For most of us, Memorial Day weekend at the end of May signals the unofficial start to our summertime activities.  Enjoying the outdoors, near water if at all possible, is a big part of this summertime kickoff. Meals and get-togethers with friends and family move us out onto porches, patios and pool sides and talk of summer getaways will fill the air.  One iconic vacation spot is the group of towns, hamlets and villages on the south fork of Long Island, NY referred to as “The Hamptons.” Containing one of the oldest towns in America, East Hampton was established in 1648 with humble beginnings in farming and fishing but evolved into a fashionable retreat from the busy city. The name brings to mind images of luxurious traditional estates with well-manicured grounds inviting you outdoors to enjoy lawn games, a swing in a hammock or a dip in the ocean. Our catalog cover titled Hamptons Hideaway invites you to enjoy the chic style and breezy feel of this beloved vacation spot of celebrity status.

Hamptons Hideaway 2013

A color palette of marine blues with natural elements of wood, linen and rope sets the scene for relaxation with a coastal flair. A pair of Suzani armchairs in beautiful shades of navy, turquoise and sea foam awaits you.  The sturdy wood frame features dimensional embroidered upholstery in the popular Suzani style, complemented by a fine leather seat for years of durability. Luxurious details include nailhead trim, leather upholstered armrests, and a custom color finish. This chair is also available in Turquoise with Orange and Yellow with Putty. Our exclusive designed Chippendale Trellis Dhurrie rug lays underneath with saturated color and crisp geometric style.

Suzani Arm Chair

Chippendale Trellis Dhurrie

The rug reflects casual style for today’s interiors, with the added bonus of being reversible for long lasting wear. Colors available include Shrimp, Kelly Green, Spa Blue and the Mediterranean Blue shown. The perfect side table sits within arm’s reach to catch a book or serve a refreshing drink. The compact Lacquered Drink Tray Table in high gloss turquoise lacquer has a removable tray top for your convenience.

Lacquered Drink Tray Table

Seaglass Curtain Ceiling Light

Overhead you will find a canopy of seaglass strands dripping from a pair of pendant lights. Our Seaglass Curtain Ceiling Light can be mounted at different heights for a variety of effects. You can almost feel the breeze whispering through the serene textured glass as your mind drifts to a peaceful day of beachcombing.

Standing as a contrasting counterpoint to the blue hues in the scene is a Wood Drawer Chest with Rattan Accents. Offering clean style for storage and serving, this chest features a fine rattan weave panel inset on top, sides and drawer fronts accented with bronze ring drawer pulls. Also available in a rich Walnut finish with natural rattan, this versatile piece could move throughout the house from the foyer, to the living or dining rooms, or even a bedroom.

Wood Drawer Chest with Rattan Accents

Modern Buoy Glass Table Lamp

Perched on top of the chest you find our Modern Buoy Glass Table Lamp with a coastal chic vibe. A vintage green glass buoy encased in rope netting rests on an acrylic base with a modern cylinder burlap shade. The look is clean and up to date nautical without being overdone.

Even if our summer plans do not include a visit to the Hamptons, we can still enjoy the state of mind that it suggests, and create our own oasis at home. We all long for a relaxing retreat to renew the spirit and refresh the mind. Visit your “Hamptons Hideaway” as you enjoy the simple pleasures of time spent taking in this season.

Devine Wood Ball Chandelier

Outdoor house lights should be compatible with the look and lines of your house. Wall lights beside doors should be approximately 1/5 the height and width of the doorway, including trim. (For example a 100″ high by 60″ wide entrance would require an 20″ high x 12″ wide fixture.) Place your electrical box for your exterior light so that the top of the fixture is 20% lower than the top of the molding. Allow for the side door moldings also.

Modern Shelf Outdoor Light

Open bottom fixtures are better for down lighting an area, and glass-topped lanterns are the better choice for accenting architectural elements above and around the door. Fixtures with several low wattage candle bulbs are superior to those with a single bulb since they provide more light with less glare. Wall-mounted fixtures with arms or brackets can fit into tighter spots in areas between moldings. If there is no room beside the door, use one light above the door.

Georgian Garage Door Outdoor Light

Post lights should be as large or larger than the lights at your front door.

Richmond Outdoor Post Light

Outdoor hanging lanterns are another solution when space on the sides of doors is not available or you have a high enough porch ceiling. Occasionally you will need to add wires to secure these from swinging when in highly exposed open porch areas.

Exterior Charleston Lantern

And don’t forget about landscape lighting to provide drama, interest and extra security for your home! Use your landscape lighting to add focal points, draw the eye around the yard, and emphasize architectural elements of your home’s façade.

Aaaahhh…..SPRING, a season of renewal, fresh energy and hope. We take our inspiration from nature’s ability to come back from its winter season of dormancy with new growth and vitality.  As we enjoy the beauty of fresh spring green leaves budding on the trees, early blooming flowers pushing up from under the earth, and milder days that invite us outside to watch the transformation taking place, our homes can take on new life as well.  Our Spring Garden cover invites you to enjoy feathering your nest with renewed energy, fresh ideas and inspired style.

Spring Garden 2013

The color palette for the Spring Garden cover is created with a nod to the season. Neutral, natural tones of beige linen, grasscloth, and warm woods are punctuated with cheerful spring green and inviting aquamarine. Our Chain Link Dhurrie Rug with its interlocking diamond pattern anchors the room in a pool of aqua from which the other elements grow.  Made from 100% wool, and reversible for longevity, this exclusive design brings a fresh geometric sophistication. We offer this design in 3 other inviting hues including Salmon Orange, Spring Green and Yellow Chiffon.

Chain Link Dhurrie

Inviting you to come, sit a spell, and ponder your next project or just gaze out the window is our Carved Wood Upholstered Loveseat. In classic European style the finish is a painted white with slightly worn edges for a vintage appeal. The neutral hemp tone linen fabric is accented with a pair of pop color empire pillows. The X Foot Stool in front serves to hold a tray for refreshments or provide extra seating when guests join you.

Carved Wood Upholstered Loveseat

The X Footstool

Bringing the garden inside is the Terrace Ironwork Console with a distressed oak wood top atop an iron base with a distressed cream finish. Reminiscent of an antique relic garden gate or railing, this versatile piece of furniture has many possibilities as an accent table for your entry, dining sideboard or bedroom accent. We selected a unique mirror above to reflect a view of timeless style. The frame of intricately carved mahogany is inset with burlap for rustic appeal and then finished in a neutral gray for an updated vintage appeal.

Terrace Ironwork Console

Gray Linen Texture Mirror

The essence of budding spring leaves appearing amongst the weathered winter branches is our exclusive Pop Modern Ceramic Table Lamp. Bringing welcome color with a high gloss lined drum shade; this lamp is available in 10 designer color combinations.

Pop Color Modern Ceramic Table Lamp

A Wooden Wine Barrel Stave Chandelier tops off the room with the appeal of a repurposed vineyard find. The bent wood frame is accented with bronze metal and illuminates the space with 6 candelabra bulbs.

Wooden Wine Barrel Stave Chandelier

Let nature inspire you this season to grow, evolve and breathe new life into your surroundings.  Like the birds preparing their nests, we can create spaces that will nurture and bring pleasure in the warmer months ahead.  Distinguish your lifestyle while incorporating time tested classics in fresh new ways with cues from the renewing cycles of the natural world.

Spring Garden 2013

Our cover look entitled “Classic Elegance 2013” illustrates a growing design trend: a look that combines sophistication with rustic warmth.  Natural finishes that have a comfortable time worn appeal are occasionally punctuated with subtle luxurious accents like the sparkle of crystals, crisp linen, nail head accents and vintage mercury glass.  The soothing color palette combines textured neutrals with calming shades of a pale blue sky. Furnishings are rich in character, presented in carved woods that evoke a sense of history, while up to date accents keep the look relevant for today.

Classic Elegance 2013

The French Carved 2 Drawer Chest featured is crafted in solid mahogany with darkened brass hardware and feet. This chest offers both style and storage that could be at home in a hallway, living room or bedroom setting.  Our Keyhole Mirror above hosts a pair of built in sconces. This focal point piece blends clean lines and a traditional motif with the added bonus of stylish wall lighting.

French Carved Front 2 Drawer Chest

Keyhole Mirror with Sconces

Flanking the chest on either side, you find a pair of  X base footstools, upholstered in an elegant brush script fabric that is accented with nail head trim. A pair of these versatile stools can be used in place of a cocktial table for a softer look, as extra seating to pull up for guests, or a place to rest pillows and bedding at the foot of a bed. Bringing pretty to practical, you will find 5 color options to fit in any room. See our website for white

Cream with script

Chocolate

Ivory

Natural Burlap

Shedding a welcoming glow in the room is our exclusive Quatrefoil Shaded Chandelier. A cloverleaf shape shade transforms a chic distressed cream chandelier with crystal droplets. 

Quatrefoil Shaded Chandelier

The rugs below bring layers of sophistication to the design with a natural albino cowhide over a Bohemian pattern Dhurrie rug. Flat weave dhurrie rugs are easy to live with and easy to afford, making them a good choice for any room.  Layer a hide on top for a touch of luxe appeal.

Albino Cow Hide

Bohemian Market Dhurrie Rug

Accessories make the final style statement in any room.  The set of botanical prints selected here are traditional black and white sketches that take on a new mood when mounted on a burlap mat with distressed black frames. I particularly like to use sets of art  to create a unified look in hallways and stairwells or across a large wall over a sofa or bed.  The rustic painted ladder that leans to  the side of our  cover adds a touch of whimsy that keeps the room from becoming too formal. Decorative ladders  can add style, while displaying  blankets, magazines, towels, belts, scarfs, heels, etc.

Set of 8 Framed Burlap and Botanical Prints

Antiqued Leaning Ladder

The look of Classic Elegance reflects timeless elements presented in fresh ways. Heirloom pieces are restyled to create a comfortable retreat with luxurious style. Escape into a style that promotes relaxation; surround yourself with soothing neutrals and rich textures of classic elegance and distinguish your lifestyle.

Classic Elegance

Happy New Year to you from Shades of Light! As we transition our calendar to a new year, our thoughts often turn to changes we can make to improve the quality and enjoyment of our lives. We clean out closets, organize work spaces and evaluate our surroundings. After I take down the Christmas decorations, I enjoy the calm, less cluttered feeling it brings. I find myself going through the rooms of my home editing accessories, removing tired pieces and rejuvenating with a new pair of throw pillows or a lamp shade. This is a refreshing process that energizes me with a positive outlook for the year ahead. For our first cover design in 2013, we have highlighted a style that exemplifies this fresh new start with the trending title of City Loft.

City Loft

The look is clean and uncluttered, with modern elements grounded by vintage finds. Characterized by geometric designs, raw materials, earthy metals and sleek industrial motifs, this style is rooted in urban living, but has spread to living rooms in the suburbs as well. Our City Loft cover design allows you to feel the daylight entering the room through a large cityscape window to warm an interior filled with casual textures and modern style.

The wood floor and brick walls of our loft setting blend naturally with the bronze and copper metal fixtures featured in the room. Our exclusive Steam Punk Lanterns float overhead with a sculptural quality created by geometric circle straps of darkened copper that wrap a hand blown glass globe.

Steam Punk Indoor and Outdoor Hanging Lantern

To provide good task lighting for reading, our Superior Bronze Gallery Floor lamp is standing at the bedside. With its clean lines, weighted base and adjustable height, it performs an important function with style.

Superior Bronze Gallery Pharmacy Floor Lamp               

18″x18″ Quatrefoil Trellis Down Filled Pillow 4 colors

The tailored bed linens are accented with our Quatrefoil Trellis Down filled Pillows, embroidered on Charcoal Gray cotton in a trendy quatrefoil pattern for interest and texture.  Vintage city maps on canvas further bring home the urban theme adding texture to the layering of natural materials.

Vintage Style Chicago Map Wall Art

Vintage Style New York Map Wall Art

We have highlighted the wall art with our Cone Pivot Wall Lamp. This versatile light fixture can be used over a bed, sink, or shelving to illuminate any wall. The sleek metal cone shade will direct the light just where you want it.

Cone Pivot Shade Wall Lamp

Standing below is our Bronze Metal Paw Foot Table, providing a perch for reading material, and a striking Pop Modern Ceramic Lamp in Oxblood Red sporting a White shade with Silver lining. The glossy smooth lines and sleek acrylic base of this lamp create an edgy contrast to the surrounding raw industrial finishes.  This red accent color introduced here is repeated in the wool flat weave rug grounding the room.

Bronze Paw Foot Table

Pop Color Modern Ceramic Table Lamp

Our Regatta Dhurrie Rug features bold wide stripes in an affordable floor covering that is reversible for longer wear. We have layered a Metallic Cowhide over the dhurrie, adding a touch of rustic luxury, which is soft underfoot at the bedside. Our Lounging Dog Statue seems to enjoy the resting spot as well as the view.

Regatta Dhurrie Rug

Metallic Cowhide Rug

Lounging Dog Statue with silver accents

Let this City Loft cover be your inspiration to create a space in your home that celebrates the simplicity of form with function, and the contrast of sleek modern against raw vintage materials. Our best wishes to you for a fresh start to the new year, as we strive to continue providing you with unique products to distinguish your lifestyle.

City Loft 2013

A classic look never goes out of style. One of my favorites is Chinoiserie Chic, a Chinese art influence mixed with classic European style. In other words an “infusion” of exotic that takes traditional to another level. I wanted to create this chic look with a modern update of crisp pops of color for our latest cover look.

I selected red as my accent color to pop against cool aqua for a fresh contrast. Golden yellow is the third color that completes the palette. The splashes of red that travel from the shades on the wall sconces to the red coral beads in the chandelier to the red in the fun Suzani print chairs invoke that classic Chinoiserie appeal.

Mary McDonald Hollywood Glam Sconce

Semiprecious Beaded Basket Chandelier

Louis Regency Arm Chair

Mixing the reds with cool aqua in the wall color as well as the frame and fabric on the classic Louis Regency chair creates a fresh contrast that keep the look light.  The whimsical Suzani print is a fresh spin on the traditional pattern and makes the room fun and youthful.

To finish the color palette, the warm Golden yellows in the rug and the brass sconces make the room glow with warm sunshine hues.

Grecian Maze Dhurrie Rug

To keep the look light and fresh I chose furniture that had a lighter finish while still embracing traditional Chinoiserie inspired lines.

Eastern Inspired Carved Base Dining Table

Turned Leg Storage Console Table

The key to making the classic Chinoiserie style Chic is updating it with today’s fresher color palette, keeping the look lighter with lighter tones of wood, and recreating classic motifs like Greek Key and Suzani prints in a cleaner and more youthful way.

Let our latest cover look inspire you to infuse your home with some Exotic flair, mixing classic traditional with Asian Infusion for the Chinoiserie Chic effect that designers are talking about.

How do you jazz up your beloved neutral palette? Answer: with a bit of color and some ethnic flair! Our latest catalog cover look takes “neutrals” which if left alone can border on boring and lifts them up into a lovely and rich space.  Neutrals are the perfect restful backdrop to a vibrant room,  the key is to mix in pops of color and rich and reflective metallic tones to keep the space from being boring.  For this room I decided to combine the ever popular neutral “gray” with a lively and warm yellow and a twist of the increasingly popular Moroccan trend. The final look was breath taking, inviting and still classic.

I started with a deep hue of warm gray for the walls and a rich walnut finish flooring. To keep these dark tones from closing in the room, my answer was mirrors. I chose our Architectural Wooden Leaner Mirror to keep the warmth in the room. The warm and worn tones of the rich wood instantly opened up the room! The authentic architectural elements they add to the space make the room feel like it has age and a “time loved” elegance.

Architectural Wooden Leaner Mirror

Then I added color and pattern. In order to keep the color and pattern from overwhelming the space I kept all the hues of yellow in the same range and all the patterns in a simple geometric. Our Curved Back Wooden Frame Arm Chair upholstered in cream linen on the front and a yellow lattice pattern on the back is framed in a yellow finished hardwood to give a modern edge to this classic chair. Our matching Half Round Nailhead Accent Ottoman adds function and a bit of casual coziness to keep the room from feeling too stiff.

Half Round Nailhead Accent Ottoman

Our fabulous Ironwork Trellis Dhurrie Rug layered with our Gray Cowhide Rug combine our color palette together and create a rich layered look.

Gray Cowhide Rug

Ironwork Trellis Dhurrie Rug

Now it was time to turn up the volume, so in came the shiny metallic Moroccan inspired pieces such as our Hammered Metal Moroccan Hourglass Side Table , Pierced Moroccan Lantern , Pierced Metal Moroccan Table Lamp and our Hammered Metal Pendant. All of these shiny polished metals instantly gave the room a jewel-like glisten and added an ethnic flair.

Hammered Metal Moroccan Hourglass Side Table

Pierced Moroccan Lantern

Pierced Metal Moroccan Table Lamp

Hammered Metal Pendant

The keys to keeping your neutral room far from the boring zone is to add color, pattern, authentic architectural elements and some “jewels” like metallics or crystal.
I hope our latest cover look “Modern Moroccan” inspires you to jazz up your neutral color palette and be confident with color, layering looks, and adding some world traveled appeal like this popular Moroccan style.

As we all know, industrial chic is all the rage. You see it everywhere, in every room, and mixed with every style. Why has this trend become so universally popular? Well that is simple, because it is relaxed, easy and unintimidating. So how do you make your space stand out among the rest while still embracing this trendy style?  As you will see, the answer is with unique and unexpected details that add a twist of “you”.

Here at Shades of Light we make it easy for you to find unique pieces that will make your space “SING” by designing products that embrace the authenticity and spirit of trends such as Industrial Chic. With that point of view in mind I designed our latest cover “Industrial Chic”.

I wanted to show how to create that popular industrial chic kitchen, without having it look cold and sterile. Since the kitchen is the hub of the home I wanted the look to feel warm, cozy, and inviting while still saying, “I’m unique and stylish”. There is no better way to add that warm, cozy feel to a space then through lighting. Lighting is one of the most important parts of designing a home, yet it is so often undervalued in the home building process.

I created warmth and drama in our “Industrial Chic” kitchen scene by layering the lighting. Starting of course with the work space task lighting, I choose two lanterns with a rusty texture to create that “salvaged” appeal. The lanterns provide lots of light above the rustic butcher block island. The lanterns and the butcher block also bring a bit of eclectic style to the look with softer feminine lines showing that industrial chic doesn’t have to be masculine and hard. You don’t have to have stainless steel counter tops and shiny metal finishes.  The look can be more about salvaged textures and exposed bulbs and hardware then looking like the back of your favorite restaurant.

Still working on layering the light, having provided enough lighting for a functional kitchen while still keeping it cozy and inviting; I now chose our popular “Industrial Chic Work Light Sconces” to flank the wall shelving. Whether your kitchen is open and lofty like our cover shot or you have tons of cabinet space, the layers of lighting around or under your storage area or cabinets are important in starting to create that layered, dramatic look. Having your lighting all from only one large source in the kitchen (or any other room) will make your space look flat and cold. This layer also provides more concentrated task lighting in the perimeter areas of your kitchen. I added the warm glow of our vintage style “Edison” bulbs to the sconces to really bring home that “industrial chic” appeal. You can also shop our website for the latest in LED under-cabinet lighting, where we hand-selected only the best LED lighting that will not look blue and are made to last.

Industrial Chic Work Light Sconce

3500K LED Undercabinet Light Kit Plug-in

I also added the adorable chalkboards above the shelving to give a personal touch to the room. You could use these for a menu board, grocery list, or to leave nice notes to surprise your family and friends. You could hang these chalkboards on a wall, lean them on the wall (like shown), or stand them up on their own easel style. The corbel wall shelves are also great for adding storage space where you need it while adding a bit more rustic texture and “salvaged” appeal.

Easel Blackboard

Corbel Wall Shelf

With some warm touches like a bowl of fruit, a cozy rug like our French Feedsack Stripe Rug in warm red stripe, a bar stool to pull up to the butcher block island for a bit of chit-chat in the kitchen and the look was really coming together.

French Feedsack Striped Rug

Vintage Kitchen Barstool

I felt good about the look and how I brought industrial chic into a warm and cozy kitchen; however I felt I needed just one more layer of light to really pump up the drama. This one was easy; I added our “Vintage Style Sign Letters” to the wall, spelling out the word BAKE. This added a cute and unexpected element to the room, still with that exposed bulb look that screams “industrial”. I designed these letters so that anyone could add them to their space without an electrician. They simply hang on the wall and plug in. I simply hung the letters with picture hooks, ran the wires down the back of the letters keeping them neat and straight with matching zip ties, and plugged them in. You could spell anything! I toyed with spelling the word EAT, SOUP, or even COFFEE. The great thing about these letters is the sky is the limit and you can spell whatever unique word you like that makes it your space.

I hope you found inspiration and insight in our latest cover “Industrial Chic”. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home and the lighting is one of the most important elements in that space. The lighting must serve as task lighting but also make the space inviting and fun, because we all know that a kitchen is not just for cooking. I also hope I helped you find your unique voice in this popular design trend “Industrial Chic”. My goal for you would be to have a little fun with it; don’t be afraid to be eclectic, and be sure to find that unique piece that will make your space “SING”

Escaping to a fabulous seaside sanctuary doesn’t necessarily have to mean packing bags, loading up the car, loading up the family and all the stress and shuffling it takes to make it to a distant destination. You can create an oasis in your own home that will take you away to a favorite coastal getaway instantly. All you need is the right color palette, some comforting textures and a few objects that evoke fond memories from your favorite trips and you can recreate that calm relaxing sanctuary in your own home.

I wanted to create a relaxing “Seaside Sanctuary” for our summer catalog cover because I know so many of us need that special place to relax and unwind. -That is what the beach is all about to me and before I was done I could almost hear the ocean on the photo set. Let me tell you how I did it.

Seaside Sanctuary 2012

I started with a clean neutral palette as my base. I wanted an airy feel to the room so I chose a classic white bead board wall treatment and grounded the space with a classic “beachy” texture, a sisal rug.   Our exclusive Coral Chenille Border Sisal has the large neutral field I wanted and its border added just enough of a jumping off point for my color palette without overwhelming the space with pattern.

Spa Blue & taupe

Seaglass with Seaweed Green

Gold with Coral Red

Gold with Golden Beige

Then I started adding my color. I wanted warm like the sand and cool like an ocean breeze so I chose a warm coral matched with a cool aqua as my color palette. One of my favorite pieces, our Pop Color Modern Ceramic Table Lamp, perfectly expressed the color scheme with the glossy “candy shell” coral color of its base and shade combined with a crisp aqua lining in the shade for a bit of surprise.

Pop Color Modern Ceramic Table Lamp

Continuing the mix of warm coral and cool aqua, I added a fun pop of color with our Café Colors Dining Chair and balanced that with our Batik Floral Print Drum Shade on the floor lamp. A few decorative pillows and some fun sea life pictures and the color palette effortlessly flowed around the room.

Cafe Colors Dining Chair

Colorful Embroidered Floral Pillow

Chenille Swirl Down Filled Pillow

Batik Floral Print Drum Shade

Set of 2 Curiosity Frame Sealife Prints

To add more interest and seaside feel without losing that relaxing sanctuary feel, I mixed in pieces that added textures that remind me of the beach instead of continuing to add more color and pattern that could have made the room feel busy. The Natural Pine Desk has a beautiful natural wood texture with a gray wash that reminds me of old boards from a pier that have been bleached by the sun for years. It keeps the room light and fresh while adding function.

Natural Pine Wood Desk with Extensions

And for even more function and texture, our exclusive Slipcovered Linen Bench serves as extra seating or a place to kick up your feet. The fabric is heavily textured linen that almost looks like burlap without being rough to the touch. I trimmed it in a fun mini-pleat plaid fabric that included our aqua and coral color scheme for an unexpected detail that makes the piece look custom, just one of those designer details that really finish a room.

Slipcovered Linen Bench Ottoman

Finally for a bit of whimsy I used what would traditionally be thought of as an “outdoor light” inside as picture lights. The galvanized metal and nautical feel reminded me of lights on the boardwalk.

Farmhouse Outdoor Light

The key to creating a sanctuary in your home is to start with a base of classic neutral and build a color scheme that is calming but still fun. Add some texture to keep it interesting and then accessorize with familiar objects that bring fond memories.

I hope our Seaside Sanctuary cover look inspires you to create an escape in your home. Whether it be the often neglected home office, your bedroom, living room, or even an outdoor space, find a place that you can call yours because we all need a bit of relaxation from time to time.

Be prepared for those light bulb jokes to return. You know the ones: “How many (pick your favorite target) does it take to change a light bulb?” These chuckles will be returning because once again changing a light bulb will be “comically simple.”  Have you ever been faced with finding a replacement for this

40 Watt G-10Q Base Double Circline Fluorescent Bulb

or this?

27 watt Verilux Full Natural Spectrum Replacement Bulb

Knocked the smile off your face didn’t it? Well, thanks to our new Bulb Selector, a free application found at www.shadesoflight.com/SOL_bulb.php selecting the right light bulb for your light fixtures is once again simple!

Never again will you need to wrap up your defective light bulb, tote it into the nearest hardware store and hope you can find someone to sheepishly ask: “Do you have one of these?” Use our free application and you will be empowered with all the information you need including manufacturer and part number. With nearly 3,000 light bulbs in its data base, the Shades of Light Bulb Selector not only makes it incredibly easy to identify the correct replacement bulb, it can also help you identify newer more energy-efficient options.

Homeowners and lighting professionals alike will find this program easy to use thanks to the intuitive design of this copyrighted program. Shades of Light has designed the program to work nicely on desktop computers, iPads and other mobile devices. Find the free application at www.shadesoflight.com/SOL_bulb.php  save it to your favorites, and never again let replacing defective bulbs darken your day.

One of my favorite hobbies is hunting in salvage yards. I just love the thrill and adventure of finding something promising in a pile of junk that otherwise would have been thrown out. It is a creative challenge to think outside the box to reinvent, reclaim and repurpose found objects into fabulous décor for your home.  At Shades of Light, we have focused that passion into an Eco-Chic look that is out of the box and full of interest, charm and the unexpected. That look is exactly what we wanted to present in our latest cover “Eco-Chic.”

This cover was all about earth-friendly yet fabulous! Being “green” and “eco-friendly” doesn’t have to be boring and I set out to prove that. I challenged myself to use either renewable, earth-friendly products or reclaimed and repurposed products only. What a fun challenge, right!?! The earth is full of beautiful color and natural texture from renewable resources that help our earth’s eco-system, and of course reusing old things that are headed to already over flowing landfills is “oh so green”! So I started with my inspiration from our beautiful earth to create the color palette of leafy green with warm tones of browns and beiges. The room was warm and inviting with all the natural texture and the cool green walls contrasting perfectly to create a feel that almost makes you think you are dining in a beautiful forest.

Eco-Chic

I chose all reclaimed wood for the furniture. Every item is made from 100% reclaimed wood and the coolest piece, the reclaimed Railroad Ties Bistro table, was my favorite find. The naturally aged texture of this wood is perfect and the unpolished marble top continues the natural look.

Reclaimed Railroad Ties Bistro Table

The Reclaimed Wood Bistro Chairs I loved so much I actually purchased them for my own home.

Reclaimed Wood "X" back bistro chair

I wanted to keep the texture flowing as I designed the light fixture for above the table. I picked hemp fabric to create the open-weave drum shade pendant. ,Unlike other plants used for fabric making, hemp is naturally eco-friendly because it requires no pesticides, herbicides or any other harmful chemicals to be grown and harvested. I loved the open weave of this fabric because it shows the bulbs, giving this pendant a cool industrial feel.

Hemp Netting Drum Pendant

I dressed the wall with driftwood framed mirrors, no trees harmed here! I picked our popular demi-john table lamp because of the color (obviously) but also because it is made from recycled glass, SCORE!

Driftwood Square Mirror

Demijohn Table Lamp

Finally, I wanted a rug that was not only eco-friendly but hip and cool. I designed our Concentric Stripe rug made from un-dyed wool as to not harm the earth and to keep the naturally beautiful hues of nature untouched. I made the stripes extra wide and chunky because fat stripes are all the rage! I fell in love with this rug and guess what; it also made it home with me!

Eco-Friendly Concentric Stripe Braided Rug

Not finished yet,  I wanted to carry our Eco-Chic style to the back cover as well to showcase our reclaimed style that Shades of Light has made extremely popular but also easily accessible for the home owner. We featured our reclaimed Rotor Pendants that are not only “green” but so industrial chic, a WIN, WIN in my opinion.

Rotor Pendant

Lastly, I chose reclaimed Vintage Patchwork rugs, vintage rugs that have been spared from the landfill to be stitched together to make large rugs. Now they have that sought after “worn” look of antique rugs updated in hot new fashion colors but at a fraction of the price!

Reclaimed Vintage Patchwork Over-Dyed Rug

I hope you find our Eco-Chic cover inspiring and decide to find ways to decrease your carbon foot print while increasing your style impact! Visit our website where we have an entire category devoted to “Green” products as well as our popular and ever changing “One of a Kind Finds” category where we feature all of our reclaimed lighting products, some of which I have found personally during my salvage yard explorations.

Check out all of our Green Products Here!                    OR                 Explore our One of a Kind Finds Here!

Eco-Chic

P.S. Worried about all the new light bulb regulations and want a better understanding of what is to come for our beloved light bulb in this new era of “going green?” Click here where our experts explain the upcoming changes and how Shades of Light will be there to walk you through the ever changing legislation while still offering lighting options that you will love and enjoy in your home.

There is nothing more inspiring than Paris in the springtime. Soft hues of gray/blue skies and cherry blossom blooms in pale whites and soft pinks mix with the elegant architecture of the Paris streets. This is what inspired our latest cover look. We wanted to bring the look of Paris to your home with subtle hues and flea market inspired finds creating a soft elegance that speaks of tradition yet is clean and sophisticated.

Paris in the Springtime 2012

The centerpiece of our cover look was our Je T’aime chandelier. This elegant chandelier is aptly named because I love it! The heavily textured finish looks like an authentically aged antique, while the elegantly curved arms and delicate dangling tassels create an airy look. I also love it because it is so affordable at only $399!

Je T'aime Chandelier

We also flanked our Cherry Blossom Canvas Print with the matching Je T’taime sconces which also embody the sophisticated elegance of the chandelier.

Je t'aime Sconce

Cherry Blossom Canvas Print

The large Cherry Blossom Canvas Print was my inspiration for the color palette with its soft smoky blues and creams that reminded me of Paris in the spring. So I painted the walls the soft blue and chose our Robin’s Egg Blue and Cocoa Soumak rug to enliven this space with a fresh hue of blue that blended perfectly with the slightly deeper wall color. The rug carries the color palette to the floor perfectly and grounds the space.

Robin's Egg Blue and Cocoa Soumak Rug

I grounded the wall art with our Turned Leg and Vintage Wood Console Table which also has a finish that blends creams and blues in a distressed painted finish. The console is the perfect size for hallways or behind a sofa as it is not too deep but large enough to hold your décor or lamps.

Turned Leg and Vintage Wood Console

To keep the feel light and breezy, I chose two chairs with clean lines then upholstered them in a textured “linen-look” stripe that was inspired by vintage French burlap feedsacks. The cream with taupe gray stripe creates a subtle and clean accent. These chairs practically speak to you in French! Of course the French inspiration would not have been complete without including our Fleur De Lis Round Tufted ottoman.

French Feedsack Wingback Arm Chair

Fleur De Lis Round Tufted Ottoman

I hope you were inspired by our latest cover to keep things fresh and bring a little of your travels home with you to stay. Remember your favorite hotels, your favorite café, or any other favorite place or space and use that inspiration to recreate the look in your own space. Decorating doesn’t have to be hard if you use what inspires you!

Parisian Chic

It is the New Year! It is time to clear out the holiday clutter, throw out the piles of wrapping paper, bows, boxes, and fruit cake. As we all go through this inevitable process of cleaning and clearing, our homes start to reappear from behind what was once a beautiful display of glistening lights and shiny baubles. The rooms are no longer filled with family and friends and the feeling we get is sort of, well empty, RIGHT?!?

Well I don’t know about you, but it is at this moment I always feel most inspired to start reinventing my decor. I might rearrange the furniture, pick a new paint color, or add some new pops of color to enliven my space. It is with this positive attitude about the New Year and fresh perspective, that I designed our latest catalog cover. I named it “Red Hot Style” because here at Shades of Light we have dubbed 2012 the year of color! This look is about adding edgy details and fresh color to classics that embrace a sophisticated essence.

I began with classic pieces with an edgy update for the space like our ever-popular Springfield Linen Shade Chandelier

Springfield Linen Shade Chandelier

The shiny polished nickel and modern drum shade update on an otherwise traditionally shaped chandelier. Our entire Springfield collection makes this look an easy transition from room to room as well.

Springfield Sconce

Springfield Linen Shade Bath Light

Springfield Linen Shade Ceiling Light

Then I layered in more classic lookls like our crackle Procelain Triple Sphere Table Lamp which sits on our Quatrefoil Marple top side table. The neutral hues of creamy whites and the soft curves strike a contrast with the shiny metal to perfectly transition from classic to modern without even blinking.

Crackle Porcelain Triple Sphere Table Lamp

Quatrefoil Marble Top Side Table

Our beyond classic Louis Regency Arm Chair updates the look with its creamy white wooden frame and solid charcoal gray upholstery.

Louis Regency Arm Chair

To finish the look I wanted to really make a statement of modern edge. I chose to create a graphic chevron rug but with the unexpected twist of shag. This city chic look instantly grounds the space and says no fear for the New Year!

Chevron Stripe Shag Rug

Not to go unmentioned, my choice of wall color really brings this look to completion. The hot red is the perfect hue, not too orange and not too harsh! It is rich and deep yet still fun and fresh. It is the kind of color that draws you in, enlivens you and raises your spirit!

Red Hot Style 2012

I hope our latest cover inspires you to embrace a new edgy style for 2012, with hot colors, updated classics, and a no fear attitude for the New Year!

Red Hot Style