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Lighting Designs That Celebrate the Bare Lightbulb

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:00:00 PDT

These days we have a wide range of lightbulbs to choose from: halogen, compact fluorescent, LED, filament, and incandescent. While traditional designs attempt to diffuse and hide the lightbulb with lamp shades, now is the time to celebrate the bare bulb. These 10 inspired lighting designs emphasize the beauty of the bulb without the harsh, blinding light.

Trend Alert: Cluster Lighting

Elka Karl — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:30:26 PST

Clusters of pendants are currently emerging as a strong trend. In my post 4 Top Lighting Trends in 2011, Sean Lavin, vice president of product design at Tech Lighting, noted the trend. Even more recently, I spotted cluster lights in a roundup of the latest issue of LivingETC. While many of the clustered pendants currently on the market are rather spendy (the Ilde Max Pendant Lamp shown in the upper left-hand corner sells for nearly $8,000), there are some more affordable choices. The Cheers Pendant in the upper right-hand corner retails for $108 per bulb, and is quite lovely. Another way to get the look is to simply assemble your own version of this trend by buying individual pendants and hanging them in a clustered fashion. Or, you could simply shop this look by clicking on each image!

Glitterati: Love Rocks NY

FabSugar — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:00:22 PST

Remember back in the day when you wore pendants inscribed with your initials or best friend's name? Take that image in your head, fast forward to the present, and look at what designer, Limor Ratzabi Senker, has come up with.

Her jewelry line, dubbed Love Rocks NY, is all about taking what's near and dear to your heart to the next level of decadence. At first glance, her jewels might look simple, but dig deeper. Her fine collection is made out of 14k gold, platinum, and ethically sourced diamonds. Did you notice the sheen on all of her goods? That's from the special diamond dust finish. All handmade to precision. Alas, quality work comes at a high price. Her adornments range from $150 to $3,000, but isn't it all worth it?

To see more from Love Rocks NY,

Lil Treasure: Artwork For Around Your Neck

babysugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:01:00 PST

The Van Gogh in every child sometimes gets the best of our refrigerators, empty walls, and the kid's rooms. When your lil one brings home that masterpiece that you know sets itself above the rest, turn it into a treasure.

You can scan or mail your tot's magnum opus to Analiese and for $8, she will turn the artwork into a beautiful glossy pendant that you can put on a necklace or whatever your heart desires. The original, which isn't limited to child's play, needs to be 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller. And, for an extra $5, you can add a silver chain to your order.

Fancy Food Jewelry: A-E (part 1 of 5)

YumSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 14:51:39 PDT

The other day FabSugar tipped me off to a pair of earrings shaped like caviar. I thought they were pretty interesting, but I also passed it off as part of the "food jewelry" trend. Have you noticed how easy it is to find jewelry shaped like little edible items? Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of wearing donuts around your necklace (hey, it's better than your waistline!), however the whole idea seems a bit wild. To prove just how hip food-inspired jewelry has become, I thought we'd do a 5 part series of food jewelry A-Z. The whole thing starts off with apple bobby pins, but you'll have to scroll through below to find out what's next:

Grammy Awards: Adele

FabSugar — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:03:48 PST

Soulful songstress Adele schooled us tonight in the art of modern elegance, which she juxtaposed with retro glamour. Her custom black embellished Giorgio Armani gown instantly reminded us of Mad Men-inspired formality, but it was her crimson lips and '60s-style winged eyeliner that drove the nostalgic evening ensemble home. While her sparkly dress and impeccable makeup made a siren statement, her vintage cocktail ring and pendant earrings added quiet sparkle to the throwback look. Are you feeling Adele's Armani attire?

Vote on all of our Grammy Awards polls here!

The Five Best Races For Women

espnW — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:09:19 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Dimity McDowell and Sarah Bowen Shea

Sage Steele, SportsCenter anchor, is preparing to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World on Feb. 26 and hoping to fall in love with running in the process. Follow Sage’s journey on espnW.com

Women's races offer a decidedly different vibe than their coed cousins': more camaraderie, a sole sister atmosphere that welcomes all runners and walkers, and lots more running skirts. Here are five of the top women's races and series in the country. Sign up then train like Sage.

Disney Tinker Bell and Princess half marathons
Sage picked a winner. Let your inner child run free through the Magic Kingdom at these festival race weekends. Tinker Bell is in Disneyland, while Princess is in Disney World, but both allow thousands of runners to mix and mingle with Disney characters on courses that wind through each park. Racers put almost as much effort into costumes - Snow White, Belle, or Minnie, anyone? - as training. Bonus: your kids will be especially psyched to cheer you on.

Sage Steele gets some training advice from Disney runMom Lori Lovell

Nike Women's Marathon
Yeah, it's tough to snag an entry, but if you can, this race is so worth it. (Psst: Go through Team in Training.) This 26.2-mile race, and its half-marathon companion, traverses San Francisco with sweeping vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean to take your mind off the killer hills in the first 10 miles of the race. Tuxedo-clad firefighters bestow each finisher with a Tiffany & Co. pendant.

Run fast by fueling up smart

Three more great races after the break.

A Shooting Star Valentine Gift

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:42:28 PST

Diamonds may be forever, but a meteorite, well, a meteorite that once flew thousands of light-years from the edges of the solar system is forever ever. The Meteorite Heart Pendant ($85) from Etsy shop ThePolkadotMagpie is made from real meteorite chunks discovered in 1967.

Composed of iron and nickel alloys, iron meteorites are believed to be made up of the core of planets that broke apart billions of years ago and traveled the universe until they one day hurtled to Earth.

The density of meteorite makes it a tough material to work with: a heavy-duty, large band saw and grinder are used to shape the hearts. Practicalities aside, the pendant is a romantic way of showing your love that you'd wander the depths of space for them, just like this shooting star.

Link Time: Ikea's Maskros Pendant, Flea Marketing 101, and Christina Aguilera’s Home

Elka Karl — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:56 PST

The Ikea Maskros pendant illuminates these interiors. - Houzz
Get cozy with these stylish throw blankets. - Real Simple
10 spaces with surprising decor details. - House Beautiful
A transparent Apple store is going to be built in France. - Geek
DIY this sunglasses holder in mere minutes. - Eco Salon
Take a tour of Christina Aguilera’s on-the-market home. - Hooked on Houses
Gather some tips for flea marketing in 2012. - Stylelist Home
See why Craft and Make have gone black today. - Craft
Tips for creating the ultimate Super Bowl party. - Country Living

Color Inspiration: Ivory and Brass

Elka Karl — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:49:26 PST

Last night, Viola Davis glowed at the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Decked out in a white Marchesa gown with a metallic embroidered bodice, the color read more brass than gold, especially when compared to the color in her gold bracelet. I love the contrast between the milky dress and the metallic accents and set out to find some home decorating pieces that embraced a similar color scheme.

I'm a major fan of brass lamps, so it makes sense that three of the items I've chosen are types of lighting. Start with your overhead illumination needs with the infinitely affordable Brass Tiered Pendant Shade ($64). Made from a material mix of plastic, brass, copper, and glass, it's an inexpensive way to get in on the brass trend.

My favorite lighting choice, however, is the Hammered Brass Sconce ($165) from Serena & Lily. A concave, hand-hammered brass oval shape reflects light and will cast a warm glow throughout your room. I'm tempted to switch out my bedroom sconces with a pair of these brass sconces - they'd add such ambiance!

The ladylike curves of the Ethan Allen Hepburn Sofa ($2,200) would work perfectly with a classic, feminine decorating scheme. The sofa is a beautiful piece, from its modern straight tapered leg to its rolled arms and sleek camelback.

Shop the rest of the brass and ivory selections by clicking on each image.