Dining Room Lighting

I find that with so many things in life as well as in design, that the first solution to a problem is not necessarily the best. A light fixture to hang over the Dining Room table is the perfect example of this problem. For so many people, the first reaction is to put in a crystal chandelier, while it may be very pretty, there are a host of other options that can create a much more interesting solution.

Here are some thoughts you may want to consider:

• If one is good maybe three is better? If you really want the sparkle of a chandelier, maybe you could try using a grouping of three smaller ones, clustered together and hung at different heights. Using a collection like this can create a fresh, hipper feeling, and allow you to use less expensive, smaller choices.




• Try using a lantern instead of a chandelier. Especially in a colonial home, this can be a great, simple choice.




• The fixture in the picture above is made of papier mache and Christmas lights. I bought it in the south of France from an artist there, and I think it creates the perfect counterpoint to an otherwise sophisticated room.




• If you find an old piece that you want to use, maybe you can have the wiring removed and use real candles instead of bulbs. This will make even the most pedestrian fixture into a glamorous item. Be sure to use drip less candles!!




• I like the simplicity of the rice paper lanterns too, that are so readily available at import shops. Their quiet simplicity is perfect, and they cost very little, so you can swap them out for different shapes on a whim.




• With a little work a regular lamp shape can make a very pretty hanging fixture. You may want to make sure you make a base for it, because sitting at the table looking up into a bare bulb is not want you want your guests to see.

Happy Entertaining!

Good Scents Make Great Sense!

There are a lot of things you can do to make your home more beautiful, arrange the furniture, change the lighting, even clean the windows, but they are all visual things, why not trying to appeal to a different sense?

That's why I created Mark Cutler Scents, a line of candles for the home, they are simply packaged but create a great impact. There are three scents that make up the first collect called the "Garden Collection", Rose, Jasmine and Gardenia. What I have done is take the three most common scents and reinvent them in a new, fresh way, they are the embodiment of my design Philosophy, reinventing tradition for a modern time.

Jasmine: this scent is based on one of my favorite childhood memories, breakfast at the beach on a bright Australian summer morning in the shade of a Jasmine trellis. The mix of the ocean and the perfume of the Jasmine, will stay with me for life and I hope you feel it too as you light my candle.

Rose: this is my sporty, daytime fragrance, it is traditional English Tea Rose mixed with a light citrus, creating an effervescent perfume, unlike any other Rose on the market, if you are looking for something to freshen up your morning room or for a luncheon, this is perfect one for you.

Gardenia: an evening quiet descends when you light this candle. The heady scent of Gardenia, mixed with subtle oriental fragrance creates the perfect mood for a quiet evening of romance or the perfect companion for a long soak in the tub.

Tip for using candles: I love to entertain in the summer, I live in Los Angeles, so it is the perfect climate for that, but sometimes my garden doesn't live up to the expectations of its blooms, so I have been known to light my whole backyard with tea lights, but I will mix in a few of my scented candles and next thing you know it is a fragrant floral paradise.... try it you will see what I mean.

If you want to try a candle, they are available at :Colburn Schwartz in Los Angeles (310) 358 9025

These candles are expensive, but you are worth it!