Author Archives: Tristan

My 9 Favorite Online Sites for Light Fixtures

I love getting a good deal, I love shopping online and I really love when these two things are combined!! My favorite online sites for buying light fixtures are listed below. If it has an * next to it, you don’t need a trade account to get great deals. Even without a trade account, many of these sites offer great discount codes online. Just Google it!

overstock.com *

lightingdirect.com

lampsplus.com

build.com

homedepot.com*

lighting.com

wayfair.com

allmodern.com

houzz.com

PS. If you have not been on Houzz to look at design photos for inspiration or to help you with your design decisions, you must go there NOW. It is a beautiful site filled with gorgeous photographs of all types of interior and exterior design imaginable. Campbell-Powers Interiors has a page on Houzz, as well! But even if CPi didn’t, I would send you there ASAP! It’s that great of a resource & a great place to blow 45 minutes without even realizing it!

Cheers, Tristan 🙂

My Top Favorite 7 Red Paint Colors

Red is a powerful & stimulating color. It gives us energy, increases our appetite, and can make us feel confident and passionate. I like using red on front doors, in dining rooms, and in powder rooms or other small, intimate spaces. Red is, also, great on exterior trim– depending on the rest of the paint scheme, of course! Red can give a pop of color to an interior, especially if used as an accent in an otherwise neutral space. I LOVE red!!!!!

(Tip: It’s worth mentioning again–if you want to see what these colors look like in people’s real rooms search them under IMAGES on Google. It’s delightfully fun!!)

Here are my favorite reds, in no particular order:

1) Raisin Torte, Benjamin Moore 2083-10

Benjamin Moore Photo Credit

2) Raspberry Truffle, Benjamin Moore 2080-10

Benjamin Moore Photo Credit

3) Country Redwood, Benjamin Moore Ext. Rm

Benjamin Moore Photo Credit

4) Cottage Red, Benjamin Moore Ext. Rm

Benjamin Moore Photo Credit

5) Caliente, Benjamin Moore AF-290

Benjamin Moore Photo Credit

6) Classic Burgundy, Benjamin Moore Ext. Rm

Benjamin Moore Photo Credit

7) Pomegranate, Benjamin Moore AF-295

Benjamin Moore Photo Credit

These are gorgeous!!! They make me want to find a little powder room somewhere or a front door so I can paint it RED!

Cheers, Tristan 🙂

How to Select the Right Size Ceiling Fixture?

How in the heck do I select the right size ceiling fixture? Here are some general tips on how to select a ceiling fixture for your space. I would say that these rules are made to be broken and are rather fluid guidelines, more of a jumping-off point–but still something I reference for every project.

(Tip: Ceiling fixtures are super great when on a dimmer–I add dimmer switches to a LOT of ceiling fixtures–I have even done so in a master bath to create a night light.)

Sizing–WIDTH of Ceiling Fixture

For ceiling fixtures in a room:

In general, take the width and the length of the room in feet, add those two lengths together and convert to inches. That is the basic size fixture you should purchase for the space. For example, a living room that is 15′-0″ x 12′-0″ = 27′-0″, so your ceiling fixture should be approximately 27″ in width.

jennaleelac.blogspot.com

For ceiling fixtures above a table or island:

General rule for ONE fixture: 12″ narrower than the width of the table OR 1/2 the width of the table (or 1/2 the diameter).

www.cassellaskitchen.com
photo credit

As you can see, this light fixture is a statement and is even WIDER than the island below–again, the rules are meant to be broken based on your personal preferences!

cameronandcompany.blogspot.com

General rule for 2 fixtures: 1/3 the width of the table or island

Clarissa Glass Drop Chandelier, Antique Bronze finish

potterybarn.com

Sizing–Height of fixture–How tall can/should my light fixture be?

Approximately 2 1/2″-3″ per foot of ceiling height. For example, a 10′-0″ ceiling could handle a fixture that is 24.5″-36″ tall.

How far from the table or finished floor do I hang fixtures?

Above an eating surface: 25″-30″

Above the floor: 7′-0″ (84″) OR around 7′-6″ (90″) for taller ceilings

Cheers, Tristan 🙂

My Top 10 Favorite Neutral Paint Colors

I love color! I think color changes the look of a space more than anything, it affects our moods, and it’s BEAUTIFUL! Each week one of my blogs will be all about color: my favorite paint choices in each color, color psychology, a little color theory or photos of design items in one color theme. This week? My Top 10 Favorite Neutral Paint Colors. These colors aren’t technically neutral, they are tans & grays, but they are neutral in that they provide a fantastic backdrop for whatever else is in the room. They can be paired with whites for a crisp look or with lovely accent colors to compliment any decor and they play nicely with the other neutrals–brown, black & gray–depending on which one you choose.

(Tip: If you really want to get a quick idea of what a paint color looks in a room or on an exterior, Google the paint color & click IMAGES and loads of photos will pop-up!)

Here they are, in no particular order:

1) Alpaca, Sherwin Williams 7022

playinghousewi.com
photo credit

2) Canvas Tan, Sherwin Williams 7531

Sherwin Williams photo credit

3) Manchester Tan, Benjamin Moore HC-81

Benjamin Moore photo credit

4) Shaker Beige, Benjamin Moore HC-45

Benjamin Moore photo credit

5)Navajo White, Benjamin Moore OC-95 or 947

Benjamin Moore photo credit

6) Putnam Ivory, Benjamin Moore HC-39

Benjamin Moore photo credit

7) Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore HC-173

Benjamin Moore photo credit

8) Jute, Benjamim Moore AF-80

Benjamin Moore photo credit

9) Pale Oak, Benjamin Moore OC-20

Benjamin Moore photo credit

10)Agreeable Gray, Sherwin Williams

gooddealmama.com photo credit

Pretty Little Bee–First Blog!

Hi! My name is Tristan Powers. I am a certified interior decorator & kitchen and bath designer who is perpetually in school to get my degree in Interior Design. I work with private clients and investors on anything from paint color selection & window treatments to specifying all of the fixed finishes (things that will stay when you move: lighting, paint, flooring, countertops, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, etc) in a home. I have been working with my clients for almost ten years and love my job. I figured if you are like me, you want to be able to look-up design information & ideas right this minute! The Pretty Little Bee blog will consist of all of the random design information I have learned over the past decade: be it pretty or practical. Cheers! Tristan 🙂