I have a special treat on our Global Lighting Blog today, a delight I’ll be repeating every so often in the weeks to come. I have asked our favorite design/lifestyle bloggers to choose their favorite lighting products and tell us why they appeal to them. These are tastemakers and trendsetters in the world of blogging so I’m thrilled they’ve agreed to take the time to select their choices and explain what it is that makes them stand out in their points of view. 

Catherine Russell

First up is Catherine Russell, whose blog She’s Shopping Now has gained her a spirited following in social media circles due to her exuberant personality and wide-ranging interests. Here’s her pick in her own words:

I confess: I'm a light fixture addict. I've shopped for antique and vintage fixtures around the world, and hand-carried many treasures home to be rewired and hung, and in some cases re-purposed. My decorating style tends to be very eclectic: European antiques intermingled with Asian accents, and modern coffee and side tables set alongside high tech electronics. And always, fabulous lighting. But because we move frequently I often find myself shopping for thoroughly modern light fixtures to accommodate concrete walls, low ceilings or some other architectural dilemma that sends my treasured chandeliers, sconces and accent lights into storage until the next move.

The Lampara, a Global Lighting gem!

A few weeks ago I was introduced to Global Lighting and spent a few hours in the dark hunched over my laptop screen as I shopped for a new ceiling fixture for above my dining room table. Building constraints had made it impossible for me to move the badly-placed developer's big-box special but I finally have an approved plan to relocate the fixture in order to install something more substantial (read heavier!) centered over my table. Because our dining room table does double-duty as my office desk and we have an open living room/dining room/kitchen floor plan, I needed beauty, function and architectural criteria to be met. What did I choose? The Lampara!

The traditional chandelier design with its totally modern materials and shapes makes the Lampara the perfect compliment to my Swedish pine table and French country chairs. The polished chrome metal brings a little shine and shimmer, even when the fixture is off, and compliments my nearby stainless steel appliances. And although I'd love to risk the choice of square red lamp shades, I'm sticking with the white fabric-wrapped round shades because my ceilings are low and I don't want to close in my dining area. But best of all: I could choose the same chandelier in different finishes, colors and shapes for a totally different look! The Lampara works for all my dining room chandelier requirements, and I'm going to put the fixture on a dimmer switch so I can easily control the brightness.

Catherine Russell

I’m betting Catherine’s going to be putting that dimmer to work as she turns up the lights for her festive fêtes and creates a moody ambiance for her intimate soirées!