DIY Paint Can Lights

February 2, 2011 Tess & Ted

And while we're on the subject of new lighting...

This image, from the Style At Home booth at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, has been floating around the web for the past couple of days. The painted floor is amazing, as is the fabulous bright springy styling -- a sign of things to come for those of us being socked by winter weather right now. But what's really terrific is the use of paint cans as lighting fixtures.

It reminded me that I had recently snapped an equally cool use of paint cans as light fixtures...except this one was a little less sleek.

Just as inventive though, don't you think?

These fixtures -- using brand new paint cans or well-worn ones or any other vessel entirely -- are super-easy to make on your own. All you need is the object of your choice and one of these:

And if you want to hardwire it rather than plugging it in and hanging it from a hook, pick up one of these:

Have you ever created your own lighting? Pendant? Chandelier? Lamp? Please share!

Image credits: Re-nest (originally from Poppytalk, similar image can also be seen on Aubrey+Lindsay's Blog); Paige Lewin; West Elm Pendant Cord Set; West Elm Industrial Pendant Conversion Kit

Trashing the Tragic Lighting

January 31, 2011 Tess & Ted

It's been about six months since we moved in and I think it's about time we begin to address the lighting situation. Don't you?

Let's deal with the kitchen today.

Um, just the eat-in area.

So here we are (and yes, I know we have to do something about the windows and the walls too, but *focus*, people), the pub-tastic pendant that lights our breakfast and dinner everyday.

I've been gathering suitable replacement options from my favorite lighting sources across the web-o-sphere. I happen to love vintage lighting fixtures as well, but let's stick with these for now.

What's particularly interesting about light fixtures is the huge range of pricing. In previous homes, we've bought the cheapest-of-the-cheap fixtures, and laid down some decent cash for others. There's definitely a difference when it comes to ease of installation, quality of materials, and quality of lighting brightness, tone, etc., but in my experience, not as much as the price might cue. So, can you name the most expensive and least expensive fixture in this lineup?

No cheating.

Photo credits, from top to bottom: Paige Lewin (just in case you're looking for some stock shots of seriously bad lighting); Shades of Light; West Elm; IKEA; Ballard Designs; Circa Lighting; Room & Board; Z Gallerie

Memorializing a Favorite Stuffed Animal

January 30, 2011 Tess & Ted

When Weston was a little older than a year, Monkey arrived. It was love at first sight, really. Maybe more for me than Wes at first, but the second I saw that little monkey-shaped bundle of love staring at me from the basket in the toy store I knew we needed to bring him home. Weston and Monkey soon became inseparable, and I started to get concerned about what would happen if Monkey got lost (crazy first-time mother stuff, clearly). So one monkey soon grew to be a family of monkeys (two full-size replacements and two little ones for travel -- I told you, crazy), complete with Daddy Monkey, Mommy Monkey, Teacher/Babysitter Monkey and the babies.

Nearly six years later, The Monkeys still hang out with us, lined up and tucked in at the foot of Weston's bed. But Daddy Monkey, Weston's favorite, is starting to look like the babies have kept him up at night and his job is stressing him out. I know the day will come when we pack up The Monkeys and send them to the attic, but it sure would be cool to memorialize them while they're still in decent shape.

Enter Hippopota.

A super-cool company that memorializes your kiddo's lovey (or any loved object, really) in a totally modern way, Hippopota owner Christian Jaillite photographs the subject, capturing the essence of it and nothing else. Just contact him to make arrangements, send him your object (to be returned, of course), and in 2-3 weeks you can have a masterpiece of your child's favorite pal that's hip enough to hang in your dining room.

Photo credits: Monkey in his better days, Paige Lewin; "Hippo," Christian Jaillite, Hippopota; prices start at $500 with 10% of all profits donated to the World Food Program

Catalog Living

January 27, 2011 Tess & Ted

Logic quiz: Poor self-image is to fashion magazines as WHAT is to home decor catalogs?

I don't know either, but sometimes I feel like I have it, whatever IT is. Occasionally I get sort of taken over by staging my house...rolling up the throw blankets and storing them just-so in a gorgeous basket (you're cold? grab one of these!), propping the white ceramic fish platter in a plate holder on my kitchen counter (look, it's art!), stacking up a pretty set of books by my bedside (who has time to read?). Maybe it's some form of OCD, or maybe it comes from buying and selling multiple houses in the past five years (never know when you're gonna have to put it on the market!), but I suspect that some of the obsession comes from looking through too many home design catalogs and shelter pubs.

Luckily, my little brother pointed me to a hilarious site that reminds me how idiotic some of those scenes from Pottery Barn (and others) are. Catalog Living follows the fictional life of Gary and Elaine, the passive-aggressive, accessory-obsessed couple who live in your catalogs. Created by actor and Tufts graduate Molly Erdman, Catalog Living now serves as my daily reminder that I shouldn't worry if my throws aren't just-so.

{But really, a little staging never hurt anyone.}

Image credit: Catalog Living, January 20, 2011

Pretty Cloth Napkins

January 26, 2011 Tess & Ted

I like dressing up my table, even for a not-so-quiet weeknight dinner of red sauce pasta and sausage. And there's something about a cloth napkin that adds a little pretty to your place setting, even if you choose to eat from a TV tray. Here are some of my favorites...what are yours?