Hi Everyone! While our favorite Haus Maus Holly gets settled in Germany, she has asked some of her blogger friends to fill in for her. I'm Becky, and there is a little more info about me here. My biggest problem when I blog is that I tend to use really lame puns and rhymes that I would NEVER say out loud - you've been warned! So, Onto Decor! For the past two years, I searched high and low for a light fixture to hang over my dining room table. First I lost countless Hollywood Regency faux bamboo chandelier auctions on eBay, then I was convinced I'd have a drum lamp made from the greatest non-existent lampshade ever, then I started scouring sales on ornate crystal chandeliers at Horchow and Ballard Designs. Finally, I looked beneath the dangling live wires at my dining room furniture and realized what I needed (I reveal my new lamp below so stay with me). I'm ridiculously fickle but I feel confident that I will be happy with this one for a long time. I finally learned to stop absorbing EVERY trend I see and just sticking to (a) what I like and (b) good design that will transcend trends.

Anyway, during my exhaustive search, I could not get over the selection that is out there. Just walking into Circa Lighting is overwhelming - so many great fixtures, so few ceilings in my house! What follows are some of my favorites that I came across during my search. The majority of these are available online and their prices range from very reasonable to more than my first car cost.

Paper or Plastic?:

(clockwise from top left) Nelson Ball Pendant, Design Within Reach; Filo Square Pendant Light, Target, $284.99 (made of Filo paper); Orb Pendant, Target, $54.99, KNAPPA Pendant, IKEA, $24.99

See the Trees for the Forest, Come and get your bois, real and faux:

(top to bottom) Nut Pendant, Design Within Reach, $310; Calvin Pendant, Pottery Barn, $179; Dane Pendant, Crate and Barrel, $64.95, and Pine Veneer Hanging Lamp, Victory Vintage, $165

Basket Weaving 101: These are great for a beach house, cottage, or a cabin as well as for upping the texture factor in any style of design:

(clockwise from top left) LERAN, IKEA, $39.99; Vine Basket Light, South of Market, $1250; Vine Ball Lamps, Pieces Atlanta, $1200; Large Seagrass Pendant, Ballard Designs, $59.

K.I.S.S. "Keep It Simple Stupid!" I often have to chant this to myself when my plans start to get too elaborate: These designs are just beautiful in their simplicity:

Extra Large Hicks Pendant, Circa Lighting, $630; KULLA, IKEA, $69.99; Modernist Pendant, Sundance Catalog, $125; Sol Pendant Lamp, CB2, $99. Glamour Puss: If you are confident in going beyond simple, this glitzy group will dazzle you with crystals, mirrors and metal. One of my all-time favorites is a fabulous retro chandies that fits into this category is The Meurice Chandelier from Jonathan Adler ($695):

(top to bottom from top left) Sputnik Pendant, Jayson Home and Garden, $299; Extra Large Hicks Pendant, Circa Lighting, $630; Grayson Drum Chandelier, Oly, price unknown; Savoy Chandelier Round, Zia Priven, price unknown; can be customized.

Titans of Industry - Perfect for a loft space or to add into the mix with most decorating styles:

(clockwise from top left) Flanders Double Pole, Circa Lighting, $462; Nash Pendant, Pottery Barn, $199; Industrial Pendant, Pieces Atlanta, $1395, Chrome Shade Pendant, Pieces Atlanta, $760

Rusted and Crusted: A Vintage Industrial Style:

(clockwise from top left) Metal Basket Light, South of Market, $1950; Genesis Pendant, Sundance Catalog, $78; Trumpet Flower Pendant, Ballard Designs, $199.95.

I'm also digging these vintage schoolhouse fixtures available at one of my favorite stores, Victory Vintage ($125 each). They are so much better than the fluorescents I had over my head in school!:

Next up is Swanky Modern - These are all very clean, spare, and elegant. These are good choices for Hollywood Regency fans who shy away from getting too ornate:

(clockwise from top left) Coco Pendant, Zia Priven, custom order; Cherise Pendant Lamp, Crate and Barrel, $349; Bryant Large Chandelier, Circa Lighting, $420.

I think Vanessa De Vargas and her site, Turquoise is the inspiration that hooked me on lanterns in fun colors and shapes. I keep thinking there must be some outdoor Home Cheapo lantern I can paint a cool color to emulate this look, but I have yet to find it; none of the shapes have the high style of these:

(clockwise from top left) Cirque Lantern, Urbanelectricco., $1400; Lillebette V2, Urbanelectricco, $1245; Pagoda Pendant Lantern, Horchow, $1985 Hanson Ribbon Pendant, Urbanelectricco, $740.

Trip the Light Fantastic: For those who want the light fixture to be the showstopper of the room and plan around it accordingly:

(clockwise from top left) Effervescent Chandelier, Anthropologie, $1998; Spectrum Chandelier, Urban Outfitters, $36; Capri Bottle Pendant, Jonathan Adler, $195; Meri Drum Chandelier, Oly, price unknown.

MoMA-Worthy: These fixtures use unexpected materials and forms in very clever ways, and I revere them as modern works of art:

(clockwise from top left) Patrick Townsend White Orbit Chandelier (Holly's all time favorite chandelier ever), Design Public, $459; Todd Boontje Garland Shade Light, Moma Store, $80, Patrick Townsend String Light 10, Moma Store, $99, Victor Juan's Geometrica, ylighting, $411.

I hope this post helped any of you who are searching for light fixtures, and P.S., I finally chose the Medium Goodman Lamp in antique nickel, available at Circa Lighting. Here is how it looks. If you are ever down south, do not pass up a trip to Circa Lighting! It is truly and illuminating experience!

- Submitted by Becky Harris (images linked to sources above)