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Painted lampshades, crystal spheres and a turquoise-themed chandelier were among the lighting designs at High Point Market.

Lighting is so essential in our homes and businesses. Yet for so long the choices in lighting styles, materials and forms were rather limited. Today we have more choices as seen at this spring’s High Point Market.

Jamie Young added a decorative touch to his painted lamp shades as pictured above. The delicately painted Oriental scenes of flora and fauna with birds very much resembled the expensive hand painted murals seen primarily on walls. Placed on silver lamp bases, both short and tall, these painted lamp shades are an effective way to add pattern and interest in a room, especially those that are decorated in neutral colors.

Elegance also showed a series of bird and blossom theme chandeliers and wall scones. Look to them for lighting to compliment any French inspired interiors or vintage interior. The mix of pale colored small glass beads with antiqued gold bases give them an inviting vintage look. It was refreshing to see older lighting styles being given a new update.

Colors, both bright and subtle are now being seen in not only the lamp bases, but in the decorative elements of various types of lighting. It was Regina Andrew that updated the traditional chandelier by using a wealth of draped turquoise beads, instead of glass or crystal as pictured here. Turquoise is a shade of blue that you can think of as a feel good color that can brighten up a room, especially because it reminds us of the sky or sea. Finished with an aged metal base and electric candlelights, this chandelier adds a more relaxed, casual look into any room. It also was a good example of taking what has been typically used elsewhere, in this case jewelry of turquoise, and expanding its use to lighting.

Regina Andrew also showed some elegant ceiling fixtures. Especially noteworthy were these striking black and clear crystal spheres pictured here. With its abundance of contrasting crystals, it hints of Hollywood glamour that has entered the home. In fact an abundance of crystals appeared throughout the show in not only lighting but in various forms of furniture and even on wallpaper.

But there were also a number of lighting options that while different did not seem like good ideas. One such example was a glass chandelier by Nueve made of crystals. With its mass of strands of dangling crystals all I could think of was jellyfish that I see washed up on beaches. Having had my share of jellyfish stings as a child, it did not bring back fond memories.

Teal Michel ASID, is a licensed full-service interior design firm specializing in residential interior design and renovation-remodeling design throughout the Carolinas. Teal has won awards from ASID for interior spaces and furniture design and from the Home Builder’s Association of Charlotte Excellence in Remodeling for remodel design and interior renovation. She has participated in HGTV’s “Designer’s Challenge” and her work has been featured in several books. www.tealmichelasid.com ^[2].