beau & bien crafts bespoke chandelier of cascading porcelain bubbles

Ashlie Beal, founder of The Light Factory, transformed her personal need for an affordable, stylish chandelier into a thriving business specializing in custom light fixtures. In 2013, while still a business major at Eastern Washington University and working as a flight attendant, Beal embarked on a DIY project to create her own chandelier using a lighting kit and blown-glass bubbles. This initial endeavor sparked the idea for The Light Factory, which began as an Etsy shop and has since expanded to serve a national customer base. Beal and her husband, who was previously a middle school teacher, eventually left their respective day jobs to dedicate themselves fully to the company. They returned to their hometown of Spokane, where they established and grew The Light Factory. The company currently employs a staff of seven, including Beal's husband, and operates with a focus on custom-building each order. The primary products include chandeliers and pendant lights, which feature unique bubble designs. Customers can choose from standard cloud-shaped and cascading configurations, incorporating a variety of bubble sizes and finishes. The available glass finishes range from clear and iridescent to frosted, smoky gray, chrome, and an assortment of colors, enabling the creation of fixtures with evocative names such as "rainbow," "seaglass," and "sunset." Beyond the glass elements, the design extends to the functional components, with both the cord and mounting hardware being customizable to either contrast or complement the overall aesthetic. Hardware options for the fixtures include black, brass, brushed nickel, polished nickel, and white. Furthermore, there are ten distinct cord finish options, featuring natural materials like jute and cotton, as well as leather available in seven colors. The leather color palette spans from matte black and rawhide to more distinctive choices like pearlescent white and various metallics, offering extensive personalization opportunities for clients. Customization also extends to the size of the light fixtures, addressing a common issue of improperly sized lighting in homes. Beal emphasizes the importance of appropriate sizing, noting that The Light Factory has created pieces as large as 15 feet. Beal continues to innovate, regularly developing new fixture designs. Her recent creations include flush-mount bubble lighting, several types of sconces, and two mid-century modern interpretations of the bubble chandelier. She expresses a sustained passion for working with glass, appreciating its beauty, magical qualities, and sculptural potential. #LightFixtures #Chandeliers #HomeDecor #CustomLighting #GlassArt #Entrepreneurship #SpokaneBusiness #DesignInnovation #Handcrafted

The article explores a diverse range of candle centerpiece ideas, emphasizing their ability to add sophistication, completeness, and beauty to any table setting, whether for a dinner party, wedding, holiday gathering, or everyday decoration. It highlights candles as an elegant and cost-effective alternative or complement to traditional floral centerpieces. The author presents 30 distinct concepts, showcasing the versatility of candles in creating various aesthetic appeals. Several ideas focus on minimalist approaches, such as combining a few candles with simple sprigs of greenery or utilizing white candles in geometric holders for a modern look. The article also delves into romantic and dreamy setups, including floating candles in glass vases, especially suitable for nighttime events, and the immersion of red roses under floating candles for a dramatic effect. For those seeking a rustic charm, the article suggests lanterns adorned with flowers and candles, or incorporating frosted pinecones for a winter-themed table. Repurposing common items like old wine corks and craft beer bottles into unique candleholders is also presented as a creative and DIY-friendly option. The article provides innovative ways to enhance candle centerpieces with readily available materials. Examples include adding pearl beads from a craft store for an elegant touch, wrapping candles in fresh herbs like rosemary for a pleasant aroma, and using coffee beans or apples as natural holders to complement specific themes like an afternoon tea or a fall centerpiece. It also covers varied presentation styles, from a checkerboard arrangement for a neat and organized aesthetic to a moss wreath for an earthy feel, and even a 'candle cake' for a festive birthday celebration. Furthermore, the article illustrates how centerpieces can be personalized. Ideas include incorporating photos of honorees in illuminated displays for special events and using vibrant candleholders to introduce color to the table. Unique container options are explored, such as mercury glass containers for a soft, rustic look, teacups for a charming luncheon or tea party, and mason jars for a delightful, rustic feel. The article concludes by presenting more elaborate concepts like tall candelabra for a dramatic statement, tiered candle arrangements, and even large centerpieces with hanging candles for a whimsical atmosphere, demonstrating how candles can be adapted to almost any decorative style or occasion. #CandleCenterpieces #HomeDecor #TableDecor #DIYDecor #EventDecor #WeddingDecor #HolidayDecor #ElegantDecor #BudgetFriendlyDecor

This article highlights several recommendations from T Magazine, covering various aspects of lifestyle and design, including handmade ceramics, a new book, customizable pajamas, a sound artist's exhibition, an athleisure line, and upstate New York design shops. One featured artist is Melissa Goldstein, a former magazine photo editor who, inspired by Scandinavian ceramics, 17th-century botanical illustrations, and Japanese woodblock prints, started her brand, MG by Hand. After moving to Brooklyn and cultivating her garden, Goldstein began creating fine English porcelain ceramics decorated with floral motifs in a cobalt stain. Her work includes vases, banchan dishes, and scalloped serving trays adorned with black irises, poppies, and flowering quince from her garden. Her latest collections, Poppy and Cherry, evoke Dutch Delftware while showcasing local flora, with pieces fired in a gas kiln for 12 to 15 hours. The article also introduces "Who Are You Dorothy Dean?", a new book compiling the writings and letters of Dorothy Dean, a prominent figure in bohemian New York during the 1960s and 1970s. Dean, known for her sharp wit and diverse life experiences, was a writer, socialite, and regular at Andy Warhol's Factory. The book, edited by Anaïs Ngbanzo and published by Éditions 1989, includes her film reviews from the "All-Lavender Cinema Courier." Ngbanzo is also adapting Dean's correspondences into a play titled "Dorothy." Matouk, a company with nearly a century of experience in Egyptian cotton bedding, is launching its first clothing line: customizable pajama sets made in Italy. These long-sleeved sets, available in silky sateen and percale cotton, feature prints from Schumacher and solid colors. Customers can personalize them with 20 monogram styles in 45 colors, embroidered at Matouk's factory in Fall River, Mass., and can even request pajamas made from almost any bedding fabric on their website. The collection is available online and will be at the new House of Matouk in New York's Upper East Side starting April 4. British sound artist Oliver Beer's new exhibition, "Resonance Paintings – Cat Orchestra," is also highlighted. Beer, known for amplifying sounds within hollow objects, developed an obsession with feline-shaped vessels after discovering an ancient Egyptian cosmetic jar at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His exhibition at Almine Rech's TriBeCa gallery features a "cat orchestra" of 37 cat-shaped jugs, teapots, and vases collected from various regions. Viewers can interact by pressing keys on a custom keyboard to activate individually tuned containers or listen to Beer's original compositions. Additionally, Beer created 12 "resonance paintings" by using sound waves from microphone-rigged cats to vibrate ultrafine pigment into intricate shapes on canvases. The athleisure brand Clerica, founded by Louis Charles Aka, draws inspiration from 1980s tracksuits and clerical garb, combining the discipline of athletes and clergy. Aka, influenced by his upbringing in Ivory Coast and Paris, merges elements like priests' cassocks and '80s athletic uniforms into his designs. Clerica's debut collection includes hand-painted T-shirts and silk-blend tracksuits with a white and navy colorway reminiscent of a clerical collar. Finally, the article recommends design shops in upstate New York's Hudson Valley and northern Catskills. These include A. Therien in Cairo, a design studio offering vintage textiles, photographs, stoneware, and art books; Hort and Pott in Freehold, a by-appointment-only live/work space for Todd Carr and Carter Harrington, which transforms seasonally with plants and home goods; and Pidgin in Oak Hill, owned by Kostas Anagnopoulos, featuring globally sourced antiques, new finds, and items like mother-of-pearl-encrusted bento boxes and pillows made from antique Portuguese grain sacks. #HandmadePorcelain #BrooklynBlossoms #CeramicArt #BotanicalIllustrations #HomeDecor #LiteraryWorks #FashionDesign #SoundArt #InteriorDesign #UpstateNY

In the current post-pandemic era, minimalistic designs are increasingly popular in home decor, leading individuals to seek unique ways to complement modern aesthetics. Ceramic items have emerged as a versatile and elegant solution, adding grace and style to living spaces. Shruti Sharma, founder of Chini Mitti, offers expert insights on incorporating ceramics into home decor. Her recommendations focus on both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality, highlighting how these pieces can enhance various areas of a home. Among the key suggestions is the donut vase, a simple yet timeless decorative item. Sharma recommends a sleek, minimalist donut vase in white or black, which she notes can seamlessly integrate with diverse interior design styles. This distinctive ceramic vase, whether holding real flowers, artificial arrangements, or pampas grass, is described as instantly elevating decor with its modern elegance. Its versatile nature allows it to be a focal point or a subtle accent in any room. For tea enthusiasts, a ceramic teacup and kettle set is presented as a way to enhance the tea-drinking experience. Sharma explains that serving tea in a ceramic cup and saucer, accompanied by a matching kettle, can create a captivating atmosphere, particularly in settings like balconies, living rooms, or bedrooms. This combination not only serves a functional purpose but also adds a touch of sophisticated charm to these personal spaces. Miniature pickle jar sets are another functional and decorative ceramic item suggested by Sharma. These sets, featuring jars with lids and a tray, can introduce both grace and a playful element to a dining table or kitchen counter. They are ideal for serving chutneys, dips, pickles, flavored oils, and other accompaniments, making them a practical and stylish storage solution that can also spark conversation among guests. Ceramic oil dispensers with quirky prints and hand-painted designs are highlighted for their ability to add visual interest to the kitchen. Sharma notes that these dispensers, often featuring tight wooden covers, provide a gorgeous appearance while offering a practical storage option. They are also recommended as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic containers for storing items like vinegar or soy sauce, promoting both style and sustainability in the kitchen. Finally, ceramic serving platters with inbuilt dip bowls are identified as perfect for entertaining. Available in various shapes, motifs, and sizes, these platters ensure that food items are presented neatly and organized. The separate dip section helps maintain a clean aesthetic, making them suitable for serving a range of appetizers such as chips, fries, kebabs, or dim sums. These platters contribute significantly to tableware aesthetics, making them an excellent choice for hosts looking to impress. #HomeDecor #CeramicItems #MinimalistDesign #InteriorDesign #KitchenDecor #DiningTableware #VaseDecor #TeaSet