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One thing you may not know about House of Troy is that they are one of our top sellers. Consistently, for the number of order we receive, they are always in the top three. And when it comes to picture lights, House of Troy has always been number one. The Direct Wire Slimline LED Picture Lights (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/hot-dsled-lights.html) has been one of their staple best sellers for as long as I have been here (4.5 years). And now, House of Troy has improved on a classic, with more finish options (satin brass, satin nickel, oil rubbed bronze & antique brass) and 14” and 24” lengths. Bust most importantly, these are now LED fixtures. LED is without a doubt the safest way to light your art (OK, maybe fiber optics as well, but that can cost more). LED’s give off virtually no heat, so if you have pastels, charcoal, watercolors, acrylics, oil paintings or even just pencil or pen and ink sketches, this is the way to go. I know of what I speak, because I am an art collector, and have been for 40 years. These 4 watt LED modules are worth every penny, in energy savings, and in safety. This is the new wave of lighting for most collectibles. In the next few years, most galleries will go this route, so why not beat them to it? Call me for specifics on this, and I will share my expertise with you. (1-800-MY-LAMPS).

I have a theory. I think if the birds in Bodega Bay have had more bird baths, and specifically Illuminated Bird Bath Low-Voltage Landscape Path Lights (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/kic-15406wst.html) like the one featured here, then Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor would not have been terrorized to the extent they were in The Birds. Kichler Lighting, where were you when they needed you? This lovely marvel of landscape lighting wasn’t in time to prevent the attack on Bodega Bay, but it could save you from a fowl attack. This can happen; on August 18th, 1961, residents in the town of Capitola, California, awoke to find sooty shearwaters slamming into their rooftops, and their streets covered with dead birds.

The Kichler illuminated bird bath features a 35 watt par 36 bulb, a 30” power cable and a 60 watt transformer with a timer and a photocell. It has satin etched glass mounted on a three stem pedestal in a weather mount finish that is all the rage in Seagull circles. It measures 22.5” in diameter by 28” high, and will fit with most outdoor settings.

So be prepared, and good evening.

Uncompromised

When we think of the word Utopian, we conjure up images of future societies with monorails, flying cars, jet packs, no poverty or war, and brotherhood for all, as espoused in the film Things to Come. All good and fine, but what about the lamps? Well, Arroyo Craftsman has come up with a family of table lamps, as well as matching scones, chandeliers and flushmount fixtures that are a merger of art deco design fused with an Ayn Rand vision of a Howard Roark view of lighting design (read the Fountainhead, for more details).

The Utopian Craftsman Table Lamp (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/arr-utl-11.html) from Arroyo features ten different finishes, including pewter, brass,  copper or slate, and ten glass options such as Gold White Iridescent, White Opalescent, Rain mist, and almond Mica. Each lamp is hand made to your specifications, so it is personal, individual, and uncompromised, as Ms. Rand would love. The Utopian measures 11” wide, by 16.125” in height, and uses a 60 watt A15 bulb, and though it is more expensive than the average table lamp (starting at $568.80), you are getting a personal vision here.

Every Utopian society needs light, you know.

This CounterMax under cabinet light kit from Maxim Lighting has everything you need to illuminate any surface with cool contemporary style. Each kit includes three LED disc lights, two connectors, a power cable, and an on/off switch. Choose from three finishes: black (as shown), silver, or white.

Comedy isn’t pretty, they say. And neither are these LED Under Cabinet Lighting fixtures from Maxim Lighting. But they sure are practical. The CounterMax MX-LD LED Under Cabinet Three Light Disc Kit (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/max-87883.html) is sort of a starter kit for those of you who want new LED technology in your kitchen, but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg for a system. This three light kit has it all, including three LED disc lights, two connectors, a power cable, and an on/off switch. The Counter Max is perfect for those of you who rent or lease, or for summer homes, cabins, condos, etc. These use one 1.7 watt LED module per unit, and they measure 3.125” by .875” tall, so they are small enough for most under cabinet lights. And they cone in white, silver or black, for a meager $75.59 per set.

Cheap, yes. Beautiful, not really. But at this price, and this efficiency, who cares?

When I think of the word Aurora, two images come to mind: the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Model kits from the 1960’s. The Cherry Tree Design Aurora Asian Japanese Small ADA Wall Sconce (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/cht-l027-s.html) is neither, obviously, but it shares similarities with both. The visual effect created by the almond Mica glass as show looks similar to the Aurora Borealis, and the construction of this fixture has a hint of the great Aurora model craftsmanship.

But these are wall sconces, and Cherry Tree Design builds them with élan and grace. The Aurora uses the traditional style wood frame, and with options like ocean mist paper, iridescent glass, amber Mica, frost acrylic or even vanilla swirl glass, you can match virtually any décor color scheme. The Aurora measures 6.5” wide by 9.5” high, with 4” depth, uses either one 60 watt incandescent of a 26 watt CFL.

They are simple, yet timeless, practical, but also exotic. And you don’t have to have Asian décor to appreciate and utilize them.

The Sweeping Taper 5-Candle Water Glass Foyer Light (product page: http://www.affordablelamps.com/hub-10-1476.html) is part of an entire collection of Hubbardton Forge wrought iron lighting fixtures, all called (go figure) Sweeping Taper! This particular family member features five scrolling bands of iron which curls down and in for support of the five faux candles gathered therein. This water glass foyer light uses five Type B 40 watt bulbs, comes with 15’ of wire and 3’ of chain, and is suitable for damp locations. I can see this fixture in a Mediterranean Restaurant, like the patio or out corridors, for example. At 23” high by 16” diameter, it is ampio, or grande, and suited for areas were light is needed to look good, but also not obvious. Did I mention that there are sixteen Sweeping Tapers? Scones, foyer lights, chandeliers, and wall torches, to be exact.  Like one big Italian family. Now after all this talk of food, I’m getting hungry. Pasta, anyone?