Eco-Friendly Lighting Options

               As the we look into the future the world seem to become more and more eco- friendly concise. We all want to save items, energy, and recycles products. More and more companies are becoming more aware of the environment by creating products from recycled materials. One of the unique forms would be eco-friendly lighting products. A lot of this products I would use in my own home.

http://inhabitat.com/everything-is-illuminated-graypants-scrap-lights/

       The form of these lamps are similar to lanterns. the texture of the oval shape lamps are made out of twice recycled cardboard. Yes....cardboard. I know it is hard to believe that plain  brown boring cardboard can be so beautiful.

http://www.homedecoroptions.com/home-lighting-fixtures-made-from-recycled-materials

        We as humans don't even think about reusing items suck as ink cartridges  for other items. As soon as the item is gone we just throw it away. This light chandelier is made out of these recycled cartridges. I thought it was original and would go with any modern space.

http://kennethbrowndesign.com/kbd_main/combined_articles/P10/

Plastic laundry soap bottles just get thrown away as soon as the soap is gone. Adding lighting fixtures inside these bottles creates a shadowy surface and enhances the color of the bottles. I would put this in my Laundry room.

http://knicolekindred.com/category/recycling/   

        I remember as a kid when my mother would yell at us for leaving our Lego pieces all over the floor and she would step on them. Here is a creative way to get those pieces off the floor and on display for a child's bedroom.

http://www.greatgreengoods.com/2007/03/20/lamps-made-from-recycled-mardi-gras-beads/

Remember those beads that you got at Mardi Gra or at any parade? These lamps are  melted into the form for a lamp and a pendant. The colors enhance the light  coming from the  bulb.  

http://www.homedecoroptions.com/home-lighting-fixtures-made-from-recycled-materials

             Back in the day they use to have a milk man who delivered milk to your house. These milk bottles are a classics spin of past and present together.  This can be use in any contemporary space.

http://keetsa.com/blog/eco-friendly/lamp-made-from-cocktail-umbrellas/

             All those paper umbrellas that got thrown away can be made into this multi-colored pendant. The illuminating lighting through the transparent paper umbrellas helps the intensity of the colors appear. This would be great in a tikki bar or  in a hotel bar. I just love the idea of of recycle items to create other products because old can always be a new product.



Swinging in with Rope Lighting

       I know the thought of rope lighting makes us think of Christmas and the hassle of putting them up. Rope lighting is actually now the future of illuminating  architectural pieces of a house or to create a emotional feeling through color.

 

 

http://www.lightwavesconcept.com/gallery/led/led_soffit_01_lg

          Rope lighting is used plenty in kitchens. They are used in cabinets to highlight objects, in niches to display pieces, and to add a focal point to a ceiling. The lighting in this space enhances the space and colors of the wood through the glow of the lamps (bulbs) of the rope lighting.

http://www.lightwavesconcept.com/gallery/led/led_soffit_01_lg

I would definitely kick back in this lounge! The lighting from the pendants create a glow of cool lighting and coordinate with the rope lighting displayed behind the seating.

http://www.lightwavesconcept.com/gallery/led/led_soffit_01_lg

        Most rope lighting is seen on ceilings and kitchens. This bar on the other hand, displays non- architectural strings of rope lighting underneath the bar. Reflection of the light helps enhance the seating and the touch of color to the floor.

http://www.lightwavesconcept.com/gallery/led/led_soffit_01_lg

         Another way to use rope lighting would to enhance a piece of art work or in this case a mural of the sky. The detail of the color blue illuminates the  clouds making you feel like you are outside looking at the sky.

http://www.ropelight.info/page/4/

            When it comes to design we can forget the ceiling and by adding  lighting  to this space it creates the comfortable atmosphere that is need in a living area.  I just love rope lighting and I hope that some day I can display it in my home......only to convince my husband. Hmmmm.

Decorated Luminareies

               Decorative lighting is being used in any space that need a little added touch of something special. A unique lighting accessory can add a personal touch that helps reflect your personal style. I had a fun time looking up the quirky and unusual decorative lighting options for spaces. Here are some fabulous example that I found......

http://www.hometone.com/ufo-abduction-lamp-from-maker-faire.html

           These lamps are designed by Jason Dietz and titled UFO Abduction. The lamps are made of hand crafted recycled glass tubes, diffusers, and acrylic rings. Glass tubes are occupied by ten gallons of water that create a bubbly effect. Colors pop creating a gleaming  glow on to the wall and ceiling. This would be great for a bar or  a teenagers bedroom.

http://www.bornrich.com/entry/artistic-guitar-lamps-says-strum-me-to-turn-me-on/

         Rock on with these lamps! These floors lamps have electric guitars with decorative shade on top. Music lovers would love these lamps to cause a buzz and bring their rock buddies to their space.

                                                                                                          

http://inhabitat.com/nice-ball-quirky-lamp-made-from-80-doll-sized-iconic-vitra-chairs/
     These pendent lights  are by Italian designer Paola PiVi. The gleaming round pendants have 80 miniature doll sized furniture items adhesived to the surface of the globe bulb. texture from the pieces memorize the walls with shadows and splashes of light. This is a very unique way of  recycling your kids old  doll furniture also. I would totally put these in my dinning area!

                    Lastly is this lifeguard chair that I got from Lazboy. I used as an example for themed accessories for  a workshop I helped out with. This would be great for a beach themed room or in a summer home. It is fun and whimsical for any idea for a space. When I finally get a house in the future, I will be placing this in my guest bedroom. My husband is not a fan of the lamp but, everyone has there own taste for decorative ideas.

Revamp that Lamp!

                     

     As humans we depend on light to help us understand time, read, and see task that we are doing. Lighting becomes a big part in a space when it comes to adding a intimate setting and comfortable feeling. In my class the other day, we got an assignment based on lighting in our individual spaces and how adequate the lighting is for the environment. the second part of the assignment was based on creating a revamp lamp for the environment. my juices were flowing  so much that I went on the hunt for ideas for my lamp.

 

     

  http://creativedesignbynicole.blogspot.com/

 

The floral pattern creates a focal point to the lamps. The colors are fun and funky with a retro color palette. Creamy white creates a calming  based that will drawl you into the space.

 

 

          

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/before-after-from-drab-to-fab-table-lamp-that-mommy-blog-166114

A more simple but, elegant approach is in this lamp. It has a simple white round shade that catches the curvilinear based. the splash of monochromatic color gives a Serene beach house feeling.

 

                           

  http://www.designsponge.com/2010/05/before-after-joelles-chair-lias-lamps.html

 

Funky lava lamp bases with a lime green create a fun environment for a girls room. The  shades have a large scale pattern that helps create a focal point for you eye.

 

 

   http://gingerworldproblems.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/diy-revamped-lamp/

 

The combination with the blue and yellow satisfies adds a scheme of exciting color to any room. The transformation of this lamp surprised me. The outcome was fabulous and the pattern fit the scale of the lamp. I bought my lamp today at Salvation Army and with these inspirations, I hope I can come up with a beautiful design for my project. I will post pictures later on when I am finished. :)

 

 

 

Decorative Toilets

Toilets are one of those things that people just  don't want to talk about. They are known as plain boring porcelain fixtures that are part of a bathroom.  These toilets below will blow your mind of ordinary toilets!

        http://www.homedosh.com/category/bathroom/toilets/        

The bright neon toilet is based on a tobacco pipe. A very unique way to bring  a nice curved element to the bathroom.    

                     http://www.globallygorgeous.com/page/21-            

Toilets are not just what we believe they should look like. The chair above is actually a toilet! That is one way to camouflage a toilet in a bathroom.

http://www.nuttytimes.com/the-most-weird-unusual-toilets-in-the-world/

If your a lover of fish this toilet is for you! A very unique way to have you fish display but, not sure if i would want that in my bathroom.

http://blog.toiletpaperworld.com/unique-toilet-made-of-candy/

Take yourself back to your childhood with this toilet made completely of candy! The toilet has a colorful feel of pattern and shapes to a bathroom.

http://www.globallygorgeous.com/page/21

Every girls dream is on this toilet! it has a illuminating sparkle and bling element for any glamorous diva!

Illumanating Lighting

Lighting is an important part of a space. If the lighting is not right it might make the spaces feel dark and drab. Here are some lighting ideas to spruce up any  room!

                                 http://www.tidystuff.com/unique-lighting-system-by-daniel-becker/     
  
Lighting a hallway in a creative way is a challenge. This design by Daniel Becker creates a focal point for this hallway with form and unique shapes. It kind of reminds me of icicle lights for a house during Christmas time.

  http://www.trendhome.info/2011/10/best-design-with-bedroom-wall-lights-concept-ideas-from-etna-walk/

i love the creative elegance of the lighting used instead of a actually headboard. It creates a focal point over the bed with curved lines that add colored with the lighting. I would love to do this to my bedroom sometime :)

http://www.dailyhometips.com/home-improvement/awesome-and-unique-lighting-bedroom.html

Lighting is always known to be on a wall or ceiling. in this unusual piece of furniture, the lighting is built into the wood! It creates a pattern stone look that is illuminated with the lighting.

http://www.captivatist.com/lighting/plumbing-pipe-lights-captivating-architectural-elements-by-mesh-architectures.html

Pipes are known as ugly items that we  just want to hide behind walls and structures. in this lighting detail they use pipes to create a lighting structure. I think it adds a structural and industrial element to any space.   The use of this type of lighting would be awesome in a very high ceiling or loft area!

From drab to fab

When I was growing up my parent s would just use items until they look old or worn out.  Now I look back and realize I could have made something fabulous out of them. Here are some drab items that have been made into fabulous ones.

 

                   http://carothrift.blogspot.com/2009/06/before-and-after-1.html

 

Transformation of this old sled creates a unique  form of wall art. The use of a little paint and some nice green plants can create a old fashion homey feel.

http://www.designsponge.com/2012/04/before-after-best-of-cabinets-and-hutches.html

I love the use of  bright colors on refurnished items! The orange gives the cabinet a vibrant  and modern feel by still conveying the  antique elements of the cabinet.

http://www.designsponge.com/2012/04/before-after-best-of-cabinets-and-hutches.html

This retro side table in the before picture shows a dark and boring feel. In the after picture, it shows the use of a Bohemian style with bold curved prints and  splashes of yellow. Curtains instead of drawer give it a unique look.



http://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/green-decor-and-design/suitcase-crafts-old-luggage.aspx

I thought this was really cute! This doesn't have have a before picture but, it is an old suitcase. This just gives me more motivation to say that one persons trash can be someones bed :)