You light up my life..or maybe just my room, or both?!

Any space has several key elements that help bring it all together and unfortunately, lighting is often hit or miss. Most often we will encounter clients who have fallen in love with a lighting fixture and purchase it as their very first item within a space - Now, this isn't always a guaranteed headache and can be successfully executed. However, most times it becomes too difficult to draw on key features of the lighting fixture selected and different elements in the room will take longer to come together (..or never really get there) The alternative is that we have clients who absolutely forget the importance of lighting. They would be perfectly okay with the ceiling plate that you see in hotel rooms throughout their homes - and that is what we call a cry for help! And don't worry, we are on our way to save you one light fixture at time! 

View fullsize

View fullsize

Lighting is a topic that few people find themselves in the middle of the spectrum on - who knew it would be such a divisive topic! Clients have either gained an appreciation for fancy and expensive lighting fixtures or they don't want to splurge a single dollar on something they will rarely look up to see. But we're here to tell you that the middle of this spectrum is in fact where all the fun happens! For example, the light fixture above was a great find at a local antique store. The best part about this light fixture is that it wasn't one when we picked it up. It was still a relatively new piece, and was made in Turkey - we primarily fell in love with the hand made aspect of this stunning item. It was actually intended for a candle and although, we are sure that would have been beautiful out on some glorious European veranda, we thought we'd best enjoy it inside for the full 12 month's of the year! The adjustment was easy and we had one of our electricians do the work (it took him less than 30 minutes) and we couldn't be more pleased with our decision! This little fixture got a new lease on life! And the best part of this little project was that it cost us a third of what it would have in one of those fancy lighting stores.

Now, if you're serious about letting your lighting fixture 'light up your life' here's what you need to know..

1) Scale is important - the size of your fixture should meet the size demands of the room. Most often, you will see light fixtures that are too small for any given space and people will compensate for this by adding lamps and excessive side tables. Although, accent lights are important, they can't be expected to pull the weight of your primary light source in any given room. We actually like to use light fixtures that are a bit oversized. They have the ability to ground the space and can actual help scale the remaining components of your room.

2) Design is everything, be consistent! - the light fixture is not a separate component of any given space. As a result, it has to work with the other elements within a room - the design of the space must align to the design of the fixture. Sure, we're always talking about making a statement in a space and there's a time and place for that. However, with light fixtures you want to reinforce the design of the interior - not challenge it.

3) Materials matter - the material from which the light fixture is constructed can make all the difference. We love depth in materials - glass, crystal, brass.. the list goes on. The material from which the light fixture is made from adds the most value when the surface is reflective - this guarantees that your light fixture not only looks beautiful in the evening when it is turned on but during the day as well through the natural light that streams into your space.

We also recommend challenging yourself to think outside the box of conventional lighting stores as options on your hunt for the perfect lighting fixture. Now, if creating your own lighting fixture isn't your thing.. we say hunt in antique stores for that perfect chandelier. Not only do they have character, and their own story to tell but they have the perfect amount of gold detailing to make any space sing. Most re-creations of 'vintage' chandelier options now appear to be overdone, the gold detailing is often more yellow than saturated in richness and it ultimately, is missing that patina that makes chandeliers so special. Remember, patina is earned and should be appreciated!

Finally, don't be afraid to look for lighting options in unusual places. The lighting fixture featured above was from a vacation to Morocco. We understand that most people aren't contemplating their next light fixture on their vacations but if you come across the perfect piece in a flea market or in a hidden, off the beaten path, store front - we highly recommend you pick it up! You simply cannot get more authentic than that. And not only will you be going home with a wonderful conversation starter, you will be helping the local economy of where ever you've chosen to recharge! Now.. getting these types of pieces home is a whole other story but we've done it multiple times and it's often just an additional charge for a carry on! So worth it!

View fullsize

So yes, lights really can light up your space and your life! Just make sure you open yourself up to various range of possible lighting sources.. this way you'll be sure to select one that can really complete your space!

We like to put our stamp on everything.. learn to personalize where you can!

Sometimes people have trouble seeing the value in possessions. They believe they are better off with less - minimalists, the less is more people. And they aren't wrong. It's often preferable to have fewer belongings that mean something than several that don't. But we truly are the more is more type of people. And it's not for the sake of counting our possessions - what it actually is, is that they come to mean something to you. Sometimes because of the memories that you associate with them and sometimes because of how you made those particular 'things' your things.. because once they are yours - they truly are apart of you.

Most people ask us how you make those items feel like they belong to you or that they represent apart of you..and our answer is always the same! Personalize, personalize and personalize! Add your stamp throughout your space as many times as you can care to image.. because your home should scream your name in more ways than one.

Engraving is a wonder way to personalize pieces of jewelry and can also be a great add on to some home accessories pieces. For example, this vintage crystal bowl has a sterling silver lid that was itching for some value added services. When we think of engraving with a simple and classic personal touch, we often think to monogram the family's initials. It is a soft reminder of who occupies the space and can often make pieces come alive (instantly the item becomes more feminine or most interesting to look at) Hand engraving really is a dying art that should be leveraged in more than just pieces of jewelry.

Although hand engravers can be difficult to source locally now and more and more work is being done by machine engravers - it becomes important to look at what type of materials can be successfully machine engraved. Pewter is our go-to for machine engraving. The tray featured above is one of our favorites to gift for engagement parties or wedding celebrations. A single initial for the last name or the two single initials with an ampersand to represent the soon-to-be husband and wife can be engraved. We've always gotten rave reviews on this gift and we know the secret is in the personalization component of it. Gifts are always nice but when you have the ability to connect the emotion to the gift itself - that really is what makes your gift a home run!

Now, we wouldn't want to just limit you to metals (silver, gold, brass, pewter etc!) or to engraving! Customization has a wide range of options.. such as crystal etching. The above decanter is etched with a beautiful, handwritten initial. It again is a soft touch to personalize the item to our family while remaining understated and elegant.

Perhaps the best part of personalization is that it is often considered an 'add on' service to your purchase. Several retailers are willing to accommodate the cost of personalization of a new purchase (so get it done right away!) or charge a small fee to add your customization to your existing belongings.

Remember, design isn't always revolutionary. And most certainly, there are times when you are not re-inventing the wheel. You are adding small touches that add value to your belongings. They seek to make you feel warm and welcome, and to symbolize that you are at home. It is up to you where you choose to leave your stamp.. we just tend to recommend you do it with a free spirit and frequently! Because, as always, it's all in the details!! 

Xox

A table setting for everyone and every table!

We love to spend time at our dinner table. Dining at home, or dining with the family is almost a lost art. Most families find themselves trying to keep their heads above water - driving their kids from school to their post-school activities, working on homework at the kitchen counter while trying to shovel in a side of left overs from the night before. We get it. Big time - life is difficult and takes planning. And your table won't be set every single night and it won't have a full set of heads surrounding it. BUT, we think that when you make time for it, it should be a place that sets the mood for the quality time being spent there - laughs included.

We believe there a few basic rules that should be followed when setting your table - whether for an intimate dinner with friends or for your Sunday family get togethers. No matter the shape or size of your table, we believe a table cloth always elevates the look. It simple and for most of the time, timeless design doesn't reinvent the wheel - instead, it focuses on what adds value to a space, a room, or in our case, a table. As you may have noticed from our Instagram page, we are BIG fans of all things Bella Notte! For us, it's a no brainer to have a Linen Whisper ruffled table cloth draped with Olivia lace. The combination is not for the faint of heart - and we'll admit, we don't have any little ones running around so it is a safer option for us to go with! When picking your tablecloth we recommend you stick to a neutral color, something that will enlarge your table and not close in your space. Think of this as a blank canvas, you want your dishes and food to have the stage - so let the background be just that, the pretty and soft backdrop!

Now, it's no secret we think it's all in the detail.. and another detail we think that often goes forgotten is the dinner napkin. Call us crazy, but most people don't see napkins around the dining room table unless they're at a restaurant - and frankly, that doesn't count! A napkin is another layer to your dinner table that your guest or your lucky family should enjoy. We love to look for vintage napkins with lace or monogramming detail - we think this additional touch can really personalize a table. Remember, a house is not a home - so make it your home. Leave little traces of you and your loved ones everywhere you go..start with your table!

We often get asked if everything has to match when setting a table and the truth is, we like to go against the grain almost always with our interior design. Different styles, different collections, old pieces, newer pieces can all go together. The secret really becomes selecting one common thread among them and carrying it throughout your table setting. For example, in the picture above - we feature an antique teacup that isn't part of the plate collection displayed. However, chances are you would never have guessed that taking a look at our setting. We chose to highlight the gold detailing in all of our pieces. And we made sure that regardless of what we added to our setting, that element remained constant. Even when it came down to our cutlery selection.

Here we chose to highlight the silver elements and really get a layering effect with our white plates. If color is important to you, try to incorporate it into sections of your table setting. A teacup, flowers, or even place setting name assignments are wonderful opportunities to do so. Whatever element you wish to elevate in your table setting can have a significant effect on the type of mood you're trying to set - think, elegant, playful, whimsical, formal and the list goes on..

Now, it may come as a surprise to you.. but we like to have a lot of fun. All the time. With everything..including our table settings. We think that it's important to be playful and add details that will make you smile. We picked up these swan salt and pepper shakers at an English antique store a few years ago during one of our European vacations. The truth is, a lot of people are afraid to incorporate these type of elements because they think it may come off childish. But that is an awfully silly fear to have - these are the type of elements that make your table, your table. And your guests will love these touches - they are a total conversation starter! So go on, add all the 'fun' elements you can find!

We mentioned it above briefly, but just in case you missed it.. we believe florals are a great addition to any dinner table. People often assume that arrangements are too big, or will get in the way of a dinner party. But the truth is, they don't need to be large - they just need to be lush. We prefer small vases, and the one featured above is a vase that has been in our family for over 60 years. It is meaningful, and special and we get all the good juju from it all the time.. Flowers can be put one side of the table once the serving of the dishes begins - they will continue to add value to your table, and provide a beautiful fragrance for all of your guests so enjoy.

Remember, tables are places that are meant to bring people together. They are meant to serve as opportunities to share stories, to have laughs and to have hope for the future. Whether you are sharing the table with your nearest and dearest on a Wednesday night or having a dinner party for your close friends on Saturday - enjoy taking the extra time to put together a table that will be a feast for the eyes. After all, we do eat with our eyes first!