Vpen Door
I Smart Lighting
Smart lighting ideas to spruce up your home.
(StatePoint) If you're building or remodeling
your home, as more Americans are doing
these days, consider a fresh approach to your
lighting both inside and out.
"Lighting sets the mood for a space and
illuminates daily activities," says Jeff Dross,
trends expert at Kichler, a manufacturer of
decorative lighting, landscape lighting and
ceiling fans.
To maximize the appearance and
functionality of your rooms and outdoor
spaces, there are several things you should
know before getting started:
STYLE: Consider your taste and how your
lighting will interact with your decor and
architecture. Is your style contemporary,
traditional or transitional?
If you have heavily ornamented furniture,
wallpaper or window dressings, consider
lighting that's cleaner and simpler for a
balanced contrast.
"The trend today is cleaner and simpler
designs, regardless of your style preference,"
says Dross. "Keep it simple."
FINISH: Today's most popular fixtures feature
lighter colors like polished nickel or chrome,
Get Crafty
Personalize your home with
accents you make yourself.
(StatePoint) When it comes to home decor,
consider crafting your own objects of beauty.
Personalization adds a unique and
elegant touch to your home. And with a little
ingenuity, even items you'd normally throw
away like candy wrappers and old magazines
can be transformed into spectacular vases,
gifts and jewelry.
"Grab a sheet of paper and hold it in your
hands. Think of all the things you can do with
it: Crumple it, fold
it, rip it, paint it,
weave it, stitch
it, tear paper into
strips to make
papier-mâché or
cut it into intricate
designs. Each
sheet of paper
contains endless
possibilities," says
Kayte Terry, visual
20 I OPEN DOOR Magazine • May 2013
and textured or distressed finishes such as
aged bronze.
LAYERS: Multiple light sources can minimize
glare and shadows, while adding depth and
dimension, so layer spaces with ambient
(overhead), task and accent lighting.
FUNCTIONALITY: Think about how you
plan to use each space you're lighting. For
example, if your dining room serves more
as a homework and hobby station than
a formal place to gather, you'll want to
install a maximum amount of light. If you
merchandising manager for Anthropologie
stores and author of Paper Made, a new
crafting book.
Here's a project you can try at home that
just takes 10 steps:
Ring Around the Rosey Vase
1. Use a craft knife, ruler and cutting mat to cut
magazine pages into 600 1/4-inch strips.
2. Use cylindrical object of different sizes as
rolling instruments. Roll the strips around
the object once, then brush glue on the next
section of the strip and roll again. Dab glue
at the end of the strip to seal the coil.
3. Brush each roll with decoupage medium and
set aside to dry.
4. Trace the bottom of the jar onto the
cardboard with pencil. Add 1 inch to the
diameter, and use a craft knife to cut it out.
Cut a magazine page in a circle 2 inches
larger in diameter than the base.
5. Brush one side of the cardboard circle
with white glue and center and press it
facedown onto the magazine circle. Use
the craft knife to cut slits 1 inch apart from
the edge of the magazine circle to the
entertain there, be sure to install a dimmer.
DIMENSIONS: Pick appropriately sized
lighting fixtures for the size of your rooms.
A good rule of thumb for chandeliers is to
add the two dimensions of your room to
arrive at a minimum diameter. So a 12x12
room should have a fixture with a minimum
diameter of 24 inches and be no larger than
the width of the dining room table.
WIRING: Know where the outlets and
electrical boxes are. This is especially
important for new construction or large
remodeling jobs.
SUNLIGHT: Natural light plays a large role in
the type of lighting you need. Look at where
the windows are and how much light they let
in. Pay attention to plants or trees that may
partially block the sun's rays.
ACCENTS: Light the cove, add sconces and
fill the tray ceiling with light. Accent lighting is
the jewelry of the home and can make a huge
difference to your home's appeal.
If you haven't given lighting careful
consideration in the past, now is the perfect
opportunity — whether you're remodeling or
building your home. ❑
edge of the cardboard circle.
6. Brush edges of the magazine circle with glue
and wrap each 1 inch tab around the edge of
the cardboard circle.
7. Brush glue along the outer edge of the circle
and attach a row of paper coils around the
base. Vary the size of the coils, making sure
that each coil's edges touch the next.
8. Continue gluing the paper coils, stacking
them in uneven rows. Every three rows,
brush the inside and outside of the vase with
decoupage medium and let dry. Leave more
space between the coils as the rows stack
higher.
9. Check the height of the vase by placing the
jar inside it. Add paper coils until they rise
about 1 inch above the glass jar.
10.Remove the jar. Brush the inside and outside
of the vase with decoupage medium and let
dry completely before replacing the jar.
You don't need to spend a fortune on
crafting supplies. By rescuing materials from
your recycling bin, you can transform your
home with unique colorful objects. ❑