Coastal style pendant lights made from rattan, wicker, seagrass, and more.
These days, it seems, a room is not complete with a pendant light made from natural fibers. Even if you’re not celebrating coastal decor, somehow, rattan makes its way into a room.
Natural fiber pendant lights made from rattan, wicker, seagrass, jute, hemp, rope, and the like, is certainly an effective way to add texture into a room. And you can supersize your light fixture and go with a dramatic silhouette without being too too, because the earthy material tempers the glam effect.
There is a never ending array of rattan pendant lights and rattan chandeliers on the market. I’ve curated the best ones, from simple wicker globe pendants to distinctive statement chandeliers to artsy, natural fiber pendant lights that almost look like handwoven works of art.
Which would I chose? I like the tailored shape of #2, the playful boutique hotel vibe of #4, the simplicity of #10, and the nostalgia of #38, which looks like the light pendant that hung in my childhood bedroom.
A million years ago, we offloaded our television in the living room, leaving an extra roomy could-be bar cabinet free and clear. It soon became a convenient space, given its boxy shape, to store art we weren’t displaying, extra picture frames, and overflow throw pillows. A television has since taken up residence again with a new DVD player, specifically for me to watch movies (since I don’t know how to work the main TV with its fifty-buttoned five remotes), or currently, Friday Night Lights (OMG, Tim Riggins).
I had the best intentions; I imagined transforming the newly vacant slot, complete with pull-out shelf, into a stylish home bar cabinet for my husband. I thought about it a lot, knowing it would make a much appreciated birthday gift. But no follow through from me. Instead, liquor bottles remain relegated to the upper cabinet of the pantry, with some of the more attractive specimens on display atop the would-be bar cabinet in a teal lacquer bar tray, provided by the lovely ladies at an agency for Absolut. (You can see my bar tray styling post here.)
So, woe is my husband’s home bar situation. Jon Draper he shall never be. But if you have room in your living room, you could set up a stylish home bar in one of these 25 bar cabinets chosen from a dozen of my favorite sources for modern and classic furnishings, including some partner sites. Imagine tucking one of these bar cabinets into an unused corner, complete with a shiny cocktail shaker, sleek drinkware, and stripey paper straws.
S H O P P I N G
Shop StyleCarrot partners & others for bar cabinets.
I’ve been so focused on Florida (though not nearly enough, as I’ve yet to order rugs, shades, or decide on the pink problem in the bathroom), that I’ve neglected organizing and upgrading in Boston. Coming back in the fall from the Cape, I’m always bothered by the amount of stuff we have. Too. Much. Stuff. It’s particularly striking because not only is the place on the Cape a lot bigger, being a house instead of an apartment, it’s white and virtually empty.
Here, in addition to crown moldings and bookshelves lined with coffee table books (one of the best perks of being a blogger), there’s , well, everything. The piles of dishes still not put away from the bar mitzvah in February (because, after all, we’re having another one this coming February), our bicycles in the living room until it gets too cold to ride and we store them, etc.
I’ve been promising my younger son that I would work on his bedroom. Meaning, I would clear out all the outgrown clothing and extra bedding I’ve been keeping in there. Done! He has the upholstered armchair that I used to nurse them on when they were babies. It’s taking up a ton of space that would be better used for a desk. He’s starting to get a fair amount of homework, plus, like me, he’s very organized, so I think he’d love to have drawers where he can store supplies.
Our other son has a little desk from IKEA, which when it’s cleared, he actually likes to use (not for homework, though). When he was away at a boarding school program this summer he lived in student housing, with a room furnished in typical dorm style (by a company like Peelmount) that outfits dorm rooms with sturdy wood beds, desks, and dressers. It’s kind of incredible that those designs haven’t changed, in like, ever. Blocky oak stands the test of time, I suppose. In any case, I’m not looking for anything as practical as all that. A small, affordable, modern desk is all we need.
Here are 42 modern desks, almost all of them well-priced (and one very extravagant example) from StyleCarrot partner sites and other great resources.
S H O P P I N G
1 Soft Modern Writing Desk by Sauder, $210 at All Modern.
Brass made a comeback a few years ago, and although copper is the metal of the moment (yes, I’ll roundup copper goodies for you soon), brass shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, it’s creeping even deeper in the house. In addition to wall sculptures and sputnik chandeliers, faucets have gone brassy. Bits of brass are popping up in bathrooms and kitchens. Today I’m working on a brass in the kitchen post for Lamps Plus, which I’ll supplement with a Montage here on StyleCarrot. Doing things backwards, I put together this roundup of brass furnishings, lighting, accessories for today, in honor of “What’s New, What’s Next” at the New York Design Center.
NYDC invited me to be a blogger ambassador for the program, which takes place on Sept. 19. “What’s New, What’s Next” showcases new ideas, materials, and products that will soon debut at NYDC. This year’s blogger involvement includes a promotion on Pinterest, which we all know I love. The Arteriors andirons (#10) is the inspiration for this post. My collage (products 1-10 here) will be on display during the event.
Here are 34 brass accents, including furniture, lighting, home accessories, desk accessories, and brass jewelry.
It’s been a while since I’ve reported on Meredith & Daniel’s apartment; I definitely owe you some schemes. It’s coming together. The apartment has two living room/dining room spaces, each on either side of the kitchen. One will function as the playroom/family room with a casual eating area. The other is a more grown-up living room and dining room. Both are still usable by any age—the grown-up one is hardly formal, but it will be a toy-free zone (we hope!). As you can see, the tables and chairs for both are quite durable and versatile. A glam sputnik dresses up the adult space.
16 / 17 /18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
