Lighting the Home: Having Fun!

04-08-2011

No Need To Be Embarrassed!

There has always been an aura of mystery surrounding lighting design. In fact, back in the heady days of the 1980s, when it really kicked off, there was one lighting designer who always went around in a cloak; only the pointy hat with the moon and stars was missing. No really. It was as if this lighting malarkey had to be taken ever so seriously and anything that suggested a touch of levity was seriously frowned upon (after all, we might get found out!).

So I just want to make it clear that there's nothing wrong in having fun or being a bit playful - and if hanging your old granny's lampshade over the dining table does it for you, then off you go. There's far more to life than Continental High Art and, much as I love the effect of white satin glass, if the mood (or moose!) takes, I might just suggest one of those tasselled shades with the coaching inn scene . . . you know, the one with the illuminated windows. Love it.

Should we offer a word of caution here? Probably, so why not.

Heads up! If you're going to go down the eclectic route, do it with a warm heart and a firm commitment, because irony can get very boring, like hearing the same joke day after day after day. And that's the only serious bit of information that you're going to get from me today.

And here we see a perfect example of non-sequitor / anachronism / disturbance in the space-time continuum, or a family heirloom lovingly embraced into the uncluttered lines of the new house.

And now it's time for a hot cup of tea and buttererd scone on a nice paper doily.