Welcome to the second Blog at My Little Island. This months Blog focuses on lighting up our homes using stunning lights and shades from some talented Upcyclers.
When it
comes to “My space” the furnishings and fabrics we choose reflect our
personalities and values.
For
instance, if you walk into a Goths bedroom you will see darker colours mixed
with rich bright reds or purples and heavier fabrics like velvet mixed with silky
satins. Now compare this to a Hippies
bedroom where you will be met with very bright vivid colours (and lots of them!)
mixed with dozens of cushions in all shapes and sizes and mismatched throws and
shawls of more natural materials like wool or cotton.
These may be
two extreme examples but you can instantly get a feel for who this room belongs
to and it’s a statement that extends to all aspects of the room including the
lighting we choose.
Like art,
lighting can be subjective. Do you go
for soft and romantic, hidden strip lighting for that subtle modern glamour or
maybe even a black light or two?
This has
given rise to essentially re-inventing the light bulb and the lamps and shades
that go with it and crafters and upcyclers everywhere are doing just that...
The Modern
Tripods are
in right now and three legged lamps are popping up everywhere (No pun
intended!). Take these two examples:
Firstly the
upcycled box camera lamp by @pippaselby
that wouldn’t look out of place in a Miami penthouse. It’s an absolute success. A source of soft mood lighting with a classy
finish. It’s quirky, it’s fun, it’s on
trend and I adore it.
Going from the small to the tall, if you’d prefer something full size, then the upcycled Jerry Can lamp by @SmithersofStamf is the perfect feature lamp for your room. With three spotlights and a tripod rig they built themselves it’s got statement piece written all over it.
So
apparently these days’ three legs are better than one and I think they cut a
rather stylish figure too.
The
Retro.
There’s been
an upsurge in all things retro and the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s are back with a
bang!
From Rock
and Roll and UFO sightings to Woodstock and Glam Rock, the three decades saw
the good the bad and the ugly of changing fashions and design inspiration. Whichever decade you choose to channel in
your space, for all of us, there’s a certain nostalgia associated with items that
remind us of these times.
I saw a UFO...
If you’ve got a budding little astronaut at home then @_WillStrange uses glass jars and surplus wood to create really cute UFO lights. The brightly coloured beads and bobble feet help give a 50’s feel to these clever lamps. Ideal for a nightlight with a difference or a quirky lamp for the “Mulder” in your life.
The Atomic Age
@gosh_absolutely
have created a very cute Atomic lamp that for me, brings back memories of
watching space age cartoons like The Jetsons.
The retro Michael Millar fabric used on the shade really does compliment
the design thanks to the little astronaut and all his gizmos and gadgets. They used another Millar fabric to update the
shade on the vintage wooden lamp base too which I think really makes it pop.
Shades of glory
As the
crowning glory of any lamp, the shade is what draws the eye of your visitors
and having the right shade is a small yet simple and effective way of tying
your room together. Many designers and
crafters are making their own shades and results are fab!
If you want
a stand out shade then @PaintedPearl
uses pretty pastel geometric patterns to create gorgeous shades that will make
your lamps and ceiling lights a talking point.
They come in different sizes and will brighten up any room.
The Bold
If you are
looking for something more daring then look no further than @ONETWENTYWATTS
they are a bit more risqué and darker but the collection of shades will
certainly give you variety from dark fairy tales to fun mixed media. Sassy, creepy and fun all rolled into
one.
That looks like fun...
If you are feeling creative and fancy
trying your hand at your own shady creations there are create your own lamp
shade kits available in different sizes from Ebay, Itsy and Amazon and video
tutorials available on You Tube.
Remember! Don’t try rewiring lamps and stands without
proper training.
Be electric safe.
For more
from these creators check out their Twitter accounts from the links above.
You can also check out #UpcycledHour on Twitter every Tuesday at 8pm where many talented upcyclers will feed your creativity.
Have an awesome day folks! :)
MLI x