by Sarah Van Arsdale
There is nothing like citrus to cool down a hot summer day. Whether it's a pitcher of lemonade or an icy Mojito, citrus is one of nature's best coolants.
Therefore it's no wonder that using the colors of citrus in your home will provide a cooling tone for any room. Key Lime Pie color is very different than simple lime, and here's why.
Most limes that you're familiar with, particularly if you're in the U.S.A., are actually Persian limes - these are the dark green fruits about the about the size of a small lemon. Key limes are distinctly different: they're small, and paler in color, and they're yellowish-green where their larger relatives are deep, dark green.
The shade of Key lime pie is another step paler and another step yellowier still. It's the color produced by mixing the juice of Key limes with egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk and grated lime peel, then frothing and cooling the whole concoction. What you end up with is a wonderful dessert that's pale green with just a hint of yellow.
This color would make a great statement painted on a whole wall. It's pale enough that a room could withstand being saturated with it. Unlike lemon yellow, it isn't a shade that will take over, demand too much attention, and distract from the furniture and artwork in the room.
Key lime pie green will also brighten up a dull corner in a dark room. Try throw pillows tossed against a dark sofa, or a lampshade in Key lime pie green. This color can also work well in curtains that frame a green vista, as it's pale enough to provide a nice frame while still enhancing the green hues of the foliage outside.
- Tip: Because key lime pie green is such a soft color, consider the textures you'll be using with it. A fabric in the color with heavy brocade, or rough wallpaper, will have the paleness of the color working in conflict with the roughness of the texture, producing an interesting effect.
How did the Key limes get their name? Most likely, they originated in Southeast Asia, and were brought to Haiti by Christopher Columbus in 1493. From there, they made their way to the Bahamas, and then to Key West, in Florida. Since then they've been known in the U.S. as "Key limes."
Because these limes are more tart than the Persian limes, they're primarily used in sweet desserts, with plenty of sugar added to tone down their tart taste.
For a soft coolant on a hot August day, try a little Key lime pie - in decorating, or on a plate with a nice tall iced drink.
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