Style Illuminated

Calming and soothing, blue is a color we love. Looking at the color blue has actually been shown to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate.  It was aptly chosen as Pantone's Color of the Year for turbulent 2008 and as the official flag color of the United Nations.

As a peacekeeper, a touch of blue can balance the decor of a room without overwhelming it. And blue is natural without being neutral. Get the blues yourself with our assortment of blue chandeliers, blue home decor, and blue desk lamps. 

Or soften and soothe your interiors with these wonderfully blue accents:

I suddenly feel so rested!

The LAMPS PLUS Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals are here!

Take $30 off your purchase of $200 or more. This coupon is good now through Monday. Plenty of time to get a great deal on the lighting and home decor you're looking for.

Click to view terms and start shopping: LAMPS PLUS Black Friday and Cyber Monday coupon.

This year's offers can be viewed here. 

For more updated offers and sales, like us on Facebook.

Swarovski crystal designs aren't just for crystal chandeliers. This year, a gigantic Swarovski crystal star will sit atop the Christmas tree in New York's Rockefeller Center.

The thing weighs in at 550 pounds, is 9 1/2 feet in diameter and is made up of some 25,000 crystals - not really suitable for home use! The star also features programmable, energy efficient LEDs that will provide a light show.

The tree lighting is Wednesday, December 2, and you can catch it on TV: NBC Rockefeller Christmas Tree Special.

Swarovski crystal also decorates other holiday trees around the world, from Sydney to Milan. Celebrated Swarovski Christmas Trees around the world. 

Photo thanks to Luxurylaunches.com.

A couple in Venice, CA, found a novel solution to expanding their home on a small lot ... build up! Their unique home was featured on the L.A. Times' home design blog.

Many, if not most, structural elements are exposed, and I was particularly interested to see uncovered recessed lighting units in the kitchen. Doesn't look half bad! Take a peek at this link from LATimes.com.

Photo credit Larry Underhill LA Times

These railway tie pedestals make an elegantly simple design statement. The 100 year old reclaimed wood, which once may have been a railway tie or bridge, has a rough and timeworn appearance that's wonderfully appealing.

These are chemical treatment and creosote free, and they come in several shapes and sizes, including console tables and nesting tables. Reclaimed railway wood furniture, or browse more eco-friendly products.

A place for everything, and everything in its place ... right?! If you need some help organizing, take a look at this set of four stylish bamboo baskets. They look great and they're crafted from sustainable, renewable bamboo.

Take a look at more of our eco-friendly products here.

The Blossom Sphere pendant chandelier we posted about a couple of days ago isn't the only flower power lighting we've seen lately. These flower petal shaped pendants also shine with a cool, pop-flavored flower style. Plant them over a kitchen table or seating area for a burst of color. Choose from red or peach. Also available in a slightly larger white.

Red Flower Small 15 3/4" Wide Pendant Light

Peach Flower Small 15 3/4" Wide Pendant Light

White Flower 19 1/2" Wide Pendant Chandelier

So, you dusted off the holiday centerpiece, hung the stockings, put Santa and his reindeer in the yard, and untangled a rat's nest of Christmas lights. Want even more holiday cheer?

Here's an easy way: Dress up small fixtures like chandeliers and sconces with colorful clip-on shades. It's a quick and easy way to transform your decor for the season.

We have lots of festive shades to choose from, in a range of colors and designs. See all our clip-on lamp shades here, or browse for more ideas in our new Holiday Catalog.

A bum knee won't keep Kathy Ireland off the dance floor -- she'll return one last time on the upcoming Dancing With the Stars season finale November 24th.

After that, Kathy's going under the knife. On Friday she tweeted, "The truth is...after my little spin on DWTS am going 2 have knee surgery."

We'll be tuning in to see her "play through the pain" one last time Tuesday the 24th.

She may not have taken the DWTS title, but her lighting designs are certainly winners. Especially this brand new floor lamp, appropriately named the "Trophy".

Browse more winning designs from Kathy Ireland Home.

Photo credit Access Hollywood.

I'm "hung up" on this collection of pendant lights found by the folks at Outblush. They're created from repurposed clothes hangers, and for a good cause to boot!

Read the full post at Outblush to learn more. And, see our growing collection of repurposed, recycled, and eco-friendly lighting and decor products here.