Joel Barkley and Todd Klein Breathe New Life Into a Stately Louisville, Kentucky, House
Architect Joel Barkley and interior designer Todd Klein team up to make over a historic Kentucky estate for the next generation. The living room features handmade silk wall coverings and a pair of green 1960s resin lamps by Silvano Pantani from Swank Lighting.
Yet another good source for retro lighting, Dallas’ Swank Lighting is run by Ed Sexton and Doug Taylor. According to the site, the duo ran across a “long hidden, nearly forgotten treasure trove of handblown vintage Murano lamps from the 40s, 50s and 60s.”They bought the entire contents of the warehouse containing the lamps and the rest, as they say is history. There is an online site and a recently opened showroom.
A Cheerful Lake Forest, Illinois, House With a Preppy Palette
In the dining room, walls in Farrow & Ball’s Blue Ground in Full Gloss are a foil for pink Murano glass lamps from Swank Lighting. Vintage Louis XVI–style chairs around a Jansen dining table are covered in Talcy Velvet by Clarence House.
Swank Lighting’s Rock Candy sofa lamps in Emerald are made of tumbled recycled glass. They’re mounted on acrylic bases and with solid brass hardware in a Polished Nickel finish.
Nate Berkus Associates Design a Layered Gold Coast Condo
A lamp with a base of recycled cobalt glass, one of a pair found at Swank Lighting, anchors an arrangement of books and art objects. The table can be called into service for dining when the homeowners entertain a large party.
A Contemporary Classic
A six-arm chandelier goes mod care of a draping of faceted mirrors and petite gold balls. Vintage Murano lamps flank a sculptural buffet by Oly Studio. Dupioni silk curtains get a dose of texture from a Greek-key trim by F. Schmacher.
New York City Holiday House with Traditional Home Magazine
To top it all off, my delicate chandeliers from Canopy Designs and these TO DIE FOR vintage Murano Emerald lamps from Swank lighting are the “jewelry” of my design.
Venetian Art Glass Lamps
These beautiful lamps have had a bit of press recently, and I’m writing about them because I really liked the e-mail Ed and Doug sent me today, and because I love their story. They also happen to have an extensive collection of original Venetian Art Glass Lamps–an entire east coast warehouse full, to be exact. The business partners recently acquired all the remaining inventory of the Edward P. Paul Company (BALBOA Lamps), purchasing hundreds of pairs of “these beautiful art pieces and had them rebuilt with safe new UL Certified hardware and we are now selling them to the public for the first time since they were packed away in their original shipping crates for nearly 50 years.”
Swank Lighting now at Debris Antiques!
I recently discovered Swank Lighting in the heart of the Dallas Design District and had the pleasure of speaking with its owners, Ed Sexton and Doug Taylor about their beautiful lamps. They were kind enough to answer all the questions I had about their company.
As I ventured through Debris Antiques in Dallas (where their lamps are on display) I took a great deal of photos of their exquisite lighting and couldn’t resist taking a few of the wonderful Debris showroom, owned by Joey Edwards. Joey is also the owner of Lost and Found (two of my favorite antique showrooms I wrote about in a previous post- small world!
Have a Swanky Fourth of July!
Did our founding fathers know how stylish a combination our country’s colors would be when they settled on the classic hues of red, white and blue? This is a color palette that packs quite a patriotic punch. We at Swank Lighting have a deep respect for our nation – but also a strong love affair with her color palette.
The Edward P. Paul Company originally imported these lamps from Venetian glass houses and marketed them under the Balboa trade name. Later, Balboa lamps were offered at department stores such as Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Marshall Fields. When Ed Sexton and Doug Taylor happened across a nearly forgotten treasure trove of vintage Murano glass lamps from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, they bought the entire inventory.
What’s New Is Old Again – and Swanky
…a boat load of Murano glass lamps just waiting to be restored – rebuilt with safe new UL Certified hardware and are now selling them to the public for the first time since they were packed away in their original shipping crates for nearly 50 years… fabulous!
Not too long ago, Ed Sexton and Doug Taylor came across a cache of hand-blown mid-century Murano glass lamps. The Dallas-based duo told me that they decided to buy the entire inventory hundreds of pairs and proceeded to spend seven months unpacking the pieces. It seems the lighting was originally imported by the Edward P. Paul Company and marketed as BALBOA. Sexton and Taylor have since had their finds rebuilt with new hardware.
Sexy, Sassy & Green! Timeless Recycled-Glass Cluster Lamps from Swank Lighting
If you’re looking for something contemporary, something sexy, sassy, and green to light up your life, I have the solution for you! Swank Lighting has what you are looking for and I tell you, I’m in love. It’s hot, classy and like no other lamp out there. You’ll have a timeless piece in your home that you know is made in the USA, embraces style, design and the environment.
A Lost & Found Treasure Trove of Murano Glass
[Owners Ed Sexton and Doug Taylor] recently acquired these amazing vintage Murano lamps from the Edward P. Paul Company. These lamps have been completely rebuilt using new UL Certified hardware and ready for safe use in the 21st century. Says Ed, “When we came across this cache of art treasure we felt like we were at the most wonderful easter egg hunt possible. Every time we opened an old wooden shipping crate and began pulling brown paper bundles out we felt like we were giving birth. Well not really…. but it was so much fun.”
