Light & Lighting

 While looking for a fun project online, I came across this one…make your own string light. A light out of string you ask? Intrigued? I was too.

So here we have all the supplies you’ll need. Tacky glue and a pan to empty it in, hemp string, a permanent marker, and disposable gloves, (yes…it gets messy!). The balloon we used worked out fine, but gave us more of an oval shape. We’ll try a round shape next time by using a bouncy ball instead. 

Next using your permanent marker, you want to draw a circle on your balloon. Avoid this area when wrapping the balloon with your string. This will be your opening to not only let the light shine through, but allow easy access to change out the light bulb when needed.

    
Now take your hemp and run it through the glue so it’s covered well. You really need to make sure the string sticks to the balloon (or ball). Then go to town and start wrapping!

    

It’s starting to look pretty good! (See I told you it gets messy!) Once you have it covered just the way you want it, let it dry for 48 hours.

I turned a foil pan upside down, cut a hole in the center and placed the open area of the balloon inside. This way it’s propped upright and can dry easily on all sides.

Now pop that balloon!

Just go to your local hardware store and purchase some chain which we wired to the top.  This way we could swag it over a small breakfast table. There are so many different finish choices, you’re sure to find one that matches your room.





OOPS…you don’t know how to hook up a lamp kit? Well I don’t either…not yet!

So back to the hardware store for inspiration and we found battery operated LED lights-PERFECT! We wired 2 of them for extra brightness.

Let there be light!

Here it is in the room!

Recently I attend the spring 76th Annual Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens.  An event lasting several days, many homes located are in the National Landmark Historic District.

The setting was beautiful tree- lined streets and landscaped parks and squares. Many of the residences are Registered Historic Landmarks.

The height of the ceilings and the expanse of the windows of these older homes brings to mind that SPACE and LIGHT are the ultimate luxury in interiors.

Some thoughts to accomplish this feeling in “less majestic” rooms:

• Keep the color pallet lighter on the largest surfaces, such as floor and walls:
• Ceiling lighter than the walls; if the walls are cream or beige, paint the ceiling a lighter shade of white or off white
• Hardwood flooring with a wider plank can expand the visual space
• Use window treatments or draperies that allow light in the room, a “light filtering” fabric will give a nice glow to the room and also give some privacy
• Choose furniture sizes that are smaller in scale for a small room, this accomplishes a less cluttered look

Photo of 204 East Jones Street