedroom, dining room and hallway but accented curtains in every room with a little bit of red. It doesn't look tacky to where the point all you see is red. It is surrounded by beiges and golds. My vehicle is red too. What can I say!!!

Great post and beautiful pictures.

Formerly known as Frau said...

Love the red! Blogging from have fav red chair wearing my red toile apron ....reading and blogging while my dinner burns! oops!

Abounding Treasures said...

I wanted to thank you for visiting me and if the door in your header photo is of your home, it looks delightfully inviting!!

Blessings ...

Rae said...

First time to visit your blog. You have a lovely site.
I'm following...don't want to miss a post!

voiceofpendergrass said...

Red is a great color. It says, "I'm in charge"! All these photos are nice. Years ago I did one of my bedrooms in red and white... it was fun.

Donna said...

Pass the sweet and sour chicken, please! I'm hungry!

Denise Marie said...

gorgeous red post! love mums and the mirrors too.

myletterstoemily said...

i adore red . . . in small splashes and
doses.

Mindy said...

The fabric with the rich butterflies is amazing. I've gone through red stages, but more country. These photos are full of rich reds. I like 'em! ~Mindy

Kathy's Red Door Welcome said...

I painted my dining room red some time ago, but now I think I might paint it robins nest blue.

Karen said...

I like red accents. My measuring cups are bright colors and one is red. Does that count?

Kathysue said...

janean, I just saw your comment on my blog and wanted to come by and say hello and it is very nice to meet you. so you fell in also? Isn't it an amazing journey. I have had quite a wonderful time meeting so many lovely ladies and new blogging buddies. Just wanted to thank you for taking time to post a comment, I really appreciate it. You have a beautiful blog. I think I will go and look around a bit if that is alright, Kathysue

Jojo said...

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I've seen the film and while I love read, I don't think I'm daring enough.

Suz said...

red.
red.
red.
red.
there's nothing more to say.
yum

Julie said...

Janean, Oh how I have missed visiting and commenting. You know I love to come stay for a while and just relish all the photos.
I do very much love Red...I am a little cautious with it, as I know it can be overpowering, but love to embellish and accent with it!!!
It's so cheerful !
I want to see that movie now!!!!
Thanks for another as always super post. Glad to be back! :-)

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Sounds like a movie I need to find and see. Love all your reds - who doesn't love red?

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Wonderful pictures. I love that dining room with the fireplace. I do love red, and most rooms in my home probably have some red, but I'm such a coward, I would probably never have red walls. laurie

Pondside said...

I enjoyed that movie when I saw it years ago.
I like some red in every room, and my kitchen is the most beautiful pomegranate red.

Devon said...

I love your photos,,,you always seen to capture exactly what your posting about..also I will have to see if I can find that movie,,I loved memiores of a geshia,,have a fabulous weekend..
Devon

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I don't remember the movie. I seldom do anything with red but I do love the paisley print. I would use it as an accent color.

Anonymous said...

This must be red week. This is the third post that I have seen that has featured red! And it is my favorite color so I am loving it!

Dolores said...

I love the color of red, but your post made me look around my home, and realize I don't have very much red.......hmmmmm, need to correct that.

Technodoll said...

In Russia, the word "red" also means "beautiful". I guess they do know things besides vodka and gymnastics, LOL!

Grace on the Narrow Path said...

I have the red print on my sofa pillows. I have looked all over the place for the fabric. Do you know where I can find it? I need more pillows.
God bless you for sharing.
In HIS HANDS,
Bren

Marla said...

Our living room is red and black. I am not too much of a shy gal when it comes to color... or life.
:-)

I added the movie to Netflix. It sounds exactly like the type I love. Did you ever see The Road Home? What a great movie!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

The movie sounds interesting! I love touches of red in my home! I have TWO red sofas in my living room! ♥

Sara's Sweet Surprise said...

Janean~I have red throughout my home in various forms of decor. It is so versatile. In my living room it's French Country with a softer palette, but in my kitchen and bedroom it's deep rich tones mixed with gold hues. Yup, you might say I've a passion for all red...down to my car, a candy apple red Lincoln:)

Sweet wishes,
Sara

Vær våken said...

I love all this red. Red is absolutely one of my favourite colors!! Have a great day, Kristin XXX's