The last time you were fumbling through the dark for the switch to the lights, did you wish you had a flashlight that you could keep at your bedside? We’ve all had the problem of being half awake and trying not to wake the household as we stumble to the bathroom late at night.

The Torch Lamp by designer Julien Bergignat may be just what you are looking for. A table lamp that can convert from table light to mobile flashlight and still look sleek and modern as both. Take a look at this handy flashlight that doubles as your favorite reading lamp beside your bed.

What makes this lamp unique is that the Torch Lamp resembles a classic torch being carried through the dark nighttime, but it also has a black contemporary styling that modernizes the torch light. While you may be thinking, “How does it work without a cord?” the recharging capabilities similar to your cordless phone make this torch lamp and flashlight combination ingenious.

Many people choose to keep an industrial looking flashlight inside the bedside table to have a quick look around when it’s pitch black around the bedroom at night. Not only can this be disruptive to find to your sleeping companion, but it always has to be tucked away out of plain sight.

The Torch Lamp alleviates this and will reduce the redundancy of having multiple types of lighting alongside the bed.

Julien Bergignat has designed a fixture that takes the permanence out of having a corded table lamp and made it convenient for walking through your home in the darkest hour. Creative design and sleek styling in a two-in-one device, that solves every late nighters fear of stubbing their toe on the bedpost or waking the kids when cruising for a late night snack.

All photo credits: Julien Bergignat

Today’s link roundup is all about the extra little touches that give a room its personality and make a space complete. Let’s use a sugary little metaphor: if the floors and walls are the bananas in the sundae in which we live and the furniture is the ice cream, today’s links are the cherries, nuts and sprinkles that make it that much sweeter.

First up, a delectable little light shared by Remodelista: the Meridian pendant from Propellor Design (above). Then, Furniture Fashion throws in a vanilla twist by sharing a roundup of ten white and off-white chairs like this one from Johanna Mattsson:

While the Yankee Candle Co. may be best known for its sugary sweet candle confections, Uncrate shares a piece of unexpected news: the waxmasters have now released a line with decidedly more masculine scents, like “riding mower,” “2×4″ and “first down”:

Elsewhere on the web, the girls at CasaSugar are hosting a “Styled By You” contest in which the winner receives a $500 IKEA shopping spree — plenty of green to put the finishing touches on a home with cute, kitschy Swedish accents…

…and the ever-resourceful minds behind Real Simple share more than 700 new uses for old things, helping you use creativity to transform your space without spending a cent.

When all is said and done, life is short — so particularly in terms of decorating, we’re big fans of eating dessert first.  Bon appetit!

Photo credits: Remodelista, Furniture Fashion and Uncrate

It’s difficult to keep a classic down, and the Fenton Art Glass Company is a prime and relevant example of a “little engine that could,” commercially speaking. Founded in Ohio in 1905, the glass company started out creating glassware heavily influenced by competitors Tiffany and Steuben, but by 1907, the brand found its way with iridescent carnival glass, which quickly became a collector’s item.

By the time the Great Depression was drawing to a close in the late 1930s, the company released a series of iridescent hobnail glass perfume bottles to the Wrisley Company, and in the years that followed, it began experimenting with the hobnail pattern in milk glass pieces.

They became Fenton’s best sellers and set the course for decades to follow, leaving room for imitation and experimentation with colored glass overlays as well as new shapes.

By the mid-1940s, blue hobnail pieces came into prominence, marking the period with a milky sky blue series that’s still incredibly popular among collectors today.

When the company announced its plans to shutter in 2007, the resulting spike in sales breathed life into the company for an additional four years as customers scrambled to get their hands on one last piece of an American classic.

The company finally closed its doors in 2011, and hobnail glass made by both Fenton and its imitators still enjoys remarkable popularity on the aftermarket scene.

Photo credits: Antiques Navigator, Ruby Lane (x2) and K&M Antiques

With all of the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, our interiors often take a back seat and we lose touch with nature. Greenery and plants are the perfect way to connect back with nature and make a fun craft with your kids at the same time.

For a unique craft, try this sea terrarium that mimics underwater sea life. Take a look at this easy DIY idea which uses sand, greenery and pretend sea life creatures for one-of-a-kind terrariums from Making it Lovely blog.

• Gather your terrarium supplies: First decide what type of glass enclosure you’d like to use. There are many options from lightbulbs and open glass Christmas ornaments to candle votive holders you can pick up from a craft store. These will serve as your display containers. Next, choose a plant that is small and will look beautiful when displayed in a “dwarfed” version. Succulents were used in this DIY project and will need coarse sand and cactus soil.

“The nice thing about working with succulents is their shallow root system and how little soil they really require to survive. If some of your plants are a bit too large for your vessel, you can simply trim off a bit of the root or some of the leaves and stick them right in the soil.” …Making it Lovely

• Assembling your succulent terrarium: Lay out your sandy bottom with the coarse sand and cactus soil. Once this layer is down, it’s time to add the succulents. Separate the plants and include some of the nutrient-rich potting soil while planting. Once you’ve planted the succulents, include more sand and consider adding a few miniature sea aquarium mermaids and sea life additions.

“If you wish, you can add a little mermaid or two, and some pretty rocks or shells to complete your seascape. The miniature mermaids are actually cocktail drink markers I found online and spray painted them white to be a bit more sophisticated.”… Making it Lovely

Once you have completed these steps you can enjoy your succulent sea terrarium. Add a few drops of water after planting and every other day for the first 2-3 days. To care for them into the future, water lightly once a week. Enjoy your new ‘seaquarium’ on your favorite table side!

All photo credits: Making it Lovely

If you think only people can walk the fashion runways in gorgeous frocks, then think again! Take a look at your furniture slipcovers and see if they look frumpy and worn, or are they fashionable enough to be mistaken for couture fashions.

Bernotat & Co has designed a new line of chair slipcovers that are stylish, modern and gorgeous. Whether you are looking for versatility in your living room or you want to repurpose your dining room chairs, look at these creative fashion ideas in slipcovers.

Bernotat & Co “Unveiled at this year’s Milan Furniture Fair, the custom-made “wardrobe” adds style, comfort and versatility to staid furnishings”… Inhabitat

Chair Wear is Bernotat & Co’s latest creation who says, ‘Why buy a new chair when you can dress up the one you have? During this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, we will present CHAIR WEAR, custom-made clothing for chairs”… Bernotat & Co

These unique designs were unveiled at Milan’s Furniture fair and Chair Wear is definitely a twist on the traditional chair slipcover. Whether you prefer a streamlined and simple cover or a bubbly and cozy variety, there is an option for your design style. Ranging in different colors, materials and textures, Chair Wear is like picking out your favorite outfit to wear to a party!

“Conceived by Anke Bernotat and Jan Jacob Borstlap, Chair Wear is especially great for new homeowners, as it offers the look of a high-design home, when you’re really on a thrift store budget. The pieces harmonize with vintage, new and classic chairs, creating a dialogue between old and new.”… Inhabitat

In addition to their beautiful and whimsical silhouettes, each slipcover also provides cushioning to make the ordinary hard chair more comfortable to sit in. What a fun idea for your interiors. A wardrobe for your furniture that can change with the mood you are in. There will be no more wondering… “What should my furniture wear today?”

All photo credits: Bernotat

In many of our recent postings, we’ve noticed a cool, crisp color breezing into practically everything we do, and it couldn’t be more refreshing. Mint green — a color that used to be confined to hospitals and clinical environments for its calming properties — is beginning to make its way into modern interiors with a brisk yet subtle hint of the outdoors in even the coziest of spaces.

Particularly fetching when weathered and showing signs of use, the hue offsets the books within to gorgeous effect in this repurposed dresser drawer-cum-bookcase and nightstand:

Equally beautiful when presented in a pristine and regal manner, the color blends icily — and yet somehow with an inexplicable and simultaneous warmth — in this tall set of curtains above an impeccably white soaking tub:

And in our final image, we have a perfect illustration of the fact that a mix-and-match treatment can be even fresher than a matched set; the color itself is so orderly, so calm, that to see it in unexpected places in incomplete amounts is literally like giving a room a spritz of breath spray just before interacting with anyone.

Presented in untarnished, lacquer-finish chairs but interrupted with warm blond wood in between them, this is a prime example of brilliant use of color in an airy, accessible space.

Photo credits: Oh Happy Life, Pinterest/RechelleB, Traditional Home and Mobel Pobel

Steven Fulton lives in a ranch-style house that came complete with renovations the previous owner had made — changes that were incongruent and, to his eye, needed renovations of their own. The front door, in particular, clashed with all his furnishings and decor. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands, and the Doorlenz was born.

Available in three sizes and five colors, and made of anodized aluminum and tinted acrylic, the Doorlenz requires no additional hardware to hold it in place once holes are drilled.  Per its manufacturer, Craft-Modern, the Doorlenz is installed with a few twists of the wrist, and given a bit of creativity and planning, the options for customization are essentially endless.

Photo credits: Craft-Modern

On the totem pole of furniture choices we make when moving into a new space or redecorating an existent one, nightstands tend to place rather low; generally speaking, the bed is the star of any given bedroom, and the nightstand is relegated to a position of afterthought.

So of all the items in a home to experiment with repurposed and upcycled materials, we can’t think of a better candidate.

Above, a vintage luggage stand is given a tabletop in the form of an old suitcase — the perfect size, actually, to hold an alarm clock, stack of books and perhaps a glass of water, a small teakettle, and a notebook on which to jot down reminders.

Next, three wine crates are stacked atop one another to reach the ideal height at which to sit at arm’s reach from atop a bed. In this case, crates can be added or subtracted to achieve the desired height.

Rounding out today’s trio of ideas is this repurposed dresser drawer, which now acts as a small bookcase with a relatively flat surface on top, ideal for one or two small overnight essentials.

In addition to the lack of negative impact these items make on the planet behind them, they’re all quirky conversation pieces made even more intriguing when there’s a story behind them that gets to be retold… perhaps, on occasion, in the form of a bedtime story.

How very fitting indeed.

Photo credits: Poetic Home, Lark & Linen and Pinterest/RechelleB

Today’s link roundup is all about the little accents that bring out the best in a home and make it feel like a place worth spending endless amounts of time, relaxing and enjoying the stuff of life. After taking a spin around the web to see what we could find, we’re pleased to report we’ve found plenty.

First up, as silly as it sounds, Design Milk offers a review of the — wait for it — Bird Poop Chandelier (yes, you read that correctly) from Wyatt Little. Although it sounds unsavory, it’s actually a gorgeous piece of art with a whimsical name — just see above.

Speaking of bird-themed lamps, Elle Decor shares this La Volière table lamp by Mathieu Challières from the Conran Shop in its trend alert on… what else, birds:

From the sky to the ground, FresHome floors us with their review of the Enigma Collection by Jamie Beckwith — a fresh take, naturally, on floor patterns like this puzzle piece wood series:

Furniture Fashion brings yet another awesome top ten roundup, this time featuring fold-out furniture perfect for small spaces and special occasions…

…and last but not least, for those who only want the finest things from the most upscale manufacturers, there’s the newly-released Mercedes Benz line of furniture, sure to accelerate a home from zero to 60 in no time flat, shared with us courtesy of Uncrate.

Photo credits: Design Milk, Elle Decor and FresHome.

This weekend’s link roundup is all about the pretty little things that make life a little sweeter and bring a smile to the faces of even the most jaded, world-weary realists.  Leading the charge are the lovely ladies of Remodelista, whose latest article dives into the practice of graphic lettering as art, like the declaration of adoration shown above.

Speaking of love, it’s been a year since Will and Kate tied the royal knot in one of the most breathlessly-watched moments in recent television history. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the royal wedding, CasaSugar has rounded up some British home accessories fit for a prince and/or princess:

Furniture Fashion shares a roundup of ten unique wall art ideas, like this painted French book page from Etsy artist Jess Purser for Castle on the Hill:

If you’re living a Zooey Deschanel-esque life complete with babydoll dresses and bike rides, but live in a quaint little space without much room to store your sweet wheels, then the guys of Uncrate have something just for you: a review of the Delta Michelangelo bike rack, a simple, minimalist rack that stores his-and-hers bicycles without any fuss…

…and we leave you with something to sink your toes into: a gorgeous rug roundup from Decor8 so complete and colorful, there’s something for every style and palette. Happy weekending!

Photo credits: Remodelista, CasaSugar and Furniture Fashion.

Textile machinery importer Jac Jacobsen was running his business as usual one day in 1936 when “two crane-like spring balanced ‘monster’ task lights” designed by an automotive engineer named George Carwardine arrived at his door to help illuminate the machinery within. Taken with the concept, Jacobsen purchased distributorship rights and began using his own engineering expertise to make a few modifications.

In autumn of 1937, production and marketing began on the first series of the LUXO L-1, the instant classic we identify today — along with many flattering variations on the theme — as the architect lamp.

It’s become such a ubiquitous desktop necessity over the past eight decades that it’s now available in every finish and color imaginable through such commercial powerhouses as Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and Target.

The signature clamp, angled adjustable arm and classic lines are an unmistakable nod to excellence and dedication in the workplace, and each element has stood the test of time, showing no signs of becoming outmoded. And why should it? Its satisfying form and inherent symbolism seem to herald the professional ascent of the person working beneath it, burning the midnight oil without sacrificing precision.

Not surprisingly, the vintage market is booming in found item hotspots (and, of course, on Etsy) for both the LUXO L-1 and a host of early interpretations by other aspiring lamp manufacturers, while prominent modern designers like Greta Magnusson Grossman have used the original concept as a springboard for floor lamps and other variations on the theme.

Photo credits: Crate & Barrel, Issuu, Pottery Barn, Back Garage via Etsy and R Gallery.

In a world of so many options, why do you have to settle on one configuration for your home furniture? Seating in your home is one of those decisions where you buy a set and it remains in your living or family room for years, and you are stuck with the same design aesthetic until you decide to get new furniture.

K-Nap has changed the perception of stagnant furniture with the introduction of their K-Nap03 flexible configuration seating. You will love the whimsical and infinite number of ways you can change the look and function of your interiors.

“Its light weight and simple form lets you play with it and combine it in as many ways as your imagination allows, transforming places as diverse as children’s bedrooms and hotel concourses.”… K-Nap

Available in 15 colors, these eye catching individual seats will fit together in multiple configurations to make a couch, lounge area or even multi-directional seating for groups of people to sit comfortably. The options are limitless and can accommodate a large living room with several pieces, or a single seat can still make your hip apartment look stellar.

Designer Jean-Jacques Landis made the chairs from polyether foam and the outside covering slips off and is machine washable! For those of you that love to throw parties or have kids and pets, these chairs can solve your lifestyle and decor challenges in one simple seating solution.

For all those evenings where your friend wants a place to crash at your house, or your children have their friends over, the K-Nap03 is the answer to beautiful seating that you won’t get tired of after the first year you have it.

Designer Landis has come up with a creative solution that your interiors will look great housing. Between the fun colors and all the different placements, you may have a different look in your living room every day!

All photo credits: K-Nap

Mirror, mirror on the wall… who’s the fairest one of all? Quite frankly, what’s staring back at us from today’s roundup of mirrors isn’t nearly as important as the beauty of the mirrors themselves; from bent wood art to fractal illusion, this quintet is simply stunning on its own.

First, there’s the circular frenzy of the Bloom mirror from Opulent Items (above), with perfect gold bubbles seeming to orbit around the center. It’s a perfect complement to a room with harsh angles that could use a little softening without too much femininity.

Next, the L’Oreille Qui Voit mirror by commercial design legend Philippe Starck melts things down a bit and offers a slightly deconstructed glimpse into the looking glass.  It carries with it a bit of a Mad Hatter vibe, but presented in a neutral silver finish, it’s not so cartoony that it takes a room down any notches on the chic-ometer.

The Uma mirror from Opulent Designs blends the best of both worlds in a sinewy wood frame that beckons for a second glance… and a third… and a fourth…

This fractal mirror from Zuo Modern may not be ideal for checking one’s hair and makeup, but it certainly gets the job done when it comes to reflecting light across a room, opening up and illuminating the surrounding space:

And last but not least, the fashionistas at Elle Decor get inventive and share this wall covered in Greek-patterned mirrors, creating a rather literal mirrored wallpaper effect worthy of a god or goddess’ attention within this truly regal powder room. Light a few candles and the effect must be absolutely otherworldly.

Photo credits: Opulent Items (Bloom & Uma), Philippe Starck, Zuo Modern and Elle Decor.