I subscribe to Google Alerts for among other keyword strings ‘candle sleeves’ and ‘kaarskoker’.  I get many non-relevant links to stories ranging from Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind” to Juju Boy the gothic boy.  ‘kaarskoker’ alerts are treats when they announce a feature on a blog.  Last night’s ‘candle sleeve’ alert left me tempted to contact the craigslist lighting seller to find out if these are kkSKULL sleeves of if she DIY.  I cannot tell from the picture! The craigslist San Antonio posting read:

Made this for my daughter for her birthday this past spring and she’s apparently already over the girlie-goth look. Chandelier is in great working condition, hot pink with candle sleeves in a black printed with hot pink skulls. Super cute!

I just don’t know how to react to this but one thing is for certain, kaarskoker has started something!

Thanks once again to Ms. Jennifer Dwyer of The Peak of Chic!  Her write-up on the new kkCANDLESTICK including a bit of background on the company and collection was perfection.  We are so lucky to have her blog as a platform to share and learn.  Check out the full post Dress Your Candlesticks!  Remember kaarskoker candle sleeves are designed to only work with the kkCANDLESTICK (patent pending) both for design and safety purposes.

Vogue Australia is my new guilty pleasure.  More edgy than its British and U.S. counterparts as well as more colorful than Italian Vogue.  Take a look at this spread that highlights fall fashion. As discussed in blog post kkSTYLE: HOUNDSTOOTH kaarskoker candle sleeve offer an easy and inexpensive solution to bring fashion trends into your home.  As the kkCOLLECTION depicts, I have a soft spot for the bright and bold.

kkSOLID ‘Orchid’ and ‘April’s Blue’

kkCANE ‘54′

kkCLOVER ‘Chartreuse & Silver’

Using a kkCANDLESTICK to dress a corner of your home, provide a centerpiece for a table or simply express your current style interests is as easy as 1,2,3.  Keep in mind that all these very custom looks captured below were completed with 1 candlestick paired with any of the 80 styles in the kaarskoker candle sleeve collection. Are you speechless?

Canopy Blue is Madison Park boutique, which serves as a mini-Nordstrom to my neighborhood (minus the shoes!).  Among throngs of Theory, Tory Burch, Hanky Panky and my absolute favorite swimsuit collection French Fifty, they have a couple of stunning chandeliers.  To freshen up the look of the lights and the boutique for summer, owner and fashionista Kieran Malone dressed the chandeliers with kaarskoker Pink Cane candle covers.

UPDATE: How is this for Pretty In Pink?  kkCANE and kkPEACOCK both in Pink on a kkCANDLESTICK in brass.  A perfect custom candlestick to accent a large coffee table.

Tomorrow the fabulous Carrie Hayden of Great Jones Home here in Seattle has agreed to open her stunning showroom to a kaarskoker photoshoot to document the limitless possibilities with custom candlesticks.  The anxiety that can accompany shoots as you try to collect perfect styling props is non-existent with this location.  Tabletops, sidetable, coffee tables are all set with the most beautiful objets décoratif.  Still I have been browsing the web and magazines for inspiration on layout and composition.  Below are beautiful tabletop settings I collected from The City Sage.  Each kkCANDLESTICK will be topped with a beautifully colored candle from Point a la Ligne, which is a dripless French candle I look forward to offering on kaarskoker.com.

William Yeoward’s Perfect Tables is the Bible on setting a table and his beautiful use of colored glass below says it all.

House Beautiful features a slideshow favorite dining rooms of 48 designers and this has provided a great amount of inspiration as well!  I love this simple table adorned exclusively with books, flowers and candlesticks. Although, the chandeliers that hangs above is definitely missing something. hmmmmm.

The fall fashion season is punctuated with Black & White Houndstooth.  My attention was first piqued with Gwen Steffani on the cover of Elle’s July issue.  She looked so cooly sophisticated.  Since then Alexander McQueen’s use of the black jagged tooth is everywhere and will surely be copied to death.

kkHOUNDSTOOTH was ahead of the trend thanks to my obsession with checkerboard.  I realize houndstooth is not checkerboard but rather a mature, classic take on the pattern that reminds me of my beloved Vans.  Available in several colors including the absolutely stunning kkHOLIDAY HOUNDSTOOTH of Christmas green and red outlined in silver, kaarskoker candle sleeves are the perfect way to nod to this trend without an outrageous investment.

Just as I speculated in my Home Sweet Home post a couple of months ago, kaarskoker graces the Martha Stewart Veneto chandelier in September’s Country Living makeover issue.

The 5-light chandelier retails for $699 at kkREATILER Shades of Light.  Simply remove the white sleeves and trim a kaarskoker 6″ candle cover to approximately 5″. Voila!  This stunning white glass chandelier is instantly transformed and personalized.  The editors of Country Living (big thanks to Frances Bailey) chose April’s Blue Solid.  Imagine Royal or Mustard or Silver or Forest Green or Apple Red or Black….Oh My!

This week has brought record-crushing temperatures to the Northwest.  Work was shut down while play ramped up, and the beaches were packed with those playing hookie and trying to escape the heat of our homes sans AC.  Visiting Seattle’s numerous watering holes has inspired me to create my ideal beach abode: Specifically, a place to chill with my friends, boys (husband and toddler son) and a beer after a day in the sun.

I receive an email from Decorati often.  This website, which is the baby of Elle Decor and Metropolitan Home, is a resource for both pedestrians and designers to source ‘design center’ quality products.  I chose my beach-style props exclusively from Decorati.  And why not?  One of the difficulties of finalizing a design scheme is narrowing your choices.  I live by the creed ‘what you don’t know can’t taunt you!’

By nature, I gravitate toward a look inspired by the early 60s.  When I found Redwood from Duralee fabrics, I knew the scheme would start here!  Retailing for less than $40 per yard, sandy bottoms are most definitely allowed.  Lee Jofa’s Tuxedo Park sofa has relaxed luxury written all over it.  Love the button-tufted seat and knife-edge back pillows, which are exactly the bespoke details I would choose should I customize a sofa.

The lighting, of course, requires kaarskoker candle covers.  This chandelier from Remains Lighting reminds me of a captain’s wheel when peering from below.  Outfit it with kkBROWN CORAL and I can begin to smell the ocean…

A driftwood-esque coffee table is next.  This $22K Christa piece is perfect and since the beach bungalow relaxes me, perhaps, I won’t mind a few glass rings and heel marks?  Not likely.  Under the table is the ultimate blue carpet with herons nestled in opposing corners.  This rug offers comfort for bare feet and a vintage feel to my new abode.

These table lamps play on the light, share the same vintage quality as the rug (check out the brass fittings!) and complement the brown/red variations without matching. The appropriate accoutrements for all these main pieces include sea relics from Blooming Shells, loads of magazines, backgammon and cards fom T. Anthony, anchor andirons in antiqued faded Venetian Blue Paint over 22kt and brass kkCANDLESTICKS everywhere!