Introducing...the new judges for the Material Girls/Swank Lighting contest!

We have gotten great response and excitement to our Swank Lighting contest so far...thanks to everyone who has helped spread the word!

Lauren and I have decided that we are going to pull ourselves out of the judges panel so that anyone we know can enter the contest and everything is fair and square.

Here are the four new judges...drum roll please...

Judge #1- Karen Olivia (otherwise known as "Alkemie")

Karen Olivia hails from San Francisco, California. She is the author of the design blog Alkemie and lives for all things design oriented. As an avid traveler and bibliophile, she has been exposed to a broad array of cultures and design. Her hobbies include photography, adding to her various collections, dance, martial arts and continuing to trek around the world in search of that next adventure...and good food.

Judge #2- Joe Cariati

Joe Cariati is a glassblower and educator based in Los Angeles. For the past fifteen years, Joe has engaged with artists, designers and architects as a professional gaffer, realizing their designs in blown glass. Currently Joe owns and operates Joe Cariati Glass and functions as lead designer and glassblower. His current designs are receiving global attention from major retailers such as Barney's New York, Gump’s San Francisco, Space Australia, and Le Bon Marche in Paris. Joe has been a visiting Faculty at Rhode Island School of Design, California College of Art, Pilchuck Glass School and Urban Glass in New York; currently Joe teaches at California State University Fullerton in Orange County.

Judge #3- Doug Taylor

Doug Taylor is a Partner of Swank Lighting LP and is graciously providing the beautiful prizes that you all can win!

Judge #4- Julia Edelmann

Julia Buckingham Edelmann has founded her Interior Design Firm, Buckingham Interiors + Design Buckingham Interiors + Design, based on the concept that each home should have it’s own sophisticated yet funky look. It should not be overstated but subtle, not minimalistic, but comfortable. Julia has a heartfelt sentimentality for all things original and intriguing.
Specializing in an unusual twist on tradition, Julia’s dream is that all of her clients feel at home amongst collections of disparate yet congruent objects and furnishings. The home design process should be a wild and exhilarating ride! Based upon her studies at the University of Arizona, her antiques store in Cincinnati, Ohio, her design showroom in Chicago, and personal experience in 6 home historic restorations/renovations Julia and BID bring to life interior design as art.