While I am so ready for sunshine and flowers, the weather in Nashville has been playing tricks on me. It will go from crazy hot to freezing cold all in the same day. The past few days have been gloomy and rainy, and I've needed an extra layer or two. These versatile looks are helping me through. Let's hope the warmer weather will be here to stay soon...
Photos by The Sartorialist; pieced together by me.
I had so much fun co-hosting the grand opening party for Madewell in Tennessee on Tuesday night! I got to meet so many beautiful people, browse (and purchase) some amazing new arrivals and curate a rack of my favorite spring picks. All the while sipping on a delicious champagne cocktail and dancing along with the DJ. Thank you to everyone who came out, and to Madewell for inviting me to be a part of such a wonderful event. Take a peek at some of the iPhone photos snapped throughout the evening below...
It is such a joy to work with friends, not only on projects for my own home, but projects I can share with all of you... introducing a beautiful swing arm wall lamp for Pennyweight Goods, April 2013. I am a huge fan of my friend Adam Gatchel from Southern Lights Electric, and am continually impressed by the variety of lighting and gorgeous fixtures he creates. I have four of his pieces in my home, and am delighted that one of them can now be yours as well.
Photo by Joe Gomez.
Your work
obviously has a lot of vintage influence, particularly the mid-century period.
Is there a reason or personal story behind it?
I love the
clean lines of mid-century design and the functionality of industrial pieces. I
often try to combine those two. Sometimes using very raw, unfinished materials
to create something with more form, like I did with this wall lamp.
Tell us a
little bit more about the process. How long does it typically take from start
to finish?
Each piece
has a different process. Some pieces were thought about for months while
others, like the Bell Jar lamp were inspired by materials and came together
quickly. The design inspiration can come from any place from architecture to
simple materials. Many times I am trying to recreate a vintage piece in a new
way. I usually go through the entire building process in my head before I pick
up any tools, working out potential problems and revising the design. Some
pieces take months to develop and build.
Why is
lighting so important in a home?
Lighting is
the easiest way to change the mood and atmosphere in a room. It doesn’t matter
how you decorate your home, if your lighting is harsh and cold, no one is going
to be comfortable. Home lighting should be done in layers that can be adjusted
depending on the time of day, activities, mood, etcetera. What might be a good
lighting setup for reading a book isn’t necessarily the best lighting for a
dinner party. A selection of floor, table, ceiling lights, and candles will
give you lots of options to create the correct mood.
You've lived
in Nashville for the past 11 years, but resided in Chicago before that. Does
your location and surroundings inspire your work?
Nashville is
definitely an inspirational place. There are so many talented artists and
craftsmen that I get inspiration from. It’s a very community-driven place and I
am so happy to be surrounded by these amazing people.
You've got
great style. Where are some of your favorite places to shop for men or home
goods? Do you read any blogs or websites on a regular basis?
Some of my
favorite websites are: uncrate.com, unionmadegoods.com, artofmanliness.com,
blessthisstuff.com, and coolmaterial.com. I’m also addicted to Svpply.
Where did the
inspiration for this Pennyweight Goods piece come from?
I have been doing a lot of
metal work lately, which gave me the opportunity to try some variations on the
classic mid century “Potence Lamp.” This was an effort to create a smaller
swing arm wall lamp. Since it swings 180 degrees, it can serve as a light
source for multiple areas, and the pivoting shade gives you the ability to
direct the light right where you need it without getting glare in your eyes.
Photo by Joe Gomez.
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Pennyweight Goods is a curated shop, featuring small batches of beautiful pieces from various makers around the world. The site will be updated on a monthly basis, but be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss anything.
Thank you to Joe Gomez for the photos and video.
