Musings of 10th Anniversary: Vol. 2 Carnegie by Amanda Nisbet

For Amanda, the inspired design of the Carnegie was surprisingly close to home, literally.  A striking embellished glass and metal door near her office on 5th Avenue in Manhattan had always attracted her eye in passing. Conceptually, it could not have been more perfect for her 10th Anniversary lantern design. 

"One could walk by this same door hundreds of times and never notice it.  You have to make yourself more aware and force yourself to see things in a different light." -- Amanda Nisbet

The brass accents and interaction of the metal and glass are very reminiscent of Amanda's signature design aesthetic.  As with the other pieces in her collection, the Carnegie becomes integral to the room and the jewelry of the space.

Showhouse Showcase: Part 4. Stately Affair

Stately Homes by the Sea is a favorite East Coast Showhouse – this year held at the Hartshorne Mansion in Little Silver, NJ. We've participated a number of times over the years with Joe and Parrish of Lucas Studios & Harbinger in Los Angeles, and this year was no different!  We were thrilled to be included in their inspiring interior vision for the Living/Dining space of such a stunning home. Our Campion pendant and Andrew Reflector sconces were a flawless fit.  Be sure to stop by if you are in the area!

Photos by John Bessler. Stately Homes by the Sea. Lucas Studio, Inc. and Harbinger. 

Showhouse Showcase: Part 3. Printer's Delight

The Printing House, an industrial building at 421 Hudson in NY, is a special showhouse unlike any other. Studio Tim Campbell of NY and LA was invited by Corcoran Development to do the first loft of a series of designer spaces to generate buzz for the development of this historic property.  The charge was to design a space in the signature Studio Tim Campbell aesthetic that would mimic Designer Tim Campbell's personal home in Los Angeles. Tim had always envisioned our Raval sconce as the perfect accessory to the men's dressing room, and as such use several to light the entire space. The entire project is a vision to be seen, and will be open through the summer. Stop by to see. http://printinghousewestvillage.com/

Musings of 10th Anniversary: Vol. 1 Truxton by Michael Amato

The Truxton came from the desire to mash up the old and the new by combining a few undeveloped concepts that had been 'on the drawing board' for years. The quickly advancing LED technology helped bridge the gap and make it a reality. In the abstract, its design inspiration is a mastery of mixed references combining slim line Concord & Seiko watches from the 1970's (stay tuned for more in an upcoming fixture), a Cartier tank watch and a favorite over-the-mantle mirror frame blending Irish Georgian with the flair of Art Deco mirror in cobalt blue. Slightly more obvious was an intentional nod to the Thomas's (Chippendale & Jefferson) to top it all off.

If you ask the name? It was very simply inspired - the working title was George (for Georgian), but it never felt quite right. One afternoon on a walk around the former navy yard near the office and there it was on a street sign...Truxtun Avenue.  X definitely marked the spot – literally and figuratively.

(Fun historical fact: a little research yields an interesting tidbit, Thomas Truxtun was one of the first navy commanders appointed by to the newly formed US Navy appointed by President Washington.)

-- Michael Amato, Creative Director, The Urban Electric Co.

Showhouse Showcase: Part 2. Custom Color Zone

Having always enjoyed working with Martha & Eche of Martha Angus, Inc. (http://marthaangus.com/), we were thrilled at the opportunity to bring to life a very unique custom design they felt would be integral to their "Danger Zone" inspired playroom for the San Francisco Designer Showhouse. Though the idea posed several interesting design challenges, the unique mix of classic inspiration with modern and playful finishes seemed too fun to pass up.  The punchy enamel inset, gleaming nickel and glowing platform - possible with the continued improvements of LED technology – combined with an old world silk twist cord, added up to an awe-inspiring interpretation of this classic pedestal style sconce.  The outcome was even better than imagined!  For a peek at the behind the scenes, see their blog Post & Grant http://postandgrant.com/2013/04/20/lighting-up/

Photos by Brad Knipstein, courtesy of Martha Angus, Inc.