Happy Holidays!

P.S.  For those of you that participated in the Free Lamp contest, we'll be notifying the winners (by email) when we return in January, and shipping out the lamps shortly thereafter. We got such a HUGE response, thanks everyone!

Fire Farm featured as an ASID Favorite!

ASID Icon magazine's Nov/Dec cover story features some of the ASID membership's favorite products and companies. We're so proud to be among them!

Among the Fire Farm pieces cited: Broadway Sconce (available in four shade colors), Magnolia 2919 Pendant, and the Constellation 2913 Series (available in many finish options).

Thanks, everyone!

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Happy Retirement, Donna!

While the snow falls here in Iowa this winter, Fire Farm's second retiree will be enjoying "fun in the sun." Donna Zittergruen, a Custom Specialist at Fire Farm, is leaving for her new winter home in Phoenix, AZ, close to swimming pools and golf courses.

Donna has been a valuable member of the Fire Farm team ever since the company re-located from California. Among her many talents, Donna has a remarkable ability to visualize projects and understand how they might work. Often she would ask a designer, "Couldn't we do it this way?" and, sure enough, her suggestions were often incorporated into the fixture design.

Donna, we wish you a happy retirement with warm weather and low golf scores. You will be missed!

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Blast from the Past: Puck Table plus a BONUS!

[ One of the exciting features in our soon-to-be-rolled-out website redesign is a brand new section: The Archives.* In anticipation for the glorious rollout, we're posting fun selections from the Archives. Yippee! ]

It's Two-in-One Day! (Yes, I may have just made that up.)

Our next historical gem from the Fire Farm Archives is the Puck table lamp. Designers Adam Pollock and Ben Goldstone introduced said lamp in 1997.

Catalog description:

The rakish tilt of Puck's shade is in playful contrast to its solid brushed steel base. This high illumination task lamp has several shade color options.

And now for the Friday bonus:

The Slice of Light family of table and floor lamps were designed by Elizabeth Meredith and introduced to the Fire Farm family in 1994.

The Slice of Light shades are made of non-flammable glass cloth folded over the frame, secured by red ties along the sides.

* Archived lamps are no longer in production. However, if you absolutely love something in the Archives, it's possible we may have some parts still available, or may be able to apply what you love in a new design. Just ask!


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Blast from the Past: Willow Table Lamp

[ One of the exciting features in our soon-to-be-rolled-out website redesign is a brand new section: The Archives.* In anticipation for the glorious rollout, we're posting fun selections from the Archives. Yippee! ]

... Aaand we're back with a svelte vision from the vault. Introduced in 2001, the Willow was designed by Adam Jackson Pollock.

Catalog description:

The Willow is an exploration in simple joinery; no glue, screws, or fasteners of any kind, except the natural forces of friction, are used in its construction. The elegantly simple frosted shade diffuser is delicately perched on a thin brass stem and brushed aluminum base. It is a great lamp for improving ambient light quality and emotional mood in any setting.

* Archived lamps are no longer in production. However, if you absolutely love something in the Archives, it's possible we may have some parts still available, or may be able to apply what you love in a new design. Just ask!

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Rendered Real

3-D rendering has become a real asset to Fire Farm's custom work, especially within the last year and a half. Using tools like Google SketchUp and Podium, digital renderings have helped us present designs and proposals very clearly to clients, as in our proposal for Project 2991, above.


Additionally we have found them useful not only in presenting finished designs, but in solving problems mid-design as well. A 3-D rendering of the space in which our design will be installed can alleviate production surprises and help to give a real sense of the space and environment with which we are working.



click image to see larger version

 Take the pair of images above, for instance, of Project 2059. The left image is a pre-production 3-D rendering done by our client, and the right image is a photograph of the actual finished space. The client sent us this rendering early on in the project's conception because they were concerned with their artist's depiction of the mesh. The mesh in the illustration looked crinkled and choppy, and the client wanted the mesh to drape in a smoother fashion. We were able to allay their concerns and provide a much truer representation of the draping mesh.

At the same time, the 3-D rendering gave us great insight into the environment where our mesh piece would be installed. After the project was finished, we were struck by how closely the rendering reflected the actual atmosphere and surrounding elements -- even down to the arrangement of the furniture!

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Blast from the Past: Verushka Lamps

[ One of the exciting features in our soon-to-be-rolled-out website redesign is a brand new section: The Archives.* In anticipation for the glorious rollout, we're posting fun selections from the Archives. Yippee! ]

Continuing our foray into Fire Farm's lamp history, we come upon the delightful Verushka table lamps and pendants, designed by Boris Jeanrenaud, and introduced to the Fire Farm line in 2001.

Reads the catalog:

Bold yet rigorously minimal, the Verushka lamp is the modern line distilled to its essence. Color Options: Powder Blue, Apple Green, Brown, Purple, or Cobalt Blue.

* Archived lamps are no longer in production. However, if you absolutely love something in the Archives, it's possible we may have some parts still available, or may be able to apply what you love in a new design. Just ask!

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Blast from the Past: Stack Table Lamp

One of the exciting features in our soon-to-be-rolled-out website redesign is a brand new section: The Archives.*

Oodles of lamp designs have come out of Fire Farm in its 20 years of business, and since some designs are no longer in production, we have fun (and get all nostalgic, sniff) looking through our old catalogs. Join us!

In anticipation for the new website, we'll be posting fun selections from the Archives in the coming days and weeks.

We're starting off the spotlight with the Stack Table Lamp. Designed by Elizabeth Meredith, the gorgeous Stack was introduced to Fire Farm's line in 1997. According to the catalog:

The stack lamp emanates a richly textured light from between the hundred layers of white vellum. The stack lamp features a steel base and is available as a table, floor, and pendant.

* Archived lamps are no longer in production. However, if you absolutely love something in the Archives, it's possible we may have some parts still available, or may be able to apply what you love in a new design. Just ask!

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How to Decorate Like it's 1956, part 11

Well, folks -- it has been almost a year since the "How to Decorate Like it's 1956" series began. We have just one section remaining, which makes this the final post of the series. The section is titled, "Prescriptions for good lighting," and introduces itself thusly:

"Scientific research has proved that following a few simple prescriptions for the placement of lamps and fixtures will give you better light, protect your eyes from strain.

"As with furniture arrangement, the 'rule' for placing lamps is comfort. The effort of figuring out a few simple measurements before you buy your lamps or place them will pay off in years of relaxation."

According to Better Homes, the exact distance and placement of your task light depends upon the task and type of lamp. And they've made it incredibly easy for us by mapping it all out.

So get out your tape measure, if you feel so inclined. Or just play I Spy, if that better suits you. I spy two mid-century kitties. And you?

If you use a swing-arm or regular floor lamp
"The height to the lower edge of the shade should be between 47 and 49 inches. Measure 15 inches to one side from the center of your reading material, 26 inches straight back to rear. Place the lamp so shade center is above this point."

If you use a table lamp
"Table plus lamp base should total 39 to 42 inches. Measure 20 inches to one side from the center of your reading material. From here, measure 16 inches toward rear of chair. Place the lamp so that center of the shade is just above this point, with base in a direct line with shoulder. Shade should be at least 20 inches deep, 8 1/2 inches at the top, 20 at base."

If you use a wall lamp
"Hang the lamp so that the lower edge of the shade is 48 inches above the floor. Measure 26 inches out from the center of the lamp shade--usually about 7 inches from the wall--then 15 inches to one side at right angle. Now, place your chair by lamp so that the center of your reading material is at this exact point."

If you need sewing light
"For a right-handed person, measure 15 inches to the left from the center of your sewing. From this point, measure at a right angle toward the rear of the chair--12 inches for floor lamps, 6 inches for table lamps. Place the lamp so center of shade is above this point. If the material is a dark color, add a spot or a flood lamp."

[This is a recurring post dedicated to highlighting snippets of "Chapter 7: Lighting" from Fire Farm's copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, published in 1956. To see all posts from this series, click here.]

[Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Publishing Company, 1956. Print.]

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Constellation Series featured in Interior Design Magazine

Interior Design magazine featured Fire Farm's Constellation Series 2913 in their 2010 Spring Market Tabloid!

Constellation 2913 Project page here.
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How to Decorate Like it's 1956, part 10

[This is a recurring post dedicated to highlighting snippets of "Chapter 7: Lighting" from Fire Farm's copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, published in 1956. To see all posts from this series, click here.]

Drama, drama, drama. Better Homes suggests spotlighting your centerpiece to create drama. But—pssst—keep your voices down! Majorly secretive advice about to be divulged here! We suggest making your light fixture the centerpiece. If that isn't dramatic, well then we don't know what is.

Spotlight for drama

"Dramatize your decorating with bright accents of light. This one sets directly into the ceiling, but there are exposed models of a bullet shape which can be painted to match the ceiling.

Consider using pin-up spots, or photographers' clamps with a spotlight bulb. For example, at a dinner party, hide a pin-point spot and focus it on the centerpiece while the rest of the table glows by candlelight. Or use a clamp light shining on an accessory."

[Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Publishing Company, 1956. Print.]

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Sock-delier!

This chandelier was custom made for a national specialty clothing purveyor, designed to be able to change and display new sock designs regularly at the corporate headquarters. The best part? A small tap brings all the feet to life, kicking merrily away.



Click here to go the Project 3146 page for more info.

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Twinkle Twinkle

Constellation Series 2913

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Magnolias Bloom

Introducing the brand-new Magnolia Pendant 2919, just in time for spring!


Each Magnolia light fixture is unique, made up of hand-formed acrylic petals that can be moved and adjusted independently of one another, creating your very own individual bloom.

Dimensions: 25" x 25" x 25"
Weight: 17 lbs
Adjustable on-site suspension height
Incandescent or fluorescent lamping available

Click here to go directly to the Magnolia 2919 Project page.

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Fire Farm Takes the Stage (Again)

The Elkader Opera House, built in 1903, is one of several Elkader sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and home to the local Opera House Players. After years of a variety of different uses, the Opera House underwent extensive renovation in 2003 to restore it to its 1903 glory. Much of the restoration work was completed through volunteer efforts and donations; one of Fire Farm's contributions was re-painting the decorative stanchions for 450 seats with new powder-coat paint finish. Today the Opera House remains an active community venue, regularly hosting plays, musicals, concerts, recitals and lectures.

When we at Fire Farm started brainstorming ways to showcase the new Constellation pendants, the Opera House space came up as a, well, no-brainer. Not only do we have a special local connection to the Opera House, but back in 1990, Fire Farm itself emerged from founders Ben and Adam's previous work in theater and theatrical lighting. What better debut for our stars than back on the beloved stage?

Last week the Fire Farm team worked on flying the four fixtures above the stage, in preparation for our photoshoot this week (which will yield more goodies than just still images: we have plans for fun video clips, too, just you wait!). Get a more complete behind-the-scenes look of the photoshoot in the Facebook gallery here.

Visit Constellation Project 2913 page here for more information.

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How to Decorate Like it's 1956, part 9

[This is a recurring post dedicated to highlighting snippets of "Chapter 7: Lighting" from Fire Farm's copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, published in 1956. To see all posts from this series, click here.]

Celebrate spring by drawing the shades and parking yourself in front of your flatscreen! Well, perhaps that's not the best way to usher in the beautiful weather. The next time you do find yourself in front of the tube, however, take note of your home entertainment system's lighting conditions. Because, you know, eyes are helpful when looking at things, so the less you tax them, the better.

Balance lighting for television

"Television comfort requires balanced, all-around lighting as shown here. There is light coming from the tube almost ten times as bright as the reflected light on a movie screen, so your eyes need compensating light from other sources--but without a glare.

Good additions to the light from the screen are cove lighting or torcheres reflecting against a light-colored ceiling, or a lamp with a translucent shade. The latter is better for your eyes if it is not placed directly on the set."

[Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Publishing Company, 1956. Print.]

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Busted! April First Jellyfish Report Turns Out To Be Not Completely True

Let's get real folks, nobody really believed that these marvelous fixtures were actually jellyfish residing in Elkader (but if you did, that's OK too). However, they were in fact inspired by those beautiful creatures, Chrysaora Colorata. Not exactly a "smack" or "bloom," but an amazingly complex and gorgeous multiple-fixture Fire Farm Lighting project.

Above, the "jellyfish" in question. Upon further investigation, they turned out not to be actual members of any genus or species, but are still pretty cool anyway. Photographs by Jim Walch.

They have left our warehouse, not via our scenic Turkey River, but by motor and then marine freight to their final destination in the Bahamas where they will grace a 50-foot tall atrium.

Pictured: Jerel "Jack" Palas, Acrylic and Refraction Specialist.

These five fixtures are unbelievably light in weight, but pack a very substantial visual impact! All fabricated from an array of proprietary materials and processes, right here in Elkader, Iowa.

These pieces, as with most Fire Farm creations, can be modified to accommodate your wildest vision or dream.

Jim Walch of Fire Farm

Breaking News: New Species of Jellyfish Discovered in Small-Town Iowa

APRIL 1, 2010. Elkader, Iowa
A smack* of giant jellyfish appeared in Fire Farm's warehouse early Tuesday afternoon, much to the surprise of local residents. Says one witness, "I've never seen a real jellyfish before. They seem to like it here."

The Iowan jellyfish in their "new favorite hang-out" spot.

Local jellyfish experts believe the glowing jellies were migrating up the Mississippi River before taking a scenic detour onto the Turkey River, which flows straight through Elkader. Although the exact species is unknown, they bear a striking resemblance to another aquatic Fire Farm creature, affectionately named Project 2748.

Elkader residents have begun calling the jellyfish "Project 3060," thanks to their close resemblance to the previously discovered Project 2748 (above right). "We think they might be first or second cousins," says someone who knows a bunch about genetics.

It is unclear exactly how long they will stay, but the rural community has welcomed the visitors with its usual warm hospitality. "We have a lot to offer tourists, so I'm not surprised they decided to stick around," says one Elkader resident. "We're really hoping they'll spread the word to all of their friends."

*Yes, that's what a group of jellyfish is called. Also: bloom or swarm.

Constellation: Designer's Notes

We thought you might be interested in seeing how our upcoming Constellation series all came about.

Says Adam Pollock, the designer:

"This is one of those development ideas that abides its own schedule. Ten years ago I was inspired by the moiré patterns created with alternating panels of perforated stainless steel sheet metal. I fabricated a small 1ft star as a mockup but then set it aside as my attention was drawn elsewhere. This seed lay dormant for years.

For the past two years I have been staring at a tiny paper star-shaped night-lantern that hangs in my children’s bedroom. Every night it would remind me of the long-lost metal star. Finally its own time arrived and that seed was nurtured to maturity with the help of all the staff at Fire Farm."

Below, the original sheet metal star that started it all, and the paper lantern that re-inpsired the idea.

Click here for more blogs about the Constellation Series.

Click here to visit the Project 2913 page.

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How to Decorate Like it's 1956, part 8

[This is a recurring post dedicated to highlighting snippets of "Chapter 7: Lighting" from Fire Farm's copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, published in 1956. To see all posts from this series, click here.]

Raise your hand if your phonograph is properly lit. Anyone? No? Well that's a shame. How ever else will you listen to music if you can't set the needle correctly? Read on and learn how to fix this very modern-day problem. No? Well, read on anyway.

Built-in light is convenient

"Brighten up your storage shelves with built-in lighting, and add both beauty and convenience. Inside the phonograph you could add a light which turns on when you raise the lid. Or install such a light in the box where you store winter blankets and clothes.

If you're annoyed by a tangle of appliance cords around the night stand, 'build' light into stand so only one cord runs to the wall outlet. Use a 'table tap' like an extension cord with a flattened double outlet."

[Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Publishing Company, 1956. Print.]

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Constellation Sensation

Last week we gave you a sneak peek of our upcoming Constellation series, but as gorgeous as still images of these pieces are, it's nothing compared to the effect of walking around them.

So, we walked around them for you! Here's a video shot last week (we were shooting stars... heh heh heh) to show the fantastic color changes of the dichroic diffusers as you move around the fixture. Incredible, right?



Constellation Series

Available in:
3ft, 6ft, 9ft, and 12ft approximate diameters
Black, white, or stainless steel perforated metal points
White or color-changing dichroic diffusing petals
Incandescent or fluorescent lamping

Click here to visit the Project 2913 page.

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Star Light, Star Bright...

Yet another internal project of ours is nearing completion, almost ready for an unveiling. You'll notice from the sneak-peek photo above that the piece resembles a star. A bright, new star. A piece of star light. Oh, the pun-ny possibilities!

And so we ask you, dear readers, what witty wordsmithing should we employ in our upcoming starry, red-carpet rollout? Calling all pretty puns and corny quips, please!
 
Either leave your ideas in a comment below, or join in on our Facebook page.

Click here to visit the Project 2913 page.

New Pearls

We in the R&D department are getting very excited about some new internal projects nearing completion. We'll be unveiling them soon; until then, here's a sneak peek at two in particular:

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How to Decorate Like it's 1956, part 7

[This is a recurring post dedicated to highlighting snippets of "Chapter 7: Lighting" from Fire Farm's copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, published in 1956. To see all posts from this series, click here.]

This week's pearl is dedicated to all of you gamers out there (and we're not talking Xbox-ers), wherever you may be. Yes, even at play, lighting can make or break the experience. Here we're informed that one strong light source is not ideal, "for your eyes glance about." Oh, and I feel obligated to point out: the ladies are winning. How perfectly marvelous!

Light for play and work

"For easier seeing at cards, sewing, and reading, you need at least a 150-watt bulb. But you will need other lights in the room, for your eyes glance about. The stronger one light is, the greater is the danger of too much contrast.

The chandelier pictured is a pulley type that draws down so that beams fall on the cards but never directly on the eyes. Another good lamp for card playing is the swing-arm bridge type, used with a glass reflecting bowl."

[Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Publishing Company, 1956. Print.]

Pendant Patterns

One of the Fire Farm staff, Bob Griffith, brought in a picture of one of our pendants he made for his granddaughter. Instead of the usual frosted bulb, Bob put a clear bulb in the fixture which threw some spectacular patterns on the ceiling and nearby walls.

Click here to visit the Paper Ceiling Pendant (Body Type P) stock product page.

(Note: This fixture is modified slightly from our stock version in that the interior is painted white, and the exterior painted forest green.)





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How to Decorate Like it's 1956, part 6

[This is a recurring post dedicated to highlighting snippets of "Chapter 7: Lighting" from Fire Farm's copy of the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book, published in 1956. To see all posts from this series, click here.]

Aaand we're back in the New Year with another pair of primo, prodigious, possibly pedantic paragraphs. Plus an illuminating illustration, of course. This week we learn the effects of dark- and light-walled rooms, and how they should inform your lighting decisions.

Adjust light brilliance to color

"Shiny and light-toned surfaces throw back the light, while dark surfaces soak it up. If you choose dark walls, plan to use more lamps and bigger, brighter bulbs. Keep the ceiling color light, so light will reflect. Average-size rooms need at least five lamps distributed around them, assuming there are pale walls and ceilings in the rooms.

Some ways to add light to a dark-walled room are by the use of mirrors, translucent shades or groupings of spot-lights, as shown in drawing here."

[Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book. Des Moines, IA: Meredith Publishing Company, 1956. Print.]

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Sun + Wave = Awe

An Orion Wave on a shop table, waiting to be shipped out -- lit only by the morning sun coming through the window.

Coming to work in the morning to discover moments like this = Priceless.

Click here for Project 22802-01 (Orion Wave).

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Think Big with Fire Farm

At 11 feet in diameter and 3 feet tall, these cylindrical shades, which just went out the door, rank as some of the larger lighting sculpture/fixtures we have built to date.

Their scale required fabrication in four sections to fit in the truck and through the door. We estimate it will take about one hour to install each one, and each will weigh less than 450 lbs hanging. Each fixture uses high-efficiency T5 fluorescent bulbs.

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Lois Retires from Fire Farm

One of the first employees hired after Fire Farm's move from California to Iowa, Lois Ott is now our first retiree. After eight years in the Production Department, Lois will no longer be found fashioning beautiful mesh shades for our fixtures.

Being an expert mesh-folder, Lois came up with a folding design all her own, resulting in what has been named the "Loie" lamp (pictured above), which will become an addition to our stock product line.

Thanks, Lois, for all of your dedication and hard work -- we'll miss you!

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Here at Fire Farm, we really get into our work...

Fire Farm Introduces Latest Fashion Craze: Wearing the Wave

Happy New Year to all!

Click here for Project 22802-01 (Orion Wave)

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