Guest Post: Half of What I Say is Meaningless!!!

Have you met Tina from Half of What I Say is Meaningless???

Don't let the blog name fool you, I find amazing and meaningful things there every time she posts.

Absolutely fantastic and magazing worthy home?  Check.

Charming wit? Check.

Adorable family? Check.

A fabulously in tune sense of style? Check and DOUBLE CHECK.

Yeah, I was *UBER* stoked when she agreed to guest post here because she *actually* outfits her home in all the fabulous things that I put into my fantasy files.

Don't worry, she gave us lots of pictures to drool over (c: And I hope Tina will forgive me, but I'm pretty sure I took up my old bad habit of commenting during guest posts. I'm so rude.

When Aubrey graciously invited me to participate in her fabulous guest series, I had to seriously contemplate the angle from which to approach this this question “How do you make your home, your own?”. Given Aubrey’s tremendous sense of style, flair for the dramatic, and her fabulously witty sense of humour, the task was slightly daunting. As one of my favourite bloggers, we have connected over a shared love of many things but there is one that stands out in particular. That is our penchant for beautiful, unique, and sparkly light fixtures. (Aubrey: Okay, that last part is true,but the rest is just rubbish (c;)

In an effort to disguise all the areas that remain a significant work in progress in our home, I will share with you my favourite light fixtures. So obsessed I became with lighting during the building phase of our home, these pieces became the subject of much discussion, angst and finally joy upon their eventual installation. They are me, they capture my design aesthetic, and make our house unique.

There was a singular light fixture that has captivated me of several years, a modern chandelier the 2097-50 designed by Gino Sarfatti for Flos. I nearly had it installed in our old home, but my husband (who is the antithesis of handy when it comes to the DIY) somehow deterred me. Fortunately that gave me the opportunity to designate this amazing fixture for the double height front entrance of our new build. My builder was mortified by the number of components that arrived completely unassembled, fifty bulbs, fifty arms, and fifty wires and much disapproval ensued.  The electrician initially refused to install it, as it did not appear to have CSA approval. One day I showed up at the house, and it was up, the only evidence of installation, the scaffold beneath it, never a word more said. (Aubrey: I'm pretty sure that electrician realized who and *what* he was messing with and decided that for his health and safety, he'd better comply!)

          

In the midst of all my stalking of the Flos website in search of the aforementioned fixture, a newly released fixture became the subject of my newest obsession. The Skygarden pendant designed by Marcel Wanders who you may be more familiar with as the founder of the Dutch design house Moooi. The black modern exterior reads starkly modern, yet peering underneath you are treated to an amazing cast plaster array of flowers and a blown glass diffuser. So unexpected. It resides in my kitchen nook above my marble Saarinen tulip table by Knoll.  (Aubrey: Silent reverence for this little stroke of genius.)

        

I implore you not to visit the Flos website, particularly not the suspension lighting section. There is an amazing new light by Wanders, the Can-Can that I just came across when writing this. I’m now trying to figure out how to convince my husband that I need this fixture in my life (never mind a place to put it).

The master bedroom is a bit of a departure from the rest of the house which is quite airy and open. This room is darker, moodier, and more dramatic, thus requiring an elegant fixture. We chose the ceiling mount version of the Foscarini Caboche fixture. This piece fulfills my love of all things clear, particularly those that are lucite, and acrylic. My bedroom remains a work in progress. On the agenda (eventually) are an upholstered headboard, new side tables, and reworked bedding. (Guh. That wallpaper. I die. I can't even begin to address the light fixture...)

           

My favourite light fixture is the Bocci 14.14 pendant in my dining room. This one is comprised of fourteen blown glass spheres, suspended on wire drops. I did an entire entry about the Bocci on my blog if you are interested in further details. As you can see from the image, my dining room is only partially furnished. I am about to order chairs for the space and hopefully I will have a reveal ready in a couple months.  (Aubrey: I happened upon Tina's blog just in time for her post about this *FANTABULOUS* creation. It was love at first sight. With both the blog and the pendant.)

         (Aubrey: The burled wood on those Jonathan Alder pieces make me want to sell my children to buy them. Just sayin.)

As evidenced by my dining room I have a fondness for all things Jonathan Adler and his lighting is no exception. My powder room is home to his Ventana Wall Sconces which work beautifully with the Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis Wallpaper. In my basement lounge we have installed the JA Anemone Ceiling Mount fixture (sorry no photo as there is lego strewn everywhere). He also designs the most brilliant ceramic base lamps, and I had to order the sun lamp for my daughter Elizabeth’s bedroom. However, she does not appreciate it nearly as much as I do. (Aubrey: I wish Tina was *my* mom...and holy fabulous vanity, Batman!)

          

I hope you enjoyed a peek into my home and some insight into my lighting addiction. Fortunately, I have much work on the house left to do, and still require multitudes of lamps, both of the table and floor varieties.

And I am just going to tattle on Tina and say that she totally left out her crocodile covered gym floor, fab kitchen, and her lust-worthy Paul Evans' console...

Yep, that's right. THERE IS MORE FABULOUSNESS! Hard to believe, right?

Thanks so much Tina for a peek into your lovely abode and for rounding out our guest series for this month!!!


And if you are looking for your "fun in the sun" fix for the day...I'm also over at cute Alicia's blog Shaken, Not Blurred! dishing on my summer faves...