We’ve all had to dash to the bathroom or answer the telephone whilst reading in bed. Usually we fold the tip of the page we’re reading or place the book down on the bed sheets when we rush away, but this can result in damaged books and losing our place in the story as the book gradually closes. Instead, this book rest lamp provides a highly functional way of keeping the page we want to continue reading easily accessible and also the book safe and in good condition.

The lamp is made from frosted glass and thus there is no danger of the book’s pages overheating and catching fire. A soft light gives of a relaxing ambiance whilst providing enough light for ease of reading. The very act of putting a book on top turns the house-shaped lamp into a sculptural piece in its own right. The book rest lamp is ideal for a kid’s bedroom as it is for all age groups and will really add a unique and characterful feature to the bedside area of the room. It can also be placed in a home study or library and thus act as a side table besides a favourite reading armchair.

You can buy this lamp from here: Book Rest Lamp by Lee Sang Gin.

Light bulb included.

How we use light can significantly impact the space and the “mood” of the room. As much consideration should be placed on lighting as other elements such as the type and colour of paint, rugs, appliances and accessories. Lighting is just as fundamental to home improvement and can be used to create specific ambiances throughout your home.

Here we explore how 5 different types of light can impact your home:

1. Natural Light
When decorating a home there are 2 main categories of lighting that should be considered, natural and artificial. Natural light stems from the sun or from sources, such as candles and fireplaces. Lighting plays a vital part in the mood of a room and as such the types of room to benefit from natural light would be bedrooms, living room, toilets and kitchens. All of these rooms are need natural light to keep the mood relaxed and comfortable. The natural light in the bathroom promotes cleanliness and in the living room emphasises space.

2. Accent Lights
Accent lights should traditionally be used the secondary lights in a room, and as a basic rule of interior design they should be 3-5x brighter than the ambient light level. A good example of accent lights is floor and table lamps and wall features. These would be commonly used to highlight particular areas in your house for example, a painting in the wall of a living room, or a table lamp to light up books and alternative accessories.

3. Ambient Lights
Ambiance is something that you have to create through lighting and if done correctly it can help bring comfort or a relaxed atmosphere to the space. The ambient lighting as explained in more detail below is usually dim and 3-5 times milder than any nearby accent lights. This helps promote a peaceful mood. The main ways to achieve this is via dimmer lights from chandeliers or wall lights.

4. Task Lighting
Task lighting has a specific purpose of providing light for particular areas around the house. This type of lighting is usually used in rooms such as the living room and bedrooms for activities such as reading and the kitchen for lighting up areas where you cook and prepare food.

5. Decorative Lighting
This type of lighting is used spontaneously and can be added or removed based on circumstances. It is essentially used as a design element and would be utilised via objects that might not normally cater for light. A good example is a lot of shops around London use decorative pieces which they manipulate to contain candles or small dim lights. This type of lighting should always accompany other brighter forms unless it is for a romantic setting.

This article was written in association with Yale alarm systems who provide home security alarms Yale are committed to ensuring design is not affected by security.

The Marie Louise Lamp is a lighting fixture for artists and poets with its delicate yet profound beauty bringing words and images of creativity and wonder to the fore. Like a ghost or apparition, the ethereal lamp appears out of the darkness rendering the mind in awe of its unique construction and originality. In the picture above, the Marie Louise Lamp by Sander Mulder is shown with an amber light color yet the contemporary table lamp can also be found in 7 more varieties. These include: yellow, orange, purple, blue, pink, red, green.

The beautiful Marie Louise Lamp is made from PMMA sheets which have been illuminated with a special fluorescent bulb. PMMA is a shortened form of Poly(methyl methacrylate) which is basically a transparent thermoplastic. This is the same material that is used in the construction of spectator protection barriers in ice hockey as well as in motorcycle helmet visors and viewing ports in underwater submersibles. It’s also used in orthopaedic and dental surgery. However, for the Marie Louise Lamp, the PMMA’s ability to transmit up to 92% of visible light makes it a natural material for such a stunning and unique table lamp.

There’s also a second lamp shade alternative to the clear version seen in the first picture. In the image directly above you can see an engraved version which adds body to the shade area of the table lamp. The intricate engravings are highlighted by the illumination of the lamp and add an extra dimension and quality to the already beautiful Marie Louise Lamp designed by Sander Mulder.

A lamp of this quality and style can be placed in a variety of different interior settings. The Marie Louise Lamp is in the shape of a more traditional looking table lamp and can be used in much the same manner. That said, its modern character and unusual design means it can also be placed in locations a more regular lamp would not suite. For example, the Marie Louise Lamp can be placed on the floor of a minimalist style room or on an accent stool, end table or dining table.

The beauty and originality of the Marie Louise Lamp means it should be placed in a position where it can be most admired. This should be considered in relation to its form and function as a light source as well. It’s in the evening and a night time that the Marie Louise Lamp really comes into its own and thus it would be best suited in an interior where people group together most at these periods of the day. When the main ceiling lights are off and a few smaller lamps are turned on, this stunning Marie Louise Lamp with illuminated edges will become a focal point of the room where it is situated. It will certainly be a talking point and one to be admired each time it is turned on.

You can buy this contemporary lamp from the following website: Marie Louise Lamp.

Price: $1,339

The umbrella chandeliers are the creation of New York designer Shelly Sabel. Each umbrella lamp is made from umbrella pieces, some of them found, along with aluminum and porcelain sockets and parts. So far this year they have been displayed in numerous galleries but they will soon be put into mass production and sold in stores.

One might say it is bad luck to open an umbrella indoors but when the result looks as stunning as these creations, it’s a case of folding away old wives’ tales. As can be noted in the images, these contemporary chandeliers come in a variety of colors. To read more about the designer and browse through more pictures of her creations, visit the website of Shelly Sabel.

What do you think of these umbrella lamps?

H/T: Yanko Design

There are numerous ways to increase the amount of natural light into an interior including drawing back curtains to their fullest extent, adding more white to a room such as wall colors and decorative art, and even adding mirrors.

The images below are from the ‘Better Homes & Gardens’ book, 300 Cottage Style Decorating Ideas. I came across these pictures when browsing through the Glitter and Bliss blog which I recommend if you are interested in crystal pendant jewellery and vintage inspired gifts.

Note the white fabrics on the sofa and seats as well as the white walls. These reflect and enhance the daylight and sunshine.

Comfortable white dining chairs brighten up the eating area.

White decorative art and candles which can enhance the light in an interior both during the daytime and at night. The reflective candle holders are a small example of the effect of mirrors in creating extra brightness.

“When making experiments with the reflective material I thought a lot of the existence of people getting reflection of their own behavior. I believe that it’s true: you reap as you sow.”

The lamp shade is made from reflective material usually used in the making of safety clothing. Long threads, made from the same material as the shade, hang down like the tentacles of a Portuguese Man o’ War jellyfish. Below, on the floor, rests an LED light which shines up onto the translucent material creating patterns on the ceiling.

Four colored glass plates (red, violet, blue and brown) are included which can be used to cover the floor light in order to change the overall tone. The lampshade hangs on a near invisible fish-line from the ceiling.

What do you think of this lampshade design? Would you want one?

See: Kristin Birna Bjarnadottir.

Hat/Tip: PlayMedia

So how is your home making you fat? What can you do about it?

1. Natural Light

The smaller the amount of natural light in a room, the more the body will crave sugar and carbohydrates. Try to make more of the existing windows in the room by opening up the curtains or blinds to their fullest extent. In Summer, eat outside or by an open window.

2. Constant Television Viewing

The TV is a distraction and anything which takes your mind from the process of eating food, can lead to overeating. It takes away from the enjoyment of well made food also. Advertising increases hunger levels whether the body has had enough or not. Leave the television off at meal times and sit at a table instead of slumped on a sofa or bed.

3. The Back Door

Leaving your home via the back door can lead to snacking (if your kitchen is at the back of the house), which in turn leads to weight gain. A scientific study in the United States has shown that people who exit their residence from the back tend to eat 15% more than those who don’t. When possible, use the front door and avoid the kitchen until mealtimes.

4. The Mirror’s Reflection

One of the best ways to gain self-control when eating is to sit in front of a large mirror. If you can see your reflection you are less likely to overeat. Purchase a mirror for your dining room or kitchen if you have problems with excessive eating.

5. Air Fresheners

Some air fresheners and scented candles are made of food-based substances. When these are used, hunger levels can rise. Avoid these types, especially if they contain ingredients or fragrances such as ginger and basil. Try orange and peppermint which can actually suppress hunger.

6. Large Plates, Small Plates

We naturally like to see a plate full of food and tend to eat what is presented whether we need to or not. Exchange larger plates for smaller plates which will still provide the satisfaction of a full plate but will help when loosing weight is a priority.

7. Dining Room Color

Color psychology is an important factor to consider when designing a dining room or kitchen. If you overeat then consider whether your décor might be a deciding influence. Reds, yellows, greens and oranges promote the appetite. Think instead about painting your walls blue or the neutral white, both of which will reduce the desire to eat more.

8. Dim Artificial Light

Candlelit dinners are a wonderfully romantic event but if your aim is to beat the flab then think about raising the light levels. A study by the University of California has shown that we tend to overeat in dim light, including candlelight. Therefore, during mealtimes make sure the room where you eat is brightly lit.

9. Bare Walls

The pictures you have on your walls can also have an effect on your appetite. Images of fruit or vegetables can lead to positive decisions when it comes to what you eat. A painting of a fruit bowl laden with delightful looking fruit will make you more likely to reach for healthy food over the temptations in the biscuit tin.

There are many other factors to take into consideration when designing an room, if you have a problem with weight gain. Your environment is a commonly overlooked influence when it comes to eating. The sub-conscious mind picks up on sometimes very small things which can lead to your appetite increasing. By employing the simple steps noted above, you should see a marked difference in your daily levels of hunger.

With fun and vitality in mind, Adler’s ‘prescription for anti-depressive living’ is a collection of shiny silver and high gloss lacquer which creates an undeniably splanchnic and almost epileptic ambiance. Light blindness could become a problem although scientific experiments have proven that the more daylight you can maximise, the better your mood and productivity.

One just needs a silver coated laptop to match.

See: About Jonathan Adler