Suggestion for the evenings in the open

I like objects with multiple function - they are much more worth the money we pay for them. And when they please us with their beautiful design, then the satisfaction is complete. Here is a beautiful way to illuminate your outdoor entertainments - this Solar Table Outdoor Lamp (Source: www.interior-deluxe.com). It was designed for Foscarini by Jean Marie Massaud in 2012. During the day it collects the sun’s solar power to store for later in the evening when you can enjoy a drink in the open air without the need of other illumination!

As you can see above, its hemispherical body, made of polyethylene, is stable even when tilted by 15°. But this feature is used also to determine the quantity of light it difuses - a means to create different mood and interesting atmosphere.
The Solar Table Outdoor Lamp can be used indoors, too. Then it can be made with glossy white or dark wood finish, while for outdoor use it is produced with a characteristic rusty and textured effect finish.
With the spring already here, this is a great suggestion for the increasing possibility to spend more time outdoors. What do you think?

The most unusual wall treatment

Can you see what there is on the walls of this MOUNTAIN CHALET IN ASPEN? Yes, these are pieces of birch veneer framed with split branches! The whole interior design of this amazing house is very artistic:

"In the entry, an 1880 Belgian table, a 1940s Kaare Klint sofa, and a 1937 Josef Frank cabinet found at Christie's; the staircase is made of antique oak" (Read more: Mountain Chalet In Aspen - Caroline Sarkozy Colorado Home - ELLE DECOR)

Including the kitchen! An elegant mix of old wood and painted pine for the cabinets, modern colour choice and a sudden twist with this beautiful ArtDeco style lamp above the island. I like also the cozy dining corner in the same style and the same pendant fixture:

The artisrtic touch in the master bedroom is the famous wicker chair by Ron Arad:

And in the guest bedroom, if you notice, the walls are covered in the de Le Cuona linen also used for the widow treatment:

A little gloomy for me, but very cozy.
Great interior design - what do you think?
If you are intrested in peculiar use of materials in interior design, go read my older post about another unusual wall treatment - tobacco leaves!

Environmentally savvy

What can you produce from sand? Yes, we know sand is one of the main ingredients in construction of buildings, but it is rarely used as the main ingredient of lamps!

photos by Shay Ben Efrayim

source

These interesting sand-molded lamps are designed by Nir Meiri from www.nirmeiri.co. Sand is an abundant raw material and also they also use LED bulbs that save energy. Interesting idea.
See more examples of green design.

The LIGHT touch in interior design

Lighting is an integral part of interior design, and exterior design, as is the case in a photo below. It not only adds to the space colour scheme and mood, but also can be the only one accent piece with which to change the whole impression.

The new chalice-shaped Leimu lamps by London designer Magnus Pettersen, presented at  Clerkenwell Design Week this year is the perfect accent piece.

 Pod Lens Outdoor Pendant by Luceplan - a 1998 Ross Lovegrove design, provides festive patio lighting with its UV-resistant, polycarbonate diffuser and waterproof body. 

Transitional Tech Lighting Soleil Bronze 6 1/2-Inch-H MonoRail Pendant - bronze finish, amber glass. Beautiful.
Sometimes lighting can have additional functions in interior design - like this beautiful solution below:

Luceplan’s Synapse system (above) is a great illuminating solution for open-plan interiors. It is based on repetition of a three-lobe module composed of shells in polycarbonate and RGB LEDs

And finally, another great idea - lighting within the furniture - not new as an idea, but new as a way of applying it in a very elegant and modern way:

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Plettro table by Natevo, the new brand from Flou, provides an atmospheric lighting effect with LEDs fitted under its glass top and at floor level.

Decoration is easy and fun

At least it should be - especially for your children's room. Let them participate and make their choices. One of the most easy ways to decorate the room is with wall appliques.
Dotted Tree Peel and Stick Wall Appliques
Turn any room into a forest of fun! Create your own design! So easy - just peel and stick! The ultimate trendy deco for any nursery or kids room. At over 5ft tall, this stylish tree will brighten any kids space. Comes in several pieces so you can create your own design. And because RoomMates remove and reposition at will, you can try many variations.



This Baseball Bookends Baseball Bookend set is sure to be a home run with your child. The solid wood bat and real Official League ball are mounted firmly onto wood bookends. The bookends will easily hold your child's book collection in place .Free Shipping.

It can be combined with  this Football Soccer Baseball All Sport Children Table Lamp w/Green Wood Base:


Another interesting suggestion for lighting:




Rail lighting goes buggy with the Bugs Head by Tech Lighting , created by Aaron Mobarak as a fanciful way to illuminate a child's room. Sculpted aluminum wings, head and legs are attached to the glowing glass body of both the yellow Bee and red Ladybug. Designed to work with the Tech Lighting Monorail rail system. And something for girls:


Kidsplace Pendant No. 40178 by Philips



Make their every wish come true with the Kidsplace Pendant No. 40279 by Philips40279. This floating Fairy Godmother, magic wand poised and ready, encourages your kids to explore the wonders of their imaginations. Made of wood, steel and non-toxic paint and designed for use with energy-saving bulbs, this pendant is both safe for your child as well as the earth he or she will one day inherit.
Did you like them? More interesting finds will follow soon.

Color can change the room in an instant

Just have a look - this beautiful rug suddenly makes the room more elegant, artistic and considerably brighter:

Emma Gardner Design

Some  more colorful centerpieces that I would use with great pleasure in my project and that can change your room:

'XXX' by Johanna Grawunder

Abyss lamps collection by Johanna Grawunder

Wieki Somers & Dylan van den Berg

Furniture as a source of light

Created by japanese designer Shinobu Koizumi, 'Light in a drawer' integrates lighting into the drawers of a small cabinet in a very ingenious way - the plastic construction of which makes illumination visible around the sides of each box even when the drawer is shut, but one can vary the degree of illumination by the degree of opening the drawers! In the day one can guess about the double function of the cabinet by its knobs - the knob on each drawer is the screw cap of an electric light bulb. (source: designboom)
Multifunctional is not a new trend in furniture design, but to use a cupboard also as a source of lighting is rare - most often lighting is used to illuminate the cupboard itslef. To illuminate the whole room and to have the ability to control the degree of ilumnation by just opening drawers is a great idea!

London Design Festival Preview - Tom Dixon

Void Light Mini

Launching at The Dock for London Design Festival, new lighting designs including Bulb, an energy efficient oversized light bulb with a quick start T5 dimmable bulb. The Void Light Mini is a development of Void, a series of pendant lights referencing the olympic games medals. The new Etch  Light(above) is digitally etched in brass and fitted with tiny efficient LED lights, the detailed pattern creates a mass of intricate shadows when lit.
Multiplex at The Dock hosted by Tom Dixon and sponsered by Derwent, is rapidly turning into an epicentre for design innovation. During London Design Festival 2011 visitors can expect indoor, outdoor, food and water-based installations, exhibitions and on-the-spot workshops and demonstrations.

Creative, low budget, inspirational

A great example how creative thinking can make any space attractive and beautiful, even on a low budget. This is an apartment in Stockholm, where decorators Benedikte Ugland, Wind Power and Catherine Grundström with clever use of old materials and objects have created an inspiring modern atmosphere.
The bedroom - pieces of old wallpaper and tasteful color coordination make a calm elegant room.

Storage boxes set on the wall make fun and convenient wall storage.



















The story is from elleinterior.se