Living With Lindsay

As with fashion, I am always hesitant to spend a lot of time and/or money investing in design trends (chevron walls aside).  The new, big thing goes away as quickly as it came into style, and you are left holding a bag of a bunch of acid washed jeans that need to be taken to Goodwill.

I’ve been concerned that my budding obsession with Edison-style filament light bulbs would wind up in that Goodwill bag.  Then, I started seeing more and more of them being used in fixtures that show bare bulbs, and I realized that it would be an easy update.  Both Lowe’s and Home Depot sell the bulbs now (there are actually two sizes at HD) and they are $6-$8 a pop.  There are many more styles and bases available from various online retailers as well.

Restoration Hardware’s Edison bulb collection

Of course, this style of bulb looks great in industrial style fixtures, such as these found at Forma Living.

But what about a more traditional lighting fixture?  Could it be enlivened with a filament-style blub?  If the fixture has a bare bulb, then I think the answer is yes.  Imagine this fixture from Ballard Designs with an Edison bulb.

Or how about this wall sconce from allen + roth at Lowe’s?  Wouldn’t it be more interesting if vintage-style bulbs were in this vintage-style fixture?

I think upgrading a fixture or two to an Edison-style filament bulb is a great way to add a little trend to your home.

What’s your take on the Edison bulb?  Love it or leave it?

A word of caution on these type of bulbs, though.  Although the wattage will be the same as a traditional bulb, the lumens (or light output) will be much lower.  I recommend them being used as accent lighting.  Don’t expect that one 60-watt Edison bulb is going to produce the same amount of light as a traditional 60-watt bulb – it simply won’t.  That being said, the Edison bulbs are supposed to last longer than a traditional bulb.

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