Bonus Bone: Mushroom lamp

Mushroom lamp, at Hindsvik

My lamp lust is still going strong. The holes in the mushroom cap would make some nice shadows on the wall. I'm all for some nice shadowing.

For this reason, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Pink Pig, Flying

A criticism I never thought I would utter...?

La Vie en Rose Sun Jar, at Delight

...Not improved by pink.

ORIGINAL Sun Jar, at Cool Stuff Cheap

Bonus Bone: This Is Not A Pipe tea light

This Is Not A Pipe tea light, at Jonathan Adler

My Art History major heart just went thumpity thump thumpity thump.

For this reason, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Dining room mock-up

Clockwise from top center: PH5 pendant lamp, at DWR; Modern drape rod, at Pottery Barn; Wool panel with grommets, at West Elm; Norden dining table, at Ikea; Rona stemware, at CB2; Ikea 365+ dinner plate, at Ikea; Spin napkin, at Crate & Barrel; Strand flatware, at Crate & Barrel; Fiberglass shell chair, at Modernica; Wegner Wishbone chair, at Room & Board

After Thanksgiving, I've really had the desire to make my dining area look more put together. Our dining room shares space with my painting studio and it has worked out, for the most part, but it can get pretty cluttered.

I'm tossing around the idea of switching our dining room and our living room, although if you want to get technical, we'd be moving it into its properly designated room. I'd still share the front room, but this time with the boob tube. Imagine painting and watching some Gossip Girl, my semi-secret guilty pleasure! All of my paintings will start being of Serena and Blair.

Don't fret Cardboard! You will always be my muse!

My one big reluctance is that we'll go through the trouble of moving all of the heavy furniture and end up not liking it - only to be forced to move it back (and having Hardwood not too pleased with this hair-brained scheme of mine).

To get the creative juices flowing, I made a mock-up featuring a few items we already have (table, shell chairs, dishes/tableware) and a few Scandinavian classics that I've always wanted. We have three Eames shell chairs in yellow ochre, so I'd like to round out the set with a few more. (I'm currently scouring eBay.) I feel the black wishbone chairs at either end of the table would balance out all the lighter colors, as would the dark curtains and rod. And I'd give anything to get rid of our '80s chandelier. (Also scouring eBay for a good deal on the PH5 light.)

So how do you think I should propose these suggestions to Hardwood? Anything you'd add or subtract from the mock-up?

A Friend for Carlos

Do you guys remember Carlos?

Carlos Night Light, at ICA

Well, I've still got him around and, yes, he still has that blasted ear infection. Dear Porcelain had his sickly little heart in mind, however, when she sent me a link to his maybe/could-be best friend ever.

Dachshund Lamp, at Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is adopting out the Dachshund Lamp! What a perfect little buddy, no? He's white (or green), he's glowy, he's small, idealized, and dog-shaped...

Yet Carlos is made of precious porcelain and I believe that, despite the omnipresent linen infliction, he might find the Dachshund rather...stunted.

Lamp lust

Cosy table lamp, at DWR

Bubble chandelier by Jean Pelle, at etsy

Porcelain mushroom lamp, at SITE

James glass kerosene lamps, at Pottery Barn

I think if I could design anything, I'd like to design lighting. Here are some of my recent lighting cravings.

Bonus Bone: Tulip Chandelier

Tulip Chandelier, by Schmintage at etsy

Although the outside is starting to feel more like fall, this pendant lamp can keep your inside light and springy. AND it's actually made of plastic so when you swing from it, no cuts.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Cute cabin lighting

Hardwood and I stayed at a hip, renovated cabin in August (special post coming soon). Above the dining table were a trio of lights that really charmed me (above photo). Polka dot perforations added a nice retro, mid-century touch and the shadows were fantastic when the rest of the cabin was dark.

I happily stumbled upon the same fixture on Rejuvenation. It is available in 12 different finishes, all except white, which is what the cabin had. A trusty can of spray paint can easily fix that situation.

Cove ceiling fixture, at Rejuvenation

Fall evening lighting

Suki Candleholder, at Crate & Barrel

The cooler, fall-like days we've been experiencing in Chicago have reminded me how much I love to light a ton of candles in the evening during the fall and winter. I'm always on the look-out for pretty and unique candleholders.

I saw this black and gold one at Crate & Barrel recently and thought the candle light would make the prettiest glow bouncing off the gold interior. Oh, and they're super affordable too! Score!

More on Onions...

Cibola Table Lamp

Porcelain's mention of onions (and where to put 'em) last week reminded me of these fun lights. The Cibola Table Lamp by Scabetti has been in my MUST POST file for awhile. I love it, especially in the burgundy, which brings to mind red onions, which then brings to mind my favorite sandwich (see #7).

Cibola Pendant

After locating the Scabetti website, I discovered they also make a similar Cibola Pendant. So chic! If you're crying out to get your hands on one, you must contact the designers, as each piece is made to order.

Bonus Bone: Studioilse lamp

Studioilse w084t Halogen IRC Lamp, at DWR

Wood, white and red. That's my idea of perfection!

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Bonus Bone: Vintage industrial lamp

Vintage industrial lamp, at ebay

I always love checking out Leah's list of ebay finds. When I saw this lamp, I audibly gasped!! If that isn't a sign that this should be a Bonus Bone, I don't know what is!

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Industry pendant lamp

Industry pendant lamp, at CB2

This weekend I watched The Parallax View. The final, climatic scene up in the rafters of a convention hall reminded me of how much I like this light fixture from CB2.

(Good movie, in my opinion. Hardwood, however, did not care for it as much.)

Price Chop

Wood Lamp, at Delia's

I "bonus boned" this Wood Lamp from Delia's a few weeks ago. There remains no image of the strange "forest scene on shade interior," even after I emailed them to ask them to show a photo OR to comp me a lamp so I could shoot one myself. I have not (yet) received a response...

~But~

They dropped the price! The lamp, once $39, is now listed at $18.99.

Bonus Bone: Spoon Sconces

I have a "thing" for spoons. I critique them. I collect them. I write fiction about them and even buy tote bags that have them all over the fabric pattern.

Spoon Sconces, at House European of Design

There's something a bit intrusive about these sconces but, if placed high enough on the wall, these little spoonfuls of light would be just the right food for my obsession.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

Bonus Bone: Wood Lamp at Delia's

Wood Lamp, at Delia's

I'm always slightly shocked when I find something Delia's that isn't full of glitter or girlish indifference but this little lamp is, like, grown-up. The Wood Lamp, with its simple shape and chic palette, would never give away the fact that it came from a teeny-bopper catalog. There's only one part of the description that makes me nervous: "forest scene on shade interior." Like...um...?

~Whatever~

Lamp shades are easy to switch out. And seeing as how this lamp is selling for the low price of $39, you can buy a new shade and still have allowance left over to grab those hot seats to the Jonas Brothers.

For these reasons, I, Cardboard, declare this a Design Boner.

INSTANT DISCOUNT! Enter code XTRA20 at checkout at get 20% off your Delia's order! This deal is only good through Monday 1/26 so hurry it up.

Teddy Lovin'

Teddy Bear Lamp, at MCA Store

Continuing to carry the 2008 torch (pun!) of my lighting obsession, I have to admit that I love this lamp. Its price tag of $130 is NOT ATTRACTIVE but I do appreciate the drunk Fozzie Bear implication.

2008, In Summation

Before we step foot into '09, we thought it only fair to pay tribute to '08. Skimming through the past year of bloggity posts, this is how design boner sums up 2008:

Cat Collection

We take a lot of cat photos. Sorry. We are not crazy cat people. Really. We just love our little beasts and find them excellent Weekend Photo material.

We also seemed to have two minor obsessions with an odd pair of celebrities: Cindy Crawford and Christian Bale. Cindy, we poked due to her new line of overstuffed furniture and tendency to deny her children. Christian, well, plainly put: he's big time sexy time and worth the double mention.

Getting back to reality (or virtual reality, rather), we picked up a couple new and vocal readers. We want to give e-hugs to DNfromMN, Lady Briggles, and, most recently, Preston, for reading often and not being shy to comment. Preston even gave us an award! Mucho merci to you all!

Porcelain's past year of posts reveal her big quests to be finding a bed and a table...a table...and a bed. She's still scouting for a bed frame (suggestions welcome!) but November saw the addition of a new dining/work table into her space. One down!

Cardboard's Dining Room/Office, In Transition

I, on the other hand, have been needing to clean house. This past year has been a series of now you have it/now you don'ts so I need to re-center around what's really important. Two of my big missions have been to budget my spending and to fix what is broken (literally and symbolically) in my home.

Formica Folds

Then design boner turned two! Naturally, P & me * drank a crapload of Michigan beer and constructed an even bigger fleet of paper airplanes.

As for general '08 trend alerts, Porcelain dived into ceramics, glass, and paper for the walls. I posted often about rugs but went plain C-R-A-Z-Y for lighting.

OBAMA!

EJ Holmes, Our First Fling of 2008

Lastly, we really got into our Flings. These not-necessarily-design-related mementos create much fun and laughter in this little blog so focused on bed frames and lights. We found new artists, rehashed memories, and even met a couple Fantastic Men. We might call them Flings but that doesn't mean we don't love 'em.

Welcome to 2009!

* Grammar sacrificed for rhyme.

Bonus Bone: Garland light

Garland lights, at Unica Home

It's definitely winter here in Chicago. (Although a bit too chilly for Cardboard and me.) I like how pretty winter can be with sparkling snow and twinkling lights. It would be nice to be able to have a winter wonderland indoors, but minus the bitter cold.

Garland Lights, designed by Tord Boontje, would create the perfect atmosphere of cool, silvery light and whimsical shadows, but you get to remain snuggly warm.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.

Bonus Bone: Bestlite knock-off

Desk lamp, at Crate & Barrel Outlet

I was browsing Crate & Barrel Outlet a couple weeks ago and spotted this Bestlite knock-off for an unbelievable price! Bestlites normally retail for several hundred dollars, which I just cannot justify paying in these tough economic times. Shoot, even in good economic times I can't justify it!

I'm sure Bestlite's quality is far superior, but Crate & Barrel makes good lamps too. So if you like the look, I say go for it! It can be our dirty little secret.

For these reasons, I, Porcelain, declare this a Design Boner.