Tag Archives: bathroom

How to Decorate With Pendant Lighting

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Pendant lighting is not to be mistaken for chandelier lighting, which casts a softer more ambient light. Pendant lighting is usually hung from a single sconce on the ceiling from which sprouts a single chain or metal tube. The lamp shade itself is the “pendant” that dangles at the end.

Pendant lighting is considerably more practical than other types of lighting, which is why you often see them in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and other places that need to be well lit. Usually the shade on a pendant style light fixture is completely enclosed and made out of a white, cream or opaque glass.

These pendant shades usually completely enclose the bulb although in the last decade, hat shaped or funnel shaped shades that are open at the end and that can be adjusted in height using adjustable wires are becoming quite common (especially as kitchen lighting fixtures in condominiums.) You often see them suspended in a row over a kitchen island in newly designed buildings or hanging high from a twenty-foot ceiling in a hallway.

Pendant style lampshades are almost as old as lighting itself with the earliest version being the bare naked light bulb hanging from a fabric cord from a ceiling. This style of pendant lighting is known as the Burnside.

Shades on pendant style lighting, which was first popularized in the forties in the form of gorgeous blown glass shells, have evolved to compromise all sorts of styles. Some of the most attractive styles of pendant lighting are inspired from this era which features glass globes that have been stepped or squared off with Art Deco touches. You can also find square or triangular open flute art deco shades that have wrought iron details and pastel colored glass panels.

Pendant style tiffany lampshades are also quite striking looking but one problem with them is that they are not quite in style as a pendent. Floor lamps and table lamps look more contemporary then the hanging tiffany lamps, which unfortunately can make your place, look too much like the interior of a chain restaurant.

Yet another style of pendant lighting that seems to never go out of style is the Colonial. This type of lighting features a shade that looks like a lantern with a candle inside. A similar style is the Storybook style, which is made of cast iron and hangs from a heavy chain. Both of these styles tend to look better out of doors but they were often found indoors in the seventies if you are going for that kind of “horse drawn carriage” reference in your décor.

Don’t forget too that to be beautiful the stem of a pendant lampshade does not have to be really long. Shorter styles with stubbier tubes are reminiscent of the Edwardian and Art Deco eras and look contemporary and timeless at the same time. This is especially true if you can find a style that is shaped like a child’s top, a trapezoid or deconstructed globe as these shapes are typical of this popular Mid-Century look in pendant lighting.

How to Decorate a Laundry Room

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It seems to a shame to put such stylish functional objects as today’s super sleek contemporary washing machines in dirty little hovels and damp basement spaces. It is easy to turn a laundry room into a room that you will want to spend time in because it is so comfortable.

First of all paint the laundry so it looks fresh. Make sure that it is clean and free of lint and well ventilated. If there are windows buy sunny new curtains or blinds for the area. Get rid of any harsh fluorescent lighting or the single hanging light bulb and buy freestanding lighting that is bright enough so that you can see what you are doing but dim enough to make the place cozy.

A nice touch is to have a clothing rack so you can hang up stuff to dry, steam clean it with a steam iron or simply hang stuff right away as it comes out of the dryer. Be sure to add large hampers for storing the laundry in as well.

You can build yourself a workshop area by adding old desks or simply making one in the wall. You can put sewing machines, fabrics and anything you use to make crafts down here. You can add plants, mirrors, racks and all sorts of little touches to make the area easier to work in.

If you have an old exposed sink consider boxing it with shelving and cupboards so it looks more like a kitchen or bathroom sink. This often adds surface area for you to work in.

If you have areas in the room that are exposed that you would rather not look at then you can buy cheap curtains at Wal-Mart and hang them so things are not as exposed.

This is also a good room in which to hang photos, art or a cork board with ideas for art on it. Look around for interesting hooks as you always need places to hang things in the laundry. Even small hooks, like the ones you buy to hang key chains on, can be interesting.

So in conclusion there are four basic ways to improve a laundry room space. First of all add a bright color to make the room feel great. Then add some light to create more of an inviting atmosphere. Add flowers and greenery and don’t forget to personalize the area with art or personal photos.