One of my favorite places to shop for lamps and lighting fixtures is Circa Lighting – the retail store with locations in Houston, Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston. Their fixtures are a cut above other lighting stores - the designs are refined and timeless - classy is the best word to describe the product. The company prides itself on it finishes, many of which are “living” such as nickel, designed to patina over time. Inspiration comes from different places – from the flea markets of Paris to the imagination of some of America’s top designers.
There is a fixture for any decor – be it traditional or starkly contemporary. Circa Lighting never disappoints – in fact, it only improves. The original designer roster of Thomas O’Brien and Eric Cohler has grown and the new faces are very exciting. Cote de Texas Top 10 Designers Michael S. Smith and Suzanne Kasler are now on board designing, as are Clodagh, Barbara Barry, Alexa Hampton and most exciting, Houstonian great Randy Powers. Amazing!
Since their retail stores are limited to just four cities, the Circa Lighting web site is a perfect way to peruse the line and make a purchase. Rest assured that the quality is top notch – the finishes are beautiful, the shades are special, and the craftsmanship is superb.
La Dolce Vita, another Houston blogger emailed me this flyer above – she knows all the inside goings-on at Visual Comfort – the wholesale side of Circa Lighting. Loyal La Dolce Vita readers know that Paloma’s husband works at Visual Comfort – so she always has the latest scoop. Paloma’s exciting news today is there is going to be a huge sale at Visual Comfort’s warehouse in Houston. WOW! The doors at 2021 Bingle Road will be open to the public this Saturday, Dec. 6th from 9 am to 4 pm. Members of the Trade get a sneak peek on Friday, Dec. 5th from 9 am until 3 pm. Designers – be sure you bring your Tax I.D.
After getting the flyer, I rushed over to Circa Lighting’s web site to scope out what might be on sale Friday. I was thrilled to note it has recently been updated to include all their new designers. Three of them really caught my eye:
First - Atlanta interior designer Suzanne Kasler’s designs for Circa Lighting are really exciting and totally fit my design aesthetic. This chandelier, the Percival, comes in two sizes and is the star of her line. This style is really hot right now – and I think Kasler’s version is one of the prettiest I’ve seen.
Kasler’s Quatrefoil floor lamp comes in two finishes and is really a stunner. The design is reminiscent of the Quatrefoil chair she debuted in her new furniture line for Hickory Chair.
This pair of wall sconces, the Sebastian, are in the old white wood finish, with two antique portraits inset in the frame – just divine! I would use these flanking a large gilded antique mirror or a French buffet a deux.
Kasler’s Roswell sconce has a linen “shield” shade – simple elegance. The shade is available in several colors – but I adore this French blue.
The Hurley chandelier is perfect for a bedroom or powder room. It comes in a few finishes – but the polished nickel, shown here, is perfect!!
Be still my heart! The Flea Market wall lantern is perfect anywhere - the entry hall, or the family room, the dining room or the stair hall. I could see using these going down a long hallway to softly light the way at night.
Kasler’s Sophie is a feminine take on the English pool table light. It comes in the rust or old white finish. Imagine this over your kitchen island, or over a bar. Either place, it’s a beauty!
The Weldon wall lamp is dressier than some of Kasler’s other designs. This would be wonderful in the public areas of a house such as the entry hall or dining room. The Weldon makes quite a statement and it comes in two finishes.
The next designer new to Circa Lighting that caught my eye is Houstonian J. Randall Powers, or Randy to his friends and clients. Powers’ recently created line should come as no surprise to those familiar with his work: the pieces are outstanding!
Powers is one of Houston’s busiest and most published interior designers. Young and charming, he recently designed a wonderful house for the principal of Visual Comfort. The finished project was published in House Beautiful this summer and can be seen here in Cote de Texas. The project was large and quite lengthy and Powers and his clients became good friends in the process. Of course, he was asked to lend his name and ingenuity to the company. Powers is known for his versatility – he is just as adroit with contemporary design as he is with the English Country Manor look, and thus, his work for Visual Comfort reflects this knack for classic, timeless design.
Here, the Geoffrey (named after Bennison?) floor lamp is simply gorgeous. Made in the aged iron and hand rubbed antique brass finish, this elegant lamp would be perfect in the living room or the master bedroom.
These lamps are my favorite in Power’s line. Made of marble – yes, marble, you have a choice of white or black. Aren’t these gorgeous? The black marble has a somewhat Empire feel, where as the white marble could go from Swedish to Belgian to French design. The possibilities for these two lamps are endless.
The double Savoy sconce comes in four finishes, but the polished nickel is especially beautiful.
The Lancaster floor lamp is starkly elegant – the only flourish comes at it’s feet. Available in gilded or aged iron, this lamp is somewhat dressy – perfect for between two contemporary slipper chairs or two antique Klismos.
The next new designer, Californian interior designer Michael S. Smith, introduced his line for Circa Lighting this year and, as expected, it does not disappoint.
Smith’s designs for Circa Lighting would fit right into his sumptuous interiors. This lamp, the Crescent, is the line’s standout piece. It is made of natural quartz stone (!) and comes with a simple yet elegant, paper shade. A pair of these lamps would be smashing in any designer’s room!
The Eiffel single sconce comes in four finishes, but I’m partial to this wonderful polished nickel. This would be perfect in a master bath, lighting a hallway, or in a man’s library.
The Spencer Sheffield silver table lamp by Smith is great for the living room, a library or the family sitting room. It could be used in pairs or as a single accent lamp. I love this lamp and obviously Smith does too – this was the fixture he chose to publicize his association with Circa Lighting.
There are other fixtures from the Visual Comfort/Circa Lighting product line that are personal favorites. Here are just a few of the ones that I think are wonderful:
I love this urn lamp – it comes in two sizes and four finishes. This old garden white on wood finish is perfect for the family room, bedroom, sunroom – really anywhere. A classic shape with a classic paper shade – it is just the right fixture for the current garden statuary look that is so popular today.
Lanterns for the interior are hot, hot, hot. Circa Lighting has over 140 lanterns in their catalogue and this is my favorite one! This lantern – with a crown top - comes in a green patina finish with antique brass accents. Two of these over a large kitchen island would be stunning. Actually, it would be stunning no matter what room it’s in.
I love this light! A faux candle lights the fixture making it much safer than the real thing. Two of these would be great on a fireplace mantel or on a buffet table, in a bookshelf, or you could use a pair on pedestals flanking an antique English linen press. Highly versatile, this fixture comes in many different finishes, sizes, and shapes.
This candlestick style table lamp is precious! The lamp is very tall and is perfect for a buffet or console table. It comes in the wonderful old garden white on wood finish. It is available in different sizes and shapes and is a very authentic looking copy of an antique – something that Circa Lighting excels at.
This wall lantern – Old Toll – is black with chinoiserie detailing and a faux candle. Absolutely fabulous!
The Paris Flea Market chandelier is a signature piece for Circa Lighting. It comes in petite, medium, and large sizes – in antique brass or polished silver with seeded glass. There are also sconces to match in the different sizes. A copy of a popular antique – it’s a good alternative to the pricey original.
In my interior design work, I have used Circa Lighting on many jobs. Having the store in Houston is too convenient not to utilize, but ordering online is just as easy!
This ceiling fixture, the Double Twist, was used in the sitting room of a high rise apartment. It’s designed by Eric Cohler and I love the crystal ball on the end.
For a master bedroom that was designed “on a budget” – I used this simple candlestick floor lamp next to the French chair and ottoman. The silk shade was recovered in the toile fabric.
In this townhouse, on the skirted table, I used the black Chinoiserie lamp. It’s hiding back there, I promise!
Ok, ok, here’s a closer look of the lamp, still hiding somewhat!
Visual Comfort/Circa Lighting has really grown in popularity over the years. It seems that every time I open a design magazine or book – there are lighting fixtures credited to either Circa Lighting or Visual Comfort. To test my theory, I opened up domino Magazine’s web page. Sure enough, the very first thing I saw, NYC interior designer’s Miles Redd’s apartment, was loaded with fixtures from Circa Lighting. In Redd’s bedroom, above, is Eric Cohler’s Shore Line lamp – the tall version. If you don’t believe me – test out my theory yourself. Open any magazine and see how long it takes for you to spot a beautiful fixture from Circa Lighting or Visual Comfort. Trust me – it won’t be but a minute!
Houstonians – don’t forget to visit the huge Visual Comfort warehouse sale this week!!!! Located at 2021 Bingle Road – Trade gets first look on Friday, the 5th. Saturday is open to the public.
And if you aren’t in Houston, the web site for Circa Lighting is here.
I'm not a huge fan of red and green for holiday decorations so when I saw the home of decorator Michelle Morgan Harrison's 1885 New Canaan Colonial in the new issue of Connecticut Cottages and Gardens, I was immediately smitten. There are a lot of great ideas that anyone take away and use in their own home.
The front door color looks more bright green than sage in this photo but I love the contrast of the pale color with the dark greenery.
Handmade stockings are hung with care along the stairs, a great idea for homes that don't have a fireplace.
The homeowner carries the silver and sage theme to the tree and presents. Mercury glass always reminds me of Christmas and sometimes be found at flea markets.
Vintage McCoy and Hager vases filled with paperwhites perfectly compliment the holiday color scheme and have inspired me to go pick some up this weekend.
Poinsettias usually come in not so pretty plastic containers covered in foil but here they are wrapped in what looks like fabric or burlap and wrapped with ribbon. A simple and easy idea that anyone can replicate. Even the books in the shelves were wrapped with paper and ribbon for the holidays.
A detail of the bookcase showcases glitter covered deer from Pimlico and Christmas village buildings from Christmas Traditions and HomeGoods. More proof that you don't have to spend a lot of money to decorate for the holidays.
Nothing says Christmas like sweet treats like these laid out on the dining table.
I love the color of the blue sideboard and the apothecary jars filled with meringues.
