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Top Trends in House Lighting

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Whether the latest in hand blown glass, fabrics or customized pieces, or whether the newest environmentally friendly LED lighting is for you, the latest trends in house lighting are exciting and innovative and sure to cause a stir. With something for every room and more, lighting has never been so sexy.

Different rooms need different light, that’s something we take for granted. However, the latest trends in lighting have taken this basic premise to new levels and with added colours, textures and new materials available, a sophisticated look is within the grasp of everyone.

When considering the right lighting for any particular room there are simple rules that it’s well worth following. These make installing the latest trends in lighting far more worthwhile and to better overall effect.

• Take into account what you will use the room for. 
A kitchen is for food preparation, but unless you have a separate dining room or are very formal, eating with the family, children’s homework and many other tasks can happen here. Good lighting is paramount in a room with heavy usage like the kitchen. However, you may not want to be under the spotlight in the bedroom.

Consider color. 
If you have dark coloured walls, then you might want to employ brighter lighting to compensate. Natural light from windows will also have a bearing on how your chosen lighting works so placement is important.

Kitchen lighting has enjoyed something of a renaissance lately. Recessed lighting, once so popular, has become less sought after. However, pendants and spotlights have enjoyed resurgence in popularity with great fabrics such as tweed and ethnic woven fabrics being used for pendant shades. Also a long time favorite, glass, including colorful hand blown murano type shades, is a good choice for pendants.

Two very traditional chandeliers adds a lot of glam to this small kitchen

A modern twist on the traditional glass pendant or chandelier is a lot of fun in the kitchen

via Country Living, via Rue Mag

Little LED spotlights make a big difference in glass front cabinets

via House of Fifty

Spotlights in busier areas are ideal and with the latest environmentally LED lights you can rest assured that you are making the ethical choice. Green lighting (the actual color – not eco), a huge trend a couple of years ago is out and more muted shades such as teal and smoke are popular. However, these shades are harder to work with in areas that need good illumination so perhaps stick to good uplighters and spotlights with dimmers for your pendants over eating areas to give the right ambience. Remember to use different lighting in different areas, lamps provide great task lighting and can be themed to fit in with your other lighting. 

Teal, smoke, and lavender colors are ideal in bedrooms though. Again glass is a popular choice for shades and the chandelier is as big as ever. However, the latest chandeliers use quirky materials and there are some really great designers to choose from. Recycled materials are again a top trend with the environmentally conscious and chandeliers and pendants are an ideal way to channel this fashion in lighting.

For your main living areas, lighting can be one of the most exciting ways to bring a room to life. From the very large, think huge ceiling lights in everything from warm colored metals such as bronze or pewter to eco-chic pieces in layers of cheesecloth or woven fabrics, to the very small such as tiny LED’s around a wall mirror are top trends at the moment. Lamps can be used to provide a talking point, with unusual one off pieces, perhaps steampunk influenced, which can be placed strategically to enhance the overall ambience of the room. With spotlights taking over from recessed lighting in a big way and color playing an important part, don’t forget to make the very most of textures and materials. A colorful glass pendant or globe will cast a rainbow over the room, but choose carefully as you want it to enhance, not clash with, your decor. Small lamps with clear or white or environmentally friendly LED lighting can be used in areas where you read, sew or generally just want to have higher illumination. The dimmer switch is again, a must have. It really is enjoying a comeback and is so useful in creating depth and atmosphere.

I am completely in love with this shell pendant light. IN LOVE.

2 first via Vampdecor.com, via Country Living

Don’t forget the bathroom, where a top trend this year is eco-chic. Muslin, cheesecloth and ethnic/romantic shades work best on pendant fittings. Colored LED again is huge and pink and lavender provide the most flattering of hues. Hallways and passages and landings and stairs, all need to be lit well enough to enable them to be used safely, LED again or lamps in recessed areas have great possibilities.

 via Homethangs.com

And finally, don’t forget the outside of your home. LED and solar lighting are both here to stay and provide you with the latest looks to compliment your interior lighting.

Top Trends in House Lighting

0

Whether the latest in hand blown glass, fabrics or customized pieces, or whether the newest environmentally friendly LED lighting is for you, the latest trends in house lighting are exciting and innovative and sure to cause a stir. With something for every room and more, lighting has never been so sexy.

Different rooms need different light, that’s something we take for granted. However, the latest trends in lighting have taken this basic premise to new levels and with added colours, textures and new materials available, a sophisticated look is within the grasp of everyone.

When considering the right lighting for any particular room there are simple rules that it’s well worth following. These make installing the latest trends in lighting far more worthwhile and to better overall effect.

• Take into account what you will use the room for. 
A kitchen is for food preparation, but unless you have a separate dining room or are very formal, eating with the family, children’s homework and many other tasks can happen here. Good lighting is paramount in a room with heavy usage like the kitchen. However, you may not want to be under the spotlight in the bedroom.

Consider color. 
If you have dark coloured walls, then you might want to employ brighter lighting to compensate. Natural light from windows will also have a bearing on how your chosen lighting works so placement is important.

Kitchen lighting has enjoyed something of a renaissance lately. Recessed lighting, once so popular, has become less sought after. However, pendants and spotlights have enjoyed resurgence in popularity with great fabrics such as tweed and ethnic woven fabrics being used for pendant shades. Also a long time favorite, glass, including colorful hand blown murano type shades, is a good choice for pendants.

Two very traditional chandeliers adds a lot of glam to this small kitchen

A modern twist on the traditional glass pendant or chandelier is a lot of fun in the kitchen

via Country Living, via Rue Mag

Little LED spotlights make a big difference in glass front cabinets

via House of Fifty

Spotlights in busier areas are ideal and with the latest environmentally LED lights you can rest assured that you are making the ethical choice. Green lighting (the actual color – not eco), a huge trend a couple of years ago is out and more muted shades such as teal and smoke are popular. However, these shades are harder to work with in areas that need good illumination so perhaps stick to good uplighters and spotlights with dimmers for your pendants over eating areas to give the right ambience. Remember to use different lighting in different areas, lamps provide great task lighting and can be themed to fit in with your other lighting. 

Teal, smoke, and lavender colors are ideal in bedrooms though. Again glass is a popular choice for shades and the chandelier is as big as ever. However, the latest chandeliers use quirky materials and there are some really great designers to choose from. Recycled materials are again a top trend with the environmentally conscious and chandeliers and pendants are an ideal way to channel this fashion in lighting.

For your main living areas, lighting can be one of the most exciting ways to bring a room to life. From the very large, think huge ceiling lights in everything from warm colored metals such as bronze or pewter to eco-chic pieces in layers of cheesecloth or woven fabrics, to the very small such as tiny LED’s around a wall mirror are top trends at the moment. Lamps can be used to provide a talking point, with unusual one off pieces, perhaps steampunk influenced, which can be placed strategically to enhance the overall ambience of the room. With spotlights taking over from recessed lighting in a big way and color playing an important part, don’t forget to make the very most of textures and materials. A colorful glass pendant or globe will cast a rainbow over the room, but choose carefully as you want it to enhance, not clash with, your decor. Small lamps with clear or white or environmentally friendly LED lighting can be used in areas where you read, sew or generally just want to have higher illumination. The dimmer switch is again, a must have. It really is enjoying a comeback and is so useful in creating depth and atmosphere.

I am completely in love with this shell pendant light. IN LOVE.

2 first via Vampdecor.com, via Country Living

Don’t forget the bathroom, where a top trend this year is eco-chic. Muslin, cheesecloth and ethnic/romantic shades work best on pendant fittings. Colored LED again is huge and pink and lavender provide the most flattering of hues. Hallways and passages and landings and stairs, all need to be lit well enough to enable them to be used safely, LED again or lamps in recessed areas have great possibilities.

 via Homethangs.com

And finally, don’t forget the outside of your home. LED and solar lighting are both here to stay and provide you with the latest looks to compliment your interior lighting.

Happy Friday and a fantastic giveaway from eclectic decor boutique Zengerine!

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I was lucky enough to be recently introduced to a very cool online shop called Zengerine. It combines two of my great loves: home decorating, and travel. While traveling I come across so many amazing objects, but expensive baggage costs and the desire to keep my bags light prevent me from snatching up all the amazing cultural décor I come across.

 Luckily, shops like Zengerine have collected little treasures from across the globe so you don’t have to carry them over great expanses of land and sea!

The folks at Zengerine are also awesome enough to give one lucky reader a gift of $75.00! All you have to do to enter is answer some questions in the widget below! (Each question you answer counts as 1 entry).

 Currently most of their product focus is on Asia, but they will be featuring products from all over the globe very shortly, so stayed tuned! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are some of my favorite products from Zengerine

I cook a lot of Asian food, and this Chinese steamer set would be so beautiful for entertaining!

How adorable and unique is this tea set from JIA Inc. in Taiwan?! I love the little feet.

This is one of those cups that you just want to display as opposed to using…I think I would use it for a muffin and coffee breakfast on a beautiful Saturday morning out on the balcony though… This porcelain comes from Shanghai.

Drooling over this Jim Thompson Thai silk cosmetic bag!

These adorable salt and peppershakers are from Hong Kong Designer Loveramics.

I have a SERIOUS crush on this Japanese and tattoo inspired floral dishware by Paul Timman for Ink Dish. The first item in my cart was the set of mugs that match this set!

 Don’t forget to enter this great giveaway by answering the questions in the widget above. The contest closes on September 9, at 6PM EST. I will announce the winner on September 10. Good luck, and have a great holiday weekend!

Happy Friday and a fantastic giveaway from eclectic decor boutique Zengerine!

0

I was lucky enough to be recently introduced to a very cool online shop called Zengerine. It combines two of my great loves: home decorating, and travel. While traveling I come across so many amazing objects, but expensive baggage costs and the desire to keep my bags light prevent me from snatching up all the amazing cultural décor I come across.

 Luckily, shops like Zengerine have collected little treasures from across the globe so you don’t have to carry them over great expanses of land and sea!

The folks at Zengerine are also awesome enough to give one lucky reader a gift of $75.00! All you have to do to enter is answer some questions in the widget below! (Each question you answer counts as 1 entry).

 Currently most of their product focus is on Asia, but they will be featuring products from all over the globe very shortly, so stayed tuned! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are some of my favorite products from Zengerine

I cook a lot of Asian food, and this Chinese steamer set would be so beautiful for entertaining!

How adorable and unique is this tea set from JIA Inc. in Taiwan?! I love the little feet.

This is one of those cups that you just want to display as opposed to using…I think I would use it for a muffin and coffee breakfast on a beautiful Saturday morning out on the balcony though… This porcelain comes from Shanghai.

Drooling over this Jim Thompson Thai silk cosmetic bag!

These adorable salt and peppershakers are from Hong Kong Designer Loveramics.

I have a SERIOUS crush on this Japanese and tattoo inspired floral dishware by Paul Timman for Ink Dish. The first item in my cart was the set of mugs that match this set!

 Don’t forget to enter this great giveaway by answering the questions in the widget above. The contest closes on September 9, at 6PM EST. I will announce the winner on September 10. Good luck, and have a great holiday weekend!

Blissful bedrooms galore

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I don’t think I will ever be the type of person who wakes up at an “acceptable” hour without an alarm. My bed is one of my favorite places. Considering my enthusiasm for sleep, I also share a similar enthusiasm for the bedroom. Cheap beds or higher end, they all deserve some lovely surroundings.

This elaborate ebony bed is an amazing focus point.

Love the soft pink combined with dark gray.

What do you think about putting a dresser at the foot of the bed?

images above via Elle Decor

Love the blue on that wall.

How gorgeous are those windows.

images above via Hus & Hem

Blissful bedrooms galore

0

I don’t think I will ever be the type of person who wakes up at an “acceptable” hour without an alarm. My bed is one of my favorite places. Considering my enthusiasm for sleep, I also share a similar enthusiasm for the bedroom. Cheap beds or higher end, they all deserve some lovely surroundings.

This elaborate ebony bed is an amazing focus point.

Love the soft pink combined with dark gray.

What do you think about putting a dresser at the foot of the bed?

images above via Elle Decor

Love the blue on that wall.

How gorgeous are those windows.

images above via Hus & Hem

Victory Ford’s casual chic apartment in Lipstick Jungle

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I don’t know if you guys remember the show Lipstick Jungle from a few years back.  It was written by the same author of Sex and the City, but Lipstick Jungle only ran for two seasons I think.  I watched it on DVD awhile ago with some girlfriends and my favorite part of the show was the character Victory Ford’s apartment.  They changed it a bit throughout the show, but it was always a pretty and chic space.

See below

This shot is the apartment in the second episode.  Notice the green room behind them, and the blue room behind that one.  In following episodes, the green room becomes the kitchen, painted light blue, and the room behind that one becomes Victory’s design studio (she’s a fashion designer in the show).

I really love the colors in the apartment.  There are a lot of combinations I would never think of, but once you see them you’re like…”wow – that really works!”

Victory is now in the kitchen, which used to be the green room that you see in the first image. 

Looking from the kitchen, into the living room.

Another shot from the kitchen, looking into the living room.  Love the casual kitchen cart.

The two shots above are from the living room looking into the kitchen.  Her studio/workspace is behind them.

Victory’s home studio, which we don’t see too much of.

 I have a serious crush on her throw blanket.

 More of the living room..the two shots above were “night time” shots, so I had to really up the brightness so you can see details.

Some detail shots.  I think they subdued the purple in the living room after the first episode.

What do you think of the space?

All images from Lipstick Jungle Season 1, episodes 1 and 2.  © Universal Pictures Studios

Bathroom love…

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I’ve been absurdly busy this month, and it looks like September will be no different… I’ll have to squeeze in some pampering and soaking in the tub whenever I can…

How lovely is this?

…and that wallpaper!  I’m not sure how practical the lamps are though – and I hate it when they take out the cords in photos!

I swoon over beautifully arranged objects!
via BHG

What I missed at NY International Gift Fair 2012

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I was all set to go to this summer’s NYIGF when a last minute obligation came up.  I was a bit bummed as I haven’t been to one yet, and I have been wanting to go for years now.  I will shoot again for 2013, and in the meantime, live vicariously from those lucky enough to attend.

Here is some of my favorite coverage and products.

Unsurprisingly, COCOCOZY‘s booth is a breath of beautiful fresh air…

Love the combo of luxe and rugged on this throw…by PEHUEN

3 images above via OD360 Designs

Adorable ceramics by Kahler

and Pantone bowls by Room Copenhagen

via 3 rings

All the finials a girl could want….by Hillary Thomas Designs

via Habitually Chic

How gorgeous is this dresser upholstered in Indian embroidered textiles from Manglam Arts?
via StyleBeat

See anything you like?

Ultra luxe, super glamorous spaces

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These rooms are truly some of the most luxe, glamorous spaces I’ve seen.  If you are a girly-girl, love the feeling of satin and velvet on your skin, and don’t shy away from drama – these will definitely speak to you!

Amazing mirror, fab wallpaper.  A mix of textures keeps monochrome interiors from feeling flat.

White, black, and shiny surfaces (check out the ceiling!) is instant drama

…even the rug has sparkles…

While I appreciate the beauty of this dining room, I couldn’t live life without pets and children 🙂

Love the floor!

Could you live in these spaces?  What ideas could you take from them and incorporate in your living space?

All images from Dyfari Interiors