Image from www.kikicreates.blogsspot.com
Good lamps are expensive. You’re lucky to get change from $300.00 So, if you have an old one at home that you don’t like or find you never use…consider giving it a lick of paint and you might be surprised.
Image from www.bhg.com
The easiest and safest option is white, particularly if the lamp base is a bit ornate. White also makes shade choice wider and easier too.
Image from www.designspongeonline.com
But… a cool primary colour can look amazing. Don’t be tentative….if you’re going red, yellow or another primary…go bright and vivid!
Image from www.bhg.com
A splash of colour like this in a room can open up your styling options hugely. All of a sudden…your room will happily take on bright colours and fun patterns.
Image from www.birdhousefamlily.blogspot.com
Traditional table lamps aren’t the only ones that can benefit from a paint job. Desk lamps in unexpected colours look fab.
Image from www.whowhatwear.com
And groovy vintage lamps really shine with a bit of attention and a new outfit.
Image from www.bhg.com
If you have a steady hand and are feeling a little arty you can add a pattern.
Image from www.bhg.com
Get yourself to Riot art and you’ll find loads of options for painting on almost any surface…and the staff are generally really helpful too. A basic paint job for a lamp base is easiest to do with spray paint. A light sand so the paint can stick, then set the base up inside a large box on its side…that makes sure you only paint the lamp! Easily done in an afternoon and you’ll have saved money and created something of your own. To complete the job you can either buy a ready made shade or groove it up another notch by choosing fab fabric and get one custom made. www.iwanthomewares.com.au can make up any size shade you need with any fabric.
Image from www.alexearl.com.au
If you’re looking for a really special light or piece of furniture, then take a look at Alex Earl. Based in Sackville St., Collingwood, his designs are gorgeous, environmentally friendly and manufactured here.
Image from www.alexearl.com.au
His butterfly light is stunning. The overlapping wings in contrasting bright light and shadow are beautiful.
You can get it as a pendant, floor or table lamp, in lots of colours and it can be custom made in almost any size.
Image from www.alexearl.com.au
This fabulous log stool is made from concentric layers of plywood. There’s a wide range of timber veneers for the outer layer, or with a photographically laminated print as pictured. Cool as a stool or side table.
Image from www.alexearl.com.au
This amazing coffee table is also made from concentric layers of plywood… with a blackwood veneered plywood exterior.
Image from www.alexearl.com.au
The orchid light is also available as a pendant, floor or table lamp, lots of colours and any size.
Image from www.alexearl.com.au
So pretty…
Image from www.pinterest.com
Can’t read a word of it. Can’t play a single note…on any instrument. But I love sheet music. Maybe the fact that I can’t read it, is what I’m drawn to? Some lovely melody is written on that page…but it’s a total mystery to me. But mainly…I just think it’s pretty!
Image from www.etsy.com
And it’s pretty any which way you use it. I’m leaning dangerously towards a Martha Stewart crafty 101 here, but I thought I’d show you some really cute and easy ways to introduce sheet music into your life (even if you are tone deaf).
Image from www.pinterest.com
Even an accountants desk gains a bit of creative kudos with vintage sheet music rolled up in containers or tied with twine and scattered about.
Image from www.etsy.com
Gorgeous as gift or name tags…
And pretty cool as wrapping paper.
Image from www.whippedstyle.com
With a bit of craft glue they can make sweet tea light holders.
Image from www.pinterest.com
It takes a little more glue…but they look also great on mannequin and busts.
Image from www.etsy.com
Image from www.pinterest.com
Image from www.theblairaffairs.blogspot.com
Even this oversized M looks great covered in it. (And I love the two wheels…)
Image from www.theblairaffairs.blogspot.com
Finally…how pretty is this? Love it with the wee crystal knobs, the vintage christening gown and the Shirley Temple postcard!
Image from www.thedailygreen.com
Melbourne’s wintery gale force winds means our power keeps going out…so I thought I’d blog on candles and fun holders.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Old jars are an inexpensive and pretty way to get some light going. The jars are also very effective at keeping the flame going in a windy environment. Hanging them at different levels throughout the room as they have above is a fab look.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Or…if you can find a vintage etched jar the look is even better. Search second hand stoes, antique shops and www.etsy.com for similar.
Image from www.etsy.com
Image from www.etsy.com
These sweet little jars from etsy have blackboard paint on them…making them perfect for dinner party place names. This is a very simple thing to do… buying them seems a bit of a waste!
Image from www.pinterest.com
Vintage candlesticks and candelabras are a favorite, with their gorgeous detailing, but generally informal feel.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Image from www.pinterest.com
Check out ebay and etsy for loads of vintage candelabras.
Now for a few cute little DIY ideas…
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Such a simple idea…and so pretty.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Same idea…and I think even cuter.
Image from www.pinterest.com
Paper luminaries are as simple as paper bags, sand and candles…gorgeous inside or out.
Image from www.manolobrides.com
Or, just group a variety together…candles en masse always look pretty.
Image from www.homelife.com.au
Image from www.pinterest.com
Image from www.pinterest.com
Lastly…I love this wee owl! A similar one can be found at www.roseandgrey.co.uk
Image from www.furniturehomedesign.com
If you’re having a party, Japanese paper lanterns can really quickly add a cool look and theme for you. Go all large white ones for a sophisticated party feel at night.
Image from www.etsy.com
For a daytime party these pretty floral ones form www.etsy.com are gorgeous. Etsy also has gorgeous coloured ones for sweet details see below..
Image from www.etsy.com
Lanterns with traditional Asian decorations and colours can look absolutely amazing as well. The trick with them is to mass hang! Lots close together look fantastic.
Image from www.flickrjapan.com
Image from www.ehow.com
Image from www.art.com
Then of course, you can just go loads of large, multicoloured ones combined with streamers for a fun partay look.
Image from www.gluearts.com
The following two would be my favorites. I know not many of you are likely to scatter polker dotted, oversized ones around your bathroom….but it looks fab!
Image from www.lushlee.com
And these cute as a button coloured ones are gorgeous.
Image from www.visualphotos.com
Visit our on-line shop…click on http://www.iwanthomewares.com.au/
For an at home or on-line consultation email me at ria@iwantiwantiwant.com.au
Image from www.kathleenhills.co.uk
Inspired by the cool cluster light in the beautiful room yesterday, I thought I’d explore some others for you. Kathleen HIlls is an English designer and ceramicist and her cluster lights are amazing.
Image from www.kathleenhills.co.uk
Each cluster light comes with a china celing rose…and also a pretty hefty price tag. But man are they cool. Check out www.aboutspace.net.au for a couple of versions of cluster lights that are more affordable.
Image from www.etsy.com
Another clever English Designer, Jenny Bland hand makes these beautiful wee lights with spun embroidery thread. As a result the light from them is utterly beautiful.
Image from www.stylehive.com
This one I love to bits! Made from vintage tea cups by the designers at Domestic Construction…it’s just beautiful.
Image from www.stores.homestead.com
Industrial cluster lights are brilliant to look at (sorry about the pun there..) and worth scouring shops like Guy Matthews or Doug Up On Burke.
Visit our on-line shop…click on http://www.iwanthomewares.com.au/
For an at home or on-line consultation email me at ria@iwantiwantiwant.com.au
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
If you want to look at some serious houses then check out www.theshootfactory.co.uk . Not only are the houses spectacular, the photgraphy is excellent as well.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
I love this open bedroom and ensuite! How great do those pendant lights look!? And the beautiful old floor really stands out with such simple and sweet styling.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
These deco armchairs are just fab…and I think my favorite pieces in a room of amazing things.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
Like most houses on the shoot factory, this one has amazing tall ceilings and windows, and these panel window shutters are just so much cooler than any other window treatment would be here.
Image from www.theshootfactory.co.uk
And finally…back to the bath! Note how the stylist hasn’t filled the room with small pieces. With the gorgeous kilim hanging behind the copper bath and that amazing cluster light hanging over the deco armchair…you just don’t need anything else!
Visit our on-line shop…click on http://www.iwanthomewares.com.au/
For an at home or on-line consultation email me at ria@iwantiwantiwant.com
Image from www.halogen-lamps.org
Love a good arc lamp! These are such a design classic. If you have very high celings, they do a great job of giving relevance to the higher space. It allows you to have something dramatic other than art at eye level and above. Similarly, if you have an amazing backdrop like the windows in the room below, a really cool arc lamp will compete rather than be made insignificant …they hold their own.
Image from www.decorpad.com
One of the design highlights of the 60′s the arc lamp is crucial to a complete retro look.
Image from www.chictip.com
With the right chair, these are fabulous for difficult sized nooks…
Image from www.livingetc.com
And they work beautifully, of course, with the other design classic, the modular lounge. With the modular it delivers more central light along its length and also takes up no floor surface area. In fact the modular itself can rest on top of the lamps base for further stability. This would be the one drawback of the arc lamp. If you have kids, or uneven floors you want to be very sure that you buy a really well made, well balanced one.
Image from www.livingetc.com
I think an arc lamp is a great look in a study too. It gives a visual edge by adding interest to what is commonly the least inspired room in middle suburbia! Couple an arc light with a cool approach to a memo wall…chalkboard paint, magnetised paint, wallpaper or fabric covered panels… and you have a much nicer place to pay the bills in.
You don’t have to be a retro head to use arc lamps. There are so many options out there that they can work beautifully with lots of different looks. You couldn’t have a more classic look that the living room below, and the lamp is perfect.
Image from www.livingetc.com
For some fantastic design replicas check out www.mattblatt.com.au their replica of this classic by Achille Castiglioni is only $495 while the Le Klint 172, with the famous pleats is $295.
Visit our on-line shop…click on http://www.iwanthomewares.com.au/
For an at home or on-line consultation email me at ria@iwantiwantiwant.com
Ria FitzGerald has worked as an interior stylist in Melbournes inner east for the past twelve years.
Now based on the Bellarine Peninsula, Ria continues to offer in-home styling consultations for both the visual and the practical elements of your home, renovation and colour consulting and event styling.
Rias work can be seen featured regularly in Home Beautiful Magazine.
\"The I want I want I want! blog is a weekday (ish!) update with reviews of the best online homewares shopping, styling tips, peeks into my favorite homes and commentary on design, interiors and art.
Hopefully you will find new products, designs and ideas to inspire you to make your home the most fabulous place it can be!\" Ria x
