My Lighting Obsession Continues...

Kim Coleman

I've got a small confession to make: I can't stop obsessing over lighting. You would not believe the time I've spent in the past few months e-browsing online lighting meccas like Circa Lighting,Shades of Light and Urban Electric and large home decor retailers with extensive lighting departments like Horchow and Clayton Gray Home. I simply can't get enough. And the biggest problem? With the exception of replacing the ho-hum bedside lamps in the master bedroom (which I have no business buying until I've got a clear vision for the room), I really don't need any more lamps.

So I continue to browse. And obsess. Last week I shared with you some of my favorite turquoise lamps (and interiors featuring said lamps). Today, I thought I'd relieve some of my pent-up lamp tension by sharing my favorite blue and white lamps. A more classic alternative to turquoise, blue and white lamps are right on trend with the resurgence in Chinoiserie. They can bring a bit of sophistication and a dose of traditionalism to a cottage interior, as they do in the bedroom designed by Kim Coleman shown above. Think of these as functional blue and white porcelain. These can go absolutely anywhere.

Plum Interiors

I'll readily admit that this lamp is not traditional blue and white porcelain, but it is blue and white and I love it and it's my roundup.... Anyway, I do think this monogrammed lamp would be a fairly easy DIY. You could mod-podge (or simply glue) a swatch of monogrammed fabric to a basic column lamp or just stencil a monogram directly to a lamp. Another great detail in this shot is the amazing light blue ribbon trim with the nail head detailing. Such a wonderful way to incorporate the lighter blue into the bed itself.

Meg Braff

If you were naming a handful of designers who were instrumental in bringing back wallpaper, Meg Braff would no doubt be top of the list. I love how she's used Bob Collins & Sons' Chinese Lattice wallpaper in this den. She kept patterns on fabric to a minimum here, relying on the large scale pattern of the paper to carry the room. Smaller scale pattern is introduced only in the accessories, like in that gorgeous lamp on the desk. Despite her willingness to go with such a big pattern on the walls, I'd argue that the bravest thing Meg did in this room is hanging the art in front of the windows. That definitely takes a lot of guts -- and I think the risk paid off here as I think it gives context to the desk (floating desks in front of windows often looks a bit awkward to me). What do you think?

Ned Marshall

If an all-blue and white room isn't your thing, never fear. A blue and white porcelain lamp is an absolute "wow" against chocolate brown walls. The cool tones are the perfect antidote to the warmth of dark woods and rich browns.

Ruthie Sommers

The lone spot of blue in a sea of pinks, this blue and white lamp adds a big, mature dose of style to this sweet little girl's room decorated by Ruthie Sommers. I never knew blue could look so good with pink!

And since I love to share, here are some of my favorite blue and white lamps currently available:

Source list (from top left): 1. Isha Table Lamp (Clayton Gray Home; $425). My current obsession. I love the pattern, the height, the lucite base...love it all! 2. Arteriors Alessa Lamp (Candelabra; $399). A navy lampshade is a softer, but equally chic, alternative to a classic black shade. 3. Small Blue Striped Lamp (Emilia Ceramics; $128). If you're house is more hacienda than traditional, but these hand painted stripes would be a great, contemporary (but with that lovely handmade quality) touch to any house. 4. Mandarin Floral Table Lamp (Horchow; $375). Another classic choice; I'd switch the shade out with something a bit more modern to shake it up a bit. 5. Carnaby Hazard Lamp (Jonathan Adler; $225). So I cheated and included this in the turquoise lamp round-up, too...but I love it!! 6. Blue & White Chippendale Table Lamp (Shades of Light; $235). A more Hollywood Glam turn on classic blue and white. Reminds me of China Seas' Java Java fabric. 7. Arteriors Batik Table Lamp (Avid-Home; $262). Not sure how I feel about the pleated blue shade, but the lamp base's shape and pattern are both fantastic. 8. Blue & White Happiness Mini Oriental Table Lamp (Shades of Light; $74.50). A little bit of double happiness at a great price. 9. Dragon Lamp (Modern Dose; $398). The lucite base and neck, together with the navy lining on the lampshade, give this traditional dragon lamp a very modern dose of glam.

What about you? Do you own any blue and white lamps? If so, I'd love to see how you've incorporated them into your decor.

Style Essential: Turquoise Lamps

Tobi Fairley

I've expressed my love of turquoise on this blog before, but I think one of the easiest ways to bring this bright, fun (and admittedly a bit trendy) hue into your home is through lighting. Prior to becoming an interior design amateur, I readily admit that I frequently ignored lighting. It just didn't seem important. Now though, I'm starting to believe that it might be the single most important element in a room. From a practical standpoint, good light is essential to good (and functional) design. From an aesthetic perspective, lighting (much like jewelry) can take the ordinary and inexpensive and transform it into something glorious. And so, as with jewelry, I'm a big believer in splurging on good lighting for a space.

But is the splurge worth it for a pair of turquoise lamps? I'd argue yes. Turquoise is perhaps unique among bright hues in its ability to work with a variety of colors. When paired with neutrals, turquoise accents are really allowed to take center stage. When paired with other equally bright colors (like purple, orange or green), turquoise is strong enough to really hold its own. I've said it before and I'll say it again: you should think of turquoise as a neutral.

Ondine Karady

I absolutely adore how Ondine paired these deep turquoise lamps with orange and that gorgeous suzani coverlet. The disparate color palette works because the walls are left neutral and all of the accent colors are equally saturated.

Meg Braff

This room deservedly made the cover of House Beautiful a few months ago. The pops of soft blue work beautifully with the beige, but I think my favorite element in this space is the pairing of the striped wallpaper with the chinoiserie print (Lyford background by China Seas) and just that ever so subtle hit of zebra print on the throw pillows. It's a veritable master class in how to mix patterns.

Sally Steponkus

I love how the lamp is the only bright color in this vignette. The peacock blue also picks up on the blue undertones of the wall paint.

Bonesteel Trout Hall

In this room, turquoise is the primary accent color as its picked up in the majority of the soft furnishings, the lamps and in the artwork. I think turquoise is a great color choice for a master bedroom, as I think it appeals to both masculine and feminine sensibilities, especially when its paired with clean lines and little pattern as its done here.

Palmer Weiss

I've waxed on about my love for this room in the past, but suffice it to say here that I'm still completely in love with these soft turquoise glass lamps, especially against the rich chocolate brown grass cloth on the walls.

Meg Braff

Aside from the brilliant red of the roses, the pair of lamps on the buffet are the sole source of color in this room.

Jamie Drake

I love the height of this lamp, which really helps bridge the gap between the low furniture and the ceiling. The bright, citrus yellow of the walls can be tough to work with, but in the hands of Jamie Drake, the room feels sophisticated and grown-up, largely thanks to neutral furnishings, accented only by a few pops of turquoise in the lamp and throw pillows. The art work above the sofa ties the entire color palette together.

Kristen Panitch

In this bedroom, I love how the bold turquoise of the lamp is picked up on the peacock-inspired throw pillow on the bed. By repeating this strong hue, the choice appears deliberate rather than accidental.

Melissa Warner of Massucco Warner Miller

This vignette, featured in the most recent issue of House Beautiful, is truly stunning. Not only do I adore the simple ceramic gourd lamp from Restoration Hardware, but just about every other element in here as well. I love how the detail in the cabinet doors is picked out in the soft blue and how the colors are picked up on the art work, which appears heavily influenced by the work of Rene Magritte, one of my favorite artists.

Jeffers Design Group

You can't get much prettier than this vintage Murano glass lamp. The blues in this bedroom are all very different, yet they work together beautifully. Don't be afraid to mix and match shades of the same color. The effect is eclectic, without being cacophonous.

Phoebe Howard

The sea glass look of this large gourd lamp is the perfect -- and subtle -- beachy accent for this bedroom. Take a cue from Mrs. Howard and avoid filling this type of glass lamp with tchotchkes. I don't know why retailers are always encouraging this as I find the look to be entirely too cluttered (and the likely filler here, sand and shells, would take this room into theme territory).

If you're looking to bring a little turquoise light into your life, here are my top ten favorite that are currently available at retail:

Source List (from top left): 1. Art Glaze Floral Relief Lamp (Shades of Light; $299). A great way to bring some more texture into a room. 2. Paulette Lamp (Avid-Home; $337.50). A stylish shape that works equally well in traditional or modern interiors -- and the lucite base is fabulous. 3. Cane Turquoise Table Lamp (Clayton Gray Home; $290). Cane + turquoise = perfectly Palm Beach. 4. Capri Bottle Lamp (Jonathan Adler; $275). You can't get much more classic than this. 5. Stacked Ball Murano Lamps (Swank Lighting; $3000/pair). Jaw-droppingly beautiful (and if you're looking for vintage Murano lamps, Swank should be your first stop). 6. Blakely Glass Lamp (Avid-Home; $375). The neutral shade and more muted hue of this lamp means it will work seamlessly in more neutral rooms. 7. Jamie Young Co. Deauville Table Lamp, Sea Glass (Candelabra; $629). Delicate and oh-so-pretty, this one reminds me of the lamp in Jeffers' room above. 8. Peacock Lamp (Plantation; $365). Absolutely adore the color of this ceramic lamp. 9. Carnaby Hazard Lamp (Jonathan Adler; $225). A simple cylindrical shape is made interesting with a fun, retro pattern. 10. Pagoda Table Lamp (Clayton Gray Home; $350). The scale and shape of this pagoda lamp makes it perfect for a console table.

Rock On

Tobi Fairley

I believe it was Candice Olsen who said that "lighting is like the jewelry for your room" -- and I absolutely agree with her. Not only is getting the right lighting in a room essential to maximizing its functionality, but it's also a wonderful opportunity to really take a risk and play around with color and materials. In fact, I'd argue the use of just any old nondescript table lamp is a real opportunity lost design-wise.

Giotto necklace ($160) from Stone & Honey

For the past few seasons, agate and other semiprecious stones (the larger, more colorful and more asymmetrical, the better) has been a huge trend in jewelry, one which is now making the leap into interior design. Not only are geodes and rock crystals showing up in the form of table lamps, but polished agate and petrified wood are being repurposed as coasters, trays and simple objets. My favorite incorporation of this trend into design though are the table lamps, which are so large and vibrant that they read as almost garish, but in the right hands, these lamps can bring both an organic quality and a ton of glamour into a room.

Can you spot the mineral lamps in each of these rooms?

Amanda Nisbet

Chad Eisner

House Beautiful

Nate Berkus

In their most natural form, geodes and crystals also have a very geometric element which can appear at once architectural and modern while still retaining the fundamentally organic qualities. With these divergent characteristics the lamps create a degree of tension, which creates depth and interest in these otherwise rather traditional rooms.

If your itching to get in on this trend, there are a number of gorgeous options available for purchase:

Source list (from top left): 1. Cameron Table Lamp from Circa Lighting ($3150). 2. Marble Block Lamps from Williams-Sonoma Home ($395-841). 3. Black Quartz Spider Lamp from Vivre ($4,400). 4. Rock Crystal Lamp from Anthropologie ($2,200). 5. Pierce Accent Lamp from Crate & Barrel ($149). 6. Amethyst Lamp from Plantation Home ($2,295).

Save for the C&B option (which is admittedly the smallest and least interesting of the lamps above), all of these options are jaw-droppingly expensive. So what's a girl to do? What about a budget-friendly option? While I'm all for investing in high quality, lifelong pieces for your home, there's a good chance that a trend like this will date quickly. Unfortunately though, semi-precious stones don't come cheap, especially in the scale of many of these lamps -- but luckily I've found a wonderful solution via the wonderful blog (and now e-store) Matters of Style:

At prices starting at $125, these are a great, affordable alternative. Even better, the Lucite base and brass hardware are right on trend. For all their current offerings, check out the Matters of Style Store HERE.

Trend Alert: Soft or Antiqued Brass

Palmer Weiss

A few years ago the very notion of brass fixtures was positively revolting. The polished brass faucets, door knobs and shower enclosures that were all the rage in the late '80s and early '90s had become the ugly duckling of the design world by the late '90s and early 2000s as designers and builders began favoring bronze over brass as the new metal du jour. Despite this fall from grace over the last decade, designers have recently been reintroducing brass as an acceptable metal. This time around though, the high sheen of polished or lacquered brass has been replaced by a matte (aka "soft") or antiqued finish.

Kelly Wearstler

The hallmark of the "new" brass is its softness and its subtly. The metal also has a way of giving a certain sophistication and age to even modern interiors. Brass coordinates perfectly with warm neutrals but is also a great foil for the cooler grays that have increased in popularity in the past few years. In short, the metal is just as versatile as nickel, but has the advantage of being a bit more unexpected. Like all metals, soft or antiqued brass is perfect as an accent, so accessories and fixtures are the ideal way to incorporate the trend into your existing decor.

Massucco Warner Miller Designs

I particularly like how a soft brass works with pinks and corals. The effect is pretty, yet sophisticated. And another example of how well brass works with pinks from the great Mary McDonald:

Mary McDonald

Alessandra Branca

In this bedroom by Alessandra Branca, brass nail head trim on the headboard coordinates with the vintage brass bedside lamps.

Canadian House & Home

I'm absolutely in love with this hanging pendant lamp. It's shape is traditional, but its oversized scale feels incredibly modern to me. While brass is often thought of as very traditional, this breakfast nook illustrates that it can work just as successfully in a more modern interior.

Elle Decor

A traditional brass nail head trim is the ideal way to subtly work this trend into your home. Don't worry about coordinating your other metals to "match"; oil-rubbed bronze (as shown above) is a beautiful and natural compliment to the warm gold tones in the brass. For a truly eclectic look, try mixing brass with nickel or silver.

This season, major retailers have begun to get on board with the trend and there are a ton of gorgeous (and even affordable) accessories and fixtures in brass to choose from. Below, a selection of my favorites:

Source list (clockwise, from top left): 1. Moreno Nesting Tables from Crate&Barrel ($399). 2. Hampton Upholstered Bench from Ballard Designs ($359 plus cost of fabric). 3. Meurice side table from Jonathan Adler ($295). 4. Albany pendant from Restoration Hardware ($49.99). 5. Van Dyke cocktail table from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. 6. Derrick Tower small table lamp from Circa Lighting ($420). 6. Mother-of-Pearl knob from Anthropologie ($14). 7. Greek Key nut bowl from Williams-Sonoma Home ($28). 8. Orion Convex Mirror from Avid-Home ($240). 9. PB Standard drapery rods in Warm Brass from Pottery Barn ($79-$119).

Source List (clockwise, from top left): 1. Nate Berkus Etched Feather Tray from HSN ($69.95). 2. Basil Flush Mount from Circa Lighting ($420). 3. Brass Oval Lattice Planter from Ethan Allen ($119). 4. Brass candleholder from Pottery Barn ($59). 5. Sabine Brass table lamp from Revival Home & Garden ($315). 6. Calvin Leather Chair from Tonic Home ($1,585). 7. Costello Stool from Modern Dose ($365). 8. Egolomise coffee table from Beeline Home. 9. Bamboo brass table from Avid Home ($645).

Optimum Optimorum 2: Table Lamps

I'm back after the long weekend with a second installation of my Optimum Optimorum mini-series, which is highlighting "the best of the best" in home accessories available for purchase online. Today, I've got a roundup of my favorite table lamps. Lighting is an often ignored -- but incredibly important -- element of design and table lamps are a great way to create atmosphere in a room and provide specific task lighting for a small area.

Table lamps are also an opportunity to go for broke and get a little crazy in terms of color, texture and shape. Just think of them as functional pieces of sculpture and really go for something that speaks to you and your style.

From top left:

1. Uma Lamp from Modern Dose ($185). Gorgeous green silk shade, modern squiggle detail (in matching green!) on a traditional base, and good price -- what's not to love here? By the way, Modern Dose has dozens of great lighting options. From ultra-modern to more traditional, the selection is truly unique. I had a lot of trouble picking my favorite in fact and this faux bois one comes in a close second.

2. Photographer's Lamp from Pottery Barn ($99). Of all the major home decor stores, I think Pottery Barn has the best lighting for the money and I have quite a few of their lamps in my own home. Right now, my favorite is their Photographer's lamp, which is a great iteration on the increasingly popular industrial trend that's been popping up in design this year. With its adjustable height and canister-style heads, this lamp is perfect task lighting for the office or bedside table.

3. Palladian Urn Table Lamp from Restoration Hardware ($351). Crystal lamps are a design staple: they go with everything, reflect light beautifully and add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any space. Restoration Hardware is a great place to go for high quality, moderately-priced crystal lamps and I like this Palladian Urn table lamp in particular for its modern take on a classical shape. This is definitely not your grandmother's crystal.

4. Allison Lamp from High Fashion Home ($549). HFH is a huge four-story home store here in Houston and only minutes from my house. It features a great collection of furniture and accessories and their lighting in particular is a lot of fun to browse. The Allison lamp is absolutely stunning in person -- the smoky greige glass base and silk shade are inject a huge dose of glamour into any room. Perfect for a living room or sultry master bedroom.

5. Geometric Lamp Base + Ribbon Shade from PB Teen ($19.99 and $35, respectively). I love PB Teen and Pottery Barn Kids for fun lighting and rugs that work equally well in an adult space as they do in a child's. The shapes of these lamps are dead-ringers for Jonathan Adler lamps, but at a fraction of the cost. I'd snap these babies up quickly before they're gone.

6. Kate Table Lamp from Circa Lighting ($336). But for Dave's moratorium on home purchases until we get into the new house, I'd be at the Circa Lighting store here in Houston in a heartbeat buying a pair of these for the new dining room. Ah well, you can bet I'll be there later this month when the house is done doing some serious damage with my Discover card.

7. Globe Lamp from West Elm ($228). What I love about this lamp is its incredible scale -- one of these babies stands over four feet high! Conventional wisdom is that a lamp shade should be no taller than the height of the base and yet somehow, this really works for me (perhaps it's the contrast between the cylindrical shade with the squat, rounded base). One of these on either side of a bed or sofa would make such a statement.

8. Cameo Lamp in Gray and Yellow from Burke Decor ($220). Burke Decor is another great online lighting source, especially if you're looking for something very modern and/or very unique. Cameo lamps have long been a popular lamp-style and I love how this one is updated in a very "of the moment" yellow and gray. A pair of these in your living room would definitely add a certain je ne sais quoi.

9. Retro Lamp in Brushed Nickel from Pillows and Throws ($250). A great MCM-style option, but updated in brushed nickel in lieu of brass. Of course, if you're looking for the real deal, eBay has tons of great original teak-and-metal (or teak-and-porcelain) options.

10. Perch Frida Desk Lamp from Velocity Art & Design ($300). For some reason, this goofy lamp makes me smile (and it comes in an array of colors besides mustard) and would be a nice way to incorporate color into a neutral space. With its burlap shade and beaker-shape, its also got a homemade quality that I sometimes find appealing.

Don't forget that the competition to win one of my favorite three design books is currently going on. To enter, simply leave a comment to this post filling us in on your favorite lamp(s). For more information on prizes and rules, click on over HERE.

Good Design for Less: Oscar Accent Lamp

I am always a little surprised at how expensive lamps are. Even in big box stores like Target, it's hard to find a stylish accent lamp for under a $100. But that's where Lights Up! comes in. Lights Up! lamps (available through Pillows and Throws and Burke Decor) offers several styles of modern accent lamps, many of them for under $100.

My favorite is the Oscar lamp (pictured above), which is available in the four colors shown and comes with a variety of lampshades. The base is made of durable resin, which won't chip or crack like ceramic, and the lampshades come in either printed silk or plain linen. I'm particularly fond of the faux bois print lampshade (shown on the brown lamp) and the mumm print lampshade (shown on the white lamp). And the best part? No matter which base and shade combination you choose, the Oscar lamp is just $88 (or $77 if you go with the plain linen shade). For a lamp that looks this fun, I think it's a steal. My one complaint is that I think Lights Up! should also allow you to buy their lampshades separately, so you can switch them out with the base depending on the season (or your mood).

So what do y'all think? What are your favorite sources for wallet-friendly lighting?