Clark Rae - Part 3

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

Extra Seating

Grab a seat, put your feet up, or throw down a tray and use one of these cubesor poufs/pouffes as a pseudo coffee table. They come in so many great colors, shapes, and textures so you will not be hard pressed to find one that works with your decor.

1. Coralie Bickford Smith, “Stop Designing Start Playing” Collaborative project with artist/printmaker Wendy Chapple

2. Blu Dot; Otto Ottoman

3. Paola Lenti; Cubo

4. Bohemia: Moroccan Pouffes

5. Casbah Décor; Demna Pouf

Home of Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos Interiors by Elizabeth Martin

via Elle Decor

Neutral Territory

A neutral interior can be soft and sophisticated without being stark and boring.

1. Wide Frame oval mirror from Wisteria

2. Copper colored glass vases from Wisteria

3. Chilewich table mats from Didricks

4. Vintage washed belgian linen sheets from Restoration Hardware

5. Woven hamper from Brook Farm General Store

Hats off

The fanciful array of hats on parade at the royal wedding would have been at home in a surrealist painting, adding a little wit and flavor to the pomp and circumstance of the event.

What happens to all those hats at the end of the day—do they end up in the royal recycling bin?

via mlive.com

When displayed in the home hats can take on a new life.

via Apartment Therapy

Granville Millinery Company via le chic studio blog

Vintage hat blocks and hat stands are a great way to display hats and can even look interesting grouped by themselves.

via Goorin Bros. Hat Shop

The irreverent placement of a hat in an unlikely spot can add a touch of that British wit.

Gauthier-Stacy Design via New England Home magazine

A punch of purple

Purple has so many variations. When touched with a little red it moves into those opulent and indescribable jewel tones.

Purple veers toward the dramatic, so a little can go a long way. A pillow, a throw, or even a vase with flowers can add that little punch of needed drama.

“Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk over tangerine groves and long melon fields; the sun the color of pressed grapes, slashed with burgundy red, the fields the color of love and Spanish mysteries.” Jack Kerouac (On the Road)

1. Thread Colors for Capecchi Fine Linens for Plush Home

2. Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 Ready to Wear Collection via Style.com

3. Agadir Twists Rug via Anthropologie

4. Aurora Modern Pendant via Niche Modern

5. Provence style table-cloth via Lavender Blue LA

6. Zero VOC Food Paint via Anna Sova

Moroccan Tiles

Moroccan/Moorish tiles can be startlingly beautiful. The subtle variations of each tile create an overall look of unique depth and interest. They can be used indoors or out, in any imaginable application.

This array of tiles (also known as zellige) are cut and glazed by hand in the same methods that have been used for centuries.

Tiles via Granada Tile
Granada Tile’s Fez design at the Biscuit Filmworks headquarters designed by Shubin + Donaldson

Read the article: via The New York Times about a $50 million dollar renovation of the Islamic gallery at the Met where artisans are now working–opening in the fall of 2011