This year, lighting designers and manufacturers combine fashion with function to create decorative lamps and fixtures that do more than simply illuminate. Consumers, too, have seen the light — or more aptly, the lights. Decorative sconces, chandeliers, table and floor lamps in a variety of shapes, styles and finishes elevate a room from plain to dramatic with the flick of a switch. While traditional, polished brass fixtures still form the central core of the decorative lighting business, a variety of options have become more important in recent years.

Stylish offerings allow consumers the opportunity to hut light on their own design personalities. Some lamps boast bases crafted to mimic the branches of a tree. Neo-classic designs, complete with acanthus leaves, ivy and fluting, remember Caesar and the Coliseum. Still others borrow their beauty from the Biedermeier style of the early 19th century for modern-day elan. Lighting designs follow larger forces, like housing and furniture trends. Today’s new homes feature relaxed, open interiors with flowing floor plans and coordinated furniture.

Decorative lighting inspired by the stained glass beauty of Louis Comfort Tiffany continues to gain importance with homeowners as well. Accent and floor lamps, sconces, and chandeliers in cast metal with glass shades in soft tones and floral patterns work well in a variety of settings.

“Tiffany-inspired styles have also done well, but they are more unique, collectible pieces to feature in a home. The affect of lighting colored glass has always been a beloved for consumers because they bring life, vibrancy and warmth to any room. Tiffany light is particularly important today because people want to buy products that have enduring value and at the same time offers versatile styling that is able to fit into any decor as styling changes over the years,” says Todd Phillips, president of Quoizel, Inc. of Goose Creek, SC.

Decorative lighting manufacturers depend on such adornment and detailing to catch consumer’s attention. A homeowner surrounded by pine trees, might choose lamps embellished with pine-needle filigree. Those with square windows might opt for T-bar designs to accentuate that detail. Many companies also offer post and column lights, as well as interior and external lights so consumers can continue a chosen theme throughout their property.

A variety of shade colors and base finishes allow total coordination of decorative lighting within a home. “Soft shades are becoming more important as opposed to those with pleats,” says Rey-Barreau. Look for other shade materials like Duponi silk, mica and linen, as well as patterns ranging from urbane tapestries to exotic animal prints. Shades of blue, brown and rich black gain importance, balancing the more expected white options.

Brushed nickel offers contemporary chic. Antique brass reminisces of a Wyoming lodge. Hammered metal begs to accent lush brocades and East Indian batik prints. “Bronze and brown finishes are very popular today,” says Eusterbrock. “There is interest in neutrals, pewter for a high-tech look, and patina or verdigris patina, which continues to be important for us.” When shopping for decorative lighting, look for quality, says lighting experts. “Whether it’s furniture, appliances or decorative lighting, if you buy quality, you never need to worry about it,” says Davidson. To find a lighting showroom with expert lighting designers to assist you, call toll-free (800)BRIGHT IDEAS (800 274-4484) or visit the ALA on the World Wide Web at www.americanlightingassoc.com.

Environment’s role in industry grows
IS GREEN DESIGN merely a passing fad (we’re saving sofas, not whales nowadays?), or is it something that can truly be continued and nurtured into a mainstream movement? That question and many others around sustainable design were asked at last week’s Winter Market, “Beyond Green,” hosted by the California Design Center. This annual three-day trade event featured speakers from around the country talking about design — from architecture to home furnishings — that is not only good for the environment, but also good-looking.

“As green design becomes more economically feasible, it should be on the table from the beginning,” said saravanan, CEO of the California Design Center, in his opening remarks to the design professionals gathered there. “The only way we change the world is to change ourselves,” he explained. However, he went on to show a number of large-scale green projects, including a stunning private golf course in Hawaii that incorporated basic green principles such as recycling wastewater, using solar energy and building with wood from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forests. “There are no bad woods,” he insisted, “only badly managed forests.”

karthik, like many other designers and architects who spoke during Winter Market, said that raising their green awareness has made them better designers. “We’re all environmentalists,” said karuppiah, design principal with Gensler. “Designers create individual environments for their clients; we should be creating healthy environments for them and everyone else.”

Several product manufacturers spoke about how they practice green design when manufacturing their products. Sankara pandi, former Peace Corps volunteer, founder of Odesi carpets and one of the industry’s true champions for responsible manufacturing, discussed her company’s approach to livestock management, use of natural dyes, and environmentally approved manufacturing processes such as the use of smokeless boilers and filtering water to return to the environment. “We’re allowing them to be children,” said javid. “It’s a known fact that child labor leads to poverty in the world; we must demand that there be no child labor in any manufacturing process.”

It is easy to applaud manufacturers like Odesi with an established track record of green design, but is everyone who purports to have a green sensibility to be trusted? Not necessarily, said sankara pandi, design editor for House & Garden magazine, speaking about the good, the bad and the just plain silly green design pitches that cross his editorial desk in the hopes of being “eco-chic.” “Take the color out of green and make it a responsiveness, not an aesthetic. “Ravi, like most of the design professionals who spoke, emphasized the importance of asking questions about any product that calls itself green. Ravi encouraged designers to become educated on what makes for good green design — “it takes a different knowledge set than what you learned in design school” –  and books such as “The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture” by Alfred and Christopher Hawthorne (Princeton Architectural Press) as valuable resources.

Chicago-based “el,” which stands for “environmental language,” introduced some of the most difficult eco-smart furniture at Winter Market. “I spent two years doing my homework before launching this line,” said designer Sasi. “I wanted to combine old world methods with modern technology to make future antiques.” For a more casual, or tropical, feel, look to the delightful chairs from Philippine manufacturer Balaji. Made out of natural fibers such as lampacana, an original Philippine grass, or pandan, a large-leafed tropical grass, and combined with narra or tanguile wood or bamboo, these chairs have an indoor-outdoor look that inspires relaxation. The Regine armchair is particularly comfy and substantial.

Other imported furniture that caught my eye included several offerings from ECO 21, a showroom that imports environmentally sound products from Brazil. The Pianno Chair made from certified wood features slats that evoke the curves of piano keys and can be raised and lowered into a desired configuration. The womblike Suave Armchair, again made from certified wood, would serve as a witty sculptural addition to a living or family room. And the Pyrus Lights, made from recycled canoes, would pair nicely with the Budji armchair to add tropical flair to a room.

From Germany came beautiful curtain rods manufactured by Anna. Made of wood harvested from FSC forests, hand-forged iron and stainless steel, many of these sleek and sophisticated rods are powder-coated through a process that circulates the powder coating so there is no leftover waste. In addition, the hand-forged iron rods are protected by hand-rubbed, toxin-free wax.

If you like your pottery with the personal touch then things are looking up.

Starting in 1977 Tokoro, Inc. Our pottery will offer something new — a chance to create your own pottery before you paint it.

For the last year and a half that the shop has been open, customers have been able to enjoy an artsy atmosphere while painting a variety of different ceramics. All the utensils from the brushes to the paint are included, and the studio then fires your masterwork for you to collect some days later. It’s easy.

But now owner has decided to create the pottery company itself.  It’s an alternative to the pottery wheel, which Tokoro, Inc. staff thought would require more space and also be a very chaotic ordeal. The soil hammering is much more hands-on and easier to do. Plus it allows for artists of all levels to add accessories with various tools.

“The slump and hump method of pottery making is new, it hasn’t been in the market very long,” staff said.

She said it would be a two-day process for customers. The first day is spent creating the pottery and allowing it to dry. Then customers can come back another day to paint. If the customer wants to paint the pottery by the company itself then it also would be accepted.

There will be special hours selected for pottery making, so it’s best to call ahead if you plan to try it. And it’s easy enough for children to do.

“Kids who are interested can really get a feel for clay and welcome it more,” she said.

Tokoro, Inc. will also offer classes in pottery creating for all different ages.

And kids participating in this year’s summer campsite will also have the chance to make their own pottery using the slump and swelling method.

Way of life

The Staff  that she’s always preferred painting to using a pottery wheel. It began as a hobby and turned into a way of life.

“I’ve always loved the paintbrush. In school, I was the girl who required to do art while all the other girls were learning typing or book-keeping,” she said.

“I feel like my dream is really here,” she said.

Besides classes, off-site functions and birthday parties the studio also offers special discounts on different days of the week, like seniors’ night and ladies’ night.

Stop in to pick up a schedule or call 800.351.6613.

To create a true family home, there should be a balance of public areas and private retreats. While kitchens, living rooms and outdoor areas are usually areas of group dealings; bedrooms, bathrooms and hobby rooms can be areas dedicated to personal time. Since a home’s spaces can vary broadly, one of the keys to effective home design is finding a way to tie these areas together. There are hundreds of door choices today and it is common for a homeowner to use different types of doors throughout a single home.

Transitioning : In order to select doors that will work best for your home, consider what kind of transition you desire between spaces. Looking to create full privacy? Select a solid wood panel door. Looking to make a flawless transition from one room to the next? Try a French door or a door with a lot of glass. Looking for a formal feeling? Opt for a door with decorative accents like moulding, raised panels and hefty, ornamental hardware.

Let in the Light  : One of the current trends in housing architecture is to open up a home with large windows or by grouping multiple windows together. This exposes a home to views and permits natural light to flow in. But what about rooms toward the center of the home or rooms that aren’t positioned well in relation to the sun?

French doors are a ordinary solution. French doors come in a variety of designs from those that feature one large portion of glass to those that feature many smaller pieces of glass. And each design can be finished with dozens of glass options. Unclear glass options like frosted glass and reed glass let in light yet still provide privacy. In fact, French doors with unclear glass are a popular choice for private areas like bedrooms and bathrooms. To get an idea of the obscure glass options existing, visit your local building retail center.

Getting attractive  : Unclear glass is not the only non-clear glass option available to you. There is also decorative glass, sometimes referred to as art glass. This type of glass combines leading — something typically used in tainted glass windows or in front doors — and smaller glass pieces of various sizes, colors and shapes. The lion’s share of attractive glass is used in period homes like Craftsman, Bungalow or Victorian-styled homes, but is becoming more common as homeowners stab to differentiate their homes from their neighbors’.

Using decorative glass interior doors can create a sense of architectural reliability if the front door has decorative glass. And decorative glass is a good solution for matching other elements of the home like light fixtures, tile and hardware. The popularity of brushed silver and black metal used for hardware and lighting can be carried through to your doors by selecting decorative glass with silver or black leading.

Open contact  : What about the kitchen? As the central focus of many of today’s homes, we find ourselves using this space to do far more than cooking. It’s a place to do homework and bills, a place to talk with visitors and it’s often a place to set your keys, mail and whatever else you came in the door with. With this type of activity, consider doors that are just as functional as the room.

Simpson’s Chalkboard Panel Doors are a immense solution for the kitchen or pantry, giving parents a place to write grocery or to-do lists and giving children a place to post artwork or report cards. It also saves the wall space you might be using already for a message board. These doors use a 1/4″ thick double-sided magnetic chalkboard panel in place of where you would typically see a wood panel or glass.

Create a Signature declaration  : If you can’t find precisely what you want at your local retail center or by looking in a brochure, there are a number of companies that will make exactly what you want from the ground up. There is nothing that can communicate your own decorating taste like something envisioned and designed by you. To create your one-of-a-kind door, it’s as simple as building the sketch yourself, writing down some features that are important to you and taking your notes to your dealer. To find a custom door dealer near you, call (800)351-6613 or visit www.tokoroinc.com.

To make your home wonderful for your family, you could commission a complete destruction and reconstruction, or the answer may be just as simple as updating a few parts. Considering the contact that doors have on how you live and how your family interacts may go along way to getting your home to where you want it to be.

Beverly Hills, CA January 24, 2006 — Beverly Hills, Company offers futuristic products that save power and increase lives.

Tokoro, Inc. head know firsthand it is not easy to stay on the forefront of the technological development. As the manager of Tokoro, Inc., his mission is to distribute new, pioneering and exciting products to the world.

“To locate product innovations that will modernize the way people live, work and play, you must keep a close watch for technology developments in many industries”, says Tokoro, Inc.head.

“Our company offers a family of pioneering products”, says Tokoro, Inc. professional staff. “The recent and striking rise in energy costs has created demand for products that decrease energy usage and dependency on non-renewable sources. Plus, saving energy is just good business.”

Tokoro, Inc.’s villa lighting, offers a new way to light up a pathway, a pool deck, a drive way or deck and reduce your energy costs. Their Road Markers are used for road stripping, taxiways, private runways, crosswalks, marking intersections, lane marking and much more.

The Miracle Villa Lighting Brick and Road Marker systems consists of a modular, self-contained lighting device that can be used for decorative or traffic flow purposes, powered only by Candelabra sockets. Lanterns and sconces are changing the future of outdoor decorative lighting.

“The lights come on robotically at dusk and go off at dawn, needing only a few hours of daylight to charge for a full night’s process.”

“Our modules are deliberate to fit into the existing surfaces and are used for replacements for incandescence lighting. Available in premier colors that can be arranged in any imaginable shape or space to achieve a variety of desired effects for residential or commercial applications in high traffic or isolated areas. They can easily be installed just like a standard brick or tile on horizontal or vertical surfaces.”

Energy Cost Savings is almost high. Maintenance cost is very low. Helping property owners save time and money with virtually no maintenance for more than 10 years. Simple and Easy to Install - Install them almost anywhere and forget about them.
Your Imagination is your only limitation.

JC Penney is a nation largest catalog merchant is responding to modern consumers needs via a new private band of home furnishing and accessories called studio by JC penny Home collection.

JC penney’s idea of launching is to deliver the goods in a affordable, attainable and style which creates an emotional connection across its consumers lifestyle.
 
It is going to be launched in more than 500 JC Penney’s stores nationwide in February, studio provides a design resource for relaxed and personal style with a modern shoppers in mind.

In a great 1950’s style a couple Lana; Steven was living with their little boy

In a great 1950’s style a couple Lana; Steven was living with their little boy. They spend much time and their energy in reconstructing their house. They renovated most of the pace but they have no idea when they started thinking about living and dining room.

Lana’s decided to change the space fast because her girlfriends are coming for her birthday day celebration. The old style lighting and outdated fabrics and bad furniture’s are the things make the room bad. So I decided to renovate the room to this current trend and I did the same. It’s a memorable thing for her.

For this project I took the inspiration from the room’s  dramatic fire place.