DAN'S PAPERS, July 18, 2008 Page 93 www.danshamptons.com
Design & Décor
Catch
(continued from previous page)
crystal chandelier over a dining table or in a front hall would sparkle. In a less formal setting, more of a beach house, a decorative glass bowl filled with shells as the center piece on a table will also ping about the light. Those with bigger budgets might consider adding a Dale Chihuly glass sculpture to their collection, placed on a table in the front hall, on a side board or somewhere in front of a window where it can send light refracting about (Marlborough Gallery in NYC is one gallery that represents him). When the sun goes down, keep a good thing going by using candlelight wherever you can. Hurricane lanterns on a dining table, side board or even a coffee table provide a glow that will carry on the excellent lighting until the sun rises again.
roring – a couple of tastefully placed mirrors will do much to catch and reflect the light around a room. Consider a mirror over a mantelpiece, a sofa, or on the wall in the dining room. The best time to think about catching the light in a house is before the space is completely finished, while plans for change are still on the drafting table. Given the exceptional quality of the light on the East End, especially if you live near the water, it pays to focus on windows, doors, skylights and other such points of entry. Eastern light in the morning is most beautiful, so a breakfast table is probably best placed in front of an east facing window. In the evenings, the western light will be most spectacular, so your place to sit and enjoy a cocktail and dinner is best placed near western facing windows or on a deck at the western side of a house. Southern exposure is the most intense while northern light is the most consistent all day. Skylights bring in tons of light, though they also bring in a lot of heat. French doors with glass panes help light to flow in, whether it’s from the outdoors or from room to room. Besides mirrors, windows, and doors, other small accessories will help to make light zip and zoom around a space. Consider crystal decanters on a side board or a dining table. For a more formal setting, a
1143329