Lighting Fixtures that Save Daylight
This past weekend marked the end of Daylight Saving Time and we all moved our clocks back 1 hour (except those of you in Arizona and Hawaii). On top of occasionally messing with the amount of sleep you get, DST is designed to make the most of our sunlight hours during the summer.
So what’s one to do when daylight saving time ends in the fall and we head into those shorter days? One solution is to work with the lighting you have in your home!
Lighting design has come a long way and new technologies and materials are being developed everyday. Here are some of the Vastu team’s favorite lighting products!
Click here to see our favorite lighting!
Unheard Of: The Flos Sale 2012
Following on the heals of the semi-annual Knoll Space Sale, we’re pleased to share some great news with you. For the first time in two years FLOS, the Italian lighting company, is holding a sale event through their authorized dealers.
We’re talking 20% off iconic lighting designs for your home!
Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of this great opportunity:
- The sale consists of 20% off all new orders from the decorative collection only, this excludes outdoor and architectural pieces.
- The sale offer is valid from October 1st through October 15th (and just during those dates, nothing before and nothing after).
- You can choose from floor and table lamps, pendant and ceiling fixtures and wall sconces from great designers like Philippe Starck, Achille Castiglioni, Jasper Morrison and Antonio Citterio, among many others…
Click the photo above (of the beautiful Skygarden Pendant by Marcel Wanders) to see the Flos products offered by Vastu.
WHAT:
20% Off – The FLOS Sale
WHEN:
October 1 – 15, 2012
WHERE:
Vastu
1829 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 2009
***And if you own an iPad, check out the fabulous Flos 50th Anniversary app available on iTunes. Or better yet, come check out the app on our iPad displayed on the D’E-Light by Philippe Starck!
What’s In A Name?
One of the cool things about sourcing furniture from hundreds of vendors all over the world is the diversity it brings to our catalog. Diversity in styles, materials, colors, textures and overall looks, but also in names. Pieces created by designers in other countries often come with names in the native language.
Take the Italian-lighting company Flos, whose name means “flower” in Latin. Even though Flos works with some of the best British, Danish, German and Dutch designers out there, they are, at their core, an Italian company with a majority of their designers being Italian. This, in turn, means many of their lighting designs are going to have Italian or Latin names regardless of where you buy them in the world. And more often than not, the name matches the look of the item.
Here are just a few examples and their translations***…
Gatto table lamp / Gatto = Cat
Lampadina table lamp / Lampadina = Bulb
Fantasma floor lamp / Fantasma = Ghost
Lastra pendant / Lastra = Plate
Taraxacum pendant / Taraxacum = Dandelion
But don’t think we only see this kind of naming from Italian companies. Here are some other products whose names have a hidden meaning.
As Seen On Eric Kole’s Showhouse Showdown
We know you’ve been waiting to see pictures of Eric’s rooms since his episode of Showhouse Showdown premiered on September 12th. Especially if you weren’t able to catch it or DVR it. Well continue on below to see photos of Eric’s designs and a list of products shown in each room!
Design Direction
“Hey Vastu! So here’s my problem. I just purchased a new home and in the dining area is a standard, and ugly, brass chandelier, similar to the picture. It’s too traditional for my taste and the brass finish just doesn’t fit my style at all. I’d like to replace it with a more modern chandelier but am not sure which direction to take or where to look. Can you guys give me any ideas?”
Here’s what designer, and Vastu co-owner, Jason Claire had to say: Read more
New Lighting Addition to the Showroom
In May, we showed you two lights that were introduced by LZF at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. Well, co-owners Jason Claire and Eric Kole liked one of them so much that they ordered it for the showroom!
Introducing Vastu’s new Armadillo Pendant!
NEW! from LZF
During their trip to this year’s ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair), Vastu co-owners Jason Claire and Eric Kole spotted new introductions from lighting company, LZF. Introducing the Armadillo Pendant…
…and the Pleg Sconce.
Let there be (LZF) light
LZF lamps make an impact when they are turned on and when they are off. The innovative, sculptural designs can make a statement in any room. The bent wood veneer creations are available in table lamp, floor lamp, sconce and pendant styles. Turn up the style dial in your home with one of these modern pieces.
Niche Modern in the Kitchen
Kitchen Island Pendant Lighting by Jeremy Pyles for Niche Modern
We love the way Niche Modern’s stunning pendant lights accent these kitchen and dining areas. Designer Jeremy Pyles creates them from unique exposed filament bulbs and beautiful hand-blown glass in mesmerizing shapes like Oculo and colors like Crimson and Sapphire.
If Niche Modern lights are love at first sight for you, stop in and ask one of our Vastu Design Team members how to incorporate them into your space today!
Vastu’s 10 tips to better design: #6
#6: Lighten Up
Proper lighting can make or break any space. To create the proper lighting for different spaces, you have to consider how the space is used, e.g. reading vs. entertaining, but also who is going to be using the space, the time of day or night, the focus of the light on art or furniture and yes, whether or not it’s flattering. Dimmers are a must for any overhead lighting in order to change the wattage when you change the activity, and lighting set on timers makes adding drama and effect simple and easy. Adding lower-level ambient lighting softens a space at night, creating intimacy and drawing attention to seating areas. Accent lights and can lights behind floor plants add dramatic shadows and contrast for bargain rates. Softly tinted ambient lighting creates mood and flatters skin, flattering hosts and guests alike!
Hint: Our winter holidays are visually defined by lights, but creating holiday themes can be expensive and time consuming. Candles are the simplest, easiest and most cost effective way to honor a season and create a warm mood to counteract the dark days of winter. Scented candles personalize a space and are easily matched to a season.
#1: Simple solutions, #2: Fabric first, #3: Mixed greens, #4: Art matters, #5: Crack a window
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