Lighting Love @ Holtwood House {Part 2}

Today I thought I'd follow up to yesterday's post and give you a peek at some of the other lighting details here at the house.

We knew long before we ever laid eyes on our home that a Sputnik of some sort would someday hang in our dining room. This was the very first purchase we made while we were still in Escrow and we couldn't wait to hang it. There are some incredible one of a kind versions out there - pricey, gilded and vintage. We would have been happy to have any one of them. But the one we chose fit our vision and budget and there it hangs, patiently awaiting the dining table we are finally having made.

Just last week we added a dimmer switch so we could control the lighting on this sucker. With more than 20 bulbs, I can't tell you how much more we love it's more subtle glow now.

The guest bath was a bit of a challenge. It has no natural light so we needed to compensate with some well lit fixtures. We added a small recessed lamp over the shower and I can't tell you what a difference just that made. We ripped out the old fluorescent lighting that once hung above the vanity and then chose some retro-inspired globe lights to play up the retro community "plunge" theme slowly taking shape in there (we're pretty excited about that swimming pool out back). The lighting will one day reflect off some wallpaper behind the mirrors and blue-green glass subway tile in the shower area.

Prior to going into Escrow on Holtwood House, we had waited patiently for our bid on another house to go through (short sale- 100 agonizing days of waiting only to learn the house went to another). While we waited on that previous house, I did what everyone tells you not to do and virtually decorated the entire thing. I know... big no, no. Way to set myself up, huh? These pendants came out of that pointless exercise. The house-that-never-was had already been updated and with newly laid rustic flooring and stonework, it felt like some industrial elements might have worked nicely in that space. I fell in love with these lighting fixtures just in time for our bid to fall through and so they came to live with us in the house that finally came to be.  We might have gone in another direction for this particular space had we waited and perhaps someday we will switch them out. But for now, we're very content to have these polished pretties lighting up our dinner table each night.

Lighting Love @ Holtwood House: {Part 1}

With all the exterior action taking place this week, I thought I'd highlight some of the projects we've accomplished within the walls of Holtwood House as well.

One of the things people always comment on when they visit, is the lighting throughout the house.  There is lots to share with you on this topic so I think I'll tackle this one in two parts.

But first, a bit of context. I'm a big believer in thoughtfully planned lighting. It's as essential to entertaining as the music and the bubbly. Around the house, it can liven up a plain, so-so room and even make a large scale space suddenly feel warm and cozy. I also believe in well placed dimmers and incandescent light whenever possible. Honestly, I've yet to meet an LED or fluorescent I'm attracted to. But lately, even I'm finding that my eco-sensibility is having to argue more frequently with my design-desires. As a good global citizen, I'm one foot in, but I'm having a tough time boarding that ship.

Let's face it. Lighting can be expensive- especially when you are looking to outfit an entire house. We've been fortunate enough to have recessed lighting installed throughout our space. It was our first big update after we moved in and really brought the house current. I mean, I squealed with glee as I flipped each light switch on and off, astounded at the effect it had on our then bare bones rooms.  With furniture in, it gave us a great backstory, eventually allowing us to play with dimmers to create mood. But it's the fixtures themselves that ultimately lend our living quarters much of the personality people notice when they walk in the front door.

I crush often and I crush hard on out of reach designer lighting fixtures. Favorites include just about anything Robert Abbey produces, but especially his Anemone Flush Mount (spotted it while dining at Mr. Parker's and vowed that someday it will be mine) and there's also Jonathan Adler's Meurice chandelier.  I also love me a funky vintage Sputnik and I'd give almost anything for that Tom Dixon  copper pendant. Sometimes a dusty and crusty Craiglist find will do it for me as well. But I have to say that I also fall fast and hard for some of the creative lighting solutions I've run across on my favorite blogs and at least one or two of these budget-friendly, DIYs have come to the rescue and satisfied my lighting fixation.

Like this Branch Chandelier.

Jenny had stumbled upon the project elsewhere herself and then spotlighted it on Little Green Notebook. When I saw it, I just knew I needed to have that pretty little thing hanging overhead while I worked the day away in my office. It was a fast and easily tackled project and at 7 watts a bulb,  I still have some big ideas to expand on it.  I'll probably eventually finish it off with a simple ceiling medallion.

Then there was this one.

This DIY Sputnik was also featured on LGN, but this time it was Jenny's own hack that gave me inspiration. It was more time consuming than the first, but in the end, not as complicated as it looks. It currently hangs in our guest bedroom, commanding an audience from any passerby in the hallway and anointing those who sleep in the bed beneath with VIP status. It's one of my favorite things in the house.

Meet me back here tomorrow and I'll sneak you a peek at some of the other fixtures lighting up our life here at Holtwood House.

* Image Credits: Holtwood Hipster