Places To Go

Kips Bay Decorator Show House 2011; some inspired design details

I got the chance to see The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Decorator Show House in New York City, now being held on 163 East 63rd St. New York City until May 26th 2011.

Decorator show houses are an annual event in many cities where each year a different house is selected and a handful of chosen interior designers/decorators are given free reign to design their given rooms.

While there were many interesting and innovative ideas, there were two in particular that struck me.

The designer Celerie Kemble took a fresh approach to a traditional library.  What I particularly loved was the Verre églomisé “sky” ceiling by  Miriam Ellner.  A technique that pre-dates the Romans whereby the reverse side of glass is gilded with precious metals, etched and painted.  The result is both chic and stunning.

Room by Celerie Kemble with Verre Eglomisé "Sky" Ceiling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceiling detail; 22-karat gold leaf, lemon gold leaf, palladium leaf, micas, polychromes

 

images via Miriam Ellner

 

In a room created by Brad Ford dubbed “The Stereo Lounge” for it’s cleverly designed coffee table with built-in record player, I fell in love with  a simple rustic bookcase designed by Chris Lehreck that did double duty as a room divider.

The Stereo Lounge by Brad Ford

 

 

 

Bookcase by Chris Lehrecke

images via Design Therapy

Chris Lehrecke is a furniture designer with a store in Hudson, New York.  His work has an understated elegance as he allows the natural qualities of his materials to inform his designs.

Shelving System in cherry and blackened steel

Walnut grid based table and stools by Chris Lehrecke

images via Chris Lehrecke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Light bulb facts illuminated

article written for examiner.com

The incandescent light bulb is slowly being phased out of existence. The Better Use of Light Bulbs Act (BULB) was established to adopt more energy efficient standards. It is expected to save families and businesses billions of dollars each year in energy costs while also greatly reducing carbon pollution. While there are many other alternatives, incandescent bulbs have been favored because of the quality of light they emit.  The problem with incandescent bulbs is that nearly 90% of the energy used to illuminate them is emitted as heat rather than light, thus being an excessive waste of energy. The alternatives are essentially:  halogen, fluorescent, CFL (compact fluorescent light), and LED (light emitting diode) all of which have some drawbacks and limitations.

Blake Wexler, owner of the lighting store Illumination in Sherman Oaks, CA explained, “the issues consumers need to take into account are color quality, brightness, dimming capability and cost.”

Color quality is looked at in terms of temperature and color rendering.   Incandescent lights are the warmest artificial light source next to candlelight because they emit light in the yellow and red tones of the spectrum. CFLS are coming closer in matching the warmth of the incandescent bulb and last 13 times longer.  But until technology catches up, most CFLS don’t work with standard dimmers.

Color rendering describes how a light source affects the color of the objects it is illuminating.  Blake recommends halogen and LED because they emit more of a crisp white light that enhances the color of objects and artwork, are perfect for task related activities, and can be easily dimmed. LED lights are much more costly at the outset, but a bulb can last up to 45,000 hours, about 20 years, ten times longer than a CFL.

There are a lot of alternatives to incandescent light bulbs and the color spectrum is definitely warming.  Start by changing out a few light bulbs in your home, you may like what you see.   The result will not only save you money and time, but you will be taking a step toward helping our planet.

Light bulb labels

  • Wattage = the amount of electrical power used
  • Lumens = the brightness/ amount of light a bulb emits
  • -the more lumens, the brighter the light source
  • CCT = Correlated Color Temperature
  • -measures the warm/cool appearance of light
  • -the warmer the light, the lower the CCT
  • CRI = Color Rendering Index
  • -the higher the number, the truer the color from 0-100
  • Halogen = an incandescent lamp with a tungsten filament
  • -last 3X longer than normal incandescent bulbs, but can also can get extremely hot
  • LED = light emitting diode
  • CFL = compact fluorescent light
  • – use 75-80% less energy than incandescent
  • Mercury = while there is only a small amount used in CFL bulbs,
  • -It is recommended that they be recycled

Illumination Lighting and Design  13606 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423  818-986-1383


 

 

 

 


Architectural hardware; jewelry for the home

Mother of Pearl and Sons Hardware

 

article written for examiner.com

Architectural hardware is an important detail in home design that should not be overlooked.  Doors, windows, furniture, and cabinetry all require hardware. The finish and style you choose can really affect the look and feel of a room.  Often considered ‘the jewelry’ of the home, hardware adds character and interest.  There are many places to buy hardware online, but it is difficult to determine the quality and finish of a product unless you actually see it in person.

Mother of Pearl and Sons Hardware, an Australian company in Studio City, CA, has a great selection of unique, quality hardware. Owner, Robert O’Connor has been in business since 1989 and opened his store in Studio City in 1993.   He started out in the antique business and has an implicit understanding of the methods used to make and finish the products he sells. Mother of Pearl carries everything from traditional style hardware to newer contemporary styles, as well as many items that suit the Spanish style homes prevalent in Southern California.  Robert says that many oil rubbed bronze finishes are often simply plated on top of brass and rub off quickly.  Mother of Pearl offers a dark rust finish over cast and forged iron that has a richer look than oil rubbed bronze and lasts a lot longer.  While Robert buys his inventory from local and overseas manufacturers, he also carries his own line of hardware, sold exclusively at Mother of Pearl.

The hardware in your home can make a statement, or can be an underlining architectural feature.  Whether you are replacing the hardware on existing cabinets and furniture or creating a distinct look with new cabinetry; your hardware can be the detail that really makes a difference.

Mention this article and receive 10% off at Mother of Pearl and Sons

12328 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, California USA
  818-505-8057

Robert O'Connor, Owner of Mother of Pearl

Interior of Mother of Pearl in Studio City