Nesting Instinct

When it comes to setting up house-or redesigning the one you already have- Sara Eizen of Nest can transform that house, into a home. Nest offers interior design, home organizing, and color consultation services and Sara specializes in helping you sort through what you already own to get the look you want without starting from scratch.

Plenty of design experience, creative flow, and innovation is what sets Nest high in the branches of the design trade.

Sara will work with what you already have and add a little new in the right doses so you still feel connected- still feel your home is your own. The last thing you want is to come home and look around and not recognize anything in YOUR space! Not to mention, all the money you will save by not buying all new furniture, accessories, floor coverings, etc. The best part is, Sara helps you see what will really make a statement, what little changes can be made to give you the room you always had-but couldn't see.

This is where LiT comes in, if you can see the potential in bases you already own, new shades designed at LiT can shed some new light on your old lamps...and possibly that end table of your Great Aunt's it's sitting on.

Whether you just moved into a new house, or you just need a little help finding the potential in what you have been living with for years, Nest may be just the design advice you have been looking high and low for. With organizing tips, fresh design ideas, and an amazing range of resources, Sara offers up so many ways to build your nest.

Lamp base shopping on a budget!

Let's face it the economy sucks, but your house still needs to look good. You've found LiTshades to be within a budget you can handle but you can't find the perfect base for your new perfect shade, what do you do?

Well, do what we do and head down to your local Goodwill. Our personal favorite is right off Dearborn and Rainer, but really any second hand store will work. The best part of second hand lamp base shopping is you find some great items at great prices, support a good cause and help your community.

Second hand lamp shopping (what we at LiT call "lamping"), is also great if you are looking for original brass, art deco, turn keys (answer next time), marble bases, statue bases (yes even panthers) or the unique and unusual.

Now you have found the perfect base (usually under $11.95), but it doesn't work and is lime green, don't get discouraged. Dawn can rewire bases and with a great shade, that lime green base will look oh-so-chic instead of ugh-so-freak. High-low fashion isn't just for your wardrobe. Remember, a savvy house is a stylish house.

Help there's Blood on my LiTshade!

Dear Get LiT,

I was at a party wearing a beautiful pair of black and white, pony-fur Louboutin's, when the host's cat ran under my feet causing me to spill red wine on my dear friend's LiTshade. What do I do?

Please help,

-Stained Shade

Dear Stained,

First and most important, Kudos on the shoe choice. Second, as we always say "don't cry over stained LiTshades", just go buy a new one. No seriously, this is a question we get asked a lot, and of course we know the answer.

Lamp shades usually last about 30 years, depending on direct sunlight, amount of dust, animal hair, allergens, etc., floating around the home. If you take care of your lamp shade it should be a happy part of your home for a long time. Taking care of your shade means leaving your shade on its base, meaning no wearing in on your head at parties. If your shade does get dusty, which it will, it's best to use a feather duster-not a Swifter. A Swifter can dent the sides and once the shade is dented-it's doomed. If you want, you can always gently vacuum the shade. Yet again the key word is gentle, like with puppies or babies.

For larger stains such as wine, tea, marinara sauce you are unfortunately out of luck, especially if it's silk. However, we did see an episode of CSI that told us you can get your own blood out of silk with your own saliva, (and they say television rots your brain).

Finally, never, ever, get even a drop of water on a silk shade- it will spot (just like that Vivienne Westwood blouse that you need to take to the dry cleaners).

One final solution that works for small marks of dirt or pencil is a lamp shade eraser. Yes, they do exist. It is like a little pillow filled with tiny bits of eraser. Random. But so is spitting on your shade to get rid of blood...why is there blood on your shade anyway?

Get LiT was just full of helpful information this week! Hope you enjoyed. Drop us a line with any of your shade situations, we're always happy to light the way.

Edison goes Green

Saturday was Earth Hour. If you didn't turn off your lights it's okay, don't feel bad I forgot too. But since it is only once a year, and we both forgot, let's think of other ways to save energy through lighting the other 364 days? One easy way is by the light bulbs used under all your LiTshades.

Most light bulbs or Incandescent bulbs are made in a wide range of sizes and voltages, from 1.5 volts to about 300 volts. Although, it is believed Thomas Edison invented the light bulb their were actually 22 inventors of incandescent bulbs pre-Edison. It's possible Edison was most successful because he not only invented the light bulb but also the entire system of electrical lighting. Which would make sense as a light bulb without an electrical lighting system is basically just glass and wires.

Since Edison, a number of other bulbs and electrical inventions have been discovered and are still in use today. The best and most green and energy efficient invention however came with the creation of the Energy Star Compact Fluorescent light bulbs. You've seen them they are curly, very white light bulbs that give off a less artificial light making not only the paint in your house it true color but making you and your guests look better.

According to the governments Energy Star website if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars. By changing just one light bulb!

Now I don't know about you, but I think my LiTshade looks better with an Energy Star bulb and what an easy way to save the world. Another cool thing about the bulb is that they are recyclable at places like Lowe's and Home Depot and you can buy them in packs of eight or ten at Costco and you get a rebate coupon that makes the switch even cheaper!

So if you missed Earth Hour on Saturday, don't worry it's cool, you can still do your part by changing just one light bulb in your house. Just think how much of the world you could save if you changed all the light bulbs in your house and then if you convinced all your friends and family to change theirs, oh the power you could hold WAH HA HA!!! Sorry I got carried away.

Just a bright, earth friendly idea from your friends at LiT.

The List

Hello,

This is Dawn, just wanted to add a quick blog today to help out anyone looking for... something.

This list is for those living in the Seattle area who need just about anything, from a caterer, to advice. I have compiled my favorite people/places and you can be certain you won't be disappointed.

Caterer/Chef/Baker: Lily 206.351.2852

Website developer/designer: Onur Simsek onurster@gmail.com

Advice: Doug Newman 206.323.4502

Photographer: Ryan Schierling http://www.ryanschierling.com/

Wedding Planner: Annette LeFebvre, Luxe Wedding Design 206.679.8044

Wallpaper distributor: Jennifer June http://www.hermitageisahome.com/

Stylist and Blogger: Britt Bertolucci Cao brittbertolucci@yahoo.com

Landscape Architects: Langstraat Wood http://www.langstraatwood.com/

Accountant: Deidre Cantrell deidre@cantrellaccounting.com

Jewelry Design: Jaida http://www.sparkleparlor.com/

Personal Shopper: Emily Lubahn 802.578.8198

Gardening Advice: Stacy Gilbert 206.782.7366

Screen Printer/designer: Isabelle Grizzard Robertson http://www.studiopianonobile.com/

Window dressing/curtain designer: Julie Monroe http://www.cultivatingdesign.com/

Audio and Turntable equipment and repair: J&S 206.524.2933

Bartender: Kelsey 360.510.3687

Letter Press/Business cards: Lynda Sherman http://www.bremelopress.com/

Hair stylist: Reghan http://www.7salon.com/

Structural Engineer: Mary O'hara 208.818.3177

Architect: Nick Robertson http://www.studiopianonobile.com/

Furniture Design: Chad Robertson http://www.chadhaus.com/

Dog Breeder: Joni Meryhew 360-978-4990

Signs/Vinyl Lettering: O'Reilly Signs 206.623.5135

Attorney/Lawyer: Sanni M. K. Hull Esq. 206.355.3572

Background Check: Steve West 206.200.8224

Comedian: Tyson 801.815.4848