Style Illuminated

We are always amazed at the creativity and immagination displayed by Polyvore users.

Case in point, this beautiful set by vivien22.

It uses photos of Joan Fontaine from the classic Hitchcock film Rebecca paired with silver finish home decor accents, including our antique silver nesting boxes (bottom left corner). Tres chic!

Here's another link roundup for your summer reading pleasure!

Indianapolis blogger The Design File posts about a local designer Jeff Sheats and his beautiful work on a Nantucket-style Cape Cod home.

Call of the Small posts about her contemporary modern dollhouse remodel.

decor8 has ideas for DIY summery decorating, including paint tips and a tasty cherry crumble cake.

Jill Seidner at Material Girls cools off with a post about celebrity swimming pools.  

dsgnWrld liked our Design Your Own Custom Lighting tool, saying, "The DYO tool allows you to quickly customize dozens of lighting products with your own colors and color schemes."

Terrie and Cindy at blog Your Decorating Hotline included a LAMPS PLUS rug with an organic vine pattern (see above) and wall art design in their Summer Treats product round-up.

Shelter Pop wrote about using a pair of Uttermost table lamps, these Jelani Buffet Table Lamps, in a dining room redesign project.

Like those cute owl bookends? Browse for more in our bookends product sort.

Summer has arrived, although the super hot temps are here in L.A. just yet. Still, it's outdoor season! So here are three new products that will lend contemporary style to your outdoor areas.

First off, a massive outdoor day bed (see above) that would look perfect poolside or in a shaded garden spot. There are all sorts of matching chairs and tables in this collection.

Next up, this wood slat plant stand can serve as a display for your potted plants, or use it as a potting work stand.

And finally, these solar powered LED lights add light to walkways and garden plantings. No wiring is needed; they charge by day and automatically turn on at dusk. Each unit has two LEDs, and they're sold two units to a pack. Take a look, LED Solar Powered Landscape Lights, or view all our solar garden lighting.

Lighting plays a huge part in creating the overall feel of a room. Knowing this, the folks over at GE have released a new iPhone app aimed at helping you achieve the perfect mood with a GE light bulb.  

Using the "Moodometer" to snap a picture of your room, you can choose the mood (from "cozy" to "dramatic") and fine tune the feeling.

Touch a button and the app gives you the list of light bulbs you'll need to turn your rendering into a reality.

It's free and available now in the app store at  iTunes. Is this something you can see yourself using? If you've tried it, how does it work?

Thanks to Gizmodo.

Design site Houzz has posted a new group of home office workstation photos that offer a bunch of decorating ideas.

The one trait all the photos share is that they appear to cleverly utilize otherwise wasted nooks and corners.

Also, they all look, to my eye, to need lighting! There are lots of opportiunites to add desk lighting or overhead recessed lights to make the spaces more inviting and productive.

If you're not familar with Houzz you should check it out. It's been called the "Flicker of design idea sites", and it's a great resource for any pro or armchair designer.

Photo thanks to Houzz.com.

They'll rest your feet, hide your junk and give you extra seating for uninvited guests. Even if it is a little square, the humble ottoman comes in more colors and styles than ever. Here are a few of my favorites.

The silver ottoman above comes in a faux snakeskin material. Just the thing for space age pads.

For a more colorful cube, try this soft plush floral ottoman.

More color and plush, this time in a cool aubra blue ottoman with rouched fabric.

This white leather ottoman has a classic look and decorative buttons.

This square storage ottoman comes in a stylish mocha leather. Lift the lid to store throw blankets or clutter.

Find other shapes and styles in our full ottoman furniture collection.

Found on the HGTV website, 10 divine design bedrooms from designer Candice Olson with nice before and after photos.

As always, her blending of ceiling lighting, decorative table lamps and furniture seating is wonderfully elegant.

You might even find some Candice Olson lighting lurking in a few of the shots!

Photos thanks to HGTV.

As I've written about before (see Swing Arm Lights in the Bedroom), swing arm wall lights are a great way to add new style, and function to a room. Here are three new designs I think are particularly noteworthy.

The design above offers a sleek and adjustable look with a halogen light. Take a look, Halogen Gooseneck Wall Lamp, or view all contemporary wall lamp designs.

The mission inspired lamp above has a more traditional wall lamp look, but you can use it in a wide range of room styles, from transitional to soft modern. It's from the Franklin Iron Works lighting collection, Franklin Iron Works Mission Square Wall Lamp.

Finally, another contemporary look, this time from the Possini Euro Design light collection. I love the shape of it, as well as the linen cylinder shade; Possini Black Cylinder Swing Arm.

Swing arm lights are perfect for the bedroom, where they help keep bedside tables clutter-free, and work beautifully over an office table or next to a reading chair. Where else would you put them?

Trend Lighting has been a contemporary design innovator for nearly thirty years. With a slew of new lighting designs from them, we thought we'd present a few of our favorites.

Trend Lighting table lamps have a wonderful sculptural quality about them. The design above comes with a lovely barley shade and has a built-in night light. Antique Gold Table Lamp.

Another sculptural look, this time in a trend-setting espresso wood finish. Espresso Wood Table Lamp.

This accent lamp has a gold ribbon shade and offers warm, intimate lighting. Gold Ribbon Ball Table Lamp.

Finally, this lamp has a striking red column and a triangle chrome base. Trend Lighting Cerise Table Lamp.

Kathy joins Chelsie Hightower (Dancing with the Stars) and Bobbie Thomas (Style Guide) as ambassadors for the LATISSE® Wishes Challenge. 

Inspired by the tradition of blowing on an eyelash to make a wish come true, the makers of LATISSE® are matching donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® through their Wishes Challenge campaign. As a long-time Make-A-Wish Foundation® supporter, Kathy got involved to help make the campaign a success and brighten the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses.

Join Kathy's team today! Click here to learn more.