the perfect glow

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Have you ever tried to find a light fixture and felt overwhelmed by all of the options out there?  Well imagine having access to every lighting catalog out there, and then try not to hyperventilate.

That’s why it is so important to have a great lighting team to work with that knows every catalog they have and where they are most likely to find that fixture you have in your mind but aren’t sure really exists.  My favorite local resources (in alphabetical order) are CitiLights Lighting (across from the Basilica in downtown Minneapolis), Filament Lighting (on Excelsior Blvd in St. Louis Park), and Lappin Lighting (in the warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis).   They all have great staff that know their products and are fun to work with.

But sometimes you see a light fixture in a magazine and you just know it’s the one. You start daydreaming about how it would totally transform that boring front hall.  Often lighting ends up being the last thing we select on a project so that it fits well with all the other players in the room. But sometimes a fixture is so special you just have to go for it and build the room around it.

When I saw these gorgeous photos in Elle Decor recently I had one of those daydream moments.  The photography shows off these fixtures so beautifully and it’s rare that you get to see how they cast light in a pure setting like this.  But which one to pick?  I’m a kid in a donut shop who can’t just pick JUST ONE thing (candy is nice and all, but there are so many yummy types of donuts, scones and croissants!)

Drool. I  love how it pops against that dark background! The modern asymmetrical shape could work as an unexpected touch to make a traditional room feel fresh.

Not usually my style, but it’s a fun spin on a chandelier with a more casual vibe.

Hello gorgeous! I love the Moroccan vibe of the top light. And is it just me, or does the bottom light remind you of a donut (in a really good way)? 

Clean, simple and chic. Thomas O’Brien gets it right again (the clip on desk lamp at the start of this post is another of his designs).

Aren’t the patterns on the wall and floor amazing?  Think how magical these shadows would look in a dining room or bedroom at night. 

Sources: All photos from Elle Decor September 2009.

Lighting Sources: Visual Comfort, Matter, Currey & Co., Niche Modern, Visual Comfort, Oly, IKEA, and Moooi.

_

Tags: Citilights Lighting, Currey & Co., Elle Decor, Filament Lighting, IKEA, Lappin Lighting, lighting, Matter, Moooi., Niche Modern, Oly, Visual Comfort
Posted in Industry Updates, Inspiration Boards | No Comments »