Recycling is not something you do out of love for the environment and the planet. It’s also a great way of finding new uses for things and of giving them a second change. It’s a way of not letting time take the best out of an item. So here are five wonderful projects that will show how to recycle and how to repurpose items in order to create unique features for your home.

Chandeliers Made from Salvaged Bicycle Parts.

(more…)

These days the range of choice that you can select from for contemporary light fittings seems limitless. Indeed, if you cannot find the fitting of your imagination then it will be possible to find a manufacturer who can fabricate your own design for you. Both the form of the design and their lighting output is very much at the heart of contemporary design.And when it comes to modern-style lighting there seems to be a fitting design for every room in the home. With such overwhelming choice, it is often too easy to go wrong, so take your time and select your fittings only once the rest of the décor has been decided upon.

If your home is undergoing rewiring, then you will need to consider the number of light fittings required to provide a good level of light. If you have too few fittings you will need to up their output. Err on the side of caution. It is better to have more wiring than you think you may need, particularly with recessed lighting, since it will be a messy job to run additional cable after your living room has been completed. If you are in doubt, consult a professional lighting designer.

(more…)

A pair of shoes can completely alter the look of an outfit. We’ve all heard that, right? For better or worse, shoes wield a disproportionately large amount of influential power. Imagine a man in a tuxedo with sneakers, or a woman in jeans with heels. The shoes define the overall vibe.

This can also be said for lighting in home décor…specifically, chandeliers. As the primary (or only) floating object, often in the center of a space, a chandelier can’t help but attract attention. For this reason, selecting the right chandelier is of utmost importance if you want your space to pull of the look you’re ultimately going for. Here are some examples of these “shoes” on the ceiling:

(more…)

Bedrooms are probably one of the most personal rooms in a house, probably because they are the only rooms that actually “belong” to the inhabitants. “That’s Joe’s room, this is my room, and downstairs is Jane’s room.” We would expect upon entering each room, to find evidences of Joe, myself, and Jane, respectively, in those rooms. One way to infuse a sense of style into a bedroom is through reading lamps. There are so many options out there! Consider the following stylish choices:

Unmatched His & Hers.

Although these lamps are not identical, they still work together easily in this space to bring out the style of the individuals. The genre of the lamps is kept consistent, and the medium (white porcelain? Marble, maybe?) is the same for both lamps as well. Lampshades are the same size but are different, thus showcasing different personalities and tastes. I love how the overall aesthetic of each lamp is similar to the other, yet their differences are balanced and complementary. Quite a lovely pair!

(more…)

Whether you have a large dining table, an extendable one or whether you simply use the kitchen island as a table, the size is irrelevant. But there’s one element that can’t be overlooked, regardless of the style, size or shape of the dining table. That element is the lighting. It’s the detail that can completely transform the atmosphere and that changes everything.

In the case of a long dining table, one possibility would be to consider using two pendant lights with identical designs. This way you maintain the coherence and symmetry of the décor and you get to solve several problems at the same time. This dining room, for example, has a contemporary design and the pendant lights also add style to the décor.

(more…)