nest egg

Flush Mounts

 

There are thousands of fabulous lights out there right now. You flip through the catalog and get excited about a fixture and then realize Oh, it's WAY too big for my house. So I keep running into the same issue with clients: why can't these fixtures just be shorter??

Most of my clients (including myself) have 9' ceilings so unless we're hanging something over a table the fixture shouldn't be over 24" high. Ideally you need something around 10-20" high. Which leaves us with... the flush mount category. I bet for most of you when you think of flush mounts this image pops into your head: 

Which we like to call "the boob light." I'm sorry but it's true. 

There are better options out there... Here are a few of my favorites:

(Basil Flushmount; available through circa lighting; pictured in 1st photo- via things that inspire; photo by Emily Followil) 

Classic schoolhouse flush mount- circa lighting

Rustic flushmount @ Solaria Lighting, available through RH Designs

 

Ralph Lauren's cage light, @ Circa Lighting

star flush mount; available through circa lighting

Federal ceiling light; @ Shades of Light

One of my favorites.. Soleil flush mount, circa lighting

Satellite 3 @ Schoolhouse Electric

A little glam? Robert Abbey's Bling Flushmount @Lamps Plus

Gear Mount @Shades of Light.. would look cute in kids room/bathroom

small sienna flush mount; circa lighting

 

Chisolm Passage @ Urban Electric (available in all Benjamin Moore colors)- see in room: 

Capiz Shell flush mount- @ Worlds Away. Teenage girls love this light! Available through RH Designs

Brass Tiered Pendant @Urban Outfitters for $64! - I haven't seen it in person but from the room picture it looks pretty cool-

Simple. linen drum shade @ Shades of Light

Classic Semi-flush Bell Jar, circa lighting

Mary McDonald's Classic Ceiling Light @ Shades of Light

Restoration Hardware barn pendant

Clark Ceiling Light , circa lighting

I put these in my own house down our hallway. When we moved in there was a track light that drove me crazy so we took out the track...

 and installed 2 flush mounts...

Oh, look who it is. :)

Finley says hi.

Lanterns

I'm still here.

And am in the mood for a good lantern!

I LOVE lanterns and have been putting them everywhere lately. I really like seeing them over an eating area or dining table. It's unexpected and sets a casual tone for an otherwise dressy room...

via my home ideas; photo by Matthew Gilson 

 

J Randall Powers viaHouse Beautiful

via urban electric 

via Things that Inspire 
 

 
Erika Powell, via Southern Living, photo by Erica Georges Dines

 

Nancy Boszhardt via House Beautiful

 

Jill Sharp via House Beautiful

Melanie Pounds via BHG

via Things that Inspire/ Traditional Home

TTN: When picking out a light fixture to go over your table don't forget to consider a lantern!

Is anyone doing anything fun over Memorial Day weekend?

 I'm going on a quick vacation but will be back next week!

 

Let there be Light

One of the best parts of my job is when I see things come to life. It's like a Disney movie, really. (I expand on this experience in this post)

 So, about a week ago I experienced yet another Disney moment....

One of my projects is a big barn.

(And in this Disney story I am just a weeee hobbit.)  ^me^

 As you can tell from the picture, everything about this barn is HUGE and masculine.  Remember the swing? Same place.

 In the great room there are 25' ceilings and a kitchen island that is over 13' wide. So looking for an island light fixture became a bit of a problem. 

 I wanted something large (obviously), industrial, and somewhat indigenous. And let's not forget: masculine. 

I had been sketching up ideas for a few months and nothing was clicking.

Then one day.... it clicked. 

 

Bingo.

So I color-coded a set of construction drawings for The "Boys" (what I like to call the extremely talented boys men that work on the property and can build almost ANYTHING in their sleep) ...
 
 

 

and the construction began.

 + + 
 With the help of The Boys, Tommy the electrician, the Client, the Knot Magician, (3) Restoration Hardware 16" Benson pendants, some old barn wood, a local welder, a large lift, and a bunch of other tools I don't even know how to spell, we were able to make it happen. (Note: this would NOT have been possible without these talented people)

Then two weeks later.... 

 It appeared right before my eyes....

 

<insert Hobbit for scale... seriously- look at my head, then look at the light. It's huge.>

  

 

Fits right in...

More pictures of the barn to come. It's not finished, yet. But you'll be the first to see them!

***********************************************

<I wrote this post a few days ago... and am now on vacation.!! >

 
A rainy day on the coast? I can't complain.

Have a great rest of the week!

Be back soon...

 

Gotta Get A Gourd

A bright, colorful gourd lamp will update ANY room. Guaranteed. I find myself recommending them almost as often as I recommend changing a paint color.

(The lovely ladies above are all from HERE, around $150-$200 each)

Some other affordable ones....

 

a few from here , $105

 

 two from here, $179

 one from here, $119

And if you are near a TJ Maxx HomeGoods store you should swing by to check see if they have any gourd lamps. Nine times out of ten you'll find an inexpensive pair. I always do. Then I pace around TJ Maxx trying to decide if I should buy them or not, finally manage to awkwardly hold them while standing in a line, get irrationally annoyed after 5 minutes of waiting, put the lamps back, and walk out frustrated and empty handed. (P.S. This is how Hoyt shops ALL the time) Anyway, don't repeat after me us. If you see some good gourd lamps, think of me and wait patiently in line. 

And last but least $

Target one, $25 

Get a gourd, 

Thank me later. 

 
  

Chateau Love

A friend/reader sent me an email from Houston, Texas letting me know she now works at Chateau Domingue. After looking through the website she clearly meant to say heaven. I scrolled through the images sitting alone at my computer and said aloud

Oh.

my.

word.

 

Chateau Domingue is known for importing reclaimed materials and unique architectural elements from all over the world! All sorts of flooring, tiles, light fixtures and furniture. They have 15,000 sq. ft. showroom that I am going to need to see sometime very soon! I can't even imagine what beautiful pieces grace the floors.

I thought I'd spread the love before the weekend with some of their images that will make your heart flutter...

 

drooling yet ???


 

 

 
 
   
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

and my personal favorite...

 
    
Pick your chin up off the floor....

 and have a good weekend! 

<all images from chateau domingue- go check it out!!! The website a beautiful illustration of their unique vision. >
 

 

Had to share...

When I shop for my clients I shop anywhere from Hickory Chair to Target. And sometimes, hoping to score a light fixture, I shop at Overstock. I was cruising through the website today and came upon this great chandelier for a whopping $189 !!!

 

Love the simplicity of this fixture.

Love the price even more...

Found HERE.