We can’t put every one of our favorite light fixtures on the blog, but we’ve decided to round up some of the modern, edgy light fixtures that have caught our eye recently; there’s a lot of organic shapes, spaceship influences and mixed media here to be inspired by. We certainly were!

And yes, there’s more to come about our new project with Hinkley…be patient!

Box Light

1. Box Light—Design House Stockholm:”Everyday objects can be sculptural, too,” says Jan Smith, Senior Designer at LRM Interior Design. What looks like a simple, powder-coated aluminum rectangular container actually slides open to reveal a lamp. Slides open? Oh, yes. That means that you can actually control the illumination, almost like a dimmer switch, but more like an Aladdin’s lamp! Thank you to designer Jonas Hakaniemi—we love the Swedes for their design sensibility. The lamp stands 3/4-inches in height, uses an incandescent bulb and can be laid on a surface or suspended like a pendant lamp. Group two or more together for a dynamic lighting display.

Caviar Cluster

2. Caviar Cluster Chandelier—Arteriors Home: Beautiful glass globes encase what looks like illuminated, polished nickel trumpets in this dramatic chandelier. It would be like having delicate bubbles suspended permanently in your home! The organic shapes do not detract from the intrinsically elegant nature of this ceiling light fixture, and we think that it could be used to great effect in a contemporary home, or even as a surprising accent in a more traditionally styled home. Caviar is always a sign of good taste and luxury…

Infinity Pendant

3. Infinity Pendant—John Pomp Studios: How can something almost invisible pack so much punch? We’re not sure, but we think it’s the simplicity that does it. This hand-blown glass is the epitome of organic shaping, and has a slight iridescence to it, making it almost ethereal. Can you even really call it a “shade”? The pendant is delicate but stunning, and we can see a row of them over a long dining table or a single one over a contemporary round dining table. What a perfect lamp—it’s shade goes with every color and pattern!

Ice Block Pendant

4. Ice Block—Conant Metal & Lighting: This lamp perfectly blends vintage with contemporary; an old-fashioned set of ice tongs holding a lamp shade made to look like a block of ice! Our mind is spinning thinking of the fun ways you can use this lamp. Restaurant, historic property, or even a mountain lodge-style home, like the project we’re finishing up in June Lake—all would be great places to install this hand-crafted light fixture. Did we mention the glass is recycled?

Atlantis

5. Atlantis—Hinkley Lighting: We couldn’t leave off Hinkley, what with a new project in the works. This lamp is made for the outdoors, one of the more recent collections that Hinkley has released. We loved how sleek these wall sconces were, and the subtlety of the light itself, perfect for gently guiding people through a garden or outdoor space. Choose from aluminum or bronze to accent your landscaping, and Hinkley provides many variations in the Atlantis collection, including post lighting and pocket lamps.

If you are interested in any of these light fixtures, or need a consultation on your home’s lighting needs, please contact LRM Interior Design by calling (949) 497-6806 or click here to use our online contact form.

Lisa McDennon, Principal of LRM Interior Design

Tomorrow at 10AM, students of interior design will be crowding around a podium at the Laguna Design Center, waiting for the keynote speaker. Seeing how the event, the Second Annual ASID OC Student Career Day, is co-sponsored by House Beautiful magazine, it’s no surprise that the keynote speaker is our own Lisa Rachelle McDennon.

Students will have the opportunity to have their portfolio reviewed, and learn about all aspects of interior design from Lisa and other award-winning designers attending the event. Topics of discussion and presentation include model home design; restaurant and hotel design; high-end custom home design; corporate spaces; oceanfront and estate property design; kitchen and bath design; yacht and small space design; and even landscape design.

Students can learn a great deal from the course that Lisa chartered, back before she was published in House Beautiful magazine and was a mere student herself, earning a degree in Fine Art at the University of Irvine.

Even though she was specializing in Drawing and Painting, Lisa realized that she never wanted the term “starving artist” to apply to her. Practicality set in, and Lisa began taking every architecture class, eventually signing up for an unpaid summer internship with an Orange County architect.

After four weeks, the architect was so impressed with her work and enthusiasm that he offered Lisa a salaried full-time position. Over the next four years, Lisa every aspect of drafting and planning for the company’s commercial clients. Just like her employer, Lisa was surprised to discover her aptitude for this “interior design” aspect of architecture.

Lisa found Newport Beach’s Interior Design Institute (IDI) in her own backyard, and after only one week knew she had found her true love. Three and a half years later, Lisa graduated as the class valedictorian, and gained her second bachelor’s degree.
During her time at IDI, Lisa supplemented her coursework by working for Orange County’s leading designers, and learned as much about her chosen field as she did about how a design studio should not be run. This unofficial training became critical sooner than she thought: after an unsuccessful two months hunting for the perfect job, her family encouraged her to start her own studio.

Only one week after giving her two weeks’ notice, she landed her first client—a private resort in Fiji. Over ten years later, Lisa runs her own successful studio in downtown Laguna Beach with three full-time design assistants, each contributing their own special talents and energy to every project.

Lisa continues to use her original background in art and architecture to provide clients with unique, hand-drawn renderings alongside architectural drawings, helping a client see their dream realized before the project begins. This process, along with knowing the value of listening to clients’ needs, creates exceptional designs, builds strong, long-term relationships with not only clients, but also with architects, contractors and developers.

For more information on the event, visit www.asidocc.org. For more information on Lisa McDennon and her design studio, visit www.lrmdesign.com.

Special Room Category Entry for LRM Interior Design

September 12, 2009 — At the Coto De Caza Golf Club, a marquee hovered over the 15 beautifully set tables, set up for the event to honor the ASID Orange County chapter’s winners for the 2009 Design Awards. The 150 guests trickled in as a big-screen television scrolled through all the nominees.

Lisa Rachelle McDennon, principal of LRM Interior Design, had barely had a chance to sit down before she was up again…to receive her first award of the evening.“I was a little nervous as I arrived, but I couldn’t sit down,” recalls Lisa. “I introduced myself to a few people, and was happy to be able to speak to Wanda Bogart for a few minutes. Then I met Diane Sparacino, ASID-OCC president and Robert Esterley, of whom I’ve been a fan for some time, but never met.”

Lisa finally sat down as dinner was served, just as the first category, Living Rooms, was announced. The big screen scrolled through the nominees, and soon LRM Interior Design’s entry appeared. Diane Sparacino opened the envelope, said “And the winner is: Lisa….”

The noticeably long pause was excruciating for Lisa, but worth it all when Diane finally finished with “…McDennon!” Lisa made her way to the front to accept her award and have her photograph taken for the press.

LRM Interior Design’s second chance at an award came towards the end of the evening, in the Special Rooms category. It was announced that, since it was such a big category, it had been split up into four awards: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The Bronze winner was called out; not LRMID. The Silver winner was called out; again, not LRMID. Lisa’s fingers were crossed. The Gold winner was called out; and yes, it was Lisa McDennon!

President Diane Sparacino made a short speech about how, although she had only met Lisa a few moments before, she would like to welcome her to ASID as a new member, and congratulated her on such an auspicious start to her membership. Diane Sparacino pointed out that LRM Interior Design was the only contender to win more than one award. Lisa felt lucky to have not only won the award, but also to be personally mentioned by the president at the podium.

LRM Interior Design did not win the People’s Choice Award; that went to Wendy Ann Miller of WAM Interior Design. But overall, Lisa was not complaining at all. Since the judging for the awards was completely anonymous with independent judges from Los Angeles, candidates were judged solely on content, quality and talent, not on name or reputation. The judges were a mix of design industry professionals and professors of design.

Keep your eyes out for the December issue of Orange Coast Magazine! It will be featuring LRM Interior Design, and the other winners of the 2009 ASID Orange County Design Awards.