Brightbound Lighting

I am so excited to have found a new lighting company that is creating some truly gorgeous light fixtures. Brightbound, headquartered here in Northern California, is showing some simple yet luxe styles. Mouth blown glass pieces of various colors, sizes, and opacity are custom-made in Brooklyn, and then sent here to be assembled using hand-knotted cord available in many different hues. The results are stunning. I can't wait to show these to a client! As you can see, they look good at a kitchen island, over a dining table, in a living room, in a bathroom, or even in a bedroom!

If you would like to use a Brightbound fixture in a bathroom, dining room, living room, or kitchen project, just give me a call!

Happy designing!

The Deconstructed Chandeliers of Frida Fjellman

I am wild about the amazing work of Swedish glass artist Frida Fjellman. She has managed to invent a new style of light that is a post-modernist take on a traditional chandelier. Instead of a fixture with crystal drops, she magnifies the drop itself and fashions entire light fixtures out of clusters of these gigantic faceted objects. Her colors are gorgeous, and just look at them in actual rooms. Stunning. I can't wait to show these to clients and see who might love them as much as I do!

Happy designing!

A Kitchen Light That Kills Bacteria and Germs!

Here is an amazing new product I must share with you. A company called Vital Vio in Troy, New York has created a light fixture that actually destroys germs and bacteria. This promises to be a valuable addition to the design and lighting of hospitals, gyms, restaurants, airplanes, and offices, but also residential kitchens as well, where germs on counters are prevalent and food safety is a top priority. Called ellumi™, Vital Vio’s White Light Disinfection™ LED Technology uses photo-activation to produce Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which causes irreparable damage to the cellular structure of bacteria and germs.

Their website states:

Make ellumi™ work for you

*Continuous around the clock cleaning so you don't have to

*Built in dimmer switch so you control the amount of light

*Direct-Mount or Plug-in let's you choose the best installation for your home

*LED light provides energy savings which means more money in your pocket


How ellumi™ Works

University researchers have proven that specific wavelengths of light actually inhibit bacteria reproduction and destroy cells.

This is effective on Strep, Staph/MRSA, E. Coli, Salmonella and 18 other bacteria.

The light excites certain molecules in harmful microorganisms through photo-activation.

These molecules produce Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), causing cell wall damage and death over time.

The units are available in four sizes and range in price from $100 to $200.

While the profile is a bit chunky, it can be hidden with the addition of a rail. And eventually, I am sure they will make a tape strip like most LED under-cabinet lighting available now.

Happy designing!

Ketra Invents Natural Light

I am amazed by this marvelous new lighting product from Austin Texas-based company Ketra. It took four years to design a light that changes color temperature throughout the day, starting with bright white light just sunshine to a warm firelight-like glow in the evening. Research has shown that this candlelight glow in the evening and night hours helps our bodies produce melatonin and prepare us for sleep. (Even the newer phones and tablets now have a "Night Shift" option where the light from the screens is warmed, eliminating the bright blue-white light that stimulates the brain, making it harder to sleep.)

Ketra makes a variety of fixtures and lamps (bulbs) along with interfaces and apps to control them. Watch the videos below to see the products in action.

Happy designing!

Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort

All of us in the design world are pretty excited about the brand new lighting line design icon Kelly Wearstler has created for the extraordinary lighting company Visual Comfort. A collection of chandeliers, wall sconces, and table and floor lamps all feature Wearstler's signature flair for stark geometric shapes and interesting materials. Burnished brass, alabaster, ceramic, quartz crystal, silver leaf, and perforated metals suggest, as most of Wearstler's designs do, both a retro and contemporary sensibility. Current and future clients be forewarned: you should expect a Kelly Wearstler light in your future!

Cleo Desk Lamp

Cubist Chandeliers

Liaison Triple-tier Chandelier

Linden Table Lamps

Marmont Table Lamp in Burnt Gold and White Porous Ceramic

Melange Sconce

Melange Table Lamp

Precision Sconces

Halcyon Desk Lamp

Strada Flush-mount Light

Strada Sconce

Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort is available to the trade. If you like what you see, give me a call and we can scatter some gorgeous Wearstler lights around your house!

Happy designing!

Lighting Basics: How To Illuminate A Space

Each space I am hired to work on is individual, unique, and has its own personality. But there is one element that is consistent in every single space I design and that element is: light. It is the invisible element in the room since many people only consider furniture or furnishings, or finish materials such as tile, wood, or paint when thinking of a room. Yet lighting is such a vital part of each and every space.

Lighting greatly effects mood. I am sure we have all had the frustrating experience of being in a room with insufficient light when we are trying to read or work on a task which requires us to see well. And by the same token, I am sure we have all been in a room that was simply too bright when we wanted to relax. Too much light or not enough can create a subliminal annoyance that manifests in a dislike of the room itself. But don't hate your kitchen or living room for bad lighting. There are easy ways to fix this problem.

Whether you are building from scratch, starting a down-to-the-studs remodel, or just planning on furnishing an existing space, below are some tips and thoughts for working with lighting.

First, we want to think of lighting as being flexible. We want to be able to choose bright light for any task we might want to work on, but we also want to be able to control that light for when we wish to watch a movie on a nice new flat screen or spend a nice, intimate evening visiting with friends. In order to achieve this, we can layer our lighting.

There are three main types of lighting:

1) Ambient
This is light that completely illuminates a room. Think of this as the base coat of paint on a wall--you want good coverage, to spread the light out as much as you can. Well placed recessed ceiling lights do a good job with this layer. In the photo below, you can that the recessed trough lights create an even blanket of light for the center of the living room.

2) Task
This is lighting that allows us, as the name implies, to complete a certain task. Sconce lights on either side of a bathroom mirror cast light ONTO our faces, allowing us to shave or put on make-up without any annoying shadows. A table lamp or reading lamp next to a chair allows us to read without eye strain. Under cabinet lighting in a kitchen allows us to use sharp knives safely.

3) Accent
As I wrote at the beginning of this post, each room has its own unique personality and accent lighting allows certain traits to be highlighted. The swing arm lamps in the Robert Couturier-designed library below are a lovely element to limn the shelves of books. Strategically placed spot lights can illuminate art, whether it is two or three dimensional. And lighting under a bathroom vanity toe kick or hidden in a soffit can define the edges of a room. Accent lighting can also bring some sparkle and drama to a space.

Accent lighting can also highlight architectural details such as cove or tray ceilings. Wall washers (recessed lighting positioned to send a beam of light cascading down a wall) can call out the texture of stone or wood wall details.

Successful spaces incorporate all three layers of light. In the living room, and the Candice Olsen-designed kitchen below, see if you can identify the three layers at work in each room.

If you are remodeling or simply refurnishing a space, remember to include multiple sources of light in your layering. Ambient layer: If you have the opportunity to add recessed ceiling lights, by all means do so. If you can't recess into the ceiling, unobtrusive surface mounted spots can be just as effective. Task layer: Use several table lamps instead of one torchiere in the corner. Accent layer: Include a decorative light here and there for some interest. And remember that small up-lights can be positioned behind furniture to brighten dark corners.

Happy designing!