Author Archives: The Design Tabloid
10 Darling & Divine Table & Desk Lamps for Your Home
by Marica Fick
A couple of months ago we kicked off a roundup series focusing on awesome locally available accent lighting.
In our very first list, “10 Amazingly Cool Standing Lamps” we sourced and selected ten stunning floor lamps for your home – from quirky and playful, to chic and trendy. Our second instalment, “8 Strikingly Trendy Hanging Lamps“, focused on pendant lights, while our third post, “7 Contemporary & Chic Wall Lights“, featured lovely wall-fixed lighting.
Today we will conclude this lighting series with a final search to find what awesome light fittings the South African shelves have to offer.
We did a little online search to see how many trendy, attention-grabbing local table and desk lamps we could drum up. While finding desk lamps proved to be a breeze, the more traditional table lamps were a slightly harder find.
So, without further ado, here is our roundup of ten delightfully divine table and desk lamps for your home…
10 Divine Table & Desk Lamps:
Wire & Cement Lamp
Combining two current decor trends, this table lamp with its copper wire frame and grey concrete base will add an edgy yet chic Industrial element to your space. Available from Mr Price Home
Gräshoppa Table Lamp
Designed by renowned designer and architect Greta Grossman in 1947, the iconic Gräshoppa Table Lamp is an excellent example of quintessential Mid-Century Modern design. The arm and base is made from solid bass while the conical shade is powder-coated in trendy coral-like colour described as “vintage red”. Available from Crema
Weathered Concrete Belly Lamp
If you want a slightly more traditional table lamp the Weathered Concrete Belly lamp and shade will be a superb choice. While stylish and elegant, the concrete-look base will add an interesting texture and a contemporary flair to your home. Available from @Home
Copper Lamp
Want to incorporate a bit of minimalist Scandi design into your space? This tall copper lamp with its grey stone base will ensure your interiors remain on-trend. Oh, and don’t forget the naked bulb! Available from Woolworths
Bureau Lamp
Oh, Hoi P’loy how do I love thee… let me count the ways. This gorgeous walnut and brass Bureau Lamp, inspired by some of Thomas Edison’s early designs, has got me smitten. The lamp features a traditional turnkey switch (cool!) which slots through the tubular glass shade. Available from Hoi P’loy
Fixed Table Lamp
With its clean lines and matte black and brass finish, the Fixed Table Lamp is sleek, contemporary and tangibly masculine. Available from Weylandts
Blue Jeans Table Lamp
Functional yet stylish, this desk lamp will be a lovely addition to any workspace. Pairing trendy Scandi design with practical utility, the blue colourway of the lamp shade and base compliments and contrasts the wood detail perfectly. Available online through Superbalist
Urban Copper Desk Lamp
With its wooden adjustable arm the Urban Desk Lamp makes for a brilliant functional, yet aesthetically pleasing, lighting option. The contemporary design, trendy copper shade and exposed threaded cord adds an industrial edge. Available from Illumina
Max Desk Lamp
Another funky desk light. I love how the seafoam coloured shade pairs with the adjustable wooden frame and chrome base. Available online through Superbalist
Gold Foil Table Lamp
Add a bit of glamour and elegance to your home with this stylish table lamp. The clear glass lamp base features a “dipped-effect” gold foil detail which will make for an eye-catching accent piece. Available from @Home
Pinterest Picks: Wonderful Workspaces
Following the great fun Rose and I had selecting our favourite bedrooms and thereafter our favourite nooks and niches for the previous two Pinterest Picks posts, we could not wait to get right on the next instalment of the blog series.
Just to remind you what this series is all about: we are in essence playing a little game of “I wish“, as in “I wish I had that interior” – be it lounge, bedroom, kitchen or anything in between. After spending some time perusing our various Pinterest boards, we each select our favourite interior image – the space we most desire to have as our own. We then explain exactly why we coveted that particular space and if there is anything we would like to change.
Naturally, we ended up choosing two “runner-up” interiors… because deciding on just one room is just too difficult!
For this instalment we decided to select our best-loved images from our “Office & Workspace” Pinterest board. The board is a collection of Design Monarchy’s favourite and most beautiful workspace finds – from gorgeous home offices and studies, to studios, craft rooms and business workstations…
After much deliberation, here are our top 3 nominations for the loveliest, most desirable workspace…
Rose said:
“Once again – having to work through 320 images on our “Office & Workspace” Pinterest board evoked some strange reactions, least of which is ‘Why on earth did I pin that image?’ Taste and preference evolves obviously:”
Rose’s Pinterest Workspace Pick:
“Why was I drawn to this particular office image as my preferred space? The feeling of openness in the many white finishes. Namely the floor boards painted white, white walls, white cabinets etc. It looks like a space that allows one the freedom to be creative while functional at the same time. Big plus is that fact that it’s situated in front of a window.
One very important criterion for me is an expansive desk-top space, with plenty of funky storage units, such as seen here in the boxes and the baskets. Another appealing element – the tall storage cabinet with its glass front doors – making the content of the storage unit visible adding depth and another layer into the room. That wall lamp so does it for me as well.
What would I change? The chair – it doesn’t look all the comfortable to sit in for hours. Furthermore, I would introduce a strong splash of colour with the chair. I would also like a natural oak desk-top – once again introducing that sense of being connected to something earthly and solid (and another necessary layer in a very white space to ground it).
Yes – with that done, I could easily move myself into this space.”
1st Runner Up…
“Marica has this saying about us as a company, she would often say: ‘When we grow up, we can…’ This gorgeous spacious Manhattan Industrial Style office is what my heart would desire ‘when we grow up!’ Those windows leaves me with that ‘weak in the knees’ feeling every time. Not to mention that awesome wooden floors that ground the whole space. I would love for our studio premises to be something along these lines.”
2nd Runner Up…
“This desk space is just too cute and quirky to pass over. I find each decorative element entertaining and so well put together. One thing that comes across clearly to a professional such as myself, is the fact that each element has been carefully thought through to create a delightful space and ensemble. Not only would I recreate this in my personal home office space, but I wouldn’t hesitate recommend it to a client.”
Marica’s Pinterest Workspace Pick:
Marica said:
“Before opening our Pinterest boards and starting my workspace image search, I thought I would quickly and easily find my dream office set-up. The process proved to far more difficult. With our previous Pinterest Picks posts my decision was largely influenced by aesthetics alone. This time around I found that my criteria for selecting a perfect workspace weighed more heavily on practicality and need. Finding my “Number One” was tough.
After some to and fro I settled for the home office space of interior designer and stylist Souraya of Binti Home. Interestingly enough this is not the first time I have selected one of Souraya spaces for a Pinterest Picks article. Her sunny yellow guest bedroom was my third choice for our Bedrooms post.
What appeals to me most about this workspace is the white backdrop. In true Scandi form, both the floors and walls are painted white which gives the space a bright and open feel. The double volume / high ceiling further contributes to this sense of spaciousness. Souraya used decorative accessories to inject pops of pastel colour to the space which imbues the office with a soft, feminine quality.
Some other elements I love are the pretty kilim rug, the quirky grey ladder, the Scandi trestle desk, and the floor to ceiling cork board which is both decorative and functional. The only item I would like to add to this workspace is a big storage unit – preferably with glass doors and painted in a bright and happy colour (like this one).”
1st Runner Up…
“While I generally consider myself to be a person who prefers colour, there is something very pleasing about this monochromatic black and white space. I don’t know, maybe it has an essence of calm about it.
The workspace has a distinct Industrial flavour to it. I adore the white Ikea Kallax units on castors, which provides loads of storage space. Furthermore, I find the collection of monochromatic art prints as well as the black Industrial light fitting very appealing. Oh, and that wooden floor is to die for!”
2nd Runner Up…
“My third choice is a bit of a wild card – it is a dark and cosy attic workspace.
I love the bold black-painted wall, the wooden table with its pretty turned legs, and the various vintage elements and flea-market finds. I find this room to have a lovely sense of depth and just a hint of drama.
While in reality I would probably tire of this office quite quickly – I think my mind desires a lighter, slightly less cluttered space to work in – it sure is striking and beautiful to look at.”
What do you think of our Pinterest workspace picks? See anything you like too?
Stay tuned for the next addition in our Pinterest Picks series – maybe we will do our favourite living rooms or kitchens.
Creative SA: Block & Chisel
Last year we introduced a new blog series, Creative SA. In this series we will regularly feature South African makers.
by Marica Fick
The South African creatives we want to share with you today are very special indeed. Block & Chisel is celebrating an extraordinary milestone this year. 2017 marks the furniture and homeware company’s 30th anniversary – which is no small achievement for any business. They are one of the few local creatives who have built their business into a powerful, recognised local brand. One might even call them a furniture and decor dynasty.
We here at Design Monarchy hold Block & Chisel and their founders, Lynn & Sibley McAdam, in very high regard. The way in which they have developed and grown their product range over the decades is admirable.
The husband and wife team first began this journey after Lynn sold Biggie Best. With Lynn’s eye for beautiful pieces together with Sibley’s passion for restoring antiques and crafting fine furniture, Block & Chisel was born. The past 15 years has seen Block & Chisel welcome the McAdams’s son and daughter into the fold.
I, as a relatively “green” designer, love when Rose, who has been in the South African decorating industry for decades, enlightens me on the history of certain creatives and local design-related businesses. Block & Chisel is such a business – Rose can distinctly remember when they first opened their doors in 1987. Now 30 years later they own multiple successful shops.
Block & Chisel fills a very distinctive niche in the furniture and decorative accessories market. Their flavour is distinctly upmarket. They manage to create this delicious mix of eclectic, luxury, traditional but also contemporary, trendy yet timeless, oh-so-chic elements.
While Block & Chisel has their fingers firmly on the global interior trend pulse, they stay rooted in the company’s slightly colonial foundation which is evident in their classic French and English Country ranges.
Sibley first introduced these designs in the early years and to this day, it still forms the backbone of the Block & Chisel product range. In recent years more contemporary designs have been added. Lynn expertly accents these locally manufactured pieces with carefully chosen treasures to create an overall eclectic flair.
It is always such a treat and sensory experience to visit Block & Chisel in Diep River where we often shop and source for our clients. Not only does the showroom smell amazing, it is also filled with layer upon layer of the most beautiful furniture and decorative accessories. The showroom layout and various room settings tell such a wonderful decorative “story”.
We believe the key to Block & Chisel’s success (other than their visionary and talented owners) is longevity. Longevity, not only in their product ranges, but also in their business model. They keep evolving and reinventing to cater to their chosen market. And that is what we appreciate most about Block & Chisel.
Be sure to check out the Block & Chisel to see their full range of furniture & decorative accessories.
You can also follow Block & Chisel on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Pinterest.
