Lobmeyer Chandeliers and Sconces

Lighting is such an important part of any project, and there are always lots of options, but there are a couple of brands that I keep coming back to. One of them is Lobmeyer, an old company that has created some of the most iconic chandeliers of our time. They are responsible for those amazing pieces at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

I used similar ones in this project in a Dining Room in Los Angeles, I think its a great counterpoint to the rustic stone wall. Check out more of their fixtures on their website.

Resource Day: 20th Century Lighting

Every week when I sit down to plan out what I am going to write on my Blog in the week ahead, I get to Resource Day and start to worry. There are so many different resources that I use, all of whom I want to give some attention to. This week though, I was working on a new project out by the beach, that is a Mediterranean style home, so I went straight to one of my most reliable resources, 20th Century Lighting. While I was doing this I realised that I had never written about them on the Blog, a huge oversight, but one that I hope now I have rectified.

When trying to make a home that is new, look like a period home, or if renovating an older home, lighting can be one of the biggest challenges that you face. Getting the scale just right, or finding that quirky piece, can be a challenge of almost biblical proportions, unless you buy vintage pieces (which can represent their own challenges). Take a look around at 20th Century's site though, it is amazing the depth of their collection, from sconces, to chandeliers, to table lamps, it's all there. They offer a range of finishes to match any project, and one other thing I like is that they are also sold in Showrooms around the country, so you can go and see them in person as well if you want.

So, check them out, I think you will be surprised by everything that they offer, (they are also a pleasure to deal with on the phone).

Thursday is Resource Day

So, as I said last week, on Thursdays I plan to try and highlight another resource that i think people will really like. This week that resource is Oly Studio, out of Berkely California. It was founded by two designers, Brad Huntzinger and Kate McIntyre, and I am constantly impressed with the way they create designs that are firmly based on tradition, but have a fresh modern feel to them. I don't believe that you can buy directly from their website (www.olystudio.com) but they do list all the stores across the country that sell their stuff, so with a bit of work you can get anything you see here.I have used pieces from their collections in both modern and traditional settings, always with great success. Some of my favorites are shown above.

• The Coral Chair is to my mind such a cool twist on the ever popular coral motif, but it is also a great scale, and very comfortable.
• The Chandelier is made of new wood, but has the beautiful patina of driftwood, a soft silver grey, that gives it a hip twist.
• This little tripod table I have used outside to great success; in a meadow garden, it adds whimsy and will always make your guests smile.
• The coffee table is another that does equally well inside or on a covered porch. I regard it as a modern, primitive piece, with nicely handworked metal.
• This mirror is totally glamorous and has a wonderful Kelly Wearstler feel. It would dress up a modern interior, or cool down a very traditional backdrop, much more versatile than you might think.

So please check out Oly Studio, the stuff is great, the people are nice, and the prices are great value!

The First Post

This is the first of what I hope will be many, many posts in the time ahead.

You might wonder what is the goal here, well I think that this is a great medium to bring my philosophy of design to a large audience. I plan to post images not just of my work, but also images that I find that highlight particular design ideas, and I plan to discuss issues that people face when trying to create environments for themselves.

I hope you enjoy.

The image on the right is a project that I recently completed in Los Angeles. I will post more images in the days and weeks ahead but for now I think this image of an Entry Hall is a great picture for the entry to my Blog.

The floor is a pattern that we saw at the entry to Banana Republic in San Francisco and fell in love with. It is made of three different stones and i think creates a very dramatic entry to the home. The chandelier is one of my personal favourites, it was designed by Fuse Lighting (http://www.fuselighting.com) and is made of thousands of Capis shells strung together and is held up with leather straps. The whole effect is quite magical when there is the slightest breeze, it becomes like a giant wind chime. At night it is possibly the most elegant, shimmering chandelier you could imagine.

I am particularly fond of the tension between the light airy chandelier and the heaviness of the stone. Great design exists in that space of tension.

Most of my design work is an eclectic mix of periods and styles, I firmly believe that design should be like a portrait and should speak volumes about the people who live there.