Turn ON the lights

So a lot of people don't think about Light bulbs falling within the realm of Interior Design - but lighting can make all the difference - and the type of lighting that you choose not only affects the brightness, utility and overall mood of the room, but it also affects your wallet! And we all know that more money in the wallet means more money towards the gorgeous light fixture these light bulbs will be going in. And as energy efficiency and lifespan become more and more important, the incandescent bulbs we're so used to will start becoming a thing of the past. And even though most of us are still reluctant to make the change (nearly 90% of all households still use incandescent bulbs according to a new report by WBUR), new legislation aiming to reduce energy consumption by 2012 is helping to make the change for us. And if you're wondering what all the fuss is about incandescents and why they're not as eco-friendly as other lighting options, it's because the way they create light is by heating up a filament until it's so hot it emits a glow. It works - except that most of the energy used is to create heat, and since this heat doesn't actually translate into anything, it's just lost into the atmosphere, wasting most of the energy required to generate that 60W of light.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, also known as CFLs, use a different technology, requiring 60-80% less energy to put out the same amount of light so that a 13W CFL is equal to a 60W incandescent. They also don't generate as much heat and last a whole lot longer. Most of the objections to Compact Fluorescent start with their 'unsightly' shape - that coiled look is definitely something I don't want to look at through a glass light fixture - but thank goodness the manufacturers started catching on and you can now get more 'bulb' like fixtures in opaque glass. And frankly, if it's under a shade and out of sight, there's no need to worry about what your bulb looks like.

Another objection is the kind of light they give off. It's definitely different from the warm yellow-ish light we're used to from incandescents. Instead, it's whiter, and it took a little while for me to get used to when I made the switch a couple of years ago - but now the technology is so much better that they have options for 'white' or 'soft white' and if you read the labels, the bulbs labeled 2700K emit light very similar to an incandescent. They even have ones compatible with dimmers.

The other issue is cost - these bulbs are more expensive and a few years ago, buying 1 bulb could have been anywhere around $15 - but now, prices are more like $1.50 - and it's worth it. That one $1.50 bulb can save you so much energy over its life span that you'll actually be saving somewhere around $30-50 per bulb!!! The downside to these bulbs is their use of mercury - but luckily the amounts are negligible, and if you recycle it (as you should!), this is dealt with properly and helps to prevent toxic chemicals getting into our soil and water.

The new 'it' thing with lighting is the Light Emitting Diode, otherwise known as LED. LED lighting is energy efficient, long lasting and directional - so when you point a light at something, that is where the light actually goes (unlike incandescents or even CFLs that sort of spread light all over the place). An LED light uses only about 2-3W to put out the same amount of light as a 60W incandescent...now that is definitely quite a savings. It also lasts about 30,000 hours - that's about 12 years. I haven't even lived in a home for 12 years since the very first home I grew up in! Although LEDs give off a much cooler light, they actually are more similar to daylight, are easier on your eyes, and even can help to enhance your mood. LEDs also mix well with natural light.

Above the GeoBulb, available from Bio-Enviro, offers a '60W' equivalent bulb in 3 colors of light that require less than 8W while giving off 14% more light than its incandescent counterpart. It's also made to last - 10 years in fact, if you use it fr 8 ours a day, every day of the year. LED lighting is also as flexible as incandescents so you don't have to give up your fabulous holiday decor - this solar powered string of lights uses LEDs.

And check out this amazing walkway of lights, made in Japan entirely from LEDs - a veritable 'starry night!'

And for just a little more reading, check out this great article from WBUR regarding Consumer Report's most recent study of light bulbs! And for a little more info on CFLs - Real Simple and Tree Hugger.

Fine Dining

When I imagine fine dining, I often think just about the food, maybe because I'm just such a foodie, or maybe because I find I'm often in an uninspiring Dining Room when I am eating a fabulous meal. Although for many a Dining Room is one in which very little time is spent, it is generally one in which you will invest the most amount of money - and for good reason. Made up of only a few but incredibly important pieces, selecting the perfect Dining Table and Chairs (and if you have the space, a lovely Buffet, Console, etc.), can help transform a room into a wonderful place that inspires you to spend more time, eat more food, and invite more friends. And for our parents generation, it was often so - with beautiful star inlaid tables and intricately carved claw feet like this stunning William IV style table, your dining table was a sight to behold. If you're lucky enough to inherit something like this, great! But for the rest of us who aren't heir to a world of phenomenal antiques, 1st Dibs has made it possible to find and own these amazing pieces. This website has truly revolutionized the antique world, and frankly, all the best are listed on their site - it's really one stop shopping. And by buying antique, you're helping to extend the life and history of these exquisite pieces that lasted the test of time and you're saving trees! [All the pieces featured in this post are from 1stDibs].

Even though many people don't often consider their Kitchen to be a place of Fine Dining, this Sam Maloof Dining Table from 1stDibs is a wonderful example of how selecting an extraordinary piece - with a strong visual element like the star shaped pedestal, warm and and casual wood finish, and soft curved edges can really make all the difference - by just adding this one piece, you can help to dress up one of the most often used spaces in a home.

I absolutely love the combination of woods, stones and metal - I think the contrast of a warm, inviting wood chair covered in a gorgeous and colorful fabric, with the sleek and smooth surface of a marble table top, and the crisp industrial quality of a metal base is a sight to behold. This 1950s Marble top table and the Deco side chairs would be a rich and gorgeous layering of colors and materials - perfect for a city apartment.

Although I personally tend towards the modern in my tastes, I think the beauty of traditional antiques and finely crafted traditional furniture is something that speaks for itself - the intricacies of carvings, inlays, finishes and details that are typical of a high quality antique are often breath taking. And a gorgeous antique is always at home no matter its surroundings - paired with a modern or historic atmosphere, it will usually hold its own and look fantastic. I love this combo of the Mahogany pedestal table with the ball & claw feet and the Mahogany dining chairs with the gorgeous ribbon patterned back, giving you interest at the base and at eye level with the backs of the chairs - and although you can't see it in the image below, the grain pattern of the table top is stunning.

Now this is probably more my style - but no more or less beautiful than the pairing above. This 1930s Macassar Dining Table is fab-u-lous! I just love the sleek oval top with the gorgeous Macassar grain atop the heavy, architectural base. The curved Y shape of the pedestal takes this massive piece from being overly heavy and drab to being elegant despite its size. I love the fact that the grain of the Macassar was also carried down the sides of the base, adding another element to the very visual base. And paired with these uber chic Gio Ponti side chairs - what a sight! The lightness of these chairs make the perfect balance to the table and although both make a statement, they work well together so that one is no more important than the other. All I can say is I want it!!

I also tend to love the unusual, and this Joseph Walsh San Martin table is exactly that. I find it absolutely wonderful, both in its shape and finish, as well as the plate-rack-esque sculpture on top. Paired with these great 1960s Cane chairs, it somehow makes a wonderful combination that would both make a statement and invite you and your guests to indulge in a wonderful meal. I imagine it in a space with lots of light and a bright, airy atmosphere - acting as a sort of an anchor both in its size as well as in its natural wood/organic quality.

Below are two things I absolutely love - Rosewood and Deco. This 1940s Italian Rosewood Dining table is, to use the phrase, the 'peak of chic.' The Pistachio Onyx table top is stunning - and frankly, could be on top of anything and still look amazing. Luckily the base is super cool and with those brass casters adds its own element of shine & style. Although I would want my finishes to match, I love the shape of these Deco chairs. The curved back is a great compliment to the round table and the stone that is visible through the open back. I also love the simplicity of the legs - allowing the table base to do all the talking.

Deco, Deco, Deco - I just can't get enough. Although many designers have since created variations of this class Deco table, there is something to be said about getting an original! This is definitely a chunky table - the thick apron and solid base into which the gorgeous curves of wood go are a major statement. Stylish and simple in form, the table is all you need to create that atmosphere of fine dining. And with these awesome Maurice Bailey 1958 Chairs, you are sure to create a room that no one would want to leave!

Chocolate, Spice and Everything Nice

When you walk into a space, your eye is often drawn to things up high, and little attention is paid to what is underfoot, but many people underestimate the importance and beauty that a gorgeous flooring imparts. Even though we're all trained to say "hard wood floors" when we're house hunting or apartment shopping, knowing that is an important selling point, we're often not asking what kind of hardwood flooring...and furthermore, we generally don't ask where this flooring is coming from. Luckily in the North East, hard wood floors in old homes and apartment buildings are the norm, and they've been there so long, you don't have to feel guilty about what trees were cut down to make it happen...but it's the logging practices of old that started the deforestation problems we're facing now. It's a great thing that people realized it couldn't go on forever, and trees were being cut down far faster than they were growing back. That's where the Forestry Stewardship Council comes in, a non-profit organization dedicated to forestry management by setting standards and guidelines for foresters to ensure that sustainability is at the forefront of logging practices. So when you see the note "FSC" Certified, you know it's a good thing.

But FSC certified isn't enough. Using formaldehyde free adhesives, non-toxic finishes, and even being LEED rated all make a difference when it comes to being eco-friendly...but being gorgeous, well, that's a different matter entirely. That's where Eco Timber Flooring takes it all to the next step - by adding that lovely Chocolate and Spice. I tend to prefer darker flooring, it seems richer, deeper, more sensuous to me - and I love the way white painted trim, stairways, and luscious rugs pop against it. And Eco Timber offers the perfect range of finishes, from light to dark, that let you get 100% style without any compromise on environmental friendliness or quality. Whether you prefer Caramel (above), Chocolate or Spice (below, top row) - or the more 'fruit' flavored Patagonian Rosewood and Engineered Brazilian Cherry (below, bottom row), you will not be disappointed by these wonderful hardwoods. What's more, you're also not limited to wood! Eco Timber has an excellent group of Bamboo flooring, FSC certified and made from rapidly renewable Bamboo with all the same fabulous methods as their regular wood floors.

But making new floors isn't the only way to be eco-friendly, in fact, preventing our landfills from being overwhelmed by the wood floors of old homes that have 'antique merit and unique beauty' as described by Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring, is another wonderful way to find beautiful and eco-conscious wood floors full of color and character. Their Antique floors are 100% antique, 100% reclaimed, FSC certified - and come only from historic buildings slated for demolition. And just in case you like that wide-plank look (like I do) but aren't into antiques, they do offer sustainably harvested new hardwood floors. Just check out all the beautiful examples below - whether you want Walnut, or Ash, Oak or Cherry, Chestnut or Pine - they've got it. And their products are exceptional - both interesting and different, and the wide planks have a flexibility to be modern, traditional, country, or transitional, and add an additional layer to the design of a space that comes from its uncommon size.

Check out the variation of color and texture with the Saw Kerf Walnut Floor (1st image directly above) - I absolutley love it!! And the Walnut floor below (1st image) - another finish but just as much richness. I also really love the dark White Oak (last image below) - perfect for when you want something deep, clean and full of contrast but still subtle because of the matte finish.

No matter what your style - these companies offer something priceless - luxury, style, and breadth of product, all without weighing on your conscience.

Mother's Love

We are often willing to do for our children what we don't even do for ourselves - and the organic movement is no different. Thanks to countless Mothers (and Fathers!) who wanted, searched for, and demanded better products for their children, the organics movement gained ground and entered the mainstream. And where did it all start? In the bedroom of course!

Finding amazing, beautiful and organic crib bedding is a snap these days. There are so many manufacturers to choose from, all offering an array of designs from funky, to funny, to down right adorable - and all in organic cotton and low impact dyes. Sustainable and safe? What more could a mother want? And when it comes to decorating a nursery, I cannot think of anything better than using fabrics, full of patterns and colors, to make your child's first home as fantastic as possible...and since Pixel Organics has turned the concept of 'fantastic' into an adorable bedding entitled "Lions, Tigers & Kitties...Oh My" I thought I'd start with them. A family owned business focused on "val-yoo" as they put it, are all about spinning certified organic cotton and low impact dyes into wonderful baby bedding. The Lovelines bedding below is super sweet and girlie - I love the mix of patterns all in shades of pink.



I happen to be a huge Elephant fan...why, I'm not sure, but as soon as I saw this collection of "Celestial" crib bedding from Q Collection Junior, I was in love. Boy or Girl your little ones are sure to love these organic cotton prints and patterns as much as you do!

Cotton Monkey is a great name and a great product line. Featuring organic cotton products for your children, they have an array of beautiful bedding ranging from subtle and serene to bold and bright. I'm a huge green fan (in this case, I mean the color, not the concept), though often for a nursery I would go more in either the lime or sage categories depending on if I want bright or neutral, but the 'Eyes of the World' bedding below definitely caught my eye (no pun intended!). The richness of the color and pattern would add such depth to a nursery.

How gorgeous are the combination of the lavender, green and deep orange of this new introduction to their line?

Argington is a wonderful resource for linens, and in the case of crib bedding, they are no exception. I absolutely love their Dinosaur and Butterflies with Sticks and Buds collections. Both are the quintessential nursery color schemes and themes for boys and girls. Made with organic cotton and low-impact dyes, both of these are just so sweet and lovely.

And for the more modern mom who is looking for something young and fresh, without the ooey-gooey of flowers or trucks or whatever, Area is the place to look. Their color palettes are perfect for any nursery - soft, serene and simple, and the same can be said for their patterns. All made from 100% organic cotton, I love the usage of embroidery to bring dimension and interest.

No matter what company you choose, they all offer you the same thing - beautiful products that are made sustainably and consciously to provide you with peace of mind - both that your child is sleeping free of toxins and that they're surrounded by style. Even the major players are jumping on the band wagon. You can find organic options at Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, Pottery Barn Kids, and Serena and Lily (which actually has a lot of wonderful and gorgeous options, but not so great pictures for me to show!). So thanks to all those mothers and their love, we now have so many fabulous eco-things to choose from!

Environment

It's not just a concept, it's also a company, and a great one at that. Environment Furniture is so named because sustainability and environmental stewardship are the core components of this company's ethic. Based on the belief that true craftsmanship encompasses the use of natural materials and creating products with the lowest environmental impacts as possible, Environment Furniture creates products that are both strong in their message and their style. Created from sustainably harvested, recycled or reclaimed woods, Environment Furniture uses the innate qualities of wood to create contrasts of finishes and colors. The bold and geometric shapes of their pieces, along with the heft, make many of these excellent stand alone pieces. The Salvador Desk above is a great example of this. The simplicity of the design enhances the mixed woods rather than detracting from their beauty. And paired with a brightly colored and patterned fabric chair would soften the hard lines of the desk and look amazing.

The Santos and Caneco Coffee Tables are huge and heavy - but that's what works about them. In a large, open space - full of light and color - these pieces will look spectacular.

I love the Natal Dining Table...the detail of the table top with the angled bottom, and the light, simple pedestals are great. And the Round Santos Table - all the intrigue and funk of the mixed woods make this a great piece to look at and use!

And unlike some of the pieces above, the Nightsbridge and Dumont Consoles use open space to outline the geometry and create interest and contrast. They are fun and funky, and can be used anywhere - as a media console, in a dining room, in a hall, or even as a shelf to showcase all your lovely tchochkes.

And the Trancoso Side Table (also available as a Dresser) is a perfect example of how a natural material like Peroba wood is really all you need to create a decorative, interesting and beautiful piece....which is what Environment Furniture is all about.