Let There Be Light!

Lighting is one of the easiest design tricks to create any ambiance for any occasion.  Layering levels of light by means of table lamps, sconces, chandeliers, pendants, and recessed fixtures will insure you have ample viewing capability in a task area or romantic, soft lighting for a quaint dinner party.  Lighting in dining rooms is extremely important to consider when creating your dream space.  Do you want understated elegance or do you want a punch of personality?  All of the impressions from conservative to modern can easily be created with the proper selection of a chandelier evoking who you are and what you want to express. 

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Do you embrace nature and clean lines?  This dining room will definitely spark your interest with a play on textures.  The geometric shelving recesses backed with wood planks serve as the perfect backdrop for spot lights to create shadows.  A large drum inspired light fixture hung unusually high in a dining room insures no conversation and view interruption at this table.  You may want to create your own natural escape with the light fixture below.

Click to Enlarge- Mambo 8 Lt Pendant, 135-410-F

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Do you have a flair for Modern Baroque style?  The juxtaposition between historic Baroque moldings and black lacquer furnishings will prove to be a showstopper in any dining room.  Graphic elements such as the black and white Marilyn Monroe art piece and the cluster of cylindrical crystal chandeliers will leave a lasting impression upon your guests.  You may not live in an old Baroque Chateau, but you can start to recreate this room's personality with the light fixture below.

Click to Enlarge- Karel 12 Lt CHNDLR IMP-CH, 632-12-514

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You may be more inclined to embrace classic design in your dining room.  Muted colors and reflective surfaces create a glow in this space that can be recreated at night with the use of a stunning chandelier and buffet lamps.  The chandelier below adds a touch of sparkle without being too ostentatious.

Click to Enlarge- Crystal Lights Chandelier, Large, CUC9891

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If you embrace whimsical design, try staggering a cluster of pendants or chandeliers above your dining table. These chandeliers give the appearance of glass orbs floating in space, an unearthly ambiance for any dinner party.  On a smaller scale, more fitting to most homes, use a cluster of crystal pendants for a similar feeling.

Click to Enlarge- Wanderlust Chandelier, CUC9001

Click to Enlarge- Moonlight Pendant, CUC9067

Click to Enlarge- Roundabout Pendant, CUC905

All of these light fixtures can be found on our website at www.thegreathousestore.com

Showcase

If you all have noticed, The Great House Store has been constantly changing over the past few months.  We have been tirelessly working to add fabulous new lines of products for you all to enjoy.  As you bear with our "construction" phase, I wanted to showcase some of our newest lines as well as express our excitement for new lines to come.  Over the past week, The Atlanta Market has been going on full force.  Several of our design personnel were truly inspired by multiple lines showcased at this event.  Keep your eyes peeled over the next few months as we constantly add new products.


The Great House Store would like to showcase Port 68 and Regina Andrew.  Both of these companies strive to provide unique pieces varying from vintage inspired to nautical.  These pieces will be the highlight of your home.  Not meant to blend in with the surroundings, unique pieces will instantly add drama and whimsey to any space.


Port 68: There is a focus on accent tables, lamps, ottomans, and small pieces that will add a pop of color or a geometric flair to your home.

Click to Enlarge- Crossings Accent Table, P68AFDS-165-02

Click to Enlarge- Algiers Table Sky, P68AFDS-148-01

Click to Enlarge- Ivory Katherine Lamp, P68LPAS-151-02

Regina Andrew: With more of a modern twist on classic design, this line focuses on lighting and table top accessories that will add texture to your home.

Click to Enlarge- Gesso Spindle Chandelier, RA405-184

Click to Enlarge- Mother of Pearl Panel Sconce, RA505-1010

Click to Enlarge- Antique Mercury Glass Ripple Lamp, RA505-1006-AM

You can find all of these beautiful products at www.thegreathousestore.com

Add Some Light to Your Life

With all the rain, sleet, and snow bombarding us every winter, this dreary season can leave us all a little dull.  To combat these dismal feelings, you should try to embrace the reflectivity of light in your home.  Natural light is the cure for easing yourself out of a mid-winter funk.  We all know vitamin D makes us feel happy during the summer, so let us all embrace the sun as a starting point for your home design.

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Allowing natural light to flood this bedroom instantly makes you want to put on your work clothes and be productive- there will be no moping in this winter bedroom.  A combination of sheer drapery and loose linen shades add versatility to the amount of natural light gracing this space.

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A living room with reflective surfaces and light colors will instantly embrace natural sun light.  The bouncing of light around the room adds interest as the sun begins to move across the sky.  The reflective surfaces will constantly change their glow with the progression of each day.


If you would like to recreate this light infused, sophisticated living room, we have selected several pieces from The Great House Store to accentuate your own home... www.thegreathousestore.com

 Click to Enlarge- Queen Anne Hall Bench, 659511VGP

Click to Enlarge- Gwenieve Wood/ Glass Cocktail Table, 2646

 

Click to Enlarge- Blown Mercury Glass Spheres, RA405-772

Click to Enlarge- Patricia Wing Chair, 7016-01

Click to Enlarge- Silver Leafed Hexagonal Side Table, Morroco S

Click to Enlarge- Dedra Crackled Glass Lamp, 46337-313

Click to Enlarge- Nickel Trophy Vase, ST206

Bathrooms can also embrace natural light by utilizing reflective materials.  Mirrors, polished counter tops, glass vases, porcelain tubs, and polished chrome fixtures like those selected for the bathroom below prevent dark corners.

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Even if you are not graced with a wall of windows in each of your rooms, you can always provide the same feeling as natural light by providing ample layers of artificial light.  A combination of overhead and task lighting will provide you with lighting scheme options to cater to your every mood.  By keeping your walls a crisp white, you will only enhance the ability of your artificial light to diffuse throughout the room.

A North Carolina Custom Retreat- Simple Elegance Included

We at The Great House have been working with a wonderful couple in North Carolina this year.  Incredibly, this couple had the opportunity to travel to France and gain inspiration for creating their own custom dream dwelling.  To accentuate the French architecture they love, Randy Hall and our staff used design techniques from the past as well as present to accentuate the design of this lovely French home.  The results of combined partnership between homeowners and designers create an elegant space appealing to most any taste.  A bit of traditional, a touch of French flair, and a tad of rustic elegance all working harmoniously to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.  Due to the time of year, we also were able to add Christmas decorations to the finished product.  By keeping holiday additions minimal, our adornments do not overpower the casual elegance created with this dining and entry space. 

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The warm yet neutral color scheme instantly provides a sense of warmth and home.  The over-scale French inspired mirror is one of Randy Hall's trademarks.  Sitting atop the fabulous painted buffet, this mirror and accessories will be sure to be a beautiful yet functional serving piece for all of the home owners' holiday gatherings.  The addition of full garland and neutral ribbons provide the holiday vibe without overwhelming the color scheme with traditional bright reds and greens. 

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Have you ever wondered how to dress an arched window?  We had a rod custom formed to the shape of the dining room window and selected a beautiful gold stripe silk that effortlessly pleats and puddles on the floor.  The reflection of light off the gold fabric further emphasizes the warm glow that radiates around the space.

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We all love the light fixtures in this space. Each one has an antiqued gold finish that adds a sense of age and depth.  If you will notice, there is no shortage of light in this dining room.  Lit recessed ceiling fixtures, a chandelier, sconces, and table lamps add options to the lighting scheme needed for any gathering.

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This is the entry vignette.  A painted cabinet with tassels adds the rustic charm of a French farm house, while the addition of a modern adjustable arm lamp adds unexpected interest.  We have included pops of greenery throughout the dining, entry, and foyer designs to continually draw the eye through the spaces.

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We at The Great House absolutely love the homeowners' selection of this iron stair banister design.  The dark iron evokes a French feeling of days gone by while also adding an unexpected black accent to the muted warm tones.  This contrast of colors automatically makes the curved staircase an instant focal point.  To accentuate the small cavity formed below the staircase, we created a small sitting area with decorative accessories to complement the dining room.  We like to think of this small sitting area as a snug place to read, a place to drop your purse or coat as you come home from an event, or even a place for the husband to wait for his wife to finish getting dressed for the evening.  

All our best wishes for a happy holiday from The Great House... 

Written by Cameron Coxworth