MARK CUTLER STYLE GUIDE: Lighting Ideas

Well, we are still in the midst of living through the remodeling of our house. I think that we are probably past the halfway point. One bathroom is pretty much done; the other is under way and hopefully will be done in the next few weeks. I am pretty happy with the way it is turning out. I will definitely post some images when it is all complete so that you can see what I came up with. With all the work going on, our usable space has been limited to not much more than one room at a time and a poorly lit room at that! Subsequently, I have been trawling the internet for some bright ideas, literally! I have been looking around for great lighting ideas. Here are some of the things I came up with:

The One that Got Away:
In the search for something that would catch my eye, I came across this terrific piece at West Elm. It is called the Koi (pictured above) and I would love to use it in a fishing cabin or lake house for a cool, whimsical feel. It is made from ceramic so it's nice and sturdy. It seems that West Elm has really come a long way recently, adding some new pieces to their line that are more transitional. It is worth a look around on their site too, for something that might be right for you.

Natural:
I fell in love with this company a few years ago when I saw them at the NYC Gift Show; they have such a cool look. I really like mixing more primitive stuff with more modern pieces so this new piece by Bleu Nature is right up my alley. But check out their other pieces too, I think you will fall in love with almost all of them.

A Little Creepy:
I have to admit I have a bit of a weakness for things that are just a bit odd, and the Bug Light certainly fits that description. Made of glass that has been etched with a bug motif, it's one of those designs that will "creep" up on you. It would be terrific in a summer house.

On another note, Stray Dog Designs has a great back story, that you should read about when you visit their site. They use local craftsman whenever possible to bring their designs to life and help support the local community. Good design is good for the heart!

For the Bright Spark in Your Family:
I was looking for a lamp not that long ago for a client's son's room and could not find anything that was perfect. He is a bit of a car/truck kind of guy, so I thought "what about a spark-plug?" As it turns out, it is the perfect shape for a lamp. The thing I like most about it, is that most people don't realize until they are told, exactly what it is.It just looks like a cool item that you turned into a lamp. It comes in a range of colors or stains, so maybe that is the perfect piece that will finish off your room. The lamp is made independently by craftsmen and you can order through our office at MarkCutlerDesign.com.

I hope that you find this inspirational and, dare I say it, illuminating!

Mark Cutler
Interior Designer,
MarkCutlerDesign.com