Stacy sits down for a Q&A about lighting with April Pride Allison, founder of Seattle-based kaarskoker—a brand of chic candle covers that can be found at boutiques in the city, such as Great Jones Home, G.R. Hedges, Lit Shades and Revival Home & Garden. Before creating kaarskoker, Allison was devoted exclusively to her interior design business, having earned a B.A. in Architectural History at the University of Virginia and her Master’s in Decorative Arts and Design at Parson’s in New York. The designer dished about trends, lighting secrets and what’s new for kaarskoker—read on!
SK: What do people get wrong about lighting?
APA: They don’t realize that they are important showcase pieces, like your furniture—it took longer for me to pick the lighting in my house, than anything else. If you don’t understand scale, or how much light a room needs to be functional and beautiful, it’s overwhelming. You tend to pick out what you’ve seen in a magazine that’s basic, or whatever is at Lowes. People don’t realize how many options are out there.
SK: What is your best tip for lighting?
APA: The secret is put in as much lighting as you can, and then get a dimmer. Light changes throughout the day, and you want to have options. Also, about 5 years ago, I didn’t have a lot of art, but you can get a great sconce, throw a kaarskoker on it, and it’s something that increases the value of the house.
SK: How do you light your house when you entertain?
APA: In my living room, I have chandeliers and sconces with different switches that both have dimmers. I light the walls a little and dim down the chandeliers. I put two pillar candles on the coffee table and candlesticks on the side table—it’s about creating mood lighting, and the dimmers help with that. To dress up the table, rather than use votives, I put tons of candlesticks around where food is displayed.
SK: How about outdoor entertaining?
APA: I love small, potted plants. IKEA has these amazing clay pots—they stand 3 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter—that I fill with herbs and use to dress the table for a party. I love glass hurricanes. I guess that’s the East Coast in me, and I also love candles outside. I like to use the coral pattern kaarskoker because it’s such a fun color, with 6-inch-tall tapers because they’re done at the end of the night and you’re not stuck with that little bit left that you don’t know what to do with.
SK: What are you inspired by right now?
APA: Fashion right now is great. We’ve gone back to what’s really feminine—less structured but polished. Lilac is everywhere! I love all the floral patterns this spring, it seems like happy times. For instance, Maggie Gyllenhaal looked fantastic at the Oscars!
SK: What about lighting trends?
APA: I’m seeing repurposed lighting a lot lately. I wrote a blog post about Barn Light Electric—I love that vintage look. You see it locally, like at Red Ticking and Smith. There [Smith] is an example of taking lights that people left for dead, dusting them off and putting in filament bulbs. One of the points of using kaarskoker is that you don’t have to ditch your old lights, you can just update them instead.
SK: What’s coming up for kaarskoker?
APA: I designed a candlestick lamp—also called a buffet lamp, that is popular on the East Coast. It’s a petite lamp that you can put in tight spaces when you want task lighting—perfect for a desk. I’m also doing a sale with One Kings Lane that’s very exciting. It will happen sometime this spring, and I’ll send out an e-mail and post on our blog when that will be!
SK: What is the Collector’s Series?
APA: These are the designs that I won’t be running again after they’re sold out. They’re fashion inspired and very bold. The scale pattern has been popular—it comes back around about every four years—but it’s going to look good even when it’s not “in fashion.” It reminds me a lot of Tony Duquette, Hollywood interior designer and set designer. Ziggurat brings out my inner Lily Pulitzer—David Hicks actually made it popular, followed most recently by Jonathan Alder. These are for someone who wants something special that you won’t see again.
Candlestick lamp, $325 for kaarskoker, (877) 272-4042
Scale and Ziggurat patterns from the Collector’s Series
Maggie Gyllenhaal at the 2010 Oscars. Image via Huffington Post
Stacy’s favorite inspiration photos:
March 17th, 2010
Home of fashion designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka, from the September 2009 issue of Elle Decor via High Street Market.
Via Amy Howard’s blog (she also collects laurel wreaths).
Quentin Bacon for Southern Accents via Stylecourt.
We love collections. Any everyday object can look chic when you gather it in multiples, and right now we’re loving vintage trophies. They don’t have to be expensive heirlooms—in fact, it’s the quirky ones that catch our eye. Maybe you will look for a certain type like dogs or tennis, or a metal-like silver or bronze (we mix them). What a triumph it will be when you come across one in your genre at a flea market!
Whether polished or patinated, a trophy or two on the shelf will always be a winning addition:
.jpg)
18th c. loving cup, collection of large silverplate antique trophies, 1stdibs
And a trophy for the modern age:
Ceramic trophy by Yellow Owl Workshop, available at Far4.
January 18th, 2010
It’s 2010, and doesn’t it just feel fabulous? It’s a new decade, year, month and day—we’re already scheming for this year’s projects, and we’d like to approach them with a fresh perspective. White is wonderfully clean looking, so be inspired to create your own new look!
Harriet Lamp, Jayson Home & Garden; Massive Photograph of a Sea Urchin, Seattle’s Galen & Lowe Antiques, via 1stdibs
Niche 3-Drawer Dresser, West Elm; Clyde Mirror, Oly Studio
Staub La Cocotte Set, Anthropologie; 3-Piece Lotus Candleholder, cb2
January 5th, 2010
Far4
We digress from the usual gift guide suggestions today, to encourage you to attend a wonderful event to support the Seattle Art Museum. Porcelain and design boutique, Far4, and its neighbor, stylish living mecca, Watson Kennedy, are offering special shopping days—now through Dec. 6, where 15% of purchases made will be donated to the SAM. Both stores are fabulous places to buy special gifts, so we’re planning to attend the champagne reception that Far4 will be having tonight from 5-7p.m., featuring Theo Chocolate and macaroons from Honore Bakery ((206) 706-4035). Cheers to great gift giving, and to supporting the arts!
Far4
1020 1st. Ave
(206) 621-8831
Watson Kennedy Fine Home
1022 1st. Ave
(206) 652-8350
December 4th, 2009
New this year from Artemide, the classic Tolomeo task lamp has been miniaturized and rainbow-fied—giving bright color-lovers the chance to accessorize in a signature shade. Each is $250. We think it’s brilliant!
Image from Artemide
Artemide
310 Occidental Ave. S.
Seattle, WA
(206) 903-1511
December 2nd, 2009
We’re all familiar with the saying "One man’s trash is another man’s treasure." This phrase couldn’t be more fitting for Sit+Sip, Saturday, November 21, at Phinney Neighborhood Center.
.png)
During the event, participants bring at least three of their unwanted home accessories to add to the pile (click HERE for a list of approved goods). Swappers take turns picking out new products, and any remaining items are donated to Children’s Hospital Thrift Stores.
Space is limited, so RSVP to reserve a spot. Stacy and I will be on hand to participate in the fun. See you there!
November 17th, 2009
In 1879, the first successful test of Edison’s filament bulb was carried out, and we couldn’t be more thankful for that event! Now, not only do we rely on lights to illuminate our spaces, we look to them for design inspiration. Here are some of my all-time favorites:
—Stacy Kendall
Atlantis Chandelier, We Are All Made of Stars Chandelier
Tolomeo Lamp, Random Light
Bocci Pendants, Potence Lamp
November 12th, 2009
With Seattle’s famous gray days upon us, aren’t you craving some warm, comfort food and a cozy atmosphere? Outfit your kitchen and table for fall with these inviting kitchen and dining accessories:
.jpg)
From Top Left: Le Creuset Heritage Collection Flame 3-Piece Pâté Terrine, Revol Carmel-Colored Lion’s Head Bowl, Antique Hotel du Louvre Silver Teapot, Dubost French Olive Wood Flatware, available through Sur la Table (Seattle and two Eastside Locations)
From Top Left: Foglia Print Dishtowel, Chocolate Mug, Bodum Bean Coffee Press, 90th Anniversary Edition KitchenAid Stand Mixer, available at Crate and Barrel (Seattle and Bellevue locations)
Comfort Food Cookbook, Set of 4 Melamine Bowls, Essential Oils Candle in Spiced Chestnut, Peugeot Olivier Roellinger Pepper Mill, available at Williams-Sonoma (Seattle and Eastside Locations)
October 22nd, 2009
Local company Kaarskoker has introduced a fun new design to their line of chic candle sleeves—perfect for some scary and stylish Halloween decor!
on display at Great Jones Home
You can buy them online at the web site, at Nordstrom stores or at the following Seattle boutiques:
G.R. Hedges, Seattle Design Center, Ste. 262, (206) 763-4884
Great Jones Home, 1921 Second Ave., (206) 448-9405
For our readers to the north, you can also find them at:
Mary David Lighting, 402 Morris St., La Conner, (360) 466-3495
October 20th, 2009
To continue our posts on Bellevue’s new Bravern shopping center, here is a roundup of some stylish accessories offered by Neiman Marcus. Like Barney’s and Nordstrom, they have a home division, and we’re excited to use them as a new source for fabulous things for the home!
From Top Left: Trousdale Dinnerware by Kelly Wearstler, Mangrove Serving Set by Grant Dawson, Triple Wick Candles by Michael Aram, Tivoli Audio Attn: Networks Global Music System, Blue Stationery Wardrobe, Pemberton Rug
October 8th, 2009
Previous Posts
