You Light up my Life

Ok. So these lights that I just found on Unica.com are my new favorite things in the world. They feel so retro chic, but fresh and new at the same time, they are just terrific. Now if only we could do something about the cost!!! I am working on a new project in Malibu and I am looking for something just like this, but was planning to do a cluster of four. These would be absolutely ideal, but at over $3000.00 each I will need to find something a little more affordable,,,,,but don't be surprised if I find a way to sneak a single one in. :)

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).

Adaptive Re-Use, the Ultimate in Recycling

So much is made these days about "Green Design", and I think that there is a lot to it. I totally believe in trying not to squander resources and shopping smart from companies that do not damage the environment. Having said that, we are in a very glamorous industry that, almost by definition is preoccupied with visuals. One way that I have found that serves both purposes is the idea of adaptive reuse, finding things that were made for one purpose, but no longer are useful, and reusing for a whole separate idea. In the image above you can see the yellow lamp on the right. I found this in an old flea market, being sold with a lot of other old glass containers. It used to be used for some industrial purpose, but with a little imagination it makes a great lamp. Also, for the shade I found, at a different market and old silk sari from India, that was totally worn out and useless, but it was perfect for the lining of the shade. Even the coffee table is made from reclaimed wood.

This kind of imaginative use will go a long way to making the world a better place, and a prettier one too. Here are some thoughts for your own projects:

• Almost any old, interesting object makes for a great lamp, I have used, old toys, pulleys as well as all sorts of old industrial glass ware.
• If you are at a loss how to adopt your idea into an illuminating project, take your pieces down to your local lighting store, you might be surprised how quickly your idea is embraced by the people there
• Old recycled materials, such as wood, old tiles etc make terrific additions to tables, and give them an instant patina.
• When shopping at flea markets etc, be creative, an old classic hub cap, makes a great fruit bowl, with an industrial edge. An old sari or antique textile can be quickly reserviced into a table runner, napkins or a terrific wall hanging.

Scout out all the flea markets and sales in your area, they can be a wealth of opportunity,,,,, remember shop to save the planet!

Monday is Answer Day: Lighting

Today's question is about lighting. Lesley wrote in and she is building a new house, and she is wondering about lighting, whether or not there is much of a difference between recessed lights and surface mounted lights, and how she should design with lamps in mind as well.

This is a very interesting question, because lighting is a great passion of mine. It becomes pretty clear as well if you really think about each of the different types of fixtures. Recessed lights basically will shine light onto the floor, or any horizontal surface, but will put almost no light onto walls or other vertical surfaces. It is that light, (on the walls) that helps you perceive depth in a space. To help balance out the light I like to mix in some surface fixtures, whether they be hanging on the ceiling, or mounted on the wall (sconces). The combination of these two types of light will provide a nice visual texture to the space and helps to bring it alive.

In the image above, you can see where I have combined recessed light (used to light the floor) and surface light (used to light peoples faces as they come to the door), to create a vibrant space.

I also have introduced a table lamp a well to create a brighter area at the table, which helps to draw attention to it, and to help enhance the sense of entry.

One final word, be sure to use dimmers as much as possible and also put everything on different circuits whenever possible. You want to be able to raise and lower the levels of each light in relation to each other, depending on the situation.

Lesley, good luck with your project, I hope this helps.

Thursday is Resource Day

I was out shopping for a client the other day and I went to one of my favorite stores and was reminded again what I liked so much about it. Often, people equate cost to quality or taste, I beg to differ. Today's resource could not be more the opposite of that idea. It is Cost Plus World Market. I love these stores, they are a treasure trove of well priced ideas. I have included a few images of some of the things I especially liked.

The first one is this great dinner set. It is sold by the piece, and while I am not convinced that a whole set is for me, I am using one or two pieces as bathroom accessories for a major celebrity client right now. I think that the pattern has such great coloration that it goes so well in a bathroom, and is a welcome relief from crystal or plain ceramic, that you see so much of. They would also make a great addition to a desk as well. The key is to find what you like, then ask the question "what else could this be?".



The next thing is this stunning folding screen. It has a woven rope pattern attached to the face, that gives it a cool hip look, but I think that for someone on a budget it would make a terrific headboard. If you want something with a bit more drama, take it all the way across the bed wall, and place your bedside tables in front. It will give your room a very chic, modern primitive feel.



Lastly, I am thrilled to announce the death of the Tiki Torch as the default backyard light. These fabulous little string lights are festive without making your garden look like a year round Cinco de Mayo party. String a bunch together and loop them back and forth over the area you want to light and sit back, and listen to the praise of your friends.



So I hope you enjoy this resource, remember the question to keep asking yourself is "what else can I use this for"?

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!

Top 5 Lamps

As part of the ongoing series that I post on Sunday's here is my list of Top 5 Lamps, Enjoy, I hope you find this illuminating.

1. 
   
   Sahara Lamp- Mark Cutler Design Well I would be a schmuck if I didn't include one of my own lamps. This was inspired by the great old hotels of Las Vegas in the 1960's. It has a vaguely retro feel and is available in stained wood or in black, white or red lacquer. Contact my office for purchasing info.
   


2. 
   
Jack Table Lamp- Circa Lighting (www.circalighting.com ) This little lamp makes me smile every time I see it. It is available in a bunch of different finishes and is such a great shape. I have used this lamp in Kids' rooms, as well as Living Rooms, I think it's totally versatile.


3. 
   
   
   

   Faux Bois Lamp - Oly Studio (www.olystudio.com) Anyone who reads this Blog often, knows that Faux Bois is one of my favorite things in the world. This lamp from Oly is a great example of the style. The scale is perfect and the concrete style finish is great.
   



4. West End Lamp- Steven Handleman (www.stevenhandelmanstudios.com ). Steven Handelman is a wrought iron manufacturer from Santa Barbara, and he makes some great pieces, this is part of his line of lamps. It has a very cool Arts and Crafts feel to it, that sets it apart from the rest.



5. Manning Table Lamp- Crate and Barrel (www.crateandbarrel.com ) This is such a terrific staple, that can go from Traditional to Modern. I use this lamp to add scale to a space where I don't want to make a big statement. One other thing you can do too, is open the lamp up and fill it with your favorite collection. Sea shells, toy soldiers or even dried flowers, would all create a cool, very personal lamp.

Well I hope that this list has been helpful.

Entry Halls

Everyone has heard the expression "you only get one chance to make a first impression," and for your house, the Entry Hall is just that. Not only is this the place for a first impression, it is also the place for most people where car keys are put, school bags dropped and newspapers delivered. So how do you go about creating a space that works well for all of these different needs? Here are some ideas for making your entrance something special:

• Lighting is important, have the ability to make the space bright. I like to have lots of dimmers, that way when you are entertaining the space can have a warm glow, but on a day to day basis, you can keep it bright so that you can sort your mail, etc.




• A mirror is a great idea. You will want to check yourself before answering the door, or at least a last moment of preening on your way out.




• A coat rack is a handy thing to have as well. I am not a big fan of having one out all the time ( it feels a bit untidy to me), but if you are expecting guests, its not a bad idea to bring one out. That way if guests have to leave, they do not have to rummage through your closet to find their things.




• A space set aside near the front door to unload is something you will use every day. It should have a place for keys, your cell phone charger, baskets for mail, both ingoing and outgoing, and a hook for dry cleaning. This activity area will keep you organised and will help decompress you as you enter the house.




• Most importantly, make your Entry the most honest expression of you and your values. Family pictures (not too many), a few books on your favorite subjects, maybe even some flowers from your garden. All these things signify that you are home, and there is no better place to be.

Resource Day: Circa Lighting

I love Thursdays because I get to share a different resource each week, and today's resource I am especially excited about. It is a company I have used now for several years, but I have never stepped foot inside their stores, nor ever even spoken to them on the phone (even though my staff has). It is a company though, that has provided me with great service, and an astonishing variety of high quality choices, all from a web site that is clear and easy to use. Today's resource is Circa Lighting. Their web site is www.circalighting.com .

They have brick and mortar stores in Atlanta, Houston, Savannah and Charleston, but as I mentioned it is the website that drew me in. It is clear, concise and above all easy to use. It's broken down into categories of Wall Lights, Ceiling, Exterior and Lamps etc. But each category offers literally hundreds of selections. Unlike most of the large sites, I am a fan of most of the choices too, which makes it especially useful. The styles run from traditional to Modern, so there is a lot of variety, and most come in a variety of finishes too.

The other element that I have come to appreciate is the pricing. I think that they represent great value. For the budget conscious they are about the same price range as the big stores like Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware, but you finish up with a look that looks like a catalog, at Circa the look is much more personal and eclectic.

I hope you will check them out, and let me know what you think.

Answer Day: Lighting

I received a question during the week, asking me to share some thoughts about how best to light a room, and what kind of fixtures were best to use. I like this question because I have very definite feelings on the subject, and I hope you will find this illuminating (sorry I couldn't resist).

Fundamentally, there are two types of light, one that falls on vertical surfaces (walls, artwork etc) that provides depth to a room, and light that falls on horizontal surfaces (floors, tables etc) that provides drama to a room. You can use different types of fixtures to provide the different types of light. For instance, a recessed ceiling light will provide almost exclusively light on horizontals, while a wall sconce almost all the light falls on vertical surfaces (remember that when people are in the room, you are usually vertical, so this kind of lighting is good for rooms where you entertain, and is considered flattering).

So the short answer to the question, is that you want to create a mix of different light sources, so that the room has a good dynamic feel.

Here are some tips you might find helpful:

• 
  
  Start with the light on horizontal surfaces, use it to create a visual path through the room, it will stop the space from feeling too chaotic.


• 
  
  Fixtures that provide this kind of light include recessed lights, ceiling lights that are very close to the ceiling, not hanging low, and table or standing lamps with opaque shades.


• 
  
  Remember that the ceiling is usually part of the horizontal surfaces in the room, make sure you place some lamps in a way that will get lighting up there too, it will make a huge difference.


• 
  
  When adding lighting onto vertical surfaces, pay attention to where people are going to be sitting and standing, you don't want light falling directly in your eyes.


• 
  
  Try and create one or two focal points on the walls around the room, that can be lit a little brighter, this will make the space feel larger and provide some depth.


• 
  
  When there are other spaces leading off your room, be sure to pay attention to their light, you don't want black holes!


• 
  
  Lastly experiment with bulbs of different wattage and color, it can make a big difference too and enable you to create warmer and cooler spots more easily.

I hope this brightens your day :)

Canopy Beds

There are very few things in life that bring me as much pleasure as sleeping. Lazy Sunday mornings in bed with the paper and my dogs is one of the highlights of my week, so it should come as no surprise that I have a lot of strong opinions about beds. One of my all time favorite things is the Canopy Bed, the way it creates the sense of a room within a room, is, in my opinion, a sense of intimacy and security that is hard to create in any other way. Pictured above is a bed that I did for an English style house and i think it captures the essence of what i am talking about.

Here are some tips about Canopy Beds:

• I like to use a stronger color on the inside of the bed, it helps to create a "womb-like" feel when you are inside. In the bed shown above, the outside fabric is a silk taffeta, then I lined the inside with a lighter shade of the same thing, and then added a third lining of a shimmering gold silk sheer, on which I had sewn, small imitation pearls, you can't help but feel like royalty when you are inside.
• Another approach is to make the whole thing from a wonderful sheer, that way the whole bed is translucent, this can help create an almost "safari" like feel, or at least a tropical environment.
• When building these beds, it is my preference to take them all the way to the ceiling, and this is for a number of reasons. I think it helps the scale of the bed, I like the verticality of this approach. It also helps when the bed is attached to the ceiling, because the hangings are attached also at the ceiling and therefore you don't need corner posts, which I think is good, especially if you have children who like to take a flying leap at the bed!

I hope that this post inspires you to create your own bed fantasy....sweet dreams!

Dramatic Dining Rooms

I did this house a few years ago and it remains one of my favorite Dining Rooms ever. The architect is Robert Sinclair (will post his link later today) a Los Angeles based architect who I think does beautiful work. On this house the gauntlet was really thrown down, I was given this huge, double height space and told to make it dramatic but at the same time warm and inviting. This is what I came up with.
The first thing I did was finish the walls in a polished terracotta colored plaster, then I tented and draped the whole room in a fairly rough linen sheer, that acted as a nice counterpoint. I then lit the linen from behind so that the terracotta glowed through the sheer, creating the effect of a warm, glowing tent. To compete with the height I made three huge drum shades, that really fill the space without getting as serious as a crystal chandelier would have. The floor is polished concrete and the buffet is a custom designed piece that completes the whole package.
What I love about this room is that it really captures that idea that a Dining Room is the one room in the house where you can get a bit more dramatic and fanciful, because it is usually an occasional use room. So be a bit more bold about color or texture etc, this is the room to let your imagination go wild. Good Luck!

The Perfect Guest Room

Travelling is one of my favorite pastimes, there is always an adventure to be had somewhere, and because of all the travelling I have been lucky enough to do, I have developed friends from all over the world. I love to play host and show them around the city I have come to love, but one thing I have learned is that it is important to create a quiet place for your guests to retire to. Whether it's a Guest Room or a nook off of the Laundry, they need some where to get away from you (probably as much as you want to get away from them)!
Today's entry is about how you can create a great Guest Room, quickly and easily, and perfect enough to ensure that you will be invited to be an honored guest at their home in the future.

• Create a welcome tray that is on the bed when they arrive, on it you should have some fresh fruit, a bottle or two of water, today's local paper, and a map of the area. I think its a good idea to include a local guide book too, you could even highlight attractions that you think they might enjoy.Don't forget sample sizes of common toiletries too.
• Create your own minibar somewhere in the room. This doesn't mean you should have liquor out, but maybe some snacks and drinks that they might enjoy. There is nothing worse than waking up in a strange house in the middle of the night, wanting to snack and not being sure where they keep the potato chips.
• Leave out Fresh towels either on their bed, but definitely in their room in plain sight, it takes away any confusion they might have about what to use. Also, use the best towels you have, make them feel welcome!
• Create a Guest Book in the room. In the image above the Chandelier becomes its own Guest Book, as people stay in this home they write a note and pin it to the light, makes for great reading when you are in bed! But a more conventional book is great too, it's a great record for you and helps to make your guest feel like this is effortless for you.
• Try to design your Guest Room, so that you can block out the light, your guests are probably on vacation and will appreciate the ability to sleep in.
• On the same idea..... a privacy lock on the door please!

The general idea here is make them feel at home, try and anticipate their needs so that they are rummaging around looking for things. Create a room that is simple, laid out well, and you will be a success. There is a great book on hospitality called "Simple Hospitality" by Jane Jarrell, here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Hospitality-Jane-Jarrell/dp/0849904846/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-6703765-5740715?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173324342&sr=1-2

Enjoy Your Guests!