A Little More About Lighting

Having good lighting is important, especially in a north-facing flat like mine. I'm not fond of ceiling lamps, so I have two floor lamps, two table lamps, two window lamps and a spot for the iMac in the room.

These provide mood lighting, general lighting and task lighting. I also have myriad of candle holders for cosy lighting. I love the glass ones from Indiska, but the cats have already broken two of them. I have decided that I can't buy any more of those until I can be sure that they won't get broken within a few weeks.

It took me a while to find a perfect lamp for the side table (sadly, IKEA was no help this time). I found the lamp foot on sale in a speciality lighting shop when I was looking for shades for my window lamps. They also had these spring green shades that fit my colour scheme perfectly. And voilà! A beautiful lamp for my side table was born.

It makes me happy to look at that side table. I love the box (a gift from my brother and his wife), I love the lamp (a good find), and I love the candle holder (so pretty). I love each individual item and I love them together.

I want to make something to replace that table runner that will do justice to the beauty of that setting. It'll do, but it's too green. Green is good (and I love it), but it's supposed to be an accent, not the main theme. I've been mulling over some ideas (turquoise? white? chocolate? darker green?), but so far nothing has popped out as "it". One day it will, until then, I continue to be happy looking at it as it is.

Read More

New Lampshades

There is a lovely Christmas tradition here in Sweden to have stars on windows from the first advent to 12th Night (and longer). There are also window pendants that are used as décor. I adore both and have wanted the window pendants for years.

In 2009 I bought the stars and the hardware that goes with them. Those stars are usually meant to be plugged in to ordinary sockets, but I have one ceiling socket above one window. (I still haven't figured out why there was only ever one installed while there are two windows.)

Since I wanted the lamps to go to the ceiling socket I also bought a ceiling plug from the hardware store and C helped me to rewire the two lamps to one plug. It's not the prettiest solution, but the cords are white, so they are not that obtrusive.

I love them. Love, love, love! Last season I had them up until February, and took them down only because I didn't have non-Christmas shades to put on the hardware. These are plain cords without any possibility to attach an ordinary lampshade and the bulbs are too small to take the kind of shades that clip onto the bulbs.

Last year I had to deal with exhaustion, depression and a breakup, which took all my energy. So the plan to make some shades and hang the lamps back, stayed as a plan. This year I was determined that I'll buy or make the new shades for my lamps before I have to take them down again.

So I did.

I was unable to find anything in stores that I liked and that could be attached, so I made my own. After weighing several ideas and options, I chose paper and wire. I made the outer shell from blue heavier paper that I'd had for many years and the inner core out of white paper for pencil drawing. Then I made a circle of 1.5mm wire and a system from thinner wire to hang the shade from the bulb socket.

I love the way the light hits the insides of the spokes at night, the contrast between the core and the spokes. The play of light and shadows...

Too bad I have to cover up the lamps with the curtains during the night.

Read More