Here is Kenneth’s series called Crokkis. I think I’ve found a starting point for my kitchen island dilemma. Yay!

It comes in three sizes. I’ve contacted Kenneth for prices.

Here are some of my other favorites. At the top is his Little People pendant lamp. Love that. Next up is this wonderful shelf unit, Bandoo, designed by fellow Hive member, Andreas L??schner-Gornau. Finally, Kenneth’s CU-C-ME screen is one of several he’s designed. I adore them because they create height in a room without blocking the view. There are 1,001 uses for that.

One little wish is that Hive would put pricing on their site. Or an easier way to get this information. Please? If anyone would like pricing, I’m working on it. Contact me in a few days and I’ll be able to give you a quote. I’ll add retail prices for my faves on this post.

Roger takes neon to a new level. He’s created some brilliant designs for the home, including this neon chandelier.

He’s been experimenting with various forms like this colorful table lamp and, as with the chandelier, a different take on the standard shade pendant.

He does his own things, too. The orange pendant light (left) and the yellow floor lamp are truly unique.

This is my favorite. It’s a pendant lamp. So very cool.

To see more of Roger’s work, including his neon signs, visit his personal site here. Or, visit his company’s site, 419 Neon. You can find Roger’s work at various retail shops. Or, shoot him an email and he’ll give you pricing. He can also explain what to do with the transformer, etc.

A neon chandelier? I’m thinking yes. How about you?

Okay, so, Mr. Weeks, what were you thinking coming up with a very adorable Dunny doll that costs $1,200?

Okay, so there are only five in the world. I get that. But still, these are difficult times we’re living in, as I’m sure you read in your Economics class. David, your work in Lighting class is the best ever. But in Shop I’m afraid you get a FAIL. Now hold out your hand.

Okay, so which do you prefer? Are you a new modernist or a vintage modernist? A you a little bit Oly or a little bit Noguchi? There is no right or wrong answer – just your answer!

Let’s take a peek at her new designs.

Tracy Glover’s Prospect Hill door knobs come in a wide variety of colors and finishes. They take their cue from classic glass Victorian glass knobs. They sell in pairs for $260.00.

Her new wall sconces are new as well. I especially like the blue Susan, which retails for $550.

Tracy also makes handblown vases in a variety of sizes and shapes. Vases are my favorite gift to give. Her work is available via her online shop. She discounts to the trade and her things are sold in a variety of shops. To find out more, visit her site by following this link.

Before you start rolling your eyes, take a look at the photos (not so great, but they suffice I think). The incredibly tall ceilings are brilliant, but for me it was all about the lighting.

The use of tightly focused spots emphasized the height of the ceilings.

Large chandeliers, hung along the length of one enormous table, give the illusion of a different place and time. A ball at Versailles perhaps?

The touch of red was highlighted by more spots.

Floor lamps and candles on the table serve as task lighting -so you can read the menu. The layers of light give an overall look of drama and romance.

A large canvas, hung like a curtain behind the entrance counter is spotted. All around is mysterious darkness.

Buddakan is an enormous restaurant, with lots of rooms – each with its own sort of design. But they all work together. To find out more about the restaurant, visit their website by following this link.

The contrast it offers next to white is also perfection.

It all depends what mood you’re in. Here, the designer jumped across the color wheel to create a warm contrast.

Feeling dark and mysterious? Indigo is the way to go.Indigo will make the orange tones in wood pop.

Feeling uncommitted? You can paint your walls white and use indigo for accents. Some choices are: IKEA’s PS Collection African rug, Indigo toss pillows from Persnickety Home ($17.95), Ink Dish Tattoo dishware from Fitzsu ($82.00 for a 4-piece setting), & Crate & Barrel’s Lago Lamp ($129).

Maybe because it’s summer, I think white is looking really good next to indigo. But turquoise, and other jewel tones, are also beautiful. Agree?

images: Henry Bourne, William Waldron, Hanks Fonk

Here are some inspirational photos and a few tips to get you thinking about using light to change the look of your home.

Ambient Lighting

Let’s start at the beginning – ambient light. This provides general lighting so you don’t trip over the furniture. Recessed lighting and/or a ceiling fixture accomplish this.

However, you don’t have to space the recessed lights evenly throughout the room. Instead, take a look at your room and think about what you’d like to highlight. If you have two groups of seating, placing the recessed fixtures over those will provide ambient light, but more dramatically. Putting the lighting dimmers gives you the freedom the add to the drama.

Ambient lighting can also be placed in such a way that it makes the room appear larger.

Task lighting

We all understand this concept. Each room needs to be lit so that we have enough light to read, or work, etc… Use a recessed lights with a focused beam spread,. Pendant lamps are both decorative and functional. The key is to make sure you have enough light without glare.

read more!

Accent Lighting

This is the fun part. Once you’ve lit your room so that you have enough over-all light, think about what you’d like to accent. Here are some ideas:

1. Accent a painted wall or a painting on the wall with a focused downlight.

2. Uplighting is very dramatic. Place a small LED in a potted plant so the light shines up creating a play of leafy shadows throughout the entire room.

3. Light the inside of a bookcase to focus on a collection of objects.

4. Accent a cove ceiling with rope lights.

5. Create a romantic mood by adding light under frosted glass in a cabinet. I used this idea in a custom bar to great effect.

6. Fairy lights are terrific. Hide them behind a screen to softly light a dark corner of your room.

Lighting specialists

The photos in this post are truly inspirational. They’re all from my favorite lighting designer’s site, Illuminart. They design lighting for everything from airports to just a single room all around the world. A lighting designer is well worth the few hundred dollars they might charge for a smaller project.

Interior designers and architects often hire lighting specialists because the technologies are so vast and change so quickly, a specialist is the best way to go. For example, lighting specialists know how to use optic lighting to accent a single flower. They can also create systems that light when you walk in the room, or change according to the time of day.

I’m wondering if you all find these posts useful. Should I talk less and add more photos? I’m thinking more photos.