The restaurant design is underway in Lesotho and all the rustic elements are slowly coming together. My latest task was deciding on light fixtures, and since we are trying to use recycled materials – this proved a challenge!
Kick4Life run a recycling program which encourages and assists children to return to school, therefore we would like to make use of these resources. With this in mind, here are 4 ideas for light fixtures which could easily be incorporated into your home too!
1. Wine Bottle Candles
I have often seen these and wondered how the candle got inside the bottle! Well fear not, I have found the answer and it does not require a magician. All you need is woolen string, a match, nail polish remover and a sink full of cold water. Watch this YouTube Video to see how. These would look perfect on an outside table during a summer night’s BBQ and will work really well as table lighting in our Kick4Life “No. 7” restaurant.
2. Glass Jar Light Fixture
I love this design and we will endevour to create a very similar light fixture to hang over the bar in our “No. 7” restaurant. Essentially it is made from two dozen mason jars, light-bulbs and a plank of wood. The method would involve drilling a hole in the top of each lid, feeding the light-bulb cable through the hole and screwing the lid back on with the light-bulb inside the jar. Attaching the cables to the plank of wood and connecting them to a power source is probably a job for a professional (or a handy dad!)
3. Bottle Chandelier
This is a great outdoor option – either hanging from a tree in the garden or above an outdoor table. You will need to collect 12 glass bottles of similar size, then paint them using specialty glass paint (available in most art/craft stores). Keep an eye out for an old lampshade and strip it down to the wire – this way you will already have the light-bulb fitting in the center, and the structure from which to hang the bottles.
4. Besotho Hat
As mentioned in earlier posts, the Besotho hat is the most recognizable symbol in Lesotho. Therefore we would like to incorporate it into the design of the restaurant. Since the shape is very similar to that of a lightshade, this could be the perfect way. We will endeavor to hang one low over each table by simply threading a light bulb through the top and attaching to the roof.
Perhaps you could incorporate one of these reusable items into your own home lighting design!
Penny xo