PRACTICAL MAGIC 101: Tips on Lighting Your Home from Expert Bentley Meeker

Bentley Meeker (Photo: Jacob Getz)

At the launch party for Light X Design: 20 Years of Lighting, I got to meet the lighting magician himself, Bentley Meeker.  I asked him if he'd share some of his secrets, and tell Style Maniac readers how to create magical lighting in our own homes and at our own events.  He readily agreed. 

Here, his advice on lighting your home.

STYLE MANIAC:  Lighting is such a critical part of how we feel, look, interact with people and yet it's not something most people give much thought to.  Why do you think that is?
BENTLEY MEEKER: I think it's somewhat technical in its design and application and as such people default to a simplified relationship to light which is one of visibility. It is a subtle and often ephemeral medium to create in and to be used effectively requires a little bit more attention than many of us are used to giving to things.

What can we do to change our focus, become more aware of it, and integrate good lighting into our daily lives?
Awareness, as in so many things, is a presence to things. We notice objects but not the intangibles around them.

We'll paint a wall to give a room a certain vibe, but we can light that wall and give that room a completely different vibe. And possibly even a better one.

The integration will invariably ensue after the initial awareness has been created.

Three weddings at New York's Plaza Hotel show how light -- not paint -- can dramatically change the look of a space. At left, Melissa River's fairytale wedding in the Terrace Room.  At right, the Grand Ballroom in completely different wardrobes of red and gold. (Photos: from author's archives, David Hechler and Roger Dong; all from Light X Design: 20 Years of Lighting by Bentley Meeker.  Available from Glitterati.)

What is the most important thing to keep in mind when lighting a home?
I think it begins with how do you want to feel in your home. Would a chandelier do it? A floor lamp? Uplights in the corners throwing light up the walls and softly bouncing on the ceilings? Each creates a different feeling so go to the store and experiment wildly. It's not expensive and may change your life.

What are the biggest mistakes you find in residential lighting?
Compact fluorescents. CFL's are now potentially being mandated by federal law. That would be a simple mistake put on megasteroids.

What's the most flattering light and how can we get it in our homes?
Daylight. Freeing windows from heavy treatments and dark curtains makes a huge difference in how, and how much, daylight enters the home. If you're building, put lots of skylights in. They're gorgeous!

Does the approach of layering light levels in a room--overhead, task, accent--still apply or do you have a better way of lighting a room?
It applies, but the effect of light is cumulative. So every bit of light brought into a scenario has to be counter balanced by the dimming of the others. Differing qualities of light is wonderful for contrast. You invariably get nice shadowing. Putting the different elements on dimmers and experimenting with them for 10 minutes will get you a vibe you will love in this type of circumstance.

Yes, you can try this at home.  At this wedding in New York's Gotham Hall, traditional residential lighting layers--overhead, task, spot are used to great effect.  Chandeliers and uplights add drama while votive candles and table lamps create intimacy and warmth.  (Photo by Terry Gruber from Light X Design.)

The array of home lighting can be confusing.  What are the pros/cons and types of light given off by incandescent / fluorescent /LED?  And are there other options for the home we might not know about?
I use LED's in areas that are not living areas. I have them in my hallways on a timer and in my basement, as well as one in the light on the front of my house. In my kitchen I use halogens and in my house, low voltage halogens or incandescents.

For me, all the new technology hasn't addressed the simplest but most important element that lighting for the home needs: beauty. We can save electricity, but if we feel worse, how do we spend the money saved ...?

Can you give Style Maniac readers your top three easy and effective at-home lighting tips?

1. Put everything you can on dimmers.
2. Use incandescent or halogen lighting (far more beautiful than compact fluorescent or LED) on those dimmers.
3. Experiment with color. Soft ambers or pinks in select places can bring a lot of happiness to a home.

Up next: The final story in our lighting series, Practical Magic 102: Bentley Meeker's Tips on Lighting Your Own Events.

SPLASHES OF CITRUS

 

 

My craving for sunshine and Vitamin C has expanded to all things citrus in fashion, decorating and art.  Lemon, lime, orange, pummelo--bring it on.  (What's pummelo?  I'd never heard of this "sweeter, milder cousin of grapefruit" with yellow skin and orangey-red inside until it appeared in a Google search.  Has anyone ever tried it?)

PHOTOS: (1) Designer's Guild from my print files.  (2) Vintage Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress via Dorothea's Closet Vintage.  (3) The citrus striped floor of Faire Frou Frou boutique.  (4) Monet's Water-Lilies at Twilight pictured in The Impressionists:  A Retrospective edited by Martha Kapos, from my library.

THE SLOW SEDUCTION

"There is magic ... in the deep-jewel-colored room,
warm and mysterious, where you discover its many beauties
as you sit, seduced slowly."
-- Billy Baldwin

There are days when I want everything white, bright and simple.  Clearly this is not one of those days. Let me sink deep into garnet velvet sofas, caress gold silk tassels, bathe in amethyst light and turquoise glass, become bedazzled by bejewled headboards.  I'm in that kind of mood.

Photos 1 & 2 from Style Maniac's print archives. Credits lost at the moment, but I'm searching for them.  Bottom photo via Paris Hotel Petit-Moulin.

THE SWEET SIDE OF MODERN

Modern made sweet and pretty with confectionery colors and touches of tradition.  I'd add a white faux fur rug, though, to warm things up a bit more.

Photo via Szandzy on Pinterest, source: Homebug on Flickr

GIVE A GIFT ... of sweet simplicity

A jar of kisses,
A charming little tree,

Something homemade wrapped up beautifully.

No trips to the mall. No hassles at all. Not a lot of cash ...

Just simple sweet presents given with love and panache.

Oh my, she's rhyming! Yes, the Christmas tunes have gone to my head ... or maybe it's my head cold, just in time for the holidays? In any case, here's some final tips from Style Maniac's mall-free, hassle-free, pour a glass of bubbly and enjoy the spirit of the season Gift Guide. Hope you've found it helpful. If you have a suggestion for a chic and charming gift that doesn't cost a mint, please share with us in the comments, below. And may we all enjoy a merry, happy and healthy week before Christmas!

1. Festooning the simplest of gifts with lovely embellishments makes them even more special. TIP: when it comes to wrapping, wired ribbon is your friend.  It stays in place and makes bow-tying a cinch.  For my own presentation inspiration, I've just ordered  Ribbons: The Art of Adornment.
2. Stylist Summer Watkins created the Jar of Kisses as a gift for her boyfriend, but it could just as easily be filled with pledges to babysit for a friend or promises to do chores for your sister.  Best of all, it requires no special skills to assemble--just your own sweet sentiments, a pretty jar and lovely buttons.  For more of Summer's magic, visit her blog Grey Likes Weddings.  {Photograph by Caroline Tran.  Originally seen on 100 Layer Cake}
3. That charming little tree, discovered on Design Elements (one of my daily blog reads), truly captures the spirit of the season:  sometimes the tiniest touch of Christmas Cheer is all you need. Perfect for a small apartment, or perhaps to give a friend who's not up for holiday decorating. NOTE: Many grocery stores offer mini trees for sale.  For ornaments, you could seek out unique pieces from craft shows or home decor shops, or adorn with vintage brooch ornaments you create yourself.

HOLIDAY COLOR RECIPE: Peacock Blue & Burnished Gold

Inspired by a lush sofa, soft antique brass and the sequin dresses in this month's masthead, here's a recipe for a fresh twist on a holiday color scheme:  

Take one part deep velvety blue ornaments and accents.  Warm up with three parts burnished gold gift wrap, china and tree. Add plumes of peacocks.  Festoon with sparkly ornaments and trim in amethyst and emerald, if you like. Meanwhile, mix a Bombay Gin martini as Elvis croons "Blue Christmas" on the stereo.  Stir it all up.  Savor a relaxed and lovely night of holiday decorating.

Photos, from top:  {1} "London Revival" townhouse designed by Steven Volpe, as seen in Elle Decor. {2} Blue Ornament on Gold Tree by Etolane via Flickr.  {3} Gold gift wrapped by Carolyne Roehm as seen in Veranda Magazine.  {4} Peacock Tree via Christmas Central. {5} Marc Blackwell New York Florentine Gold China photographed by Doreen Creede.  {6} Peacock Ornament via the blog Sullivan & Murphy.

BEHIND THE SCENES: Kevin O'Brien Studio

Have you ever looked at a drop-dead gorgeous fabric and wondered how it came to be? From the moment I met the burnt-out silk artistry of a Kevin O'Brien Studio scarf I tried to imagine how that complex pattern and iridescent shimmer could possibly be achieved.  Ten years later, I still delight in the lush texture and ever-changing color of the scarves I've snagged over the years at KOB Studio's holiday sales in their Old City, Philadelphia workroom.  So when I came upon their booth at last month's High Point Market, I felt like I was meeting an old friend, now grown up and expanded into pillows, bedding, rugs and very soon upholstery.  And it occured to me:  why not ask if I could take Style Maniac readers (and myself!) on a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio that supplies luxury goods to Neiman-Marcus, ABC Carpet & Home and Antrhropologie?

"Sure," was the quick and easy answer.  And despite it being Thanksgiving week--and the heart of the retail season--Kevin O'Brien personally greeted me, chatted over coffee at a table piled with luscious velvets and then gave me a tour of the studio.  A trained architect, accomplished painter and successful entrepreneur in a tough retail niche, Kevin's so talented the words "Renaissance man" come to mind--except that he's so easy-going and down to earth that would give you the wrong impression.  When asked how his studio has survived and thrived, he gives the credit to his staff, a tight and loyal group of mostly women, who chimed in often during our tour.  "The best parts of this job," Kevin told me, "are designing ... and being their 'boss.'"

The designs--medallions, twirling vines, snakeskin, woodgrain--begin in Kevin's head.  They are then transferred to a computer for refinement and to work out various colorways.  Despite the kaleidoscope of finished colors, fabrics all start out the same way:  as solid white velvet.  A screen print and acid process erases away parts of the velvet to create the various patterns.  Color comes from non-toxic dyes sprayed on one at a time using a myriad of recipes and techniques developed over the years.  A steamer sets the dye, fabrics are rinsed in a large sink and then put in a regular old washing machine for a final rinse (the part of the process that surprised me the most).

From there the glimmering fabrics take on life as pillows, duvet covers, throws (and still some scarves) destined for high-end retail stores, custom designer projects ... and lucky homes. (This year select items will also be sold at holiday pop-up stores and sample sales in Philadelphia and New York.)  Pillows retail for $100 to $400.  Pricey for a pillow, perhaps ... but not for a work of art.

Kevin O'Brien Studio
www.kevinobrienstudio.com   215-923-6378
Year-round boutique at ABC Carpet & Home, New York City.   
Pop-up holiday shops & sample sales at these locations:

Kevin O'Brien Studio Shop 
Annual Holiday Sample Sale offering scarves, pillows, robes, bedding, fabric, stuffed animals and more. Up to 75% off retail.  Through December.  8428 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19118  215-923-6378

 
Echo Of The Dreamer Holiday Sample Sale 
Handmade jewelry plus Kevin O'Brien wares.  Through December 18, 2010.
242 West 30th St., 14th Floor, NYC 10001  212-594-8022  www.echoofthedreamer.com

Kevin O’Brien Collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Store 
Up to 30% off retail.  Through January 3, 2010.  215-684-7960  www.philamuseum.org

Stacked bedding, closet and blue pillow collection images courtesy Kevin O'Brien Studio.  All other photos by Doreen Creede.

BEFORE & AFTER: Eco-Chic Living Room

AFTER Living Room (right corner)

BEFORE Living Room (right corner)

BEFORE Living Room (left corner)

AFTER Living Room (left corner)

Here's how some of those scary-tuned-chic vintage pieces from "Before & After: Vintage Furniture Rescued & Revived" (posted 11/15/10) came together in my clients' living room.  We've submitted this project to some shelter mags and sites, so I can't reveal the entire space.  But these images should give you a taste of how sustainable can be simultaneously good for the environment, comfortable to live in, and pretty to look at.

Design by Doreen Creede and Gina Pierantozzi for The Redecorators LLC.  Photos by Doreen Creede.

GUESS WHO's COMING TO DINNER

Fashion, meet Decor.  These designers have you covered from your tabletop to your toes.  See if you can guess who's coming to dance and dine.  {Answers will be posted in the Comments on Friday.}  Have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday!

THE SKIRTED ROUNDTABLE

I don't know many other interior decorators in real life.  So it's always a pleasure to pull up a virtual chair at The Skirted Roundtable and find out the inside scoop on decorating fees, common designer dilemmas, blog happenings and shelter magazine shake-ups.  Hostesses Megan Arquette, Joni Webb and Linda Merrill's lively podcast interviews with women like top designers Charlotte Moss, successful blogger Anna Spiro of Absolutely Beautiful Things and magical movie set creator Beth Rubino (Someone's Gotta Get Her) manage to simultaneously entertain, educate and distract me from the drudgery of house cleaning.  What could be better?

Elise Daniels & Monique in Schiaparelli Hats at Cafe Flore, Paris, 1948 by Richard Avedon.

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VISIT Style Maniac at GLOSSING OVER IT today

Style Maniac has gone over to Susan Gloss' place today. Come over to read my guest post "Feels Like Home" and then stay for a bit to explore Susan's fabulous blog, Glossing Over It.  She writes about fashion, fiction, food and wine--yes, all the things a style maniac loves! Plus she's smart, fun and a fan of Trina Turk, vintage clothes and serious research in the form of candy/liquor pairings. If you don't know Susan already you're about to discover a great writer, a must-read blog and a stylish online friend.  Thank you, Susan, for the invite ... it's quite a delight.

Trina Turk's front hall image via Elle Decor

BEFORE & AFTER: Vintage Furniture Rescued & Revived

Club Chair BEFORE

Club Chair AFTER

Recently my decorating partner, Gina, and I worked with a couple for whom eco-design is not a trendy buzzword but a deeply held life philosophy.  Our clients, both university professors, hired our firm, The Redecorators LLC, to re-do the drawing room of their 1920s stone home in Philadelphia's Garden Court District with this mandate: make it elegant and welcoming for entertaining (which they would need to do on a regular basis as part of their professional positions) but still comfortable and liveable for family gatherings ... and don't use one piece of new wood doing it.

Chaise BEFORE

Chaise AFTER

In Part One of posts highlighting this project, here are Before & Afters of furniture used in the room.  Of nearly two dozen items the only new purchases were three floor lamps and two tables--one made of recycled steel, the other a current issue of a classic Knoll Tulip table.  Every other element was a vintage piece, refurbished and sometimes radically reconstructed.

Sofa BEFORE

Sofa AFTER

To find the furniture and accessories we scoured auctions, vintage stores, Ebay, Craig's List, garage sales and the basement of our upholstery work room.  We then altered finishes and recovered chairs, sofas, ottomans, with high-end yet durable to-the-trade fabrics in a palette ranging from soft ivory to deep charcoal. The results: an Eco Chic room that's luxurious, livable ... and sustainable.

Armchair BEFORE

Armchair AFTER

To see before and afters of the finished space check back next week.

Design and photos by Doreen Creede & Gina Pierantozzi for The Redecorators LLC

DESIGNING WOMEN

Rachel Ashwell and Kelly Wearstler could not be more different in their personal and professional style.  Yet, each has influenced and expanded my thoughts on design, branding and business.  Long ago Shabby Chic taught me to better appreciate patina, embrace the less-than-perfect and put comfort first.  More recently the evolving style of  KWID reminds me to stay open to fresh looks and remember that the next thing you love may very well be something you thought you hated.  And both women offer case studies in turning your own aesthetic and philosophy into your own empire. (Love that!)  How about you?  What women inspire you in design and business--and why? 

Images via Hue by Kelly Wearstler and Shabby Chic: Sumptuous Settings & Other Lovely Things by Rachel Ashwell.

RE-USE: Armoire to Bar

My decorating partnership, The Redecorators LLC, began business with the premise that we would use what you have to give you a new look--often in one day. Immediately (as in, with our first client) that segued into full interior decorating services.  We've since ripped out kitchens, walls and floors; designed custom furniture and drapery; and turned completely empty spaces into beautiful and comfortable rooms to live in.  Still, Gina and I always look at how we can use existing furniture, art and accessories in new ways.  For example: turn a bedroom armoire into a living room bar, as we did for a charity event at the Grange Showroom in Philadelphia's Marketplace Design Center. (For more details, plus Before & Afters of that project visit Dust & Chandeliers.)  It's true: we're always looking for a place to corral cocktails! For more unconventional bar ideas, check out Everyday Style Tip: Set Up Bar from the style files.

Photo by Doreen Creede.  Yes that's me reflected in the mirror--and wearing the vintage silver and blue Victor Costa dress mentioned in last month's post, 5 Fabulous Sources for Vintage Fashion.  Funny how I didn't notice that until I enlarged the pic for this post!

THE BEAUTY OF THE INTERNET

It's crazy to think that a decade ago assembling elements for a decorating project required driving to furniture stores, begging for photocopies and waiting weeks for catalogs to arrive in the mail.  Now after a few hours browsing the internet you can emerge with a pile of options to choose from.  Although pricey, for pure inspiration my search often starts at 1st Dibs, a site that does not exaggerate one bit when it states it carries "the most beautiful things on earth."  Especially the lighting.  Above, one of my all-time faves: Sputnik, a 1950s Austrian Chandelier from 1st Dibs dealer Orange.

HIGH POINT MARKET FINDS: Gilt Logs, Furry Friends and The Five O'Clock Slipper Chair

One of the best things about being a decorator is getting a sneak peek at what's coming next in furniture and accessories.  After months of seeing the same old-same old, a visit to trade shows like the High Point Market in North Carolina--with more than 2000 exhibitors from over 100 countries and 10 million square feet of showroom space--shakes up my senses in the most delightful way.  Here's some of my fun and refreshing finds from the recent October Market.

My first discovery came moments after I landed at Greensboro Airport, where a display of metallic-coated Log Tables made of resin fiberglass cast from actual wood stumps caught my eye. Just love how Phillips Collection added a glamorous twist to something so rustic and real.

Next I came across The Five O'Clock Slipper Chair, a swanky velvet chair with a hidden slide-out surface on which to perch your cocktail.  Genius!  Since when designing a room we're always looking to mix the pretty with the practical--and always worried about where you'll put down your drink--it did not suprise me one bit that two former decorators designed this piece, along with a tightly edited collection of similarly surprising furniture.  Each piece by Carolina George has some kind of clever twist that elevates it from ordinary to unique.

At most of the showrooms, the presentation wows as much as the product, and I always come away with new display ideas.  The colorful book spines are one of Decorative Leather Books by-the-yard collections intended for retail displays and model or show homes.  But it's a clever DIY idea you could steal for your own library.

And finally, on my last day of the show, I ran into a furry new friend from Dreamweavers.  That little white lambskin pouf really needs a happy home.  And I think I might have just the very one ....

Top photo courtesy Phillips Collection. Second photo courtesy Carolina George.  Bottom photos by Doreen Creede.