Modern Light

It seems I've been a bit busy around the city these days, despite the fact that I'm about ready to hibernate from yet another dreadful Ottawa winter. First there was the Third World Bazaar that I visited (a couple of times) last week where I scored some awesome finds, and then this week there was an opening of a lighting store that I was SO excited about and an annual fabric flea market (to benefit the Cambridge Street Community School) that I anxiously await each year. Let me start off with the lighting store. 

There once was a store called Found Design. It sold mainly vintage mid-century furnishings and lighting and I loved to visit this store whenever I was shopping around Bank Street. I of course made some purchases there every now and then (a Panton-esque lamp, a repro Componibili storage unit, a vintage Eames shell chair, some retro fabric and a Witco wooden cat, and a bamboo screen). Sadly Found Design is now only a web-based shop BUT in it's place is Modern Light! They carry all sorts of brands I've always admired and drooled over such as Modernica, Flos, Jonathan Adler, Lotte, Luceplan, Studio Italia, Moooi and others. They don't just carry lighting but furniture, accessories and artwork (much from local Ottawa artists which is really cool). Modern Light's grand opening was Thursday night and I had a great time attempting to take photos of lights in a artificially-lit store at night. (LOL) So you'll have to excuse the mess of some of the photos below but I had no clue how to deal with the lighting situation. So here are a ton of photos from the opening of what is now the absolute coolest lighting shop in Ottawa.

**Many more photos of Modern Light and my fabric finds after the jump.

  
  
  

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Treasurbite Design

Photographer Joe Schmelzer emailed (love Joe's work as you can see here and here) to introduce the absolutely amazing lighting collection by Clate Grunden of Treasurbite Design. Clate's designs celebrate the midcentury aesthetic. His papyrus lights are a more textural, earthy interpretation of familar classic shapes while his ceramic lamps are influenced by brutalist sculptural pieces. What is just as stunning is the styling and photography on the website. I love that each piece is the centrepiece of an amazing room. The whole thing has me swooning and I almost lifted every photo from the site!. Of course Joe's connection is the photography which he shares with Noah Webb. If midcentury is your poison and if funky-chic pushes your buttons then these pieces are perfect for you.

Elections, thrifting and garden gurus

It's Saturday. Election day in my home state of Queensland. Don't know the results yet as polls haven't closed. Up early. Vote. Trawl the thrift stores, couple of house inspections (still looking, very jaded by now) and I'm exhausted. Settle in to write WINKS when I visit a site sent to us and my spirits lift. Knibb design gardens that speak to your heart. Flowing hills of grass, sweet little shell details dotting gravel paths, garden rooms and garden getaways. Think rolling hills and clipped grass, meadows and ponds. So here's a very abridged version of WINKS. With spring sprung in the Northern Hemisphere maybe this is just the inspiration to start thinking about the garden.

Knibb Design have opened a new showroom with CL Sterling & Son in Venice, California which is what started me on this garden adventure. An invitation to the opening lead me to garden gurus and gorgeous lighting. Here are just a few examples.

Thomaspaul

I adore bold colours and patterns, and as a result I am always blown away by Thomaspaul's line of home accessories. Lamps, rugs, pillows and more. All in graphic modern patterns and vibrant colours. I just can't get enough. All the products and ALOT more available through 2Modern.

Bathroom lighting dilemma

Ian wrote us last week with a request for some ideas for this bathroom: "I'm trying to get my bathroom lighting sorted and I've decided against harsh overhead lighting with the plan of having the mirror lit either side instead which is a much more flattering light. However, I've looked everywhere and can find barely any ideas! I was thinking of a couple of Glo-balls coming out of the mirror, or recessed lighting, or a pair of Tolomeo lights coming out of the wall etc. Anything other than a horrid downlighter above my head! I wondered if you may be able to help me and post some much needed inspiration on your site?"

I went through my photos of bathrooms and selected some that hopefully give Ian some ideas. I personally think 2 glo-ball-like lights hanging on either side or wall-mounted Tolomeos would look fantastic. (I've got Tolomeos on either side of my range and I LUV them!). Examples of these and others are below.

Cossman_de Bruyn	Ami Mckay
Dolly Howarth	IFI
Location Works	Kate Hume
House Beautiful	mlk studio
Better Homes and Gardens	Jeff Andrews

Elle Deco

Cecconi Simone

Philippe Starck

Kenneth Brown

Lundberg Design

Aero Studios

John Lum Architecture

Napanee Design

Architeam