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Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Brass Candlestick Lamp 1754-817
Would you believe that the first lamp – ever – was created in 7,000 BC? Of course, this is not your stylish, decorative lamp but rather a shell, hollow rock or a natural object that’s been filled with moss soaked with animal fat. Humans ignited this kind of lamp a long, long time ago and most of the styles were imitated from alabaster, man-made pottery, and metal lamps.
The wick was added later in order to control the lamp’s burning rate. By the 7 BC, the Greeks began to make terra cotta lamps which easily replaced the handheld torches. In fact, lamp came from the Greek word lampas which means torch.
Now let’s jump to the 18th century when the central burner was finally added. By then, the fuel source was an enclosed metal along with an adjustable metal tubing that controlled the intensity of the light.
Little glass chimneys were also added in order to keep the breeze from blowing out the flame. It was a Swiss chemist, Ami Argand, who developed this idea.
The earliest lighting fuels for these glass chimney types were either beeswax, olive oil, whale oil, fish oil or nut oil. These were the renowned fuels during the late 18th century, however, the Chinese were able to collect natural gas from animal skins.
In the mid-1800s, petroleum was already being drilled so kerosene (a derivative of this oil) became a popular choice for lamp lighting.
Hello, Electric Lamps
Sir Humphrey Davy, an English man, was the inventor of the first electric lamp. This worked by hooking dual carbon rods to an electric power source. Electric current then flows through the arc creating vaporizing carbon which emitted a bright white light.
Thomas Alba Edison and Sir Joseph Swann were the ones who invented incandescent lamps in the late 1800s. These electric incandescent light bulbs worked in pretty much the same way as Sir Davy’s invention. This time, the electricity passes through the filament that’s inside the bulb. The heat then generates high temperature which radiates light.
Still later, Friedrich Meyer, Edmund Germer and Hans Spanner came up with the fluorescent lamp. It was in 1927 that fluorescent lighting became available for lamp users.
Lamp Lighting Implications
Here’s another trivia – did you know that almost all religious events in India start with the lighting of a lamp? To them, lamp lighting is an invitation to the divine to join their ceremonies. You see, there’s much more to using a lamp than mere ambient lighting.
Lamps do not just provide a light source for your home, it can also be an effective decorative element. It can easily complement your chosen décor which can up the experience of your visitors. Decorative lighting can evoke different moods.
When a warm glow is set up in the bedroom, then you’re evoking romantic and relaxing feelings. A brighter lamp in the dining area signifies that you want a more animated meal with your loved ones and visitors. Just adjust the dimmer on this same lamp and you can have a more intimate dining experience.
The right task lamp can also help you accomplish your work in your home office. Couple this with blue walls and you are sure to become more productive.
Biltmore Linguist Lamp Table
Table or Desk?
Buy table lamps for home office, bedroom or living room setups. At least this is the general idea. Add femininity or masculinity in a room as you choose crystal for the former and lamps with sturdier bases for the latter.
For book reading and other such activities, use a table lamp. Be sure to invest in a lovely lamp table such as this lovely piece from the Biltmore collection of FFDM. For task lighting or a unique decorative strategy, use floor lamps. For both, be sure to get the scale right. Do not be afraid to mix and match hues and styles.
Tags: decorating with lamps, decorative lamps, lamp, lamps, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, task lamps
Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | Comments Off on Glam Up with Lamps
Monday, August 1st, 2016
Century Furniture Lamps and Lighting Table Lamp SA8221
Do you have issues with off-white or white lampshades? These work in almost any kind of setting since they are considered to be the right lighting fixtures. You are wrong to think that they are the only ones that you could use, though.
Dramatic Black
White may not be the greatest lampshade color to use when the upholstery and accessories are all colorful. White could be a jarring element in this kind of scenario. This is one setting where you definitely won’t need a white lampshade.
Colors Everywhere
If a colored lampshade is not something that you would want to jump into straightaway, then black would be a better shade that’s more daring than white but safer than the colorful choices. Just imagine an entryway where a black lampshade rests – while white could work, it is black that would add the drama and richness.
Red can be added as a safe color to use. This is a hue that offers an upbeat vibe without appearing too impetuous. Red, believe it or not, can be as neutral as cream, white or black.
Adding tangerine lampshades inside the kitchen is an interesting twist that could make you think of mangoes, citrus fruits and persimmons.
‘Tangerine too loud for you? Then use a bright shade of green and use it with the other green accents in the room. Dashes of green throughout the room will offer an eccentric look. This hue will almost always draw your eyes towards the landscape outdoors – which is a great thing, right?
Deep turquoise lampshades also work a lot better than cream or white. This color is more noteworthy than any other neutral color elsewhere.
Unique Hues and Textures
A pewter shade is a textural base that would work well to tone down any bright-colored desk, credenza or chest. Don’t automatically default to cream or white if bright shades don’t work for you from the onset.
Bronze could also be an elegant neutral. The shades on a bronze chandelier would surely add depth to a room.
If other shades have previously inspired you, then try fusing the colors that caught your eye. You can concoct pastels to create a unique chandelier. You might also want to experiment with other hues that are not block colors. Think of zebra prints or any African safari motif. These could add a great touch to a room that is begging for variety.
You might also want to pick a patterned lampshade. This does not have to be loud all the time. You can use neutral-hued one and have it completed with a layered appeal. Using this kind of lampshade in the bedroom would not diminish the serenity.
African-woven fabrics in neutral can be repurposed when used as a shade. It has an eye-catching shape and size. Do you have any fabric that you go gaga over? Then why not ask us about it and see if it is available on a lampshade?
The next time you want to up the level of excitement in a room, think of letting go of the white lampshade. This is a small investment of money and your time which can have a huge impact on your home.
Century Furniture Lamps and Lighting Momentus Table Lamp SA8308
Shopping for Lampshades (In a Nutshell)
Here are some rules of thumb that you need to remember –
Tags: decorating with lamps, lamp, lampshade, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, shopping for table lamp, table lamp shopping, tips
Posted in Accents, Accessories, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 13th, 2016
American Leather Living Room Chair MSL-CHS-ST is perfect for any Mid-Century interior because of its clean lines and natural hue. John Mascheroni designed this beautiful piece giving emphasis to mid-century modern streamlined edges fused with a wooden cross base.
If you are trying to achieve the mid-century interior design in your home, then it is best to understand what aspects to mix.
Furniture to be used under this category is characterized by simple, clean lines. Teak and other wood pieces are most welcome. Find mid-century tables and pair them with contemporary chairs. Have teal walls as bold backdrop and you have just attained the epitome of this design.
Never make the mistake of hiding wood details, instead, allow them to shine. Neutral-colored walls will look great with fabrics in soft hues. Find handcrafted furniture and accessories to complete the living room mid-century look.
Mid-Century Is Timeless
McCreery’s Home Furnishings provides furniture pieces that have been thoughtfully crafted by master artisans, hence, they are the perfect classic pieces if you are looking into creating the mid-century habitat.
Table lamps are the right lighting pieces for that low-slung furniture. The curvy base of the Maitland Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Table Lamp 1700-427 will look great in a vintage-looking nightstand.
Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Table Lamp 1700-427 is a spell-binding addition to your living room or bedroom.
Natural lighting can also bathe your black and white-themed living room. Draw back any curtains to let in the sunlight. The black and white color scheme is best for the mid-century style as it keeps the areas looking clutter-free. This is achieved by highlighting space and light.
After considering lighting, it’s time to turn your attention to focal points. Retro lighting can be an effective focal point. Chandeliers can easily stand out against pinstripe walls. Take the retro vibe up another notch by also adding vintage art pieces. Search for striking wall hangings inspired by circles and squares.
Since mid-century spells timelessness, the use of vintage colors is also encouraged. It’s time to start loving avocado hues, also mustard, tangerine and other ‘60s colors. Just be careful in your use of these colors or your place would come across as a movie set.
For more ‘60s inspired pieces, decorate with a coffee table with a hint of gold. Add glass or sculptural accents, these will pop against white walls.
Mid-century also means showcasing superior pieces so, it is best to paint the walls white or any neutral palette. The rich, graphic patterns may appear on upholstered furniture pieces, throws, or on the textured wallpapers.
The Maitland-Smith Accessories Bamboo Cast Brass Bar Cart 3020-042 can carry your vintage glassware and cocktail shakers.
Emphasize the cocktail culture by making use of a bar cart while the rest of the room features streamlined seats and traditional lamps. If you are more traditional, then use a glass and bronze coffee table.
For those who embrace the contemporary culture more than retro, it is acceptable to have at least one mid-century piece to add warmth to the environment. For instance, the marriage of red and white inside a living room can have wood and glass table as a focal point.
Would you want to have contrasting seat cushions? Add these to a wood swivel and you can spice up your mid-century home office.
Mid-century interior design and modern styles, as opposed to common notion, can actually mix. The super clean lines of both styles can be the chief characteristics of mid-century modern furnishings. This is the right combination for those stark industrial pieces. This is the ideal style pairing for those people who prefer urban loft living.
Tags: 1960s, accent pieces, classic, classic design, classic home, classic interior design, classic interiors, classic style, classicism, guidelines, lamp, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, mid-century interior design, mid-century interiors, mid-century style, retro, timeless, tips, vintage, vintage design, vintage furniture, vintage interior design, vintage interiors
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
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