Archive for the ‘Style’ Category
If you stay on top of the latest trends in lighting then you have already noticed that drum shade fixtures are experiencing a huge revival of late. These fixtures are popular due in large part to the fact that they work with nearly any style of decor. They are also popular because there are so many different designs within the same simple shape. And people like drum shade fixtures because their widespread availability makes it possible to get a style that you like at a price that you can afford.
The fact that drum shade fixtures work with basically any type of decor is probably the single biggest reason that they have become so popular. The drum shade chandelier or pendant light is a simple round shape. It is possible to get fixtures with variations on the basic design. However, at its core, this is a circular shade that can be set against any type of background. Perhaps you have an edgy modern home; the drum shade can soften the rougher edges while maintaining your modern style. Or maybe you have a classic sense of style; the drum shade will honor that by complementing your furnishings in an unobtrusive way.
As drum shade fixtures have become more and more popular, so many new designs for them have come into the market. You can find drum shade pendants in nearly every size. They are made from many different types of materials. If there is a color that you want to add to your room, there’s a drum shade out there that will work for you to add it. You can select a series of medium-sized drum shades in boldly patterned prints or a large drum shade chandelier with elegant crystals hanging from it.
Whenever we add new products to the site I like to go through all the items and pick out my favorites, it helps me get a better feel for the new introductions and make recommendations later on. We just finished adding Elk’s 2010 lineup to the site and I wanted to share a few of my favorites here with you.
There are a lot of things to love in the 2010 lineup from Elk but one of the very first things to catch my eye was the Nestor 1 Light Pendant. (shown left) I love the blend of chrome and the abstract pattern, a few of these above a counter top or kitchen island would really add a unique touch to the room.
Another white hot trend is drum shades, drums in just about any size shape or color are everywhere. Combine the drum trend with another hot trend, namely stripes and you have the ELK 20041/5 Fabrique Tan Stripe 5 Light Drum Pendant, gorgeous over a kitchen table or just about any table for that matter. Bold stripe not your cup of tea? The ELK 20019/3 Fabrique Textured Tan 3 Light Drum Pendant might be the ticket.
Of course fabric drums weren’t the only trend Elk addressed this go round, there was even a chrome drum pendant that caught my eye as well. Of course we cant forget about the swing arms, swing arm wall and floor lamps are everywhere this year and for good reason, they’re functional and classically stylish at the same time. The ELK Lighting 17016/1 Elysburg 1 Light Swingarm Sconce in Satin Nickel comes to mind as well as the Lanza 1 Light Swing Arm Sconce but I think my favorite is the Elk 10110/1 Swingarm 1 Light Sconce in Black Chrome, I just love the transparent outer shade on the black chrome body.
Whether you’ve just moved into your first home or the house of your dreams, it’s not complete until you have chosen the right fixtures to fill it full of light.
To accomplish this, it helps greatly to consult a good lighting professional. Some homeowners believe that they will save money at a large chain- or bargain-store. You may be surprised to learn that a good lighting center staffed with knowledgeable professionals offers competitive prices, combined with the excellent advice that only experienced staff can give.
Because of the dazzling variety of lighting options available, it also helps to become familiar with the three basic styles of lighting fixtures and the effects they will produce.
Being able to describe your goals as “traditional,” “transitional,” or “contemporary” will move you quickly to making decisions that suit your home best.
Almost anyone can guess at least a few elements of “traditional” lighting: chandeliers, ceiling fixtures, wall sconces. There are two main questions to be answered when choosing “traditional” lighting—“what tradition?” and “how traditional?”
Perhaps you wish to follow the architectural style of your house closely: Colonial lighting will lead you in one direction, while Victorian leads in another. Pulling a strict “traditional” look together may well involve some research into the period and visits to antique stores as well as the lighting center.
“Traditional” lighting is usually produced by companies that have researched materials and manufacturing methods of the period. Some fixtures are copied directly from historic originals. Lines and details definitely hark back to earlier times, and there is a stylistic coherence from piece to piece.
“How traditional” is a question that only you can answer. You may prefer strong suggestions of a particular period or culture without strict line-for-line adherence to style. Rather than your home “being of” a specific period, you would like it to “feel like” it. Your large enclosed porch reminds you of your grandmother’s house, and you want the porch to “feel” as comfortable and welcoming as hers did. For other rooms, you may want another look entirely.
The mahogany dining room furniture insists on something crystal to keep it from darkening the room excessively. Again, “traditional” lighting may be just what you need to bring the room together, and you finally have the perfect reason to look at historically-accurate crystal chandeliers.
Then again, some houses and decors suggest that all rooms need a uniting factor. In a situation like this, “transitional” lighting is worth exploring. “Transitional” pieces gently suggest certain styles or periods without insisting on them. This is the style equally deserving of the names “classic” or “eclectic.”
Those two words may seem to contradict each other—how can something be a “classic” and yet the “eclectic” product of many styles? “Transitional” lighting accomplishes that by taking the best from a variety of styles and uniting them in a single piece. A good “transitional” lighting fixture reminds you of many things, yet stands on its own, never so assertively that it cannot be combined with other styles of lighting.
“Contemporary” lighting styles suit many situations—the perfect choice for a high-tech kitchen or the definition needed in a room that possesses little of its own. Its reinterpretations of “lamp,” “ceiling fixture,” and “wall-fixture” are best approached with an open mind and a sense of humor. A huge three-armed floor-lamp swoops across a substantial space and yet provides excellent reading-light.
Color becomes an integral part of lighting, not just the choice of a shade. The best “contemporary” lighting makes a strong statement and, like a toddler, can take over the room if allowed. Allowed a strong role in décor, however, it brings strength and coherence to a room, along with a hip, edgy feel of “fun.”
