Antique Lighting Restoration

Stop!  Don't throw out those old fashioned light fixtures that have been with your house from the beginning of time, bring them up to date with new shades and wiring.  You'll support your local artisans for less money than buying all new fixtures, and the style will read true your home's architectural roots.

The original gothic light fixtures at our English Tudor home were rewired to bring them up to safe and modern wiring standards by the folks at Sue Johnson Custom Lamps and Shades on Solano Ave in Berkeley.  Better still, they crafted these gorgeous custom shades that showcase hand-selected leaves of native California plants set in mica.  The seams are stitched fabric and the result is stunning.

 

If yours are already gone, scour your local antique stores and architectural salvages for period lighting and have a lighting restoration company bring it back to life for you.  So much more soul than buying new!

Tar Paper Stars

See that little TAR PAPER STARS link above?  It will take you to a brand new feature I'm excited to introduce.  The plan is to showcase one builder site a month that deserves a little blog love, and by all means, suggestions are welcome!  Even though this month is already halfway over, it's never to late to introduce Meryl Rose of the Picardy Project.  She's based right here in beautiful Oakland, CA and has a great site where she documents the restoration of her storybook home.  Go there now!