Archive for March, 2009

Mar
30
All About Table Lamps

You should have a table lamp on each table beside seating pieces or bedside, unless you have provided for light from another source (floor lamp, wall light, recessed down lights, track lights, etc).  Table lamps are the most flexible lights in your home since you can move them from room to room. We have many unique table lamp styles including traditional, oriental, contemporary, antique, vintage, modern, mission, rustic, country, buffet, nautical, equestrian, Japanese, spa, floral, Martha Stewart, and whimsical. Our table lamps are made of the highest quality of materials including crystal, glass, brass, ceramic, porcelain, wrought iron, wood, chrome, copper, mica, gold leaf, art glass, antler, etc.

The correct height of the table lamp is determined by the seating piece and the height of the table beside it.  The table lamp should be tall enough for the bottom of the lampshade to come to the eye level of the person seated beside it.  This will provide the best light without glare from the bulb.  Table lamps on either side of a sofa do not have to be identical, although they should have the same “visual weight” and height.

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Mar
30
Dorm and Apartment Decor

Whether you are decorating a college dorm or a first apartment, style, price and function should be your main considerations. With the exception of the kitchen and bathroom, one watt of light per square foot (1/5 for fluorescent and for halogen), with the addition of task lighting (reading, studying, needlework) should provide sufficient lighting. Task lights include floor lamps, desk lamps, table lamps and swing arm wall lamps. We offer lots of styles and themes, including nautical, rustic, chic, contemporary, hip, traditional, and more. To create the best lighting design in your apartment, use a variety of height and direction of lighting (uplights like a floor torchiere and plant lights, downlights like an arc floor lamp and directional wall light, etc.).

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Mar
30
Ceiling Fan Light Fixtures

Most ceiling fans can take a light kit. If there is a threaded pipe and nut in the bottom of the motor housing, most standard light kits will be compatible. If not, contact the manufacturer of the fan to find a compatible light kit.

The best ceiling fan lights are the ones that give indirect light ABOVE the motor (often hidden in the motor!). These produce a pleasant, non-irritating light and don’t create annoying shadows when the blades are in motion. The next best chice is a downlight kit below the motor that produces NO upward light.

How to wire a fan light:

If your fan comes with a light kit, it may already be wired and in place requiring only that you install the bulbs and globes. In some instances, however, you may need to wire the light kit yourself. Remove the switch housing cover plate from the bottom of the fan motor. Remove the plug from the center of the cover plate. Feed the light kit wires (black and white) through the holes in the cover plate and screw the plate tightly to the light kit to prevent it from vibrating loose. Locate two wires within the switch housing labeled “for light” (white and blue). Connect them to the light kit wires with wire nuts-white to white and blue to black. Secure the connections with electrical tape to prevent the wire nuts from vibrating loose during operation. Carefully push wires back into the switch housing, and attach the light kit to the switch housing with the provided screws.
Some ceiling fan light kits take a small appliance bulb, while others take tiny but mighty halogen bulbs.

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Mar
30
All About Ceiling Fans

Which way (direction) should a ceiling fan turn?

Ceiling fans can reduce your energy bills up to 40% in the summer and 10% in the winter. Reversible motors allow you to put your ceiling fan in forward (higher edge of blade is leading edge) to blow air down and pull hot air up in the summer and in reverse (clockwise) in the wintertime to push air up to the ceiling and then warm air down into the room.

What kind of controls do you need for a ceiling fan?

Typically, a ceiling fan has a pull chain that operates both the light and fan. An option is to purchase a remote control, which provides you with the convenience of being able to turn the fan on and off, up or down from any place in the room. You can choose from a wall-mounted or a handheld remote control.

How do you install a ceiling fan?

Safety is crucial when hanging a ceiling fan. Due to the weight and movement of a ceiling fan, you need to attach the hanging brackets directly to the ceiling joist. If you are not able to gain access to the attic, you can use a brace bar from below the attic. Just be sure it is a heavy duty, adjustable metal bridge that has spiked ends. To make this work, you would cut a hole in the ceiling (if one does not already exist), making it large enough to slip the bar through to the frame. Now you want to position the bar so the legs are completely flush to the bottom of the joists. Finally, rotate the outer shaft so the spikes are set firmly into the wood. Then attach the bracket that holds the motor. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the motor installation. If you plan to use a downrod, attach it above the motor. Next, attach the brackets that hold the blades, then the blades. Often the blades are different finishes on different sides so select the side you want to see and place that side down. Lastly, attach the light kit.

How do you balance a ceiling fan?

Over time a ceiling fan can get out of balance. To rebalance the fan, turn the fan off, identify the wobbling blade(s), and attach the balancing clip that came with the fan, placing it firmly on the leading edge of the blade. Make sure the clip is just halfway between the blades outer edge and the blade bracket. Then turn the fan on to see if this corrected the wobbling problem. Use the other clips as necessary, on each blade, checking the wobble after each placement.

How do you select a style for a ceiling fan?

Although most ceiling fans selected are white, you can make a real style or whimsical statement with your selection! From rustic lodge to belt driven tropical bamboo fans, you can add loads of interest to a room. Nursery and child themes including airplane ceiling fans and baseball light kits can make a children’s room more fun.

What is the best choice for fan blades?

Wood blades are still a popular choice today so if you decide to go that route, just make sure they are properly sealed to avoid warping. This would be especially important if you plan to install the fan in a room such as a bathroom or kitchen, or outdoors. Our exclusive raw oak blades allow you to finish the wood to match or contrast (try a colored stain) your ceiling. In addition to wood blades, you will find some that are a paddle design, tropical palm leaf design, white wicker or beadboard, just about every design you can think of.

How to size a ceiling fan?

The first thing to consider when buying a ceiling fan is the size for the room in which you plan to hang it. Ceiling fan size is measured by the diameter of the span of the fan in inches. A space smaller than 75 square feet should have a 29” or 30” fan, a 75-149 square foot room needs a 42” span, a 150-249 square foot room needs a 52” fan, a 250-400 square foot room needs a 54” to 60” fan and rooms greater than 400 square feet need 2 ceiling fans.

What makes a ceiling fan best?

Obviously, you want your fan to have forward, reverse and at least 3 speeds. The blade pitch, along with the blade span, is what determines the degree the fan will cool the room. The steeper the pitch, the more effective the fan will be in moving the air. Therefore, you should look for blade pitches that are 12 degrees or greater.

Motors that are higher powered will move more air and not overheat like fans that have lower powered motors. The size of the motor generally reflects its overall strength. There are three main motor sizes: small (153mm), medium (172mm), and large (188mm). As the motor increases in strength, it is able to push a blade with a greater pitch or angle. Look for a motor that has sealed bearings, which never need to be oiled. Another good option is a rubber flywheel, which helps keep torque under control. This helps to stabilize the fan while keeping the level of noise down. Most ceiling fan housings are made from stamped steel, whereas the highest quality fan housings are made from die cast zinc. . The larger motors are often the quietest because they use what is called a triple capacitor system. The triple capacitor system ensures that the fan is quiet throughout all of its speeds.

How far should the fan hang from the ceiling?

There is no set rule but you should avoid fans that are extremely close to the ceiling and fans that are closer than 7′ from the floor. For ceilings taller than 8′ it is important to balance the down rod length with the ceiling height. The following is a general guideline:

  • 9′ ceiling - 6″ down rod
  • 10′ ceiling - 12″ down rod
  • 12′ ceiling - 24″ down rod
  • 14′ ceiling - 36″ down rod
  • 16′ ceiling - 48″ down rod
  • 18′ ceiling - 60″ down rod
  • 20′ ceiling - 72″ down rod

Outdoor Ceiling Fans

Outdoor ceiling fans have sealed motors and plastic blades to prevent warping from moisture. Due to the wear from weather, pay attention to the manufacturer’s guarantee. This is an indicator of quality and expected life for the fan. Luckily, today’s outdoor ceiling fans offer may looks and styles including tropical, whimsical, modern, industrial, and colorful! Outdoor fans are also a good choice for the bathroom!

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Mar
27
The Layered Look - Not Just For Apparel!

Layering combines similar styles together, or perhaps, teams up an eclectic mix of styles to create an intriguing combination. Shades layered over Chandeliers are fast becoming a classic all to themselves. Our favorites include Organza Shades & Crystal Chandeliers.

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Organza Shade & Crystal Chandelier - Round

Our exclusive Conservatory Glass Canopy looks fetching over a crystal chandelier; here we paired it up with our Beaded Crystal Chandelier.

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Conservatory Glass Canopy, Beaded Crystal Chandelier

We just adore layering up anything with sisal rugs. They lend themselves to a vast range of possibilities. If your décor goal is to make a room appear larger try covering the entire room with a large sisal rug. To create an intimate space place a small patterned rug in front of the furniture.

We are featuring our Sassy Sisal in nutmeg with a wonderful hand-knotted Soumack rug in complementary colors.

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Sassy Sisals Rug, Soumack Collection

Placing animal skins over Sisals will add a dramatic touch to any area. Shown here are our Zebra Skin in black & white over Sassy Sisal in natural trimmed in black twill.

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Sassy Sisals Rug, Out of Africa Hide Rug

Our Cowhide in Brown & White layered over our Nutmeg Sassy Sisal can go from down on the ranch to a sophisticated Soho loft.

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Sassy Sisals Rug, Cowhide Rug

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Mar
23
Lantern Love Giveaway!

We are seeing a growing lantern trend. Indoors or out, lanterns add spice to any space! Don’t be afraid to use them in unexpected places, such as the bathroom or bedroom. Here are some of our favorites (and our customers love them too)!

la09004bzAntique Mirror Bell Jar Lantern

We literally saw the light when we spotted a beautiful antique mirrored glass hurricane candle holder not being used at full potential! Our creative minds told us that this piece would be much better on the ceiling as a hanging light for everyone to admire! We immediately got to work and came up with an ultra stylish design, better known as our Antique Mirror Bell Jar Lantern. It makes a statement in a foyer by itself or looks amazing when several are hung together over a kitchen island!

la07015Bronze and Clear Glass Smokebell Lantern

Who doesn’t love a classic Smokebell Lantern? They date back to the colonial days and were designed with a glass lid to provide the maximum amount of candle light without getting smoke stains on the ceiling. Ours is a very traditional, plain glass version, much like the original…a timeless choice for a style that transcends trends!

ol06035hRichmond Outdoor Hanging Lantern

We’ve got spring fever and can’t wait for the warm air to get here already so we can head outside and put our decorative skills to work in our outdoor living areas. An outdoor hanging lantern is a must for impromptu backyard get-togethers or fancy soirees on the veranda! Our Richmond Hanging lantern was designed by us and crafted by local skilled artisans, practically in OUR backyard. It’s made of real copper with a perfectly aged finish and has versatile classic appeal that takes any porch from ordinary to fabulous!

WIN OUR BEAUTIFUL PAGODA LANTERN!!

la07012_locPagoda Lantern

We’re really loving pagoda’s right now (okay, we’re obsessed…and not just right now!) They really pack a powerful punch and are an easy way to vamp up your style factor without redoing your whole house. Our Pagoda Lantern offers two far-east inspired colors that easily coordinate with any décor style. This piece would be a great focal point in a decorative powder room or bedroom! And we are giving it away in stylish green! To enter, just comment on this post with the words “LANTERN LOVE” by Monday, March 30th at 8pm EST. Then go ahead and let us know what else you love about lighting and home decor! Limit one entry per e-mail address (our winner will be selected using random.org). Good Luck!

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Mar
20
Types of Crystal

There is no great mystery in discerning the quality levels of crystal. In fact, the level of quality is as the phrase implies “crystal clear”. Glass trim reflects light while crystal trim refracts it. Within a solid white environment, glass will have no color. Crystal, on the other hand, will still display fire and brilliance regardless of the presence of color. All that is needed is light.

Strass crystal
Strass crystal is considered the highest quality of crystal trim throughout the world. Swarovski Strass, manufactured in Austria, is considered the premium brand of Strass due to a patented anti-dust coating (an invisible optical coating making it easier to clean and maintain) and name recognition. The term “Strass” means “perfect surface of glass” and contains lead quantities of 30% or more. The machine polishing leaves no trace on the surface of the crystal and the hand polishing creates perfect optic clarity, razor-sharp faceting and unique purity and brilliance. And to protect buyers against imitations, the Strass logo is laser etched into miniature inside each crystal piece.

Gem cut, Egyptian, or Spectra Lead Crystal
Gemcut, Egyptian, or Spectra lead crystal (made with 24%-30% lead oxide) is some of the finest refractive crystal. There is no noticeable difference between 30% and 24% machine-polished lead crystal. Lead improves clarity and softens glass for cutting. Though not as expensive as Strass or Swarovski crystal, this crystal is characterized by a prismatic brilliance, visual purity, sharp faceting and precise polishing all its own. Spectra Crystal is manufactured like Strass crystal but without the optical coating.

Turkish, Heirloom, Bohemian, Czech Crystal
This crystal uses a mixture of oxides other than lead, such as soda ash, to achieve high optical clarity and refraction of light that closely rivals full-lead crystal. The EU certifies that glass must contain at least 10% oxides to carry the label “Crystal”.
In fact, one would need a piece of both lead-free crystal and full-lead Strass crystal to notice the difference between them. What you would see is approximately 10% more color/fire in the Strass crystal and no noticeable trace of polishing within the facets. The difference in price is what makes lead-free Bohemian Crystal a value in comparison to full-lead crystal.

Murano Glass
Made in Italy on the island of Murano, authentic Venetian crystal combines quartz, soda, sand, potassium, and lead oxide at very high temperatures. The glass is blown and stretched by hand allowing artisans to create delicate floral and other unique shapes.

Wood-Polished Crystal
In a labor-intensive process, wood-polished crystal is first cut by hand in two stages on iron and then sandstone grinding wheels. Then each crystal is polished on a wood wheel with marble dust. You may notice faint traces of the wood wheel in finished pieces, a mark of authenticity.

Italian Crystal (Legacy, Venetian)
This lead-free crystal is used in antique reproductions to accurately reproduce the antique since lead crystal wasn’t invented until the 17th century. Italian crystal comes from the historic glass-making region around Venice and has a look and feel all its own. Italian crystal is molded and fire-polished rather than hand or machine cut, resulting in a beautifully subtle luminosity. Fire-polished crystal is characterized by concave facets (instead of flat facets), the appearance of a slight texture within the crystal, lessening optical clarity, and a noticeable characteristic of reflecting color in the environment instead of refracting light into a prism of color within the crystal. It is modestly priced, compared with hand-cut crystal.

Lead-Free crystal
Machine-polished lead-free crystal is the closest quality level to Strass crystal. High-quality machine polishing leaves no trace of the polishing on the facets of the crystal. While this is less expensive than Strass Crystal, there are many who would argue that its handcrafted nature elevates it above machine made crystal. When looking closely into the facets of hand-polished crystal, one can see slight grooves in the crystal left by the polishing wheel, as each facet of the crystal was pressed by hand and individually polished. These slight grooves, apparent only from very close scrutiny, lay testament that it is a handcrafted piece of crystal made of exceptional skill and craftsmanship. Many people within the industry have mistaken this crystal for Strass.

Pressed Glass & Chinese “Crystal”
Generally made from sand, soda, and lime heated in furnace and then pressed (molded), or “drawn” (re-shaped), this type of glass is the least expensive. Chinese crystal is cut and polished like more expensive grades, but lacks the high optic quality and precision facets. Seams are usually visible in pressed glass lamps and prisms.

Rock Crystal (Quartz Crystal)
Not real crystal glass at all, rock crystal is crystal rock that is mined, not manufactured. It cannot be mass-produced. Each rock crystal is completely unique, created by geological events and pressures taking place over millions of years. Authentic rock crystal bears a unique mark from this process, and can be identified both by visual appearance and by touch - it remains mysteriously cool to the touch no matter what the surrounding temperature. Raw quartz is mined in only a few remote locations. Rocks are hand selected, then ground, cut and polished entirely by hand - an expensive process. Polishing one piece can take a week or more because of the natural complexity of the rock material, and the rejection rate for imperfect pieces can be 12 to 1 or more. Used extensively until crystal glass manufacturing methods were invented, rock crystal is generally used today in specialty lighting fixtures and custom designs.

Aurora Borealis Crystal
Clear crystal needs direct light to really create lovely rainbows on nearby surfaces, while the Aurora Borealis crystal looks beautiful even without direct light. The Aurora Borealis treatment is applied to one side of the prism and looks like a multi-colored rainbow that is reflected through the prism.

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Mar
20
Lighting Products - Knowledge Base

METALS: All metals conduct electricity (thus the need for a “ground” wire).

  • Brass: Mixture of copper (55%-95%) and zinc and sometimes lead (for strength). May also have some lead, tin, nickel, etc. Yellow brass has 70% copper.
  • Bronze: Alloy of copper and tin (25%) and sometimes lead, zinc, phosphorous.
  • Copper: Usually plated because it’s too soft to hold shape (unless its fairly thick). Known for its ability to conduct electricity and heat.

Brass, bronze, copper, aluminum, and chrome do not rust and resist corrosion, so they are often used for outdoor lights. A green or brown patina forms over time and helps prevent corrosion. A magnet will not adhere to brass, bronze, or pot metal.

  • Chrome: Hard brittle gray metal used to plate other metals to give them a shiny finish.
  • Pewter: Alloy of tin (95%) and copper or antimony (sometimes aluminum is substituted which is very light in weight).

Pewter, copper, and pure silver dent easily.

  • Tin: Soft and easy to bend. Will rust. Often used in solder.
  • Tôle: Hand-painting on tin.
  • Silver: Softer than gold and usually plated onto a harder metal.  Sterling silver is not good for lamps because it’s too soft.
  • Wrought iron: Pure iron mixed with a glass-like material so it can be “wrought” into shapes.  (Cast iron is too brittle and cannot be shaped). Iron must be covered with paint or lacquer to prevent rust and corrosion.
  • Cast Aluminum: Light in weight, resists corrosion, silvery-white metal.
  • Stainless Steel: Resists corrosion and rust. 10% chromium.
  • “Pot” Metal: a gray alloy that can be cast but snaps when bent. Cheapest of all metals.

CRYSTAL & GLASS

  • Rock Crystal: Natural quartz mined in quarries. Very expensive!
  • Crystal: 24%-30% lead oxide (Lead improves clarity and softens glass for cutting).
  • Strass (Swarovski) Crystal: most expensive and most “fire”
  • Soda Ash Crystal (Turkish, Heirloom, etc.): Next best thing
  • Czechoslovakian: Some lead but not much.
  • Italian Crystal: No lead, just cut glass. Used in antique reproductions.
  • Murano Glass: Combination of quartz, soda, sand, potassium, and lead oxide at very high temperature. Glass is blown and stretched by hand. Many floral and unique shapes in glass.
  • Glass: Sand, soda, and lime heated in furnace and then blown, pressed (molded), or “drawn” (re-shaped).
  • Pressed Glass: Seams usually visible.

POTTERY & PORCELAIN

  • Porcelain: Hard paste ware fired at highest temperature. Purest and most delicate pottery.
  • Bone China: Hardest and most translucent of all porcelains.
  • China: Soft paste porcelain fired at lower temperature.
  • Stoneware: Clay fired to state of vitrification, non-porous, doesn’t require glaze for durability. Hard, heavy pottery that has a glossy surface when fired, so is often not glazed.
  • Earthenware: Clay that is not vitrified (glassy). Usually finished with colorful glazes and baked at low temperature. Very soft and easy to chip.
  • Terra cotta: (Burnt earth) Clay baked without a glaze, very porous and soft.
  • Bisque (Biscuit): Pottery fired once but not glazed.
  • Tin-glaze Pottery: Lead glaze made by adding tin oxide to glaze to conceal clay colors (Italian Majolica, French Faience, English Delftware).

OTHER MATERIALS:

  • Marble: Pressure and heat cause limestone to form into marble.  Pure marble is white. Pink and red marble has iron in it. Black marble comes from carbon or graphite.  Green marble is from chlorite. Tiny calcite crystals in marble make it sparkle. Marble can be cut or carved.
  • Alabaster: Alabaster is hydrated calcium sulfate which deteriorates when exposed to weather. High temperature will cause it to turn chalky white and then brown. Alabaster is carved, then sanded and smoothed, and then sprayed with polyurethane to close the pores and prevent deterioration. The translucent type is used for lighting fixtures lit from within (bowls and shades and wall uplights). The semi-transparent type (which resembles rock crystal) is used for lamp bases and lamp parts.
  • Wood:
    1. Hardwood: Walnut, Oak. Rosewood, Cherry, Maple
    2. Softwood: Pine, poplar, redwood
  • Wicker and Rattan:
    1. Wicker is usually made from willow branches and twigs.
    2. Rattan is made from reedy stems of palms in East India or Africa.
  • Hydrocal and plaster:
    1. Plaster: A lime, water, and sand composition that hardens when dry.
    2. Hydrocal: plaster with an extra bonding agent
    3. Cement: Sand, gravel, silica, gypsum, etc. added to plaster of paris mixture and fired in a kiln.
  • Resin (Plastic): Synthetic compound that can be dyed and molded. Stronger than hydrocal and non-porous.

CARE OF MATERIALS:

  • Brass & Bronze:
    1. Lacquered: Wash with sudsy water, rinse, dry, and buff with soft dry cloth. An old cotton sock makes an excellent polishing cloth,
    2. Not lacquered, shiny finish:  Wash and then apply brass polish.  Let polish dry. Then buff with a soft cloth. Apply thin coat of paste wax or lemon oil after polishing.
    3. For aged finishes:  Mix rottenstone and linseed oil to form a heavy cream and apply with a soft cloth and rub. Wipe off excess and polish with a soft cloth.
    4. For heavy corrosion: Rub with lemon dipped in hot vinegar, and salt mixture, wash, and rinse.
  • Chrome: Wipe with cloth soaked in sudsy water, rinse, and buff with a clean soft cloth.  For corrosion, rub with extra-fine steel wool.
  • Copper: Same as brass except use copper polish on unlacquered objects.
  • Iron: Wipe with a damp cloth and dry.  For corrosion, rub with kerosene and fine steel wool.
  • Silver: Follow instructions for brass except use a polish that is for silver only.
  • Silver-leaf and gold leaf: Use a soft shaving brush instead of a cloth to clean to avoid tearing the finish. To brighten, moisten a cotton ball with dry cleaning fluid or onion juice and gently pat (DO NOT RUB). Dry thoroughly.
  • Pewter: Polish with jeweler’s rouge and buff to produce a mirror-like surface. Pewter oxidizes slowly and evenly (as opposed to tarnishes) when exposed to air and gradually develops a soft warm patina.
  • Nickel: Polish with household ammonia.
  • Alabaster: Use a damp (not wet) cloth and gently wipe clean. NEVER use detergents or abrasives.
  • Marble: Remove stains with a paste made from hydrogen peroxide (from the drug store), powdered whiting (from the paint store), and a few drops of ammonia. Rinse with water, buff dry, and apply furniture polish.

(Copyrighted) shades of light training manual

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Mar
20
Lighting for New Construction - Checklist

LIGHTING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION:

1. CHANDELIER:
__ Extra chain & wire:_________________
__ All hanging hardware with canopy?
__Light bulbs: _____________________
__Chandelier shades:___X______________________________________
__Medallion: __________________

2. WALL SCONCES:
__ All hanging hardware and candle covers?
__UL label on fixture?
__Cord cover needed?
__Light bulbs: ________________
__Shades:__x__________________________
__Backplate large enough to cover electrical box?

3. OUTDOOR LIGHTS:
__Light selected for EVERY exterior door and garage?
__ All hanging hardware and candle covers?
__UL label on fixture?
__Light bulbs: ________________
__Backplate large enough to cover electrical box?

4. BATH LIGHTS:
__Fixture proper size for vanity?
__Light bulbs:________________________

5. CEILING FANS:
__Proper size for room?
__Light kit:__________________
__Wall control:__________________________
__Label blades and motor

6. CEILING LIGHTS:
__Appropriate wattage for room size?
__Dimmer:_______________________

7. UNDERCABINET LIGHTING:
__Direct wire or plug-in?
__Incandescent, Xenon, fluorescent or halogen?
__Cabinets have “lip” to hide lights?

8. PENDANTS:
__How many are needed and is wiring provided for each?
__Is wattage enough for eating, working, etc?
__Extra wire/chain?______________

9. BEDROOM LIGHTING:
__Fan?
__Swing arm wall lights:___________________________________________
__Reading floor lamp:_____________________________________________

MAKE SURE THAT ALL ITEMS ARE LABELED WITH THE NAME OF THE ROOM AND CUSTOMER.

MAKE SURE THE ITEMS ARE PUT ON ACCOUNT AND A CHECKLIST FOR PICK-UP/DELIVERY IS WITH THE CUSTOMER’S BOX.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE BULBS FOR EVERY FIXTURE!

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Mar
20
Ceramics & Porcelain

CERAMICS: Ceramics are shaped from clay and then heated (fired) in a kiln to make them durable.  The material that ceramics are made of and the finishing process create the different grades of ceramics:

  1. PORCELAIN: Porcelain (also termed china) is considered the finest ceramic because of its white color and translucent quality (ability to let light through) and its strength.  It produces a bell-like ring when struck.  Porcelain is made from kaolin (a pure white clay made from decomposed granite) and petuntse powder or flint feldspar.  Three kinds of porcelain are hard-paste porcelain (fired at high temperatures so the body and glaze become one), soft-paste or frit porcelain (creamy in tone), and bone china (bone ash added for more translucency).
  2. STONEWARE: Stoneware is water-resistant  made from gray or light brown clay fired at extremely high temperatures which causes the surface to become glossy so it is often not glazed.  Most U.S. folk pottery is made of slat-glazed stoneware.
  3. EARTHENWARE: Earthenware is porous pottery made from a mixture of earthenware clays baked at a low temperature which allows them to be utilize the more colorful tin glazes.  They must be glazed to be waterproof. They are very soft and easy to break (majolica, delftware, faience).      Terra-cotta is an unglazed earthenware made from low-fired clay.  Creamware was a lead-glazed earthenware made from white clay mixed with calcined flint.

Decoration techniques for ceramics include:

  1. Handpainting
  2. Transfer printing (A copper plate is made and inked with ceramic pigment which is then transfered to paper in a press and then the paper is placed on the surface of the item.
  3. Decal (also decalcamania)
  4. Stencil (also called stampino)
  5. Enamel

The following are common styles of ceramics with their popular or most well-known description.

  • CANTON The most common Canton Chinese export porcelain has blue and white landscapes with a stylized border.
  • CAPO DI MONTE Capo di Monte is a soft-paste porcelain with molded relief fanciful figures in bright colors.
  • CELADON Celadon was an early Chinese stoneware varying in color from gray-green to yellow-green.
  • CLOISONNÉ Copper wire separates enamel colors made from glass paste pigments with metallic oxides.
  • CREAMWARE Popular lead-glazed earthenware made of Devonshire white clay mixed with flint.
  • DELFT (DELFTWARE) Delftware is a tin-glazed earthenware with an underglaze blue decoration.
  • DERBY Derby is English porcelain with freely drawn floral patterns or bird and landscape patterns with moth, butterfly, and fruit borders.
  • DOCCIA Doccia italian porcelain is most known for  its bas-relief deoration of classical subjects (shells, peasants, chreubs).
  • FAïENCE Faïence is a tin-glazed earthenware from France (also Germany and Scandinavia) with painted patterns in opaque bright colored glazes.
  • FAMILLE ROSE  Famille rose enamel uses a delicate opaque pink and metallic gold pigment with very precise drawings of flowers, birds, landscapes, tree trunks, and rocks.
  • IMARI Imari is most known for its navy blue and iron-red (rust) colors, gilding with black outlining, and large lidded trumpet vases.  Its motifs include oriental scenes, lotus flowers, and scroll borders.
  • KARATSU Freehand geometric patterns, grasses, and wisteria were painted in iron oxide on a whitish slip.  Japanese.
  • KUTANI Kutani has bold large scale motifs and geometric patterns often with red and gold.  Japanese.
  • MAJOLICA Majolica was an Italian tin-glazed earthenware molded in shapes of nature often whimsical with brillant colors of lead glaze.  Popular colors were yellow, orange, green, turquoise, blue, purple, brown, and black.
  • MAYAN Classic Mayan ware (from Middle America) included delicate figures, polychrome cylindrical vases with scenes and glyphs from Mayan manuscripts and molded scenes of everyday life.
  • MEISSEN Meissen porcelain urns from Germany had fanciful 3-D figures and porcelain flowers, 24K gold decoration, and white skin tones on figurines.
  • MING This blue and white ware had carefully planned arrangements of  dragons, scenes with people, peonies, lotus, and crysanthemums with foliage in decorative bands.  Vases were usually baluster or pear shaped.
  • OLD PARIS or PARIS This porcelain had elaborate scenic designs with lots of gold on handled urns.
  • RAKU Raku ware is shaped by hand in asymmetrical forms with thick dripping irregular glazes in shades of brown, grey, red, yellow or yellow-green.  The only decoration is the glaze poured along the jug with a portion always left unglazed.
  • ROSE MEDALLION Colorful oriental scenes with peopleor floral  butterfly, and bird decoration often with gilding.
  • SATSUMA Ornate floral and oriental scenes with raised gold enameling outlines.  Japanese.
  • SEVRES Sèvres soft porcelain has birds, bouquets, trophies, flowers and borders using colors such as raspberry, gold, cream, and blue.
  • STAFFORDSHIRE Staffordshire was English pottery with motifs of sporting dogs, folk figures, etc usually made in pairs.
  • TOBACCO LEAF Pattern of leaves and flowers in multicolors.
  • WEDGEWOOD Type of creamware (earthenware) with sculptured Greek and Roman ornamentation and a bisque finish.

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Posted in Lighting Tips & Techniques | 3 Comments »

Mar
20
Light Bulb Types

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Posted in Lighting Tips & Techniques, Tips & Techniques | 3 Comments »

Mar
20
Bob Schultz, New York

Bob Schultz, New York sent a great way to use our Colored Seeded Glass Pendant. He sent pictures and background on his weekend getaway where he positioned the pendants right in front of a window with a great view outside.

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He also included a little background on the building materials and such below…

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“My original Stuga was prefabricated in Sweden (in Sweden Stuga is a name for a bungalow) the carpenter came along with the Stuga parts and put it together on a mountain top in Kent, Connecticut. Since then we have added two more rooms (with Brian Wilson a local builder who can find and do everything with a taste level)… all with vintage barn wood, a wood cook stove, and quite a bit of coziness…

hi…you are a very nice company…i thank you.

Strange, i first saw the lights at the design district in Miami…expensive…you have the identical at a better price…

thank you.  Bob

Thanks to Bob for sharing! Get inspired & get busy; we want your pictures too. We love before & after shots.

Posted in Friends' Homes | No Comments »

Mar
20
Our Crown Jewel!

This week at our Flagship Store in Richmond VA we’ve been having such fun. Our First (soon to be annual) Trunk Show began Wednesday for a two day event.

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It dawned on us we haven’t shared our Crown Jewel with our blogging community. Take “a-look-see” at all the fun and if you’re ever near Richmond stop by. It is a unique gem of a store with over 6000 square feet of amazing and rare finds. Our gracious staff of experts aims to please and loves to give first timers the tour.

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We rolled out an exciting display of Custom Lampshades. Our clients were invited to stop by & design their own lampshade!

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We had all the fixings; fabulous fabrics in an array of colors, styles & designs, trims & an army of frame styles. Folks brought by their lamps & the fun began.

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Clients could also design their own lamp! We had porcelain vases with choices of bases & finials. Custom shades were available along with our large selection of stock shades; caused quite a stir!

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Last but certainly not least was a truck full of one of kind hand-knot rugs. There were thousands! There were Persians, Oushaks, Heriz, Kilims and some precious antiques; just to name a few. Our designers and clients were enthralled & the rugs went flying out the door!

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After months of planning we are happily exhausted & thrilled with the results!
To be included in our next event sign up for our Event Emails. If you are in the area of 95 & 64 stop by! We welcome your arrival. Also visit our 2 other locations: in Virginia Beach on Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA and our Decorating Outlet on Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond VA!

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Mar
19
Featured On…Designs by Gollum

A special thanks to Michael Lee over at Designs by Gollum! What a great partnership - we’ve had a great time looking at the photos of her home and learning all about her new book! Check it out here.

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Posted in Editor's & Designer's Choice | No Comments »

Mar
17
Go Green for St. Pat’s Day And Save Money as Well!

Check out our “Green Lights” and our Energy Star selections on our website! Eco-friendly products have taken on a stylish twist! Bamboo, cork, hemp, and recycled wood, paper and glass are transformed into exciting lighting products! Change your light fixture to an Energy-Star certified product or just change your bulbs to color-corrected fluorescent bulbs! You can realize average rates of return on your initial investment of 30% or more, reduce your lighting electricity bill by more than half, and help save the environment.

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Eco-Friendly Cork Table Lamp, Twine Pendant Light

Lighting accounts for 20 to 25% of the electricity used annually in the United States. If energy-efficient lighting was used everywhere, the electricity required for lighting would be cut by 50% and aggregate national electricity demand would be reduced by 10%. Energy savings would exceed $12 billion a year while decreasing air pollution by 5%. This would be equivalent to taking 15 million cars off the road, resulting in less smog, acid rain and a slowing of global climate change.” *

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Reclaimed Wood Urn Table Lamp, Recycled Green Glass Table Lamp

Take care when selecting a fluorescent bulb to make sure you get the best color lighting for your needs. Color temperature is a measure of the output “color” of the bulb. The higher the number in kelvins (K), the “cooler” (bluer) the color light it produces. We recommend 3000K for a nice warm pinkish light and 5000K for a clear daylight (called full spectrum) effect. Some variations and inconsistencies exist among manufacturers. For example, Sylvania’s Daylight CFLs have a color temperature of 3500 K, while most other lamps with a “daylight” label have color temperatures of at least 5000K.

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) come with a screw-in base that fits most table and floor lamps.

See our substantial Sisal and Seagrass rugs!

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Natural Sassy Sisal Rugs, Basketweave Seagrass Rug, Sassy Sisals Rug

* EPA Green Lights Statement, Copyright 2009 Shades of Light

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Mar
16
Featured on…Bower Power!

Katie over at Bower Power needed some help finding the perfect rug for her beautiful kitchen! Our design team got together and picked 3 options that we thought fit her style - check them out here. Be sure to head over there and vote for your favorite!

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Posted in Editor's & Designer's Choice | No Comments »

Mar
16
Tips & Techniques

tips-techNeed help figuring out what size your chandelier or outdoor light should be?

How many lamps do you need in your living room?

How much wattage do you need in your new bathroom?

What size rug do you need for your family room?

Why are hand-knotted rugs more expensive?

Is a wool rug better than a synthetic rug?

Have other questions that need answers? Check out our customers questions & answers here. Don’t see what you are looking for? Email your question to AWHarrison@ShadesOfLight.com.

Lighting Tips & Techniques

Accent Lighting
Bath Lights
Candlestick Lighting
Ceramics & Porcelain
All About Ceiling Fans
Ceiling Lights
Chandeliers
Crystal (Types of Crystal)
Dorm and Apartment Decor
Floor Lamps
Green Your Home
Holiday Lighting Ideas
Ceiling Medallions
Outdoor Lighting
Sconces
Lamp Shades
Lamp Shade Basics
Lamp Shade Selection “Rules”
Light Bulb Types
Lighting for New Construction - Checklist
Lighting Products - Knowledge Base
Spice Up Your Kitchen without emptying your bank account!
Swing Arm Wall Lamps
All About Table Lamps
Table Lamp Solutions
Glossary

Rugs Tips & Techniques

Choosing A Rug
Construction
Types of Fibers
Maintaining Your Rug
Choosing the Correct Rug Size

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Posted in Tips & Techniques | 2 Comments »

Mar
16
Choosing the Correct Rug Size

Using blue painters tape; Tape off size of rug when considering what size to use for a visual of the space.

Posted in Rugs Tips & Techniques, Tips & Techniques | 1 Comment »

Mar
13
Friends We’ve Met Along the Way!

Our Friends Home section is where we post pictures that you send in of our products in your home.

Bob Schultz, New York sent a great way to use our Colored Seeded Glass Pendant. He sent pictures and background on his weekend getaway where he positioned the pendants right in front of a window with a great view outside. He also included a little background on the building materials and such below…

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“My original Stuga was prefabricated in Sweden (in Sweden Stuga is a name for a bungalow) the carpenter came along with the Stuga parts and put it together on a mountain top in Kent, Connecticut. Since then we have added two more rooms (with Brian Wilson a local builder who can find and do everything with a taste level)… all with vintage barn wood, a wood cook stove, and quite a bit of coziness…

hi…you are a very nice company…i thank you.

Strange, i first saw the lights at the design district in Miami…expensive…you have the identical at a better price…

thank you.  Bob”

Thanks to Bob for sharing! Get inspired & get busy; we want your pictures too. We love before & after shots.

Check out Keeping Up With Keith who is our own “Project Guy.” Keith has plenty of talent, lots of energy & a house full of Shades of Light Products!

img_5836Schonbek Traditional Crystal Chandelier

img_5825Polished Bright Oval Chandelier

img_5766Handsome, Handknot Soumack Rugs.

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Mar
11
Behind the Scenes: Creating a Shades of Light Cover!

Need a new look? Planning and organizing your thoughts with your vision can be a daunting task! Our design team works for months on our cover shots.

We start by scouring magazines & tearing out pages that inspire us; pour over fabric books; paint charts;

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take pictures of anything that catches our attention for our look;

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and madly search the internet for ideas:

Blogs (http://thepeakofchic.blogspot.com/)

HGTV online (http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/index.html)

Consult our retail store Designers (http://bridgetbearidesigns.blogspot.com and http://www.dialmeyersdesign.blogspot.com)

Once we have hundreds of images pulled we print them and pasting them on an inspiration board. We have a large foam board on a easel where we paste & pin ideas; we switch it out, add & delete over many weeks. Creating a central location where our team can bring all of their ideas together.

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Our projects evolve & when they come together we vote & pick a catalog cover;

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Have fun! Make your dreams come true with a wish board of your own.

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Posted in Inspired Blog | 1 Comment »

Mar
10
featured on…This Young House!

We had a great time meeting and working with Sherry & John at this young house! We meet them recently at a local blogging event and immediately hit it off. They recommended partnering up and doing a giveaway! What a great idea!! Check it out here and here. Thanks again guys! Cannot wait to work together again!

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Posted in Editor's & Designer's Choice | No Comments »

Mar
09
Spring Forward with New Products!

Spring forward; just in time we have an fresh selection of new products to inspire you to reinvent your space.

It seems like winter will never end, but we can’t stop dreaming of spring and our fresh assortment of new products is just what we needed to get us in the mood! The forecast for spring is color, color and more color. Our patterns are playful and graphic and our colors are sunny and bright! Sunshine yellows, grass greens, aqua blues and crisp whites top our list of favorite spring palettes and we hope that they inspire you to embrace the essence of spring too.

xh9006_xg9005(A) Thomas Paul’s explosive rug designs are both sophisticated & enticing. His bold over scaled damask rug comes in 3 trendy colors; black, chocolate or spa blue on a warm cream ground. (B) We were captivated by the coral design done in a dhurri weave; great texture and reversibility makes these a great buy. Choose from a classic coral and a rich expresso on a warm beige ground.

Spring is a time to reflect, revitalize and embrace your unique style. We think you will find inspiration here!

Jonathan Adler Colored Glass Pendant

ch08017yw_ls07002_cd09_locBamboo Tower Chandelier

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Flower and Vine Ceiling Light

ls0901217″ Bamboo Trellis Drum Shade

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Posted in Inspired Blog | No Comments »

Mar
06
Superb Service

Our goal at SOL is to make your home shopping experience fun and easy! Call us and let us help you with your decorating issues!

Our team is a well oiled machine with over 41 year’s experience at Shades of Light. Yolanda Patillo; our engaging Customer Service Manager is very eager to satisfy. We love hearing from you when we’re doing something right & want to share some of our fav’s.

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Our Tips & Techniques Section at Inspiring Spaces is evolving into a format to communicate to us; let us hear from you. We are here to help you with selections, challenges & offer advice.

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Mar
04
The Best of the Best!

We’re highlighting a selection of our customer’s favorite items and where one might use them.

Designs By Gollum’s Michael Lee’s elegantly appointed home is a treasure of detail & mastery of design.

Her use of a crystal chandelier in the boudoir can be replicated using our European Crystal Elegance Chandelier.

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Recreate the perfect ambient lighting effects seen in her dining room for your next soiree using our beaded Old Hollywood Regency Chandelier, Old Hollywood Sconce & Starburst Candlestick Lamp.

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The high design impact of mirrored furniture reflected here makes quite the statement. We have an array of styles and finishes.

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Classic furnishings with the dramatic impact of the black zebra in Designs By Gollums’ sophisticated living room. Our stenciled zebra skins are available in black or chocolate.

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Visit Designs by Gollum for our Princess Basket Wall Sconce Giveaway!

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Michael is busy penning her next novel; a trilogy that revolves around a Charleston “cake lady” named Teeny. The first book in the series is titled Gone with a Handsomer Man. Visit Michael Lee West for all the details of her enchanting and charming novels.

Hope our inspiration helps you to make your home your haven.

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Posted in Inspired Blog | 5 Comments »

Mar
02
Decorating Your Nest…

Tweet, Tweet…make your nest complete! The bird craze is all about bringing the outdoors in with rich, graphic and traditional bird patterns! Birds of a feather flock to everything home!

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We’ve got your feathers covered…

xh9004_v2tl070601fm9501vd_cd09_loc sc07011a_both_locol07004_loc_07cdsc06026_06ef xg20100203blch06022bbz-01sc07033goldrt-02 Love Birds Rug, High Gloss White Bird Lamp, Birdcage Ceiling Light, Porcelain Bird Wall Sconce, Birds on a Branch Outdoor Light, Vintage Cream Bird Sconce, Blue Bird Hooked Rug, Vintage Bird Chandelier, Favorite Italian Wall Sconce

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Posted in Inspired Blog | 1 Comment »