Euro Style Home

Believe the hype: LED lighting can help you save money. When looked at holistically, factoring in the cost of electricity over the lifetime of the bulb, a house full of LED lights could actually save you hundreds of dollars. 

Let's do the math.

LED Is for the Long Term

According to GreenBiz.com: "A conventional 60-watt bulb lasts about 1,000 hours, uses 60 watts of electricity and costs $180 to run for 25,000 hours. The LED equivalent lasts 25,000 hours (nearly three years if you left it on 24/7), uses 12.5 watts and costs $37.50 to run for 25,000 hours."  I've outlined the math below.

The calculations above are based on the Philips Ambient 12 Watt LED Medium Base Light Bulb, a light bulb that fits into any medium base fixture, intended to replace incandescent bulb usage. However, there are also tons of designs available with the LEDs built right into the design.

Save money by using LED lights in every room of the house:  

The Entryway>

The Dining Room>

The Bathroom>

The Office or Work Space>

Discover a Warmer, Gentler LED

You most likely have heard an incandescent bulb described as a "warm" light. This look or feel of the light is its color temperature. Lower color temperatures (in the range of 2700K to 3000K) appear yellow/white and, despite their lower color temperatures, are referred to as "warm" in color; higher color temperatures (5000K and higher) appear blue/white and, despite their higher color temperatures, are referred to as "cool."

LED lighting has typically been associated with these harsher looking higher color temperatures. But that is changing. Increasingly, LEDs are reaching down into the warm 3000K range, resulting in color akin to incandescent bulbs and much more natural light than most fluorescent lights.

The environmental impact of LED lighting is difficult to compare directly against other options, but the circumstantial data is encouraging.

• Requiring 1/5 to 1/10 the energy of an incandescent bulb, LEDs clearly reduce strain on power plants.
• With a life span of decades, not months, LEDs reduce strain on landfills.  
• Unlike the compact fluorescent light (CFL), the LED doesn't contain toxic mercury.  

Natural looking. Cost effective. Environmentally friendly. LEDs are a slam dunk, right? Assuming you find a style you like, the answer is probably yes. In an interview blogger Cori Magee conducted last year with Edmund Ng and Kenneth Ng of Koncept Lighting, they discussed the role of aesthetics in designing for LEDs. "Both form and function are equally important," explained the Ng brothers. "New materials enable new designs. If we find a good material, we are able to create an exciting design around it."

It's this type of commitment to design, technology and, ultimately, cost that leads us to believe the future looks bright for LEDs.   

Images: Koncept, Kozai Modern, Toni Spilsbury

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So, we featured an image of this awesome art installation as one of our Facebook posts last week and we just couldn't let it go so we decided to blog about it too! A colorful and whimsical umbrella art installation floats above this promenade in Águeda, Portugal. It casts a shadow of geometric shapes on the ground below and fills the streets with a fairy tale like energy. This colorful public art installation is not only functional, but also brings uplifting energy into a quiet community during the lazy days of summer!  

The sun shines through the umbrellas and they just light up in the sky! Bringing this type of vibrant energy into your own home is as simple as adding colorful modern ceiling lighting.  

All Red Giclee Glow 20" Wide Pendant Light

Peach Flower Small 15-3/4" Wide Pendant Light

The juxtaposition of the bright colors and the natural elements of the historic buildings form such an interesting composition. The reflection of the colors in the glass windows creates a stained glass like effect.

Colorful glass pendant lighting looks beautiful when installed with this type of juxtaposition. The combination of the colorful sleek glass, mixed with historic brick walls, creates depth in design and adds visual interest to a space.

LBL Mason Steel Bue and Satin Nickel Pnedant Light

Pop Collection Green Glass 15" Wide Pendant

Photographers Patrícia Almeida and Diana Tavares were able to capture the amazing umbrella installation with photos that evoke so much emotion that you might just feel like you're about to float away on one of those colorful umbrellas. Hope your week has been as magical as this installation!

Images: My Modern Net, Architizer

Interior design and branding are a beautiful combination that tell visual stories and create a mood. This Finnish, modern restaurant design, Sis Deli + Cafe does so with bold black and white interior design and packaging. Although this isn't a new restaurant, this sibling design team Muotohiomo, did such an amazing job that it stills seems as fresh today as it did when it opened in 2009.  

These black gingham bags make a statement all on their own, but when mixed with the white subway tiles and the black and white menu board you've got a perfected balance!  

The simplicity of the black counter grounds element into the space. Modern black barstools stand proudly in any interior. The design concept is a very simple look with special attention paid to every detail. Possibly, a modern black pendant light over the counter would have been a great accent and possibly the only thing missing. But then again, we love lighting!

What do you think? Light or No LIght?

Pinnacle Large Black Tech Lighting Mini Pendant Light

Even these black and white gingham cups are perfect. So perfect you wouldn't want to throw them away... 

From the tile, to the packaging, to the tray, to the silverware you've got yourself a beautifully designed and branded restaurant that is sure to create a lasting impression. It's thoughtful, simple, and lasting.  

And I think this says it just right, "The visual image is a kind of tripwire for the emotions." - Diane Ackerman

Images: Sis Deli + Cafe , Muotohiomo

If you haven't seen our Las Vegas Market event recap, make sure to check it out. We just want to chat about one more trend we saw there... Stylish room decor for the modern kids room. Why limit your modern decor to every room except the kid's room?

Modern kids rooms are featuring either lots of color or the more authenticly modern route of clean and all-white. Either way you decide to go, use fun lighting, interesting furniture, and pops of color. Organization is also key for a kid's room too, so bookshelves are a great idea.

Multiple types of fun kids chairs are always great for kids, especially when they have friends over.

For the older kids, just providing fun lighting, like these giraffe sconces can help keep their modern space young. Clean lines and modern furniture looks good in any room.

1. Swag Style Alphasoup Primary Shade Plug-In Chandelier 2. http://www.eurostylelighting.com/eu02475.htm 3. Possini Euro Design Infinity Pendant Chandelier 4. Jonathan Adler Giraffe Wall Sconce 5. Yellow Zigzag Outdoor Accent Pillows 6. Zuo Baby Spire Transparent Blue Kids Chair 7. Zuo Baby S White Kids Chairs 8. Zuo Pick Pocket Ball White Accent Cube 9. Zuo Drop Stool Collection Red Contemporary Chair

So, remember to spread your love for modern throughout the house, including your kids rooms! How else will we all raise mini modernists?!

Images: The Boo & The Boy, Design Sponge, Houzz, Home & House Design