Swank Lighting

Designer Profile: Jamie Drake

2011-05-30T15:19:00.000-05:00

The first word that comes to mind when looking at Jamie Drake's designs is fun. And yet, they remain serious: in his biography, Drake quotes Jean Cocteau and mentions the importance of not confusing seriousness with gravity. It's possible for rooms to be fun without being silly. One of the features that makes Drake's designs so fun is his use of color. In his rooms, Drake frequently makes use of bold and bright colors, like juicy pinks and oranges and rich blues and purples. The use of color makes the spaces feel modern, yet warm and inviting.

In the biography on his website, Jamie Drake states, "I love what I do. I love style in every form. There is nothing more exciting than incorporating bold, vibrant colors with a striking mix of genres and periods to create lively, magical spaces that inhabit memories and enrich lives." This is clearly evident from the rooms that he designs. Color is extremely prominent in Drake's rooms, and yet it never feels harsh or "in your face." He also says that "there is little that doesn't inspire me," evidenced in the variety of his designs: he has designed several residences, in addition to various commercial rooms.

Jamie Drake has been in to design from a young age: he worked at a contract design firm while still in high school. Immediately after graduating from Parson's in only three years (during which time he had an internship with the late Angelo Donghia), he founded his design firm, Drake Design Associates, in 1978. Since then, he has designed rooms for everyone from Madonna to Phyllis and Victor Graham, in addition to doing design projects on Gracie Mansion, the "ceremonial residence"of the Mayor of New York, for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Jamie Drake has also won several awards- notably, in 2003 he was inducted in to Interior Design magazine's Interior Design Hall of Fame.

You can see more photos of Jamie Drake's residential and contracted designs on his website (http://www.drakedesignassociates.com/),where you can also see his product designs and read more about him and his accomplishments.

Molly Hudelson

Designer Profile; Bunny Williams

2011-05-24T15:40:00.000-05:00

Bunny Williams is a designer that definitely doesn't want her rooms to look drab: "Rooms should never be boring," she says, and her rooms are, true to her word, never boring. At the same time, however, she manages to create rooms that are interesting and pleasant to look at, but that are far from "in your face." Because Williams's rooms are "restrained yet slightly undisciplined", they feel natural, yet they're carefully planned: it's like spending hours doing your hair in order to make it look "perfectly careless." When designing a room, Williams always makes sure to balance the "big four" of objects, patterns, textures, and colors. Having too much of any one feature can dominate the room, but by using all of them, for example by combining a blue and yellow patterned chair with more subdued striped and solid chairs in the same color family, she achieves a balanced look, that goes together without feeling overly matched. Designing rooms that are visually pleasing is important to her, and in fact "beautiful rooms are Bunny's first consideration."Bunny Williams has been running her own design company, Bunny Williams Incorporated, since 1988, though she had already been in the industry for twenty-two years (she previously worked with Parish-Hadley Associates). She has a furniture collection, BeeLine Home, that features all sorts of tables (side tables, bedside tables, coffee tables), in addition to lamps, chairs, and mirrors. Bunny calls the collection "expressive and unique", and says that "pieces often work together not because they are alike but because they are different." This is evident in her design work as well, in which she places together pieces that don't necessarily "match" but that have a common element. Bunny is also the co-owner of Treillage, a garden furniture and ornament store in Manhattan, with John Rosselli. Bunny Williams wants her rooms to be interesting and pleasing, but not just at first sight: she says she "want[s] a room to be more interesting the longer you remain in it."You can see more photos of Bunny Williams's designs on her website (http://bunnywilliams.com), where you can also read more about her and her companies.

Molly Hudelson

Featured Designer; Vincent Wolf

2011-05-22T17:20:00.000-05:00

If there is one key feature that dominates the work (both residential and commercial) of designer Vicente Wolf, it is light. Perhaps this is inspired by the fact that his firm, Vicente Wolf Associates, is based in a "spacious light-filled loft in New York City," so he sees this light every day. Light makes Vicente Wolf's rooms feel open and spacious.

Vicente Wolf uses a lot of white in his rooms, and does not often use patterns or bright colors. This leads to a feeling of simplicity without the spaces looking bare: in one room, the clean lines of bright white chairs nicely complement a hearty wooden table and brick floor. His designs feel relaxed, like they might belong in a beach or vacation home, yet still luxurious and upscale. It's a very American feeling, which is also visible in his other creative outlets: photography, art collection, and global travel.

Having over thirty years of design experience, Vicente Wolf is experienced and a prominent name in the design world. In addition to the United States, he has designed rooms in homes, hotels, restaurants, and more in various countries abroad, such as France, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden. Wolf has also lectured in South Africa, Japan, and Australia, and "teaches an annual course through Parsons School of Design in the Dominican Republic." In addition to designing and lecturing, he has also published books and is a "lauded retailer and celebrated business partner."

Currently, Vicente Wolf runs two companies: VW Home by Vicente Wolf, a "luxury showroom" that displays Wolf's own collections of handpicked articles from around the world, in addition to his furniture line, which is specifically designed for the showroom; and Vicente Wolf Associates, his design firm. He has an "eye for detail [that] has created a reputation for quality appreciated by his discerning client list, the creative industry as a whole, and his international partnerships with some of the world’s top luxury brands."

You can see more photos of Vicente Wolf's designs on his website (http://www.vicentewolf.com), where you can also read more about him and his companies.

Molly Hudelson

Featured Designer: Clodagh

2011-05-15T09:44:00.001-05:00

Clodagh is an Irish-born designer who has been living in New York for over 25 years. She has traveled to over 90 countries, designed "everything from makeup packaging to million square foot hotels", and written two books (Total Design and more recently Your Home, Your Sanctuary). Clodagh is known for having been a pioneer in the movement towards green design, having been known to use natural, nontoxic, and sustainable paints and materials, in addition to the techniques of Feng Shui, Chromotherapy, and Biophilia, even before that they were popular. Perhaps this is related to her belief that "good design can support well-being."

Clodagh's rooms have a feel that is natural and outdoorsy, yet homey. She uses touches like chairs inspired by pebbles, small plants, and lots of wood, and features natural colors like beige and brown in combination with touches of pastel colors like yellow, green, and blue. In addition to designing rooms (the Clodagh Design division), Clodagh has also designed products (the Clodagh Signature division) and has a "gallery and retail showroom" that features home furnishings and accessories from other artists and designers that Clodagh admires (the Clodagh Collection division).

Clodagh's vision statement is "To enhance life and spirit through timeless, responsible design... total design. Based on the 4C’s of design, total design aims to contemplate the space, cleanse it of unnecessary items while clarifying all goals, needs and desires thereby creating a space that is unique and timeless. Total design is about serenity and simplicity, open spaces and clean contemporary lines." She believes that"a space cannot be truly beautiful unless it functions in harmony with who we are... it's about pleasure: discovering what pleases us and creating an environment that will celebrate those qualities and sustain us."

You can see more photos of Clodagh's designs on her website (http://www.clodagh.com/), where you can also read more about her and look at her products.

Molly Hudelson

Designer Profile: Nina Campbell

2011-05-09T21:11:00.001-05:00

The well-known British designer Nina Campbell describes her style as "voluptuous minimalism." The "minimalistic" side of her designs is inspired by her upbringing: Campbell grew up in post-war England, and is no stranger to economic and financial troubles. Nina Campbell manages to combine that sense of minimalism, inspired by her upbringing, with a flair for visual wit.

Nina Campbell's designs often combine bright, jewel-toned colors, like reds, purples, and teals, with big, bold patterns, such as flowers and stripes. However, her rooms are far from "busy" or visually cluttered. Instead, they seem warm and inviting, and playful, yet luxurious.

In addition to designing rooms, Nina Campbell has also designed a variety of products for the home. On her website, she currently has accessories for the bathroom, office, laundry room, and bedroom; table top accessories, such as china, glassware, and cutlery; blankets; candles and other home fragrances; fabric; and wallpaper. Nina Campbell has been collaborating with Osborne and Little for her wallpaper brand for over twenty years, and as said on her website, has a continuously evolving color palette, always adding new colors while keeping some old ones, "so that new and older collections can be put together."

Campbell's designs are influenced by nature (such as flowers and plant life), and often feature bright colors, but combining these with simple, bold shapes leads to the "voluptuous minimalism" and "luxury, practicality and a sense of wit" that she is known for. She originally began "a shop selling home treasures from all over the world", but now Nina Campbell uses her website to sell all of her accessories, since she believes that "A home only becomes a home when you begin to accessorize." Check out Nina Campbell's website http://www.ninacampbell.com for more photos of her designs and products.

Molly Hudelson

Designer Profile: Barbara Barry

2011-05-06T21:18:00.003-05:00

Barbara Barry is a designer who believes in the importance of simplicity in design. A look through her portfolio confirms this belief, as Barry's designs often feature calm, cool, pastel colors, with simple lines and dark-finished woods. In a world that is often cluttered and over-complicated, Barbara Barry's designs leave that clutter behind, and are clean, simple, and refreshing.

Rooms filled with clean lines and lots of white can often feel cold and sparse, like a snowy winter landscape. Instead, Barbara Barry's rooms just seem like a place you'd want to go to spend time in to relax, with pastel shades breaking up the white and making the spaces quite visually pleasing.

As stated on her website, Barbara Barry "grew up valuing simplicity and appreciating small details", something that's quite clear from a look at her rooms. She features a lot of small details, such as pillows with a delicate embroidered border, along with calm, cool, and refreshing colors and shapes that always feel simple and relaxing, like a place to get away from the clutter of daily life.

Barry takes much inspiration from her mother, who is an artist. On her website, she says that her mother "raised me to believe in myself, teaching me through example that style has nothing to do with money and everything to do with how you feel about yourself." She is inspired by "the things that exist freely in our daily lives: the quality of light, the colors of nature and the harmony in perfect proportion", and "want[s] to help others see beauty in all areas of their lives."

You can see more photos of Barbara Barry's designs on her website Barbara Barry, where you can also read more about her and look at her products.

Molly Hudelson

The Very Nice Style of Sara Story

2011-04-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

It's going to sound cliché and possibly even offensive to say, but the first impression we get from Sara Story's design work is that these rooms are so nice. That's not to say we don't have any other colorful adjectives to use to describe her work; we certainly do. But overwhelmingly, we think one of the highest compliments you can give someone's work is just how nice you imagine you'd feel hanging out in one of these rooms.

Paying Sara Story compliments probably isn't new to anyone; browsing through her online portfolio it's clear she's used to people saying good things to her. Her spaces are clean and fresh. They're layered and sophisticated. She incorporates lots of neutral tones which are calming, but isn't afraid to throw in some bold splashes of color where they are needed.

She likes to play with textures and patterns, but never in an overwhelming way. Her spaces have interest, but they never take away from the main stars of a room: the people. Her varied style means she's able to take what a client says and translate it perfectly into a beautiful space. She adds to-not takes away-from a space's architecture with her design work.

From her website: "Sara Story's birth in Japan, coupled with extensive travel in the Far East, have influenced her approach to design. Moreover, living in Texas and California further affected her vision of design to result in a contemporary, eclectic and timeless aesthetic for interiors. Sara moved to New York City in 2001, where she worked with prominent designers before creating Sara Story Design to infuse her own vision into the world of interiors."

See more gorgeous photos on her website. Love what you see in this post but want more? Like fun perfect pairs, designer influence profiles and profiles of contemporary designers? Thank goodness for you we've got a Facebook page and tweet a lot; you can keep up with everything Swank Lighting does.

The Royally Sumptuous Style of Kenneth Bordewick!

2011-04-01T12:44:00.000-05:00

If the name Kenneth Bordewick sounds familiar to you but you don't know why, it's because it's a name that just a few days ago had been kicked around as being chosen as the official designer of Kate and Price William's married abode. Subsequent reports have since proven this rumor to be just that--a rumor--but we've thanked the gossip gods because it's put Kenneth on our radar.

Kenneth Bordewick's sumptuous and unbelievably swanky interiors will have you wishing you're marrying into royalty, too. Though these interiors are a bit out of the reach for many of our budgets, you can still gain some inspiration from his many details. And hey, sometimes it's just fun to drool over gorgeous interiors (even if most of us won't get to live in quite anything as large!).

Kenneth is obviously a master at details. Sure, a huge designing budget makes him unique as a designer, but it's also his ability to personalize nearly every single element that clearly sets him apart as a designer. This guy understands that clients of this stature and rank want one-of-a-kind. They want interiors that match their personalities, of course, but they also want rooms that are so good-looking no one else will ever have one like it. Kenneth knows how to deliver in this regard.

His attention to details is reflected in his "about us" statement on his website: "A concept of elegance between Mid-Century Modern, Empire and Neo-Classic. Stile pilots. The choice of making the design of the silhouette even more contemporary, dynamic, essential. A statement. A Uniform, an immediately perceptible way of being. Reflecting language based on subtle monochrome shadings of light and dark."

"Clear forms, unmistakably defined structures. Sofas brush stroked on to the architecture, with squared legs and tapered arms. Full sheers with curled fibers at the hemline. Opposite effect Egyptian cotton with diagonal or zig zag jacquard stripes in bronzes and silver. The sumptuous sheen of silk, the highlights of aesthetic design. Clinging or flowing. Heavy or Ultra-light fabrics. Matte to glossy shadings. Sophisticated touches of luxury."

See more gorgeous photos on his website. Love what you see in this post but want more? Like fun perfect pairs, designer influence profiles and profiles of contemporary designers? Thank goodness for you we've got a Facebook page and tweet a lot; you can keep up with everything Swank Lighting does.

The Bright and Exciting Style of Ginger Brewton!

2011-03-29T09:37:00.000-05:00

Ginger Brewton might sound like a refreshing summer beverage, but it also happens to be the name of a great interior designer based in Charleston, South Carolina. We love her spunky, bold, youthful interiors and bet you will, too. We're always on the lookout for great sources of online inspiration, and she's got it in spades!

Bold, bright colors. Fun patterns in traditional and stylish designs. A real understanding of natural materials and how to use them to create warm, modern environments. Her spaces have a real reverence for nature, and she works with views through the windows to enhance the interiors. Because her firm works in so many different cities, you can see how she works with a particular landscape to really ensure that a home's style matches its natural settings.

Ginger Brewton Interiors the firm is full-service, and offers a more high-end boutique look. She really aims to work with the homeowner to make sure that their personality is seen in the home, not just Ginger's. Because of her years of experience she knows all the best resources to make the homeowner's personalities come through perfectly. She of course has a great handle on a number of different styles and works with all of them brilliantly. Taken from her website:

"Recently named one of House Beautiful's 2010 next wave of designers, Ginger Brewton, is the principal of GBI which she began in 2005. A native of South Carolina, Ginger, Allied Member ASID, studied at the distinguished New York School of Interior Design in Manhattan. During her time in New York, Ginger studied under Elaine Griffin of Elaine Griffin Interior Design. While honing her trade with this prestigious design firm, she played critical roles in meeting the needs of a very discriminating and exclusive clientele."

The Subtle and Sophisticated Look of Antony Todd

2011-03-25T16:15:00.000-05:00

While we love flamboyant and bold and exciting interiors, sometimes we are in the mood for a more understated, subtle, luxurious look. Well, seek and you shall find: the interiors of Antony Todd are sophisticated, cool and gorgeous.

Spotted first on that fabulous website 1stdibs, his interior design style is very striking. There's certainly a mixing and mingling of styles, but not in a bohemian, eclectic or cluttered way. His interiors are very clean, soft and sensuous, but they're also very classical, with lots of traditional elements spotted.

Color palettes tend to be overwhelmingly subdued and neutral, but with hints of color and pattern. These spaces aren't boring; they're just very carefully curated and melded. Personalities are distinct, and homes tie together nicely thematically.

Taken from his website: "In all his creations, Antony Todd aims for timeless sophistication. Trained as a costume and set designer, his interiors possess an exquisite understanding of scale and spatial flow in which three aesthetic strands are interwoven. His pared down European sensibility puts a fresh spin on residential and hospitality design. An affinity for classic forms, whether antique or modern, creates a spontaneous dialogue between furnishings, objects and art from different eras and origins."

"A passionate traveler, his taste spans cultures and continents, infusing his interiors with global style. Since antique furniture often lacks comfort or functions well in modern terms, Antony Todd also refurbishes and designs his own sofas, chairs, tables and lamps. His designs are characterized by clean lines, excellent craftsmanship and harmonious proportions. The final result is a lasting, beautiful living environment that reflects each client's individual taste and personal style."

The Tailored and Warmly Modern Designs of Kenneth Brown

2011-03-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

We've a personal connection with today's featured Contemporary Interior Designer; he hails from the same alma mater as this blog post writer-Louisiana State University. Kenneth Brown has come along way from Louisiana, and has gone on to lead an exciting design career in Los Angeles where he remains an inspiring interior designer!

Though Kenneth's long career is proof he's got the ability to design in just about any style that a client could need, he's built his success on excelling at two styles he pioneered and is darn good at: tailored transitional and warm modern.

Tailored transitional is a highly accessible style that can be adapted for many personalities. Consisting of an eclectic mix of interior furnishings and a very clean, open and fresh look, we love a lot of what we saw.

From his website: "By combining a look of traditional elements with an updated palette, Kenneth's Tailored Transitional style reflects the need for calming interiors in today's world. He achieves this look using clean tailored lines, less pattern, organic textures and simplified accessories. The ultimate goal is creating interiors that are inviting, comfortable and peaceful."

Warm modern is what it sounds like, and we think his website describes Kenneth's approach to modern design best: "While many modern spaces appear cold, Kenneth designs his Modern interiors with a warm color palette of exotic woods, rich textures and a simplified furniture arrangement. These elements work together to add warmth to a modern space making it feel welcoming. His Warm Modern aesthetic works especially well in homes with a strong sense of architecture."

The Bold and Brash Designs of Kara Mann!

2011-03-18T13:14:00.000-05:00

Though we enjoy a range of styles and tastes with our Contemporary Designer profiles here on the Swank Lighting blog, as it hints in our name, we do enjoy those interiors that exhibit high levels of swank the most. Kara Mann sure is fulfilling our swank needs today!

Fabulously sumptuous. Daringly dramatic. Full-bodied. Grown-up. These are all words that quite aptly describe the work of Chicago designer Kara Mann. And though we usually reserve discussing designers' backgrounds until the end of each post, we have to say, hers plays a huge part in the aesthetics of her interiors.

Coming from a fashion and art background, you can see how this experience shapes her projects. She's bold and brash with colors. The art she uses is far out and unique. She smashes together styles to create entirely new styles that suit each client to a "T."

We spot a real keen talent for textiles in these spaces. Patterns, textures and materials are all mixed and matched deftly, or, kept so uniform that clean and crisp reign supreme. This is no doubt due to her fabulous fashion background.

Kara's received tons of accolades, awards and notice from the design world, and with reason. Checking out any of her fabulous photographs from her portfolio you can see why. See more for yourself here.

Love what you see in this post but want more? Like fun perfect pairs, designer influence profiles and profiles of contemporary designers? Thank goodness for you we've got a Facebook page and tweet a lot; you can keep up with everything Swank Lighting does.

The Graphic and Bold Interiors of Graham Moss!

2011-03-15T16:14:00.000-05:00

You know how much we love interior designers who can create interiors that pop and excite and transform us into piles of design-loving goo. You might as well call Graham Moss an interior design super hero; he sure has the power when it comes to designing sweet spaces.

There are some overwhelming traits that make us love Graham's work a lot. One is the graphic nature his spaces have. Graphic in that color pop, patterns pull you in and graphics are paramount. He uses art, upholstery, textiles and wall paint to grab your attention and set the tone of the space.

Another trait is his spaces are extraordinarily crisp and clean. He doesn't overly clutter his spaces, and what's in each space counts for a lot. He really examines how each pairing of design elements will go to counting towards the entire look of the room and really excels at creating those show-stopping vignettes and heart-wrenching overall rooms.

He's also got one wicked handle on those two color/non-colors: black and white. Sometimes used together or separately, black is used to define edges and add drama in his spaces, and so is white! We love seeing big, important furniture pieces all in black, and we love seeing him define collections or make vignettes pop by having only all white vases, art, furniture and more!

You can see more of his inspiring spaces here. Love what you see in this post but want more? Like fun perfect pairs, designer influence profiles and profiles of contemporary designers? Thank goodness for you we've got a Facebook page and tweet a lot; you can keep up with everything Swank Lighting does.

The Mid-Century Modern Interiors of Frank Roop

2011-03-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh good lord Frank Roop knows how to design a room. Based out of Boston, this guy looks more like he's time-traveled directly from 1960s New York and Don Draper is his best friend. If you're ever on the lookout for hot, vintage, and styling Mid-Century Modern inspiration, Frank Roop's got it in spades.

Designing since 1998, you can really see all the years of experience Frank has when he's designing his interiors. His rooms are clean, graceful, elegant-all those characteristics you dream that Mid-Century Modern adults had in those days. His color palettes are simultaneously unexpected and familiar, his choice of accessories superb, and he incorporates plenty of contemporary furnishings that complement beautifully the vintage styles he's known for using.

From his website: "He believes in creating original environments that are ‘couture'. To achieve this it is essential that the ingredients that go into his projects are unique; almost all of the furniture and furnishings he uses are either antique or of his own exclusive design. He travels extensively within the U.S. and overseas to find antique and vintage furnishings specifically for his clients. It is very important to him that his client's home reflects their personality and how they want to live while being sophisticated in taste. Frank feels anyone can develop their own sense of style with a little help. It is his goal to create environments that stir his client's senses and are something that he is proud of."

Well known in the Boston area since he began designing, he's been getting plenty of attention internationally and in the States, his work having been spotted in such shelter publications as: Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Metropolitan Home, Veranda, Traditional Home and even Gourmet Magazine. See more of his amazing work here.

Jan Showers, Our Dorothy Draper

2011-03-11T11:44:00.004-06:00

Everyone in the design industry knows the name Jan Showers. Jan is famous mostly because of her incredible interior design business. In Dallas Jan is also known for her generosity, creativity, philanthropy, and great personality. Jan's showroom is directly across the street from ours on Slocum Street in the design district of Dallas. So we have the pleasure of walking through her beautifully appointed store anytime we want.

Many also know Jan for her incredibly beautiful line of exclusive home furnishings. According to Mrs. Showers, each piece in her collection is "something she would want in her own home". If you own the book... you know how beautiful her home is.

Today Jan Showers released the Westweek Lookbook for the new pieces to her collection for 2011. If you are attending Westweek in Los Angeles you can see them in person or soon in all of the David Sutherland Showrooms around the country. David Sutherland is the representative for the Jan Showers Collection as well as many other wonderful lines in the high end furnishings market.

Jan is without a doubt one of the very best designers in America now. In fact, I dare say she is the Dorothy Draper of the 21st. Century.

Attached are a few of our favorite pieces from the 2011 collection.

Enjoy

The Stylish and Bold Designs of Anne Coyle

2011-03-07T14:00:00.002-06:00

First order of business today...a very happy birthday to Swank owner and style genius Ed! It's a pleasure to write for you guys! And now for Ed's present-blog readers get to enjoy it, too! It's a designer known for her fabulously luxurious interiors and heavy borrowing from one of our favorite styles here at Swank Lighting: Hollywood Regency!

Anne Coyle, a Chicago-based interior designer, sure knows how to infuse spaces with just the right about of drama and interest. These are full-bodied, sophisticated spaces with lots of details, accessories, furnishings, patterns, textiles and more. You're not getting bored in an interior designed by Anne Coyle.

As mentioned, she leans heavily on a style of design we are big fans of, Hollywood Regency. The hallmarks of this favorite retro design style show up in abundance in her rooms, like lacquered wood pieces, strong animal prints, mirrors and mirrored objects, bamboo motifs, Asian-inspired décor and more.

The great thing about Anne's interiors is she doesn't just look to Hollywood Regency or any one style for inspiration; she combines looks from today and yesterday to create one-of-a-kind spaces that no doubt delight her clients (who must be interesting and exciting people to have hired her).

Unlike some designers who seem to excel at one thing in particular, Anne's great across the board; she's got a great grasp of color palettes, mixing styles, incorporating patterns and balancing it all out. See more for yourself here.

Swank Lighting Murano Lamp Giveaway!

2011-03-02T13:21:00.001-06:00

If you love our Murano lamps at Swank Lighting, then you'll really love this--there's a giveaway going on for a GORGEOUS pair of lamps that will knock your socks off!

We've partnered with the beautiful and inspiring blog: "The Enchanted Home," a blog to talk about the dream house that the blogger is building. We are so excited to offer up a pair of our New Murano Table Lamps in the Classic Style Champaign. These lamps are styled after the classic mid century Barovier & Toso lamps so popular even today. We have them hand blown by our glass house in Murano, Italy. They are from our contemporary Murano line, blown exclusively for Swank. And are you ready for this...the lamps retail for $2700! Whoa!

All you have to do to be eligible to be drawn as a winner is become a follower or subscriber to The Enchanted Home. A winner will be chosen Friday, March 11th! Good luck!

The Classic and Detailed Designs of Ernest de la Torre

2011-02-28T16:27:00.001-06:00

We first spotted Ernest De La Torre's name on that fabulous website resource, 1stdibs. We didn't know what kind of designer he was, but you could just tell with a name like that he was probably right. Perusing his online portfolio, it's clear our baseless assumption was spot on!

Ernest's work is immediately recognized as a kind of breed of restrained, classical, masculine beauty. If you're looking for over the top, too bold, garish or dramatic spaces, you won't find them here. That's not to imply that these are boring spaces; that couldn't be farther from the truth. It's just that Ernest's work's beauty comes from exquisite materials, high-quality element decisions and subtle but effective details.

The projects he works on are pretty huge, and they serve as perfect laboratories for his unique brand of understated elegance. He mixes styles fluently, but does tend to lean toward more traditional styles, if only because of the clientele he serves. We do spot a lot of really neat modern details that are unexpected and a sign of his youth and talent. One ceiling in particular is like a modern take on a coffered, vaulted ceiling, only with a really fresh, random geometric pattern.

Like we said, he doesn't use bold colors or patterns as a gimmick in spaces, preferring instead to rely on sweet details to carry spaces into the realm of awesome. As lamp lovers, we can't help but notice all the details of his sconces and lampshades! We suggest paying extra attention to that spot on his website if you love lighting as much as we do.

We just adore these spaces, and know you'll get a lot of inspiration looking through his online portfolio! Love what you see in this post but want more? Like fun perfect pairs, designer influence profiles and profiles of contemporary designers? Thank goodness for you we've got a Facebook page and tweet a lot; you can keep up with everything Swank Lighting does.

Images: 1stdibs, Glam.com, Decorati

The Young and Bold Designs of Kyle Schuneman

2011-02-25T14:39:00.000-06:00

It's pretty close-minded of us to say that today's featured contemporary interior designer doesn't quite look like someone who would create the sort of interiors that take our breath away, but it's true! Kyle Schuneman's youth, boyish good looks and casual demeanor seem to be more fitting for a young guy just getting out of a school, rather than one of the top interior designers to emerge in recent years.

Kyle's only 25, but man does he have an eye for amazing details, creating interiors that are at once spectacular and accessible. Comfortable, sophisticated, colorful and bold: his interiors make a statement, and that statement is "we are awesome."

We think we're most stunned by his use of color and pattern in such a fresh, modern and gender neutral way. Mixing bold wallpapers with wild rugs and complementing them both with furnishings that tie it all together. He's got a knack for throwing in textures that somehow steal the show and offset all the rest of the accessories to create the perfect balance.

His rooms aren't the least bit stuffy, but they're not so trendy and young that you don't know how to sit in a piece of furniture. We also love how his spaces have a very strong feminine feel to them-a lot of softness and loveliness-but they are definitely masculine in the details, as well.

We just adore these spaces, and know you'll get a lot of inspiration looking through his online portfolio! Love what you see in this post but want more? Like fun perfect pairs, designer influence profiles and profiles of contemporary designers? Thank goodness for you we've got a Facebook page and tweet a lot; you can keep up with everything Swank Lighting does.

The Colorful and Fun Designs of Vanessa de Vargas

2011-02-21T17:02:00.000-06:00

We feel a little embarrassed we haven't featured the brilliant design mind behind the firm Turquoise, Vanessa de Vargas, as a featured designer before on the Swank Lighting blog. We've mentioned her great blog in a post before, but she's more than just fun-to-look-at ones and zeroes on a blog; she's an amazing interior designer whose work is inspiring to anyone looking to infuse their space with personality.

Over two years ago we wrote this about Vanessa's amazing interior design work: "Our favorite element of de Vargas' work is her great use of color, pattern and detail. Her work is fun, sometimes feminine and frankly, flirty. She's not afraid of any of these elements, and uses them all to enhance spaces, not overwhelm them. Flipping through her online portfolio you will see an inspiring array of color palettes with which to inspire your own home makeovers."

Not only does all of that still ring true, but in two years, she's done nothing but infuse her spaces with even more talent, life, sophistication and color. The best things about her spaces is that even though these are "grown-up" rooms with real furniture and wall coverings, she makes sure these homeowners remember to have fun in their houses! All of her spaces always have a lot of fun, wit and cleverness sprinkled throughout.

We just really admire her ability to mix and match styles and elements to create one-of-a-kind spaces. It's not easy combining styles in way that doesn't seem contrived or too busy, but she does it beautifully, and every time, too!

The Natural and Textural Designs of John Jacob

2011-02-18T13:29:00.000-06:00

John Jacob's interiors are not for the faint at heart, and they aren't for anyone who might have pre-conceived notions of what a designer's portfolio from Cape Town, South Africa might look like. John has us gasping with delight and surprise with the interiors he's been creating down in Africa, and we think you'll find loads of inspiration.

The first thing we notice about his interiors is how rich, sophisticated and classy they are. They are fully decorated, richly accessorized, full of classical furnishings that are of a specific time period and style and they are just lush and thick and full and exciting and wonderful.

No decorating stone is left unturned in these interiors. They're not cluttered, but they are full to the brim with furniture pieces, window treatments, tabletop accessories, wall art, sculptures, plants and everything else that goes into a full, gorgeously-decorated interior.

Another wonderful thing about his interior design work is how connected to nature and African culture his interiors are, and very non-pretentiously. African motifs, patterns, textiles and textures are brought in to mingle with other traditional styles to create unique, personality-filled rooms that must match their owners' personalities to a "T."

Another fun thing about John Jacob is actually his website. Not only is it full of truly inspiring photos that could give you plenty of ideas for your own interior design adventures, but he's taken the time to describe in detail his ideas, themes, concepts, thoughts and processes of each interior project. That sort of dedication to explaining his process can really add to the overall inspiration you receive from a designer.

The Lovely and Colorful Designs of Angie Hranowsky!

2011-02-14T12:15:00.000-06:00

As interior design writers, we must learn to appreciate a number of different design techniques and styles, even if said style isn't exactly in our own tastes. That's what makes coming across a designer who mirrors your tastes perfectly all the more sweet. We're delighting in today's contemporary designer profile: Angie Hranowsky.

It's quite perfect that today is Valentine's Day, because we are totally in love with all of Angie's spaces. What makes them so lovely? Let us count the ways...Firstly she has a keen eye for color palettes that are uplifting, relaxing and feminine. Not so feminine a male wouldn't want to live in these rooms, but definitely feminine in how lovely and sweet they are.

She's also definitely got great skills when it comes to interest in a space; she combines a number of different techniques together to create incredibly layered and sophisticated spaces, such as boldly painted walls, wallpaper, graphics, lots of textures, patterns and full spaces.

She doesn't shy away from furniture, that's for sure. Her rooms are pretty packed full of all different types of furniture pieces, as well as accessories and window coverings and more. The rooms don't feel cluttered, but they surely give off a full, lived-in feeling.

And of course, you know we would notice someone who's masterful at choosing lighting, and Angie certainly fits that bill. She uses tall lamps, bold lights and big pendent lights all brilliantly and to their fullest to create well-lit and fun spaces.

The Soft and Lovely Designs of Cozette Coffman

2011-02-11T14:12:00.000-06:00

Man we really love the simple, soft and lovely designs of Cozette Coffman. Maybe it's because she herself is so young, but her spaces are full of youthful vigor, sophisticated splendor and a subtle, quiet kind of style that doesn't ever feel stuffy.

Now, it's true she's on the younger side of life, but she's still got plenty of experience in the field of interior design. As taken from her "about" page: "Cozette Coffman Design, the namesake boutique design firm launched in 2008, has been a decade or, arguably, a lifetime in the making. Since obtaining her interior design degree from The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 1999, Cozette Coffman has perfected and honed her craft at two Los Angeles-based design firms. Both experiences left an indelible mark, giving her a strong background in custom kitchens, bespoke bedding and window treatments, as well as custom-designed and locally manufactured furniture."

You can certainly tell it is from this vast body of experience that she draws from in creating her interiors, which boast calming color palettes, fun patterns and textures and a masterful execution of furnishing choices and furniture layouts.

We particularly like her use of grays, deep navy blues, neutrals and whites. These colors combine to really highlight architectural details or create just really grown-up feeling spaces-but with still a lot of feeling of fun.

As mentioned, we really love her attention to details. These rooms aren't too full of furniture or accessories, and as such, she must maximize the visual impact another way-with choosing items with rich textures, or placing beautiful graphics on walls or just choosing items that really mean something and add to a space. She knows how to make the most out of every item in a space.

A quote from Cozette: "My client's lifestyle really guides the design process. I love to discover a unique angle for each project and tap into what the client will likely appreciate, whether that's selecting fabulously modern stainless steel door knobs, organic bedding and vintage pillow trimmings, or using a favorite nail-polish color as inspiration for a color palette. I feel strongly that each one of my clients has a color personality that I've been able to reflect and incorporate into their décor; it's my innate sense of this that ultimately makes them shine in their space"

The Bold and Colorful Designs of John Loeke!

2011-02-07T13:14:00.000-06:00

We always know we're in for a good time when an interior designer's online portfolio is split up by projects named by a cool style. That means that this designer knows how to listen to a client, decorate over a range of tastes and knows how to have fun! Today's feature contemporary designer: John Loecke.

We first stumbled across John Loecke's name on an Apartment Therapy post about some of the top interior designers and color experts to watch for 2011. We couldn't agree more that John deserves to be on such a list. It takes only the most cursory glance of his work to see he's a master at color and pattern, and this infuses his spaces with energy and interest.

But back to those style names on his website: we see classic colonial, beach cottage, city sophistication, coastal living, brownstone bravura, crazy for color! and more interestingly descriptive names. Each click brings you into a world of sophisticated interiors that make you drool!

His classic colonial is just that and more. Sure it's within the trappings of a "traditional" style, but the way he reinterprets it for modern times is inspirational and unique. You might expect a beach cottage to be swimming in blues (like most of them are), but this one is bold, bright, peach and pink.

His city sophistication project is surprisingly complex, layering colors, patterns, styles and looks to come up with the sort of home you imagine someone very interesting and very eccentric lives in. His crazy for color! project is in fact filled to the brim with colors in palettes not for the faint of heart, but also balanced with a lot of femininity and refinement.

His spaces aren't minimal or really all that "sleek," but they sure as heck are colorful, bold and just the thing to look at if you're wondering how to put a little excitement into your own home.

Love what you see in this post but want more? Like fun perfect pairs, designer influence profiles and profiles of contemporary designers? Thank goodness for you we've got a Facebook page and tweet a lot; you can keep up with everything Swank Lighting does. Read more John here.

The Sophisticated and Playful Interiors of Ruthie Sommers!

2011-02-04T12:22:00.000-06:00

Ruthie Chapman Sommers has that kind of name that just makes you know she's going to be a good designer. Regal, austere and from the South, Ruthie does more than just lives up to her name, she surpasses it and brings into the 21st Century with charm and playfulness.

Ruthie's interiors, which she did for a very long time with a partner under the firm name Chapman Radcliff Home, are definitely grown-up, but the kind of grown-up who knows how to get down and dirty and play with kids when need be. Her spaces are sophisticated, but they have not lost their imaginative quality. Her spaces are inspiring, but they are also playful, fun and witty.

Ruthie's rooms are equal parts invigorating and calming. In some rooms, soft, natural textiles bathe surfaces like floors (showcasing natural fiber rugs), furnishings (with soft and sumptuous upholstery) and window treatments. Her ability to mix and match neutral color palettes is expert; creating rooms that aren't boring at all even though they don't have bold colors.

Not to say she doesn't have an affinity toward bold colors, as she's great at incorporating those as well. She mixes her dramatic elements like busy patterns and bright colors in a way that doesn't make you feel overwhelmed, but as mentioned above, invigorated and inspired. Believe us, anyone who can take a room with lots of molding, paint it glossy red and still some how pull it all off is someone not afraid to take chances and way good at design.

Like the most popular designers of today, Ruthie doesn't stick to any one style or era when she designs. From the South, she has a great respect and knowledge of more traditional and antique styles, but she also mixes that love with contemporary and transitional furnishings to create highly unique spaces.