All posts tagged: lighting

My week with Factorylux

Published by Karen Knox

In a weird twist of fate, it’s a been a full on week of Factorylux lighting goodness. If you remember, we’re working with Urban Cottage Industries on the lighting for our loft bedroom. Urban Cottage Industries design and produce their Factorylux lighting range, and we’ve been working with their modular range which comes with fun stuff like conduit and pattress boxes. Think of it as Pick n Mix but for lighting. Design your own lights basically. Well, as we’d finished sealing the brick wall, the electricians were now ready to rock and roll and start piecing the puzzle together. I asked if they minded me taking some pics whilst they were fiddling. They didn’t. I managed to take a couple and then, ya know it felt a bit weird and I was kind of getting in the way. So I only got a couple. All the Factorylux conduit is pre-cut and threaded so it was just like a big metal jigsaw. They only needed to chop off the end pieces that ran down into the floor and up …

A design icon – Giveaway with Houseology

Published by Karen Knox

**Iconic design klaxon** I’m constantly learning about all things design through my interiors projects, endless research and writing. When something out there in ‘interior design land’ really resonates with me, I kind of have to share it with you guys. It’s like the law. Today, it’s the Lampe Gras light. La Lampe Gras 304 You might not have heard of Bernard-Albin Gras, but you will have certainly seen his lighting before if you’re an interiors lover like moi. In fact i’ve put a little Pinterest board together to show you his designs in action. Take a look. Gras designed the La Lampe Gras light in 1921, making the design so very nearly 100 years old today. I hope I look as sleek, relevant and desirable when i’m a centenarian. Idolised by interior designers and architects worldwide (and little ole me in Leeds), La Lampe Gras combines a timeless aesthetic with genius engineering making it a much coveted design classic. I’ve admired these lights from afar for ages, never really thinking I’d actually be able to own one of my very own. Although …

The devil’s in the detail

Published by Karen Knox

There are some things when you’re redecorating a room or redesigning a space that get forgotten about. They’re not normally on our list of considerations. Your builder, electrician, plumber will just fix in the most obvious, industry standard items. These items are in every room. They’re functional. They do the job and they’re fine. Just fine. But what if you don’t want fine? If you just stopped to consider these small, often unnoticed details, it can have a massive impact on a space. The devil is indeed in the detail. And there’s nothing like a build to highlight just how many small seemingly “none-decisions” can make a big difference to the design. We’re now at the point where the build is kind of complete. The rooms are getting plastered next week, first fix plumbing going in and door casings being built by the joiner. Which focuses my mind on: Skirting boards & architraves Door handles Lights, switches and sockets Skirting board and architrave We’ve (and when I say we’ve, I mean I’ve) uhmmed and ahhed over …

#IKEAatmine

Published by Karen Knox

If you’re not familiar with at{mine} then you really need to get on board. It’s a place for interiors junkies to share images of their home, work spaces, beautiful rooms, vignettes, super cool styling and photography. It’s a real treasure trove of interiors goodness. You could easily lose an hour on there just ogling the most beautiful images. Each month, at{mine} introduce a different “Style Story” curated by a guest brand, designer, writer, photographer, interiors icon… and this month it’s Ikea. I’m sure you’re already aware how big a fan I am of Ikea. If you just search the word Ikea on my blog, there’s over 55 mentions. Not bad going Ikea, for a blog that’s about 18 months old. So what’s #IKEAatmine all about then? Show us how you live with IKEA: It’s the Living Room for October! IKEA UK in collaboration with at{mine} is introducing the brand new community hashtag #IKEAatmine. Every month we’ll invite you to share a different room/theme containing at least one item from IKEA using #IKEAatmine and we’ll feature …

Lighting at M&S – A/W 2016

Published by Karen Knox

A little interiors inspo for you today. All visual. No chit chat. Well not much. Whenever I say no chit chat, I normally managed to chuck a few words together and ramble on more than expected. See, i’ve already started. Let me show you my fave finds from M&S lighting department for this A/W 2016. I think you’re gonna like ’em. Madison Cluster Light Beautifully simple way of adding a touch of “boho glam” to your ethnic interior scheme. Doesn’t come with bulbs so don’t get caught out with that one. Add some to your basket. Mila Chandelier Wanting to channel your inner Abigail Ahern with an oversized beaded chandelier, but can’t quite afford the price tags? M&S are onto a “winner winner chicken dinner” with the Mila chandelier. At £299 it’s just about do-able, but obviously wait until one of their discount weekends where they offer 20% off. Don’t forget Topcashback too. If you’re savvy you might be able to own this corker of a light for about £220. Paloma Pendant Coming in three distinctive shapes …

A mixed bag. The Loft Extension – Wk 3

Published by Karen Knox

So what’s happened since last week? Well as the title suggests, it’s been a melange of loft extension based events. There’s been a lot of banging. MY WORD. So much banging. But banging means progress, and progress is good. Dormer tiled, old loft boards and joists ripped out, new joists fitted and another steel hoisted up for something or other. Something structural. Whatever. When can I get in? At this point i’m feeling pretty redundant, I just want to get up there and start waving my arms around showing everyone where things are going. So, to prevent me asking “is it done yet?” every 90 minutes, i’ve been keeping myself busy by placing orders for some of the key pieces making their way into our soon-to-be new rooms. Bedroom mood-board recap And my very first piece for the bedroom has arrived. Well apart from the brick wall, that’s already there. See the two ceiling lights either side of the bed? They’re going to be the bedside lights. These actually: Maria 180 lights from Urban Cottage Industries …

An Eclectic Living Room – Final Reveal

Published by Karen Knox

Ages ago, back in April, I introduced you to some of the projects I was working on. I can’t always feature every project on the blog. Not because I don’t want to, but time doesn’t always allow me to. Well, that…. and an angry dog that didn’t really like me being in the room I needed to work in. This is the room, on my first visit: It had a great log burner, original chimney breast and stripped floorboards, big bay window and some lovely pieces of furniture. The homeowner’s love of white, vintage finds and Scandi design (baskets) was more than apparent. But she just wasn’t feeling this space at all and couldn’t quite work out why. It’s a north facing room, so doesn’t get the best light. Flat white and grey weren’t doing this space any favours. Their plan was to keep it minimal. But it kinda just felt a bit cold and unfinished. The two seating areas felt disconnected and the L shaped sofa was awkward in the space. So how did I make …

Bright like a diamond

Published by Karen Knox

If you follow me on Instagram, then you will have seen me dropping some rather big visual hints of a project that’s soon to land on the blog. The full reveal is hopefully coming in about a week’s time and I can’t wait to show what i’ve been working on. Today, you’re getting a little glimpse into something that’s been fitted only this morning. I couldn’t resist taking some snaps to share with you here. Impatient as ever. Let me show you…. The Geometric Diamond Light Bulb from Dowsing and Reynolds These bulbs are brand new, and I think i’m correct in saying i’m the first person to get my paws on one (well, my client is, they’re so lucky). Designed in house by Dowsing and Reynolds, a Leeds based independent business specialising in unique lighting and edgy home decor. Dowsing and Reynolds have read my mind with these bulbs. You guys know I love my industrial lighting, but sometimes a space needs something softer. I’ve been looking for something a little more glam than the hard light …

The Vertigo Light

Published by Karen Knox

I’m writing this post almost six years since the Vertigo Light was designed by Constance Guisset and made by Petite Friture; a French design manufacturer established in 2009. This iconic design came up today in a consultation; “Ya know, the one that looks like a big sombrero.” I nodded. It would actually be a perfect fit for the new room i’m going to be working in. I’d seen the Vertigo light around a fair bit on my internet travels, but didn’t really know much about it. It was time to do my homework (and see if I could ever afford to squeeze this quite stunning piece into a project budget). Its ultra light fibreglass structure, stretched with velvelty polyurethane ribbons casts a scattered light around the room. A light that drifts and sways with the subtle movement of the air within a room. “VERTIGO is an enveloping lamp that creates a space of intimacy. Being extremely light, this lamp responds to the slightest draught. When lit, it turns softly, projecting a graphic shadow pattern on the surrounding …

The Pre – Final Reveal (Preveal)

Published by Karen Knox

I’m not talking much today. It’s just pictures. Pictures of the “Preveal”. The preveal and the shopping list for the living room at the Masonic Villas project. I think it’s good to have everything in one place just incase you actually haven’t been following each and every blog post (how dare you). Anything that doesn’t get a mention means it was already here; artwork, furniture, lighting, this place already had many beautiful vintage and salvaged pieces to work with (lucky me). But let’s take a look at what we added to the mix to pull it all together. Ceiling light – Molecular Light by HouseDoctor Walls – Farrow and Ball Off Black Ceiling & Woodwork – Farrow and Ball Shadow White Black mid century planter – La Redoute Louka Wool rug – La Redoute Bunny Girl Print – Desenio Black Rattan Mirror – La Redoute Crosses Framed Print – made.com Swoosh wall light – French Connection Connor Sofa in Petrol – made.com Dolly tub style planter – Netto (you can read more about my Netto finds …