let there be light…

…and let it make a statement.  Your light fixtures are the right place to take a risk, make a point, and inject some personality.  Yes, they can be expensive but they truly are the jewelry of a room (and who wants cheap jewelry?) Now thats not to say something inexpensive but fun and whimsical or creative, or unique isn’t a great idea… I’d celebrate that.  Typically though, you get what you pay for with light fixtures.

Two points I’d like to make are 1. your light fixtures don’t have to match, in fact they shouldn’t (unless were talking about scones in a space, a long hall, or pendants over an island or other instances like that) Mix it up from room to room, and have some fun with not doing everything in a certain genre, you can have an old crusty lantern in one room and a modern saucer in another. BUT the finishes must speak to each other.  Lighting is no different than any other detail on your home.  Windows, masonry, woodwork to create cohesiveness those details have to tell a story through color, texture, shape or style.  And if you’re mixing up style, focus on the finishes telling the same story.

The other point is you can change a light when it falls out of fashion, but you have to rip out that backsplash accent you couldn’t live without, and trust me… you will get sick of the over designed backsplash.  Or the niche detail you think is a good idea now.  There is no harder job what it comes to good design than restraint.  Thats why i started by suggesting you put the “risk” into light fixtures, they really are easy to change out.

Parting thoughts… use light fixtures to enhance a space, not just light it.. places like the top of bookcases or over your favorite painting (but not if it has glass please). Add sconces down a boring hallway or up a staircase.  Don’t think about them just providing light, make them a point of interest, design them into your space and for pets sake PLEASE put them ALL on dimmers.  Unless your pulling out a splinter or reading the dictionary, I’m pretty certain you need to dim your lights down.

The End.

 

 

A Dash of Brass

I thought I’d make my point by posting this the day after I suggested brass if you’re thinking about going grey…

The timelessness of a white kitchen is not lost on me, it’s something that will NEVER feels dated, or a relic of a time-capsule from days (or years ) gone by.  Brass on the other hand has had its heyday and has been out of favor for some time.. but “it’s back”!  The younger set who didn’t live through the last go around have discovered the warmth and beauty of brass and other warm finish metals are showing up everywhere. Show here with White and Grey, the brass is the perfect complement to the cool crisp aesthetic these kitchens possess.  And, yeah… sure, brass could fall out of fashion again too, but remember it’s a lot easier and cheaper to change than countertops, cabinets and other major kitchen items.

Fearful of taking the plunge but love the look?  Add some accessories to your countertops or swap out a light fixture to update your kitchens look.  Mixed metals is OK, trust me.  Gone are the days of matching dining room sets, and matching metals… you just have to do it in a way that feels thought out, designed.

I’ll be honest it took me a while to get on this train.  I have disliked brass for many, many years… but to be honest now that the market is so oversaturated with nickel, pewter, stainless and chrome a dash of brass really feels special.

Oly

There are a hand full of companies that produce a line of furniture that offers so much good and pretty furniture.  Oly consistently delivers on quality, design and updatedness without feeling like their pieces have a history.  The styles tell a story and what you choose basically creates the ending, your beautiful room.  I find their pieces also mix well with many other styles, pieces  add an updated and glamorous touch and depending on what you choose to mix together to possibilities are endless.    You know how much I love white on white.  well this livingroom grouping delivers on.  The woven raffia side panels on the settees adds depth and texture, and is a good foil for the polished metallic framework on the coffee table and sideboard.   They had me with that chandelier.

I’m ordering this bed for the shop.  I love it.  this is the type of piece you make room for.  Maybe I need it in my life?  someone needs to get this bed asap.  I really even like the pale pink they show it with.  

TARGET’s Look-A-Likes

I slipped in to our local Target store yesterday to buy some Champion brand gym clothes that they have on sale.  I needed more high performance clothing now that I’m performing at a higher level ; )  My trainer and gym membership have been working – even with an occasional, ok frequent, cheat.  Since I was already there, of course I had to see what they were pedaling in the house-wear and garden centers.  Now you might not be quite as shocked as I was to see these cute little side tables but let me tell you after having sold this table to a client I WAS SHOCKED to see a look-a-like in Target of all places.

This little table is a design from OOMPH, and is clearly a knockoff.  I’m a bit torn about this.  On one hand I love that the masses get this great design for a fraction of the better made side table from Oomph… good design for all!  But, It makes me sad that with all the resources Target has, they couldn’t have designed their own cool table and not taken design ($) from a small company like Oomph.  The bottom line is it’s good for you.  This table is 39.99 and available at Target.  It is a chic little table that would look great next to a slip-covered swivel chair, and the end of a sexy settee or even alongside your bathtub holding am iPad and glass of wine. Jonathan Adler has become a household name in recent years.  We went from obscure pottery artist to world-class decorator and retail giant but marketing a look we really haven’t embraced since the days of Merimeko, Vera and other 60’s Modish designs.  And, do you know how you can tell when someone has made it really big?  They get knocked off by a big box chain like Target ( and in this case Nate Burkus ).  Yeah, Yeah tortoise shells have been used in interior design for decades but this white version I’d something Adler has really made iconic.  Bad for Adler… diluting the market and creating a trend so strong it’s bound to be over-played, but great for you because it’s only $19.99 at Target.  Now I may be wrong here but I’m 99% sure this is an Arteriors original design.  And yep, you guessed it… now available at your local Target.   It’s nearly $800.00 from online retailer Zincdoor.com  was it really only $24.99 at Target?  Wow, crazy cheap.  This table is not as well made and they changed the proportion of it a bit from the original – taller and a bit more delicate looking – but come on it is so a copy.
Jamie Young is my “go-to” lighting resource.  They have up to the minute, white-hot lighting at prices that are fair for the well made and well designed quality products they produce.  This white floor lamp from Target is so a Jamie Young KNOCK-OFF.  Bad for Jamie Young… Great for you.  I don’t think it’s nearly as pretty as one of Jamie’s – the high gloss looks cheap and this lamp isn’t made nearly as well – but for the cheap price $69.00? I might be able to live with it.  click here to see the Jamie young version.

Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort

I think I’m a modern-kinda-guy but sometimes I find comfort in tradition.  The designers over at Ralph Lauren know how to put out the classics but give them a twist…  Like the collection for Visual Comfort.  These table lamps are a small sampling of the brass, glass, ceramic, nickel  and other great materials that are employed in the traditional yet up-dated collection.  These lights are easy to place, work into may different looks and have a high-end quality look to them.
I have a great client (who I have a small crush on) up in Newton, MA and this look will be perfect for her.  We are reusing some blue and white buffalo plaid silk drapes from her previous home and I’m thinking that these lamps will layer up the look nicely with a camel sofa and perhaps a pair of chairs in cream.  We have a small pair of occasional chairs to recover too, I think those would look great in a leopard but that might be too wild for her.  Stay tuned for up-dates on that project. This zebra lamp would look best in a room filled with cream-colored upholstery and dark wood floors.  I like the idea of making this lamp one of the only patterns in the room vs mixing it with color and pattern… That might just be a tad OTT (over the top) for yours truly.  Maybe the space could support a modern wickerish coffee table and a leather chair, but this with too much else is just too much.  Bottom line: careful how you use this light.I prefer Navy and Chocolate as my dark tones in color palettes.  Navy mixes with so much, it looks good with almost every other color AND it plays well with other blues & blues are notorious for not  being easy to mix.  Soft wall colors or a white room would benefit from the visual strength of this solid blue lamp.  And, if you’re feeling more than a bit wild perhaps a leopard based lamp will feel right at home at your house.  

the New York Gift Show

I got back late last night from the New York Gift Show. We’re talking acres and acres of home accessories, tabletop, jewelry & bags, and plenty of crazy randomness in between to keep it comical. There was much to see and I managed to see a lot ( enough ) in the one full day I was there. Buying for the store is like decorating for a dozen clients or more, all at once. You have to think about crafting a vision for merchandising when things arrive, buying “whats next” while buying what feels clients will be comfortable with and you have to cater those tastes to as many potential buyers as possible… After all selling your wares is the name of the game.

I expected to be buying hot bright colors for Spring/Summer, Dash & Albert rugs, indoor-outdoor ottomans, Sunbrella throws and the like but as you will see, my heart, my style and my gut all lead me back to rich and subtle tans, greys, aqua and navy. Always in my comfort zone and always in good taste.

We bought tables full of Chinese ceramics, blue and white pots, vases and bowls. Beautiful Tibetan rugs in pale heathered hues in (what else) tans greys and aquas. As well as deep colbalt table lamps, burnished brass decorotive mirrors and chandeliers made of hemp and beads of glass or stone… AMAZING!

So there are some of the Navy treasures, and here are some pretty aqua inspired finds I couldn’t live without…

 

Um, YES PLEASE!  do you love this sconce as much as I do?

William Haines designed the original “Ice Crystals” Sconces for the May house in 1953, using faceted pieces of acrylic material. This limited edition is offered as an exact opposing pair. Reflecting the sparkling glamour of Hollywood , the sconces are a brilliant accessory to traditional or contemporary interiors.  As modern as they were in the 50’s these would look amazing in a urban loft, organic beach house or a traditional home.  That speaks to the quality of design and the timelessness of these beautiful lights.

Designed for the Haines studio in 1951, the Bel-Air sofa exemplifies the essence of the Haines look – restrained modernism and glamorous scale. The back supports and legs are wrapped in leather and frame the deeply tufted upholstery. Originally made ten feet wide, the sofa is available in custom sizes.  I love that the sofa has both the glam of hollywood in its heyday and the quintessential details of a mid-century piece.  

William Haines Designs, located in Los Angeles, California is carrying on the Haines legacy by faithfully reproducing the original Haines furniture designs with great accuracy and penchant for this style known as Hollywood Glamour. Peter Schifando and J. Jonathan Joseph are extending the Haines aesthetic with painstaking accuracy and fulfilling the current demand for Hollywood Regency design. With an A-List clientele, which includes Nancy Reagan and Betsy Bloomingdale, it is only befitting that these iconic, classic designs from William Haines grace their homes.

The Elbow Chair, the Brentwood Chair, Conference Chair and Pull Up Chair are among the glamorous classics that comprise the William Haines Collection. These are authentically produced by the same California manufacturer for the last fifty years. The current Haines furniture collection are re-issued Haines Originals. They are available through William Haines Designs and select dealers throughout the United States.

William Haines Designs

Get On The BEIGE Train!

Tan, Taupe, Beige, Camel, Khaki, Sand, Grey WHATEVER…

There is no better (easier) way to create a calm zen like room than by sticking with neutrals.  A room nearly void of colorful patterns and bold colors allows the eye to see texture, form and shade.  This look is far from boring if you employ interesting shapes, strong accents and rich textures.  Dark pieces are a great way to give the eye something to find. A basket, a side table a table lamp… just a few small additions to a creamy tonal beige room add punctuation.   I promise, it’s a sophisticated look.

I get the look isn’t for everyone, but if you’re drawn to the idea… try it.  You can always layer in color if you just can’t handle the abyss of beige.

Lamp by: Visual Comfort

Table by: oomph

 

Antique Stomp… What I almost bought.

So I mentioned in my last post that I enjoy poking though the antique store in my area on my day off… I often will buy things with clients in mind, hoping they might like what I’ve found and secretly hoping I’ll be forced to keep it if they don’t share my vision.  Well this week I found a few things I – they – couldn’t live without, and many things I wanted to buy, but left behind…  I’m wondering if there isn’t some web-based business where I could post the things I didn’t buy and offer to buy them for someone should they want it, and deliver or ship it to them.  That business model probably already exists but I’m thinking it could be a slow winter project – assuming I’ll have time over the winter… it’s already shaping up to be quite busy.  Anyway, here are the things I let slip by…

9 plus feet long, $400.00… I know it’s a crazy deal, I just don’t have a need for it.

Orange and White, great condition… $875 for the pair.

I might go back for these… $500 for the pair!  Crazy right?!?

Black glass, needs shade (duh) but it was $59.00 Wish there were two.

If I had that G.D. summer house I could install these in the showers… forget how much, but they were pricy.

Summer House Last Gasp

The summer season is sadly over.  The air is crisp, the summer people are gone and school buses rule the roads at 7:30AM and 2:30 PM.  I’m still in summer mode because clients have left me with “to do” lists, most not needing to be finished before spring, but lists just the same.  Fresh slip covers, overseeing construction and remodel projects, and my favorite fluffing and re-accessorizing before their return.  Bookcases seem to be a daunting task for most clients, some have asked me to include them in floor plans so they wouldn’t have to worry about filling them – filling them for them is my dream-come-true!  I spent all day today shopping my favorite antique stores for just the right things to layer into clients shelves, to stack on tables and to add to small vignettes.

Color palettes are shifting too.  Nobody is looking for turquoise these days… Grey is the color of the moment especially for the young set ( they didn’t get their fill in the 80’s when we – that’s the old, royal we – were using Dove Grey EVERYWHERE!).  Black, grey and cream is the new white, beige and tan.  I’m filling the store with Black, cream and RED right now… it mixes well with autumns colors and goes right into holiday, hopefully there won’t be much left when its time for a change!  …that’s the plan anyway.  Getting back to summer, or the lack of it I should say… Now is a good time to evaluate what you need to do before next summer to hit the ground running when the warm weather returns.  I for one have re-up’d my gym membership, and plan on buying sunscreen, umbrellas and the like on sale now and put them away til spring… but that has nothing to do with decorating.  Wash your slip-covers, roll-up your sisals and put down your wool rugs cozy up your rooms with blankets and extra pillows and add a light or two to fight the dull-drums of winter.

This bedroom with its sweet prints, board walls and cottage aesthetic is really pretty, a great way to winter up this look would be black lampshades, darker accent pillows and a big fluffy – I’m into fluffy – down duvet and shams in coco brown!  I might go as far as changing the art to a heavier oil painting or small grouping of paintings with more color… landscapes with skies would pull the wall color enough to really make a change for the season in this room.  Message: Don’t be afraid to tweak your interiors for the season.  You don’t have invest a lot, and you can always put it back to how it is now when you want to.  

 

White Kitchens

I never get sick of them… hope you don’t.

The high ceilings and the details make this kitchen, love the slab backsplash and shelf, big windows, light and wide boards on floor and the cool lights…

vineet kaur

vineetkaur.tumblr.com

A friend of mine posted a picture on Pintrest that she found on Vineet Kaur’s blog.  I was so happy to find the well-edited point of view the blog represents.  Beautiful images of fashion, home furnishings, architecture, landscapes, life-styles… you will be too.

Studio Vit – Marble Lights

One thing leads to another, as they say…

I was on Facebook last night (duh) and a friend had commented on an image of a loft in Madrid that I was quite taken with.  Well of course I had to click my through Facebook and then into the web page ( plastolux.com ) where the post had originated to find the full story.  An hour later I had a half-dozen beautiful images from several of their posts I wanted to create my own blog with – a “best of” if you will – and I will be posting some of the many pictures but frankly there is so much good design over there ( at plastolux.com ) that you should click over and see for your self… you’re welcome!

A very cool website indeed, after I got my fill of beautiful images of modern spaces from all over the world I stumbled upon these beautiful lights.  Studio Vit‘s Marble lights is a collection in marble and glass fixtures. playing on the idea of a typical bulb and socket, the fixtures consist of glass spheres and cylindrical marble lamp holders in various sizes which can be freely combined.

The Marble lights collection includes table, floor and pendant lights, as well as three different sized floor weights which can be used as counterweight hanging fixtures.  The goal of the collection was to create a product that is simple yet refined and generates a juxtaposition of volumes, materials and weights… it just happens to be beautiful.

Studio vit was proud to present Marble lights, their second collection, at the Milan Furniture Fair 2012.

Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort

Brooksend Pendant in Polished Nickel with Linen Shade

Height: 13″ Width: 22″ Canopy: 7½” Round Available Finishes: AI, GI, PN

Dustin Small Dodecahedron Pendant in Natural

Height: 51½” Width: 16½” Canopy: 4½” Round Available Finishes: BLK, MHG, NAT

Lofthouse Sconce in Aged Iron with Linen Shade

Height: 17″ Width: 16″ Backplate: 4″ x 6″ Redtangle Extension: 38¾” Available Finishes: AI, PN

All of these beautiful fixtures are part of a new collection from Visual Comfort, the leader in well made lighting for the home.  Quality and attention to detail make these special pieces designed by Ralph Lauren and his team are available through designers and better retailers.  I love the craftsmanship of each fixture and the finish options make for easy selection.   Availability is usually pretty good, but if you are embarking on a project, pre-selection and ordering ahead of the contractor is a good idea… I have seen too many jobs stalled by backorders.

JANGEORGe Sag Harbor

My friend Richard turned me on to this great pair of designers turned shopkeepers a while back after he returned from Key West where Jan and George have their interior design shop.  Both have worked over a decade as Interior Designers and now with JANGEORGe Sag Harbor open their empire expands!  Besides Interior Design services, JANGEORGe Interior Design offers an exclusive mix of modern, contemporary European furniture, combined with antiques, lighting, art, fabrics and accessories.  Not only all of that, but a curated and edited version of it, so well-chosen you could shop with your eyes closed.  Located in an 18th century whalers home in the historic village of Sag Harbor NY, the furniture, furnishings and accessories all have a time-worn patina, a tonal vibe that is easy to live with and a chic factor that is off the charts.

What you’ll find there:

Furniture

JANGEORGe by Frigerio, Bonacina, Emeco, Flexform, Kirch & Co, Meridiani,  Moooi and Moroso.

Beds

JANGEORGe by Frigerio, Flexform,Gervasoni, Ivano Redaelli and Meridiani

Rugs

GT Design, Ivano Redaelli, Mangas, Merida Meridian

Lighting

Prandina, Lumina, Flos, Oluce, Luceplan, Moooi

…just to name a few of the amazing vendors they are working with.   Here is a link to their beautiful portfolio of work: www.jangeorge.com be sure to stop in if you find yourself in Sag Harbor (or Key West) and tell them Billblog sent you!

Surroundings

I think Work and Play should be kept separate – and this blog is play – but in all fairness I do blog about what I’m working on from time to time and have mentioned the store from time to time so I have decided to cross the line today and post a few pictures that were taken recently of the shop (yes, the place I work).   From the ground up:  The Dragon area rug is a one of a kind hand-knotted wool rug and I love the colors in it mixed with the Asmara rug hung on the wall.  They are a great pairing because the organic and “open” pattern of the dragon rug compliments the geometric pattern of the Asmara (also hand-knotted and all wool) and the color palettes are the same, only colors are used in different amounts.  So while they are opposites, they are in fact very much alike, and look quite good together if I do say so.

The Sofa is the Tilden from Hickory Chair.   I really do LOVE this sofa, and I know I love a lot of things on this blog ( and I know I shouldn’t love “things”… but I do) but seriously this sofa goes anywhere.  Modern, traditional and anything in between.  It all depends on how you cover it and the pillows you put on it.  Well made, comfortable and a great napping sofa the Tilden is at the top of my sofa “go to” list.

The Tables in the shot are from all over.  The garden stool was bought off the back of a truck, a wonderful Chinese man drives all over the eastern seaboard selling Chinese imports out of the back of his truck, and we love it when he drops in on us.  There are always treasures to be found in his mobile shop.  The small white-painted table is from another chinese import vendor we work with out of LA.  They offer great selection and prices so we can pass them along to clients at great prices.  This small table is only a few hundred bucks!  The barley twist game table were using as an end table is from G & J Styles.  They have a great showroom in NC and we buy from them regularly.  Their merchandise fits in to many aesthetics and the quality is great.  This little table has leaves that allow six – close friends – dine at it, but it’s also a great game table for puzzles and cards.

OK, pillow talk and then were moving on… the big embroidered pillow is made by Ryan Studio ( we love them and their great pillows)  and the little needlepoint pillow is by Michaelian Home.  A little whimsy goes a long way but their pillows are well made the colors are sophisticated and they work great for our area.

Another beautiful Asmara rug supports this grouping that includes the Hickory Chair wicker coffee table and gives interest to the neutral linen sleeper sofa by Lee Industries.  Lee offers so many different sofa frames and their shipping is usually 4 to 6 weeks so of course we depend on them for quality furniture and good prices that are not only American made but guaranteed.  Lee has a great line of slip-covered sofas, chairs and ottomans too called Coveralls.  Between the two lines we can satisfy any customer.  In the background you can see our display of Dash and Albert rugs ( we carry wool, cotton and indoor/outdoor) as well as the cabinet filled with Vagabond House platters and pewter.  Last, but certainly not least is the pretty polished nickel chandelier from Visual Comfort.  Yet again another vendor who offers a tremendous variety and good quality construction.  Their styles are great and their finishes suit every need.

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit!

Happy June 1st everyone.  “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” is one variant of a common British superstition which states that a person should say or repeat the word “rabbit” or “rabbits”, or say the phrase “white rabbits”, or some combination of these elements, out loud upon waking on the first day of the month, because doing so will ensure good luck for the duration of that month.

Ligne Roset’s Pan Pan Decorative Rabbit and Pan Pan Table  are a  little something out of the ordinary, a rabbit integrated right into the table top and his larger buddy, a free-standing decorative object. Both pieces were designed by Barbara Kuehne-Thompson, whose background is similarly intriguing.  She left the United States for Vietnam at the age of 24. While there, she met Swiss entrepreneur and founder of Wetter Indochine, Michel Kuehne. Together they have managed to combine the skills of Vietnamese artisans with creative design to “…transform the pure forms of nature, bringing them into the home in a subtle, elegant way…” Linea

The Rabbit Lamp ($516.00) was designed by Front Design for Moooi in the Netherlands. Moooi’s Rabbit table lamp is part of the “Animals Series” by Front Design for Moooi in the Netherlands. The “Animal Series” include the Rabbit Lamp, the Horse Lamp and a Pig Tray Table. Who wouldn’t want a rabbit or a horse to lighten up your living room and a pig to serve your guests? The Moooi Rabbit Lamp is a very attractive whimsical modern table lamp. Everyone loves this unusual lamp which is highly decorative in form. The adorable Rabbit Lamp will add a unique flare to any room in your house.Moooi designs and produces their modern lighting and contemporary accessories in the Netherlands. No wonder Moooi’s collection is so attractive: the Dutch word for “beautiful” is “mooi”. A combination of elegance, grace and timeless good looks typifies the Moooi collection. Legendary Dutch designers of note include Edward van Vliet, Bertjan Pot, Jurgen Bey, Job Smeets, Maarten Baas and Marcel Wanders. Museum curators clearly have taken notice as well. Several pieces of the Moooi collection have already been snapped up for museum collections including the MoMA New York.

And this little cutie for you child’s room or just a bit of whimsy… available from or whiterabbitengland.com.  I think it’s only $95.00 or was it pounds?!

IKEA

I admit it, I’m a snob.  I prefer high quality, flawlessly designed furniture (and clothes).  I am of the school that “you get what you pay for” and my favorite line is: BUY THE BEST, CRY ONCE.  But, for the record IKEA really impressed me on a recent visit.  It’s down right CHEAP, it’s really well designed and they have their look “down pat”.  I could have spent $1000.00 – and in the world of home furnishings that’s not a lot – and left with a car load, ok maybe two car loads full of groovy stuff.

I would have spent the majority of my money on rugs, lighting and small rigid frame chairs.  I’m leery of IKEA’s upholstery, convinced it will not be comfortable.  And, I don’t like many of their case pieces – I don’t want to have to build it, and I’m sure it will fall apart in a year – But… the before mentioned rugs, lights and occasional chairs (and maybe even some window treatment options) looked like they would hold up, add a modern twist to any space and leave you with enough in your wallet to buy a quality sofa.

Porcupine Quills – Who Knew?

It seems as thought everytime I find something on the internet that I love,  it’s in/from/available from a Canadian resource.  Snob is a high-end Toronto boutique specializing in “furniture as art, art as furniture.”  It turns out most of the furnishings in Denise Zidel’s beautiful Carlaw Street showroom hails from Africa, as does the owner herself.  SNOB is dedicated to African craftsmanship, which, apparently, does not come cheap. you know what I’m gonna say next… I Love This!  Exotic Modern.

If your lucky enough to find yourself anywhere near Carlaw Ave. (yes, in Canada) Pop in and tell Denise I sent you.

SNOB

388 Carlaw Avenue #202F
Toronto, Ontario M4M 2T4

Canada

Tel: 416.778.8778

Visual Comfort – Lighting

Saw this first image on La Dolce Vita’s blog today.  I’m enjoying my weekend at Ocean House and all the wonderful events scheduled into the weekend to celebrate one of my best clients birthday, but a tiny but sad I’m not at High Point in NC, getting my shop on and buying beautiful things for the store and clients. But I’m here being spoiled with the best service, in a beautiful room, partying with great friends and celebrating a good friend and client.I can’t count how many times I’ve posted about Visual Comfort, a favorite lighting manufacturer of mine.  They make so many wonderful types and styles of lighting it’s really one of the only sources I need to make my clients – and myself – happy.  Of course there are dozens if not 100’s of others I like including Jamie Young, The Natural Light, Vaughn, Robert Abbey, Oly, Currey & Company to name just a few… But Visual Comfort has quality, great finishes and more choices than any designer would need to complete a lighting plan from beach house to loft to city apartment to farm house, they do it all… and they do it well.

It’s my last day here at Ocean House and I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of lights the designer responsible for the furnishings has committed to.  Form my bed – yes, I’m still in bad at 11:51 AM – I can count 8 lights and from memory  (meaning I don’t have to turn them upside down to know that – 5 are Visual Comfort.  AND, there are more down the hall… because I’m still in my Jammies, the 2 grainy shots and the end of the post – taken with the zoom on my iphone, not the best – will have to do, but just look at these handsome lights…

and from the Jammie-cam…