Lighting Ideas

Some people build fires in their fireplaces often, and others rarely use their fireplaces. If you fall into the latter category, you might try decorating that big empty firebox with some candles. Now you can do your own arrangement (and many people do), or you can try something pre-made yet still fun, such as these birch logs, which have been carved out in several places to accommodate little tea lights. Upon a closer read of the product description on the company’s site, I realize they may not be real birch logs (it sounds like they’re just made to look real), but that’s probably okay, because then they’re not fire hazards if your candles get out of control. Anyway, the logs will cost you $15 if you’re interested, and they hold 12 tea lights.

Birch Log Tealight Holder

I’m a wine fan and a candle fan, so of course I got a kick out of these wine cork candles from Uncommon Goods. All you do is save one of your favorite wine bottles (or the one of the cooler looking ones), and turn it into the ideal candle holder for these cork candles. The wax will melt down the side of the bottle, so you may want to put something under it when you burn the candles, but that just helps create a neat overall look. For $22, you get a set of 12 corks, and each one is supposed to burn for about two hours, so it would be perfect for a romantic dinner setting.

Wine Cork Candles

Here’s a cute gift idea for the fisherman (or fisher-woman) in your family: the Fisherman’s Lamp has a fishing hat for a lamp shade, and little fish are hanging on lines off the rim (I assume they’re fake fish!). A hooked trout is the on/off switch.

As mentioned, I think it would be a fun gift, and it’s only $15, so you don’t have to make a big investment. Available from Collections, Etc., it’s one of several interesting lamps and quirky home decorations at the site. The Fisherman’s lamp takes a 40 watt bulb and stands 28 inches tall.

I’ve written about quite a few different solar-powered lamps, but check out these solar-powered pebbles. You could use them to line your walkway or driveway, so they provide some ambient lighting at night. Since all you have to do is pour them where you want them, they’d make a very simple landscaping project, but they sure could add a lot of interest to your yard at night. When fully charged by the sun during the day, they will glow for six hours after dark (I suppose here in Seattle, we might get three or four hours, heh).

Glow-in-the-dark pebbles via EcoFriend

Well, I’ve heard of Armani suits, of course, but since I don’t travel in upscale circles, I wasn’t too familiar with their other products. I like this lamp though, one of several you can check out at the Armani/Casa web site. They also have furniture, rugs, tableware, and gift and decorating ideas (there were some pretty sleek candles in that section, so I may have to blog about one of those later). As you’d expect, their prices aren’t listed on the web site. I’m sure you have to find a reseller in order to find out what a lamp like this would cost, but I’m just going to assume it’s out of my price range. I mean… come on: it’s Armani.

I’ve heard of a swizel stick before but not a swizel table lamp. I guess that’s as good a term as any to explain this nifty lamp from HomeClick however. Designed by Eurofase, the 21 inch tall lamp is made from clear, mouth-blown glass in the shape of a “frosted inner tulip.” It only takes a 20 Watt bulb, so I’m guessing it’s not the best lamp for reading by, but if you’re just looking for a unique light fixture that can create some mood lighting in your living room, this one is a fun find. The decorative swizel (I just can’t keep from using that word) table lamp is just under $120.

Eurofase Decorative Swizel Table Lamp

If you’re into decorating for Halloween (and like decorations that might scare the trick-or-treaters), this skull candle might be suitably scary. Sold by Ablaze Candles, the skull costs $39 and is an impressive 10 x 8 inches wide and 7 inches high… big enough that you could put it in the window next to the door and people would see it as they walked up to the house. According to the company, their Halloween candles are made “in the artisan-style tradition that creates a distinctive high-quality sculpted look and feel like that of marble.” I don’t know about all that, but it’s a pretty good rendition of a skull, and it would make a fun Halloween decoration.

Ablaze Candles

Yup, grass. At least that’s what the description at the web site where this candle holder is for sale says. “Grass Votive Amber” There’s not a lot of information about the holder, but I thought it looked neat, so it gets a link. I’m assuming we’re not talking about real grass (now there’s a fire hazard waiting to burst into flames) surrounding your candle, but something flame retardant that’s made to look like grass (kind of… our grass is green around here).

Anyway, if the candle holder strikes your fancy, you can get it online for $45 from the Decorative Hardware Store.

For someone who likes candles as much as I do, it’s a little depressing how few decent candle holders I have. I have wax dribbles down the fireplace mantel because I’m always putting the wrong sized candles into my little tealight holders. Or worse, I just burn the pillar candles without a holder at all. I need to invest in some decent-looking pillar-sized candle holders such as these “urban fleck” ones from Pier 1. At $4-$5 they’d hardly break the bank. It’s just a matter of getting my lazy butt down to a Pier 1. Or maybe I should order online. Hm, now there’s a thought…

Pier 1

Here’s another oil lamp for my wish list. I’ve always loved the look of old-fashioned colored glass (sort of like those balls at the beach that are always entwined with netting and on display), and this oil lamp reminds me of that with its green glass. It’s a find from Pier 1, which is one of my favorite stores to just browse around for knick knacks that I don’t need. This particular oil lamp is designed for outdoor use (I’m not sure what the difference is between an indoor and outdoor oil lamp, but the description is quite adamant that this not be used indoors), and with a price tag of $7, I’m not going to be fussy.

Pier 1