Take light fixtures up a notch with two lines of Southern-made toppers.
A Renaissance woman for our time, Charlestonian Helen Rutledge has held many stylish careers over the years. Most recently, she relaunched her beloved Bibelot Home boutique with a lampshade focus. The tastemaker’s new working studio at the Navy Yard is tucked inside the larger Fritz Porter showroom, allowing her small team of artisans access to thousands of to-the-trade fabrics on-site. Rutledge’s favorite designs are her limited-edition collections fashioned from rare and unusual textiles. “The possibilities are endless,” says the former antiques dealer, who still sources from her tested network of global suppliers. Dozens more designs can be purchased off the floor or swiftly made to order. Exciting collaborations roll out regularly, while Rutledge also offers a rapid 10-day turnaround for fully custom requests.
Knoxville-based brand Ciélle Home embraces flights of fancy. Though founder Cielle Song may have begun her career in corporate finance, a move to Tennessee and decorating a new home reignited her creative passions. Song’s newfound sewing skills are to thank for the chic box-pleated lampshades she launched this spring following two years of textile development. Structured and feminine, “like a high-waist pleated skirt,” her designer-loved collection puts a modern spin on classic European style (à la crisp white over aged ivory). A twist on chinoiserie just joined her core line of solid, color-blocked, rickrack, petite floral and cabana-stripe styles. Look for a whimsical new stripes line this spring, with lamp bases to follow come summer.
