Lusting after lanterns......

Good morning friends! Here is a post I had fun putting together largely because I am in the market for a number of lanterns and I never tire of looking at them. It was fun to see so many different spaces of how and where they work, and I figured I would take you along for my "investigative research". So happy I did these posts in advance! Hope to do a moving update in a few days......will keep you posted!

Love lanterns. I think I could literally have them in every room and never get tired of looking at them. Big, small, iron, wood, black, rustic, formal.....love them all.   Of course it has to be the right lantern, but there are few spaces and few homes that a lantern doesn't just rock in. I love them as much in foyers, stair halls, bathrooms as I do outside porches, bedrooms and mudrooms. There are no rules for lanterns pure and simple.  For my own house, we are going to be using lots of them, in the kitchen, stair hall, outside, outside porch/loggia, a few of the bathrooms and in a few vestibules. So today is a bit of self indulgence in my lust for lanterns and knowing that many of you love them too, thought I would share.....what do you think? Do you have any lanterns? Would you? You know I love to hear!

Love lanterns in outside spaces like this beautiful loggia, William Waldon

Love these beautiful mercury glass lanterns over the antique butchers block, Shades of light

A pair of ornate lanterns adds so much to any space, Segreto

This fabulous hallway/gallery used a succession of gorgeous lanterns, Bonner

Love this gold lantern above this absolutely charming blue and white setting, Sara Gilbane

Alexa Hampton used a pair of over scaled lanterns in this fabulous kitchen in the Hamptons

Cindy Rinfret chose an over sized gorgeous lantern to place above this center hall table

Even a simple lantern in groups, is quite incredible looking..Segreto

Stunning pair of glass and nickel lanterns paired above a large island, Downsview

A lantern is a great choice for cozy nooks like this breakfast room hangout, Southern Living

To me, a lantern is the perfect choice for virtually any stair hall, Janet Simon

Always admired this beautiful dressing room with delicate glass lantern,Barry Dixon

This lovely lantern gives just the right amount of bling to this pretty and understated dining setting, Wisteria

Love seeing a lantern in an unexpected place like a library, Jan Showers

Pairs always work over an island, these are great looking. Taylor Hannah

Gorgeous foyer gets a beautiful iron lantern

Love this trio of lanterns in this beautiful indoor/outdoor room...

Love how this pair of iron lanterns warms up the cavernous space in this kitchen, Palm Designs

One of my favorite pictures of all time, this cozy and elegant seating area is beautifully enhanced by a rustic and oversized lantern, Traditional Home

A formal brass lantern graces this elegant foyer, Robert Stern 

Cindy Rinfret chose a single lantern in this gem of a bathroom

This elegant lantern is the perfect touch to this small and cozy dining room, Palmer Weiss

If using just one lantern, it should be a large scaled one over the island, Clive Christian

Love this setting and the lantern is just perfect here! Gordon Beall photography

Love a pair of lanterns over a kitchen island, which is what I plan on doing.....Segreto

Always loved this mudroom, warm, cozy and elegant enhanced with a beautiful lantern, Veranda

And of course we all know how stunning lanterns are outside! Andrew Skurman

So....if this hasn't convinced you about how gorgeous and versatile lanterns are, can't imagine what would! I personally love them. And if you have ever wondered how to figure out sizing and the right circumference for a lantern or chandelier in a particular room, here is what a few experts that we all know and love have to say.....so interesting! Thanks Bunny and Hinkley lighting and thank you all for stopping by!

When looking for the right sized light fixture, remember this...How big should an overhead light fixture be? Just add the length and width of the room in feet, and whatever number you come up with is, in inches, your guide for the fixture's diameter. So a 15-by-20-foot room would need a 35-inch-wide chandelier.
—Bunny Williams

How to measure for outside lanterns?

In using one lantern, if you use it only on one side of the door, it should measure one third the length of the door. The center of the bulb should rest 66" above the thershold of the door.

If using two lanterns,they should each measure approx. one fourth of the length of the door. The center of the bulb should rest 66" above the threshold of the door. 

- Hinkley Lighting

Which would you choose and 2 winners!

Good morning! Before we begin, I want to announce the two lucky winners of the French apron and monogrammed soaps! Thanks for helping me celebrate my two year anniversary,  I was so touched by all of your kind words. Congratulations goes to......  For the french apron, the winner is....Result:
7 

Anonymous January 1, 2013 9:43 AM

Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary! Your home is wonderful. I was so pleasantly surprised at Christmas by my two closest friends. They gave me the fabulous silver planter I have had my eye on for the longest time! I can't wait to use it. So my next want from the store is one of the smaller silver planters. This is a bad (wonderfully bad) place for me! Thank you.
Patricia B

And the monogrammed soaps goes to....

 Result:
36 

linda January 1, 2013 3:36 PM

OMG- You are an amazing decorator and your house looks gorgeous! Happiest of New Year's!!!
linda,ny

Please contact me here so I can get your shipping information and these goodies can be on their way!

  So how is 2013 treating you so far? With the exception of my husband coming down with pneumonia, it was a wonderful holiday season. Funny,  New Years day unexpectedly ended up being one of the best days. First off,   it was the first day in 8 days that hubs felt up to getting fully dressed and coming downstairs, then it was a continuation of our movie marathon, we watched Dances with Wolves, Meet Joe Black, Under the Tuscan Sun  and a few others, all the while I was cooking the entire day (but really loving it) I made beef stew, paninis, homemade basked mac, even small apple tarts..yes I was on a roll! My husband spent a lot of time exploring my blog and was thoroughly entertained and it was just a great family day, alongside a roaring fire, it was spent at home enjoying each others company....it was cold outside but really warm and cozy inside. So life is slowly getting back to normal after the holiday blizzard (not literal but the whirlwind). I have yet to take down any decorations...thinking I will give it another week, not quite ready to say goodbye to the magic of Christmas or the hard work I put into it:) Today's Which Would You Choose is a fun one. Roll with me here......the designer fairies have paid you a visit. Hey, its a new year...time for a change, right? They have told you that you get to have one designer of your choosing redo your entire home soup to nuts. Only catch? You cannot have any say, you are at their talented mercy and must go on a little "vacay "for a week while they work their magic. Which of these talented tastemakers would you trust to redo your entire home? Many if not most you know, but I have also included two pictures of their work that I think  represents their style. This is a tough one, though I think I have it narrowed down to two. No wait, I mean three. OK, two. Here we go.....so which would you choose!    CHOICE 1  Mary McDonald

 CHOICE 2  David Easton

  CHOICE 3 Meg Braff

   CHOICE 4 Cathy Kincaid

  CHOICE 5   Bunny Williams

  CHOICE 6  Sandra Nunnerly

  CHOICE 7   Thomas Pheasant

  CHOICE 8   Phoebe Howard

 

CHOICE 9   Thomas O Brien

CHOICE 10   Ashely Whittaker

CHOICE 11  John Jacob

CHOICE  12  Jan Showers

 CHOICE 13   Charles Faudree

CHOICE  14   McAlphine, Booth and Ferrier

 

CHOICE  15   Barry Dixon

  OK, I take it back, I don't  have it narrowed down to 2 after all. Sorry, too much talent  to choose but if forced, I guess I could narrow it down and let them work their magic. So now its your turn....who are you turning over your casa to?  I cannot wait to see the results..this should be fun and interesting! Thanks always for stopping in and wishing everyone a fabulous day.