Since so many people were out of town (or just offline) last week, we're re-posting this today in the hope that everyone's feeling a bit more vocal about their love of lighting.
We're nearing the end of the year, and culling a list of Top Shops is an AT ritual. We'll roll out the categories over the next several weeks, trading off between nominations and voting.
Since we have lighting on the brain we're starting with Best Lighting.
What are the Bay Area's best shops for lighting? Use the comments section to sing the praises of your faves, and next week we'll build a survey based on your responses.
SOMA sofas has some really cool lights that are not too expensive. http://www.soma-sofa.com
Amy: No lights are listed on their website ... is there another link?
I just visited Victor's Lights today on Palou, a contractors special kind of place, buried over near industrial/bayshore. Needed some additional pieces for my Chandelier and they had it all.. Also had some real interesting pieces for sale.
I think City Lights is just ok, but extremely overpriced.
I really enjoy lighting, but I mostly buy through the internet. However, I do love browsing through all the fixtures at IKEA. So reasonably priced but not the generic stuff you see everywhere else.
Garrett: No, I don't know of another website. I've just seen them while walking through the store.
Here are some of my favorite lighting showrooms and stores that I use or have used for client projects.
High-end & Designer:
1. Artemide Showroom in the Jackson Square design area.
2. Isgro & Company on Sacramento Street makes some of the most amazing custom hand cut crystal chandeliers fabricated in the Chez Republic.
3. De Sousa Hughes at the San Francisco Design Center.
Affordable Designer:
1. Bellacor.com (they are online only) has a great selection of all types of lighting at great prices.
2. The Other Shop on Divisadero has vintage and second hand furniture, lighting and other nic-nacs. It's hit and miss though so you have to sometimes go on a regular basis to find really unique pieces. And the prices are reasonable.
3. E-bay. If you have time to keep up some of the auctions, it's well worth it. You can find high end fixtures (some new some used) to fit a small budget.