Light fittings are often overlooked but they really can take a good room and make it look a lot more resolved. We have been sloooooowwwwly replacing these shoddy light fittings in our joint. We’ve just done the lounge and dining and here’s what it looks like now:

Cool huh? I love the texture and warmth they add.

I love low-hanging lights but because of our low ceilings, this is actually as low as we could hang the pendant in the lounge area without The Man’s head banging into it. But if we hung the one in the dining area at the same height it would sit awkwardly between the laundry door the ceiling beam. I wanted to hang it low and centred over the table, but it wasn’t worth the expense of moving the socket, so we looped the cords and hung it from the beam instead.

We were wracking our brains for weeks trying to figure out a way to loop it through so that it would stay there. The guy at the hardware store suggested adhesive cord managers but that was complete fail. I don’t know why it took me so long but I finally I worked out that we could use fishing line to attach the pendant’s inner metal frame to the cup hook in the beam. Success!

Here are the before and afters, starting with the dining area:

And the lounge…

I’d had my eye on these babies for the longest time but never quite had the budget for them, then I spotted them for like 60% off at Beacon so I quickly snapped them up. You’ve gotta love a project like that!

I’m excited to announce that Akimbo will be selling at its first kids’ market, Mathilda’s Market. It’s in late November so it’s perfect to come and do all your Christmas shopping for your children, nieces and nephews (as well as plenty to spoil yourself!).

Christmas Mathilda’s Market Adelaide
Saturday 26 November 2011
The Burnside Ballroom
Corner Greenhill & Portrush Roads, Tusmore
9am to 1pm

It’s not just in Adelaide, though. There are markets all over Australia:

Brisbane – Saturday 19 November

Perth – Sunday 13 November

Melbourne – Sunday 27 November

Hobart – Sunday 6 November

Sydney – Sunday 4 December

Canberra – Sunday 20 November

See full details of times and locations.

Put it in your diary and I hope to see some of you there!

Today I have an exciting first for Atypical Type A: we have a guest blogger! Without further ado, please welcome Susi from Arcadian Lighting.

Hi, I’m Susi, a writer from Arcadian Lighting, a website and blog about décor and lighting fixture trends. I’m so lucky to be a guest blogger here at Atypical Type A today. I’m writing about unexpected decorative accessories that can add charm and style to any room. Whether the accessory is unexpected or the location is unexpected, unique decorative objects and accessories make a space feel personal. Enjoy!

Framing a single beautiful object, like a feather, can be an unexpected decorative accessory for the wall.

Love the unexpected mix of rustic and contemporary in this stool. The top converts to a deep tray that could work as an ice bucket as well—now that’s unexpected!

Adding natural elements is a popular design tip. A few driftwood votive candle holders that look like bundles of white asparagus would be unexpected replacement for a lamp on a bookshelf or bedside table.

Animals are another big trend in design accessories right now. Look for animals from unexpected materials like driftwood for something more unique and rustic.

Sometimes the accessory is traditional but the placement is unexpected. A vintage portrait in the kitchen or bathroom is charming but atypical.

Wall art that doubles as coat hooks or coat hooks that double as wall art? These leaves are charming for a mudroom or foyer wall.

An unexpected accessory in the kitchen is a large mirror, but it works well in the room. Mirrors expand whatever space they are in, and in a kitchen they add a nice reflective sparkle. Reflected in that mirror is an unexpected kitchen light, a swing arm lamp, attached to the wall above the sink.

Vintage toys and collectibles are unexpected decorative accessories outside a kid’s room or a playroom. They add a bit of whimsy and make for great conversation starters. And this table lamp looks like it’s one-of-a-kind!

Unexpected accessories are the perfect way to give your home an eclectic, personal touch. Discover more interesting design ideas and unique lighting fixtures to add to your home today at Arcadian Lighting! (Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

I almost fell off my chair when I saw how beautiful the first shot is. Thanks, Susi, for inspiring us to look outside the conventional decor ideas.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I commissioned a piece from Kyleigh’s Papercuts for The Man for our first wedding anniversary and I adore it so much I had to give her some more love with a feature post.

Kyleigh hand cuts each piece from a single sheet of paper and they can be delivered either unframed or in one of her signature awesome transparent frames. She has plenty of ready-made designs featuring song lyrics in her shop or you can commission one with your own wording, such as a favourite quote or details of a birth or marriage.

This month’s Houzz guest picks combines two of my favourite things: home accessories and typography. Check out this and loads more examples in my alphabet cushion soup over at Houzz.

Hanging bottles as flower vases always look so charming and romantic, but here’s a quirky twist: using light bulbs instead!

See this clever tutorial at Free People.

Are you on Made It yet? It’s like Etsy but based in Australia so us locals don’t have to wait for a month or more for our order to arrive (but there is still international shipping for our overseas friends).

Go and have a window shop today and while you’re there, stop by Akimbo’s shop.

I actually don’t have a single rug in my home so I am completely unqualified to compile a roundup of rugs. But be a gem and don’t tell the nice people at Houzz who let me write it, mkay?

See my picks here.

Gotta love storage that you can buy for two bucks at the local Asian grocer! What would you do to reuse a spare bamboo steamer?

Shelves by Shelterness

Shelves by The Happy Home

Stationery storage by Martha Stewart | Herb planters by Home Life

Have you heard of Young Republic? It’s a hot new marketplace for quirky and innovative fashion, jewellery and homewares. There are several sites worldwide and I’m pleased to say that Akimbo has a shopfront on the Australian version. Go on and check it out!