kitchen lighting, UNCENSORED

Recently, I have had a lot of inquiries from clients pertaining to renovating their kitchens. Likewise, one of my dear friends Therese, asked me about helping her out with updating her kitchen. As most of you know, these simple DIY projects are a domino effect...once you start changing one item in the room, more often than not, it leads to another and another and so on the cycle goes.

After picking out some paint colors for her cabinets, walls and furniture in the kitchen, we dove right into new hardware, fabrics and lighting. There is no rule to only using typical "kitchen" lights in a kitchen, and so it inspired me to look forward and beyond the norm and standard light fixtures. Get out of your comfort zone, stay away from safe and really make a statement. I thought: Go bold! Be daring!

These very unique pendents and chandeliers could be just the spice your kitchen is missing. I've said it before and I'll say it agian, it's the accessories that make the biggest impact in a room. And they don't have to match! Shocking, I know. So, without further ado...

I'm slightly obsessed with 1 & 2...I think I am drawn to the color?

I know, I know, these are LAMPS, but why not throw one on your island or counter? Don't be so conventional!

I'm loving these Thomas Edison style lights and wondering where I can use one...

1. VAUGHAN: menton hanging shade. shown in blue cornflower silk shade. can customize with own fabric.
2. SUFFOLK  DESIGNER LIGHTING: armilllary sphere chandelier. shown in bronze.
3. MOTTEGA:  design your own lamp, I made this one, shown in cashmere.
4. MCGUIRE: cascade table lamp, custom finsihes available. shown in antique copper w/ ivory linen shade.
5.CIRCA LIGHTING: country industrial pendant with metal shade
6.CIRCA LIGHTING: pimlico street lamp with large black shop shade
7. CIRCA LIGHTING: dressage round ceiling light
8.CIRCA LIGHTING: aronson lantern by suzanne kasler
9. MURRAY FEISS: artisan 3light island light
10. 4HOUSE LIGHTING: ashton 3light island
11. 4HOUSE LIGHTING: acquisitions mini pendant
12. INTERIOR DELUXE: bulb pendant light
13. INTERIOR DELUXE: illustri pendant light
14. NIERMANN WEEKS: cristoball chandelier
15. CB2: firefly pendant lamp
16. SEASCAPE: gaby silk taupe hanging pendant
17. SEASCAPE: thao ll orb silk pendant shown in lime
18. SEASCAPE: by rachel taylor, tulips in white
19. SIMPLY PENDANT LIGHTING: knotted rattan pendant
20. SIMPLY PENDENT LIGHTING: seashore mini pendent
21. DESIGN WITHIN REACH: etch pendant
22. DESIGN WITHIN REACH: pod pendant
23. RESTORATION HARDWARE: cast iron barn door trolly pendant
24. RESTORATION HARDWARE: industrial pulley single pendant

Actual kitchens with out-of-the-box lighting:

This is a townhouse I designed a few years ago, notice the very large pendants over the island? They created a lovely focal point in this open floor plan. And the tiered candle votives? We hung them with clear fishing wire at varying levels. Together, a great pair. And they don't even match! (similar to #15 above)
 

{photo via traditional home}
These are the same light fixtures as in my kitchen!



{Photo via elle decor}



{photo via traditional home}



What type of lighting do you have? Does anyone have any suggestions for my friend's kitchen?

High on Style

I have had the luxury once of flying in a private plane. It was like a dream driving up to the airport, walking in and having your very own personal pilot waiting for you. No lines. No tickets. No body scans. The pilot took our bags, we walked outside, climbed aboard and took off. We arrived on the island of Martha's Vineyard just under an hour later.

This euphoric occasion prepared and inspired me when the opportunity arose for me to submit a bid on the East coast's premier private airport facility. Ah ha, I thought, I can relate to this (on a very teeny tiny level!) And so I dove right into the project and [laugh] tried to put myself in the shoes of the clientele who would be waiting in the waiting room---as if it was even likely for them to wait?  What did Kelly Rippa expect to see when she walked into this newly designed space? Where would Bon Jovi desire to sit? Would he want his privacy on a disconnected grouping of chairs? Or would he rather sit face to face to a complete stranger?

These were the kinds of questions I was faced with--a far cry from the standard "how many people need to face the television"? And so, I created a retreat for the rich and famous, submitted my bid and found out a short 3 months and 27 days later that I won the bid. Phew.

Nevertheless...

                                                                                         BEFORE

                                                                                         ROOM CLEARED

                                                                                               
                                                                                                           AFTER



Of course, there were so many other things I wanted to do with the space, like more pops of red, area rugs and lamps, but this is a commercial space and well quite frankly my exaggerated design ideas were laid to rest and the practical, possible legal issues were debated instead....like: someone might trip on a lamp cord or area rug corner and fall. Or the sun might fade the red fabrics over time....

Still bitter, I know. It's a designer thing. In the end it all come together, and I know they were pleased. Plus, it has since then captured the attention of the press (see article below).

Facility: First Aviation at Teterboro Airport
Where: Teterboro, NJ (12 miles outside NYC)
Floral Arrangements: Riasa Distinctively


Recently the airport was awarded the cover story in Meadowlands USA magazine where you could learn all about the types of planes and the enormous state of the art hangers their kept in. Click here to view the article written by Rich Frtizky.