For a long time now, crystal has been the go-to material when it comes to chandeliers. From a few teardrops to chandeliers made more of crystal than anything, crystal chandeliers are so ubiquitous that the “crystal” is practically implied just in the word “chandelier.” And there’s every reason for it – the beautiful optic quality of crystals makes them perfect f

To me, the biggest difference between traditional and modern lighting fixtures is innovation. Lovely as they may be, and often grand and stunning as they are, there isn’t a whole lot of variety in traditional lighting fixtures in shape, style, form, or material.  But with modern lighting, the sky is really the limit – modern designers embrace any and every type of light, no matter how

Yesterday I talked a bit about how well the color white works in modern design, especially win modern lighting fixtures. But it’s a topic near and dear to my heart, and one that I think is worth revisiting. So, if Part 1 was about light, shadow, and texture, today I’d like to talk about shape and motion. White lighting fixtures are daring, able to cram a whole lot of detail into a smal

I once had an sculpture instructor who insisted that all the projects we turned in were painted flat white. Why? Because flat white is the great equalizer: it shows every detail and every dent, every mark and every mar – it’s the true test of ability, and done right, one of the most spectacular displays of skill and artistry. It’s a philosophy that’s stuck with me ever sinc

One of my personal favorite design trends, and one that I’m pleased to be seeing more of, is the use of reclaimed materials and spaces. From furniture made of salvaged wood or metal parts to whole lofts made in converted warehouse spaces, I love a look that’s aesthetically old, textured, and rugged. I love old wood, iron, brick, and stone, and the sense of industrial modernism. But eve

In recent years, kitchen islands have become more and more popular, especially in large kitchens with open floorplans. But upping the size of your kitchen – and especially introducing a secondary workspace like a kitchen island – means you’ll need more and better lighting. Some kitchen islands are used for prep, some for seating, and some are even designed with built in sinks or

Here on the Homethangs blog, we spend a lot of time talking how to update the look of your bathroom – how to build a dream bathroom that you’ll love. But renovation and remodeling aren’t just about style. In fact, an important consideration in any bathroom update is the impact any work you do will have on the overall value of your home, and how it compares with the expense you pu

Traditionally, dining areas are full of big, beautiful lighting fixtures – dining rooms often include a chandelier centered over the table, and even breakfast nooks or big standalone tables often have their own dedicated lighting fixtures. But if you happen to have a kitchen that’s on the smaller side (or a ceiling that’s on the lower side) a three tier chandelier probably isn

I think having lots of light is great in any room – there’s nothing quite so inviting and welcoming as a brightly lit space. But having adequate lighting is even more important in the bathroom. After all, our morning grooming time is probably the most time any of us spend looking at ourselves, so it’s important that we can see ourselves well to be able to put our best faces (lite

I love light – natural and artificial, bright light, low light, mood light, accent light – whatever. In fact, the only thing I like better than a well lit room is one that’s lit well with lighting fixtures that look good, too.  With a trend toward built in (especially recessed) lighting,  living spaces are getting more and better lighting (which is a good thing), but the fixtur