Perfect Measurements – Universal Rules for a Solid Floor Plan

Jun1
Vern Yip’s Design Wise

Vern Yip’s Design Wise

House Beautiful June 2017 regular article Master Class is by Vern Yip.

Master Class
Vern Yip On Perfect Measurements

“I used to be a premed student and was deep in that world of science and math,” says the Atlanta designer. “I’m still equally left- and right-brained. People often tell me they feel design paralysis, thinking designers are magical unicorns pulling things out of the clouds – we are not! So much of what we do is standardized and logical, especially because most people don’t buy custom furniture. Whether you rent a studio or own a 60,000-square-foot mansion, these rules on dimensions are universal: You can lay out a solid floor plan.”

Vern Yip’s book, Design Wise has all the rules logically explained, with plenty of pictures to illustrate the point. You can search inside the book on Amazon. Continue reading →

Modern Fan’s IC/Air3 fan by Guto Indio da Costa Cools a Coastal Sleeping Porch

May28

The article Havens l Seaside Design in Coastal Living’s June 2017 issue shares designer Janie Molster’s secrets for outfitting a porch.

The article Havens l Seaside Design in Coastal Living’s June 2017 issue shares designer Janie Molster’s secrets for outfitting a porch.

The article Havens l Seaside Design in Coastal Living’s June 2017 issue shares designer Janie Molster’s secrets for outfitting a porch.

“The key to keeping them beautiful year-round, says designer Janie Molster, is using materials that stand up to salt air.”

She lists ten points and her second point is “Balmy days need good breezes. Even on the water, fans are porch essentials for good air circulation. Choose damp- or wet-rated ceiling fans in hues that blend with the architecture…”
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Classic Coastal Style Lighting

May10
Tech Lighting Mini Admiral Classic Nautical-inspired Mariner Pendant

Tech Lighting Mini Admiral Classic Nautical-inspired Lighting

The May 2017 issue of Coastal Living carried the article Coastal Twenty 1997-2017 What’s Classic Now by Betsy Cribb and Ellen McGauley. In it they say; “The coast has its own elements of style – a library of looks woven through the homes that rise up from the shoreline. Here, we’ve celebrated 20 enduring design ideas that define today’s most beautiful beach houses.” Continue reading →

Express Your Style with Outdoor Lighting

Apr16

Take time to select exterior lighting that really enhances your home.

From the time you pull up to your home, your exterior lighting sets the tone. Modern or Contemporary to Beach, Rustic or Historic styles, your lighting reflects your personal style and taste.

What style is your home? Coordinate with the architecture.

Or add style and flair with the right lighting.

Kichler 49627WZC, 49628WZC, 49629WZC, 49630WZC, 49631WZC, 49632WZC Bridge Point Outdoor Collection

Kichler 49627WZC, 49628WZC, 49629WZC, 49630WZC, 49631WZC, 49632WZC Bridge Point Outdoor Collection
The Bridge Point collection embodies the classic styling of nautical and railway lighting. It features a Weathered Zinc finish surrounding Clear Seeded glass. The collection includes a pendant, post light and wall brackets in four sizes.

Nautical Outdoor Lights

Even the most uninspiring house takes on style and flair with nautical outdoor lighting. Give your home the feel of a beach house or a Cape Cod style.

Rustic Outdoor Lights

You don’t have to live in a log cabin to get the feeling with these choices.

Antique Reproduction

Exterior lights that reflect ornate historic lighting coordinate with a historic style home or to add a beautiful focal point to any home.

Hinkley Lighting Trellis Outdoor Collection Trellis by Hinkley Lighting is a collection of traditional European-style lanterns designed in a Regency Bronze finish with dense clear seedy glass. The large scroll arm detail, cast loop finial and true rivet detail create a refined elegance. The collection includes wall lanterns in many sizes, post, pier and hanging lantern and coordinating path lights.

Hinkley Lighting Trellis Outdoor Collection
Trellis by Hinkley Lighting is a collection of traditional European-style lanterns designed in a Regency Bronze finish with dense clear seedy glass. The large scroll arm detail, cast loop finial and true rivet detail create a refined elegance. The collection includes wall lanterns in many sizes, post, pier and hanging lantern and coordinating path lights.

Traditional Outdoor

Traditional classic lighting that brings a classic and classy finished look to your home.

Kalco Hartford Outdoor Lighting Sophisticated New England styling gives Hartford Outdoor Lighting its classic flair. Available in Antique Copper or Burnished Bronze finish with Clear Seeded glass.

Kalco Hartford Outdoor Lighting
Sophisticated New England styling gives Hartford Outdoor Lighting its classic flair. Available in Antique Copper or Burnished Bronze finish with Clear Seeded glass.

Transitional Outdoor Lights

Transitional lighting splits the difference. A good choice for nearly any location, these outdoor lights are a twist on traditional.

Contemporary Outdoor Lighting

Contemporary outdoor lighting collections bring clean styling to your outdoor wet location. Enhance the exterior of your home with contemporary designs.

Modern Outdoor Lights

Linear minimalist designs for the ultimate in urban sophistication. These stunning, modern outdoor collections have robust construction and clean lines.

Hinkley Lighting Harbor Outdoor Collection The Mission Style Harbor Collection from Hinkley Lighting has an updated nautical feel, with a style inspired by the clean, strong lines of a welcoming lighthouse. The cast aluminum and brass construction is accented by bold stripes against the seedy glass.

Hinkley Lighting Harbor Outdoor Collection
The Mission Style Harbor Collection from Hinkley Lighting has an updated nautical feel, with a style inspired by the clean, strong lines of a welcoming lighthouse. The cast aluminum and brass construction is accented by bold stripes against the seedy glass.

Art Deco Outside Lights

Art Deco and Craftsman Style outdoor and porch light options with charming mission-inspired details perfect to add Arts and Crafts, Art Deco or Prairie Style to your home.

Kalco Anastasia Outdoor Collection Anastasia's playful elegance adds sophistication and charm to any exterior. This Outdoor Collection is available in Textured Matte Black or Walnut finish. finish. Clear hammered glass is included with all finishes.

Kalco Anastasia Outdoor Collection
Anastasia’s playful elegance adds sophistication and charm to any exterior. This Outdoor Collection is available in Textured Matte Black or Walnut finish. finish. Clear hammered glass is included with all finishes.

Art Nouveau Lights

Art Nouveau Outdoor Lighting adds an organic theatrical touch to really reflect your style.

Eclectic Outdoor Lights

Not your typical outdoor lighting, these unique choices say a lot about you and your taste.

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Integrally Lit Metal Mesh Light Sculptures

Apr2
Fire Farm Mesh Collections; Ariel, Aurora, Cone, Crucible, Flute, Femme Fatale, Hazel, Jak, Little Sis, Mani, Splat, Square, Star and Maypole are innovative lighting that incorporate wire-mesh to create integrally lit light sculptures.

Fire Farm Mesh Collections

Fire Farm Mesh Collections; Ariel, Aurora, Cone, Crucible, Flute, Femme Fatale, Hazel, Jak, Little Sis, Mani, Splat, Square, Star and Maypole are innovative lighting that incorporate wire-mesh to create integrally lit light sculptures.

Choose hand pleated folds with Star or Ariel.

Fire Farm 19-V Star Vanity Light with Brass Shade, Rust Base - Light sparkles through the hand pleated folds of our Star vanity sconce.

Fire Farm 19-V Star Vanity Light with Brass Shade, Rust Base – Light sparkles through the hand pleated folds of our Star vanity sconce.

The Fire Farm Ariel pendant lamp beams light through layers of folded brass, copper or stainless steel mesh. The Ariel is a double-layered shade with softer edges and a more open bottom than its cousin the Star. The standing lamps have a silver or rust base. The Table lamp has a Hi/Lo dimmer switch and the Floor lamp features a full range dimmer.

The Fire Farm Ariel pendant lamp beams light through layers of folded brass, copper or stainless steel mesh. The Ariel is a double-layered shade with softer edges and a more open bottom than its cousin the Star. The standing lamps have a silver or rust base. The Table lamp has a Hi/Lo dimmer switch and the Floor lamp features a full range dimmer.

Fire Farm 6-T Arial Table Lamp has a Hi/Lo dimmer switch and the Floor lamp features a full range dimmer. The Ariel is a double-layered shade with softer edges and a more open bottom than its cousin the Star.

Fire Farm 6-T Arial Table Lamp has a Hi/Lo dimmer switch and the Floor lamp features a full range dimmer. The Ariel is a double-layered shade with softer edges and a more open bottom than its cousin the Star.

Or sculpt your own organic mesh lighting with soft malleable mesh lighting.

Fire Farm 31-V Jak Vanity: The Mani & Jak emit the deep, warm glow of burning embers. All sconces have a metal back plate with a single wire wrapped around the shade for the large sconces and a double wire coil for the small sconces. The sconces are fitted for hard wire or pin-up Installation. Shades are available in brass, copper or steel mesh.

Fire Farm 31-V Jak Vanity: The Mani & Jak emit the deep, warm glow of burning embers. All sconces have a metal back plate with a single wire wrapped around the shade for the large sconces and a double wire coil for the small sconces. The sconces are fitted for hard wire or pin-up Installation. Shades are available in brass, copper or steel mesh.

 

Fire Farm 50-BBC Aurora Bantam Table Lamp Brass Shade, Copper Vein Base, Copper Vein stem, with Gold Cord

Fire Farm 50-BBC Aurora Bantam Table Lamp Brass Shade, Copper Vein Base, Copper Vein stem, with Gold Cord

 

Fire Farm 52-SC-H Splat Wall Sconce: The triple layers of brass, copper or stainless steel wire cloth Splat hug the wall and are ADA compliant. Available in brass, copper or stainless steel mesh.

Fire Farm 52-SC-H Splat Wall Sconce: The triple layers of brass, copper or stainless steel wire cloth Splat hug the wall and are ADA compliant. Available in brass, copper or stainless steel mesh.

Special Built Items

Fire Farm Phyllo 2814: The buttery layers of the Phyllo 2814 pendants give a warm, inviting glow great for intimate spaces, with a fiery intensity just right for larger environments. These three shades have approximate diameters of 44", 36", and 24", and are constructed with a layered Brass, Bronze or Stainless Steel mesh.

Fire Farm Phyllo 2814

Special built items, like Phyllo 2814 pendants are up to 44” in diameter.

Fire Farm Phyllo 2814: The buttery layers of the Phyllo 2814 pendants give a warm, inviting glow great for intimate spaces, with a fiery intensity just right for larger environments. These three shades have approximate diameters of 44″, 36″, and 24″, and are constructed with a layered Brass, Bronze or Stainless Steel mesh.

Fire Farm Diplomat 2059: This column curtain is a wonderful extrapolation of our signature metal mesh shade material into a one-of-a-kind sculptural lighting solution. The designer was faced with a very dominant structural column in the middle of the lobby of this well-known DC hotel near the Capitol building. After visiting our online gallery, they envisioned using our stainless steel mesh to wrap the column in a transparent curtain glowing with floating fireflies of light from within. The client was able to provide a remarkable photo-realistic rendering of the proposed construction in its environment.

Fire Farm Diplomat 2059

Fire Farm Diplomat 2059: This column curtain is a wonderful extrapolation of our signature metal mesh shade material into a one-of-a-kind sculptural lighting solution. The designer was faced with a very dominant structural column in the middle of the lobby of this well-known DC hotel near the Capitol building. After visiting our online gallery, they envisioned using our stainless steel mesh to wrap the column in a transparent curtain glowing with floating fireflies of light from within. The client was able to provide a remarkable photo-realistic rendering of the proposed construction in its environment.

Fire Farm Orion 1513: The Orion style wave form is a visually stunning material upon which light dances and varies in color and dimension as you move around it. The fixtures are a Fire Farm invention of alternating layers of metal wire cloth and a proprietary light-manipulating dichroic diffusing film. This combination of materials captures the light, breaks it into its rainbow of colors and bounces it amongst the folds in the crumpled metal mesh.

Fire Farm Orion 1513

Fire Farm Orion 1513: The Orion style wave form is a visually stunning material upon which light dances and varies in color and dimension as you move around it. The fixtures are a Fire Farm invention of alternating layers of metal wire cloth and a proprietary light-manipulating dichroic diffusing film. This combination of materials captures the light, breaks it into its rainbow of colors and bounces it amongst the folds in the crumpled metal mesh.

These are reminiscent of the designs featured in Sharon McFarlane’s book Bright Ideas professional lighting solutions for your home.

Spotlight on Georgia Scott Designs: Bright Ideas professional lighting solutions for your home by Sharon McFarlane

Spotlight on Georgia Scott Designs: Bright Ideas professional lighting solutions for your home by Sharon McFarlane

Spotlight on Georgia Scott Designs

Nature often serves as the inspiration when it comes to freestanding integrally lit sculptures

London-based lighting designer Georgia Scott draw on natural forms such as plants, seed pods, icicles and the skeletons of trees. More often than not, these pieces are handmade, as opposed to mass-manufactured, to keep them more sculptural.

In many instances, the objects are woven into their nature-inspired shapes using materials such as aluminum and copper mesh.

Such materials offer malleability essential for creating intricate forms and also present Scott with an opportunity, in her words to “play with light, and achieve different qualities of light through the materials.”

Bright Ideas professional lighting solutions for your home by Sharon McFarlane

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Ambient Lighting Techniques

Mar13
Justice Design FAL-5120 UL Damp ADA Square Faux Alabaster Wall Sconce from the Lumenaria Collection

Justice Design FAL-5120 UL Damp ADA Square Faux Alabaster Wall Sconce from the Lumenaria Collection

Bright Ideas: Professional Lighting Solutions for Your Home by Sharon McFarlane stresses the importance of Ambient Lighting.

Commercial lighting designers use ambient lighting to create the right atmosphere. This books shows how these same techniques can be applied to your home.
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Coordinate Your Metal Finishes

Mar7

From traditional to eclectic, no matter what style you choose, coordinating your metal finishes can make all the difference in pulling a look together.

There are more choices than ever in metal finishes. Brass, bronze, chrome, nickel and stainless in bright polished or matte brushed finish, each sets its own style.

Then there are custom painted finishes to really personalize your look.
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Don’t Let Your Lighting Age You!

Jan16

House Beautiful’s regular feature The Essentials; Solutions for the Busiest Rooms in the House tackles bathrooms in the February 2017 issue.

The article Renovating: Just Add Water states “Our primer on master-bath renovations has real talk on budgeting, who-knew insights, and a roundup of necessary luxuries.”  It ranges from quick tips for a minor face-lift to sound advice for a total revamp. Continue reading →

Kitchen Design Style

Jan10
Contemporary Kitchen with Kichler 42246NI semi flush ceiling lights and Design Pro LED 2700K cabinet lights

Contemporary Kitchen with Kichler 42246NI semi flush ceiling lights and Design Pro LED 2700K cabinet lights

For many of us, the kitchen is the most important room in the house. It’s not just where we cook. It’s the center of family life. It’s where the children play with pots and pans and do homework. It’s where we hang out and talk.
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