Historical Context

With Mid 20th Century Modern style flourishing well into the 21st century, all lighting styles from the era have had a resurgence in popularity. The classic "Globe Pendant," never fell out of favor. Going back as far as the earliest eras of Modernism, this elegant design of a spherical shade on a streamlined holder, was a decorative staple in public spaces. It ticked all the boxes for midcentury modern: form following function, lack of ornamentation, organic shape, and use of both traditional materials and new technologies (blown glass plus spun steel or aluminum).

photo: office interior and furniture by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatsching c.1942

As Modernism became more entrenched, globe pendants began to appear in residential and small commercial architecture as well. Acrylic shades were added to the mix, making them even more affordable. They were stylish, pleasing to the eye, and right at home in high-end or modest spaces.

Better Homes and Gardens, 1963. Photo source:  link

Set of Mad Men. Photo source: link

Globe Pendants from Hip Haven

If you've followed Hip Haven for very long, you know that we are serious devotees of MCM. We notice every detail in vintage items and strive to emulate their finish, weight, and overall high quality in our reproductions.

For over a decade, Hip Haven has been the most comprehensive resource on the web for globe pendant options. We have a broad range of sizes, plated and powder coated finishes, stem or cord hanging, and for interior or damp-rated areas. Glass shades are available from 6 to 16 inches in diameter and are hand blown, heavy-duty globes sourced exclusively in the USA. Our acrylic shades range from 6 to 36 inches in diameter, and are also of the highest quality available and made in the USA. Our finishes are powder coat, rather than paint, and we use brass, steel, or aluminum components and hardware, as well as UL approved electrical components.

Historically, our globe pendants, with all their varied options, have been made-to-order and lead time was anywhere from two to four weeks, but as of now, we are stocking our most popular variations in a “Quickship” program, and adding additional options to the offering over time. It is hard to predict demand, so we may occasionally sell out before more arrive, but we will do our best to maintain a selection of quick and affordable options for your fast-track design projects. Find options within the current "Quickship"selection here.

Over the years, certain "Frequently Asked Questions" have emerged about the our globe pendants. We have attempted to answer all of them in this Globe Pendant FAQ page.

Below are selection of a customer-supplied photos of our globe pendants in use. As time goes on, we will continue to add more, so please send us your pics! 

Globe Pendant installation at Dolcezza Gelateria, Fairfax Virginia

Leonard Residence, 16 inch Globe Pendant

Starlight Village front entry, featuring 16 inch acrylic globe pendant on stem.

Starlight Village kitchen, featuring 8 inch acrylic globes in bronze, with bronze hardware (special order). Photo by Meredith Tankersley.

Starlight Village dining area, featuring custom fixture with glittery mint green powder coat and clear acrylic shade. Photo courtesy Love and Renovations blog.

Starlight Village stairwell, featuring 18 inch globe pendant with black hardware and white shade.

Starlight Village swimming pool, featuring 20 inch white globe pendants.

The example illustrated below is a Jack-o’-lantern face on one of our hot orange Retro Bullet Planters, but you could just as easily add a ghost face or flying bats to a white planter, a skull or spider to a black planter, or alien eyes or a witch's face to one of our chartreuse planters!

For the Classic Jack-o’-lantern:

1) Using a black, self-adhesive material such as contact paper (or in our case, a self-adhesive “glitter foam" sheet), you first need to create the face. On the back of the material, draw or trace the eyes, nose and mouth of the Jack-o’-lantern design you’ve selected. For design ideas, find templates-a-plenty, here. For those who want to skip the crafting and get straight to the decorating, we’ve found ready-made pumpkin face decals, here.

2) Then, cut out your design with ordinary scissors.

3) Next, remove the adhesive backing from your material and adhere the cut-outs to your bullet planter bowl however you like!

3) Now, place a container with the display of your choice inside. As you can see, we’ve used our giant aloe for one pumpkin display and black glitter roses for another.

Tall Retro Bullet Planter with Hot Orange Bowl

Medium Retro Bullet Planter with Hot Orange Bowl

Because all of the decor in this project is easily removable, you can simply detach the stickers and clean your planter with any countertop degreaser once the festivities are over. Welcome back your stylish midcentury modern planter…at least until it’s time to decorate for Thanksgiving!

PS: You can also transform your Mini Retro Bullet Planter into a cute midcentury-themed candy bowl. The tangerine color shown below is a limited edition color, available while they last (no longer available--but black Mini Bullet Planters are!)

I decided to celebrate the change of season, and upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday by trying my hand at making a cornhusk wreath. Though this idea is not new, I wanted to come up with a design that would have a Danish Modern aesthetic, blending traditional methods and natural materials with a minimalist modern design. After experimenting a bit with the corn husks (which are very particular in what they will or won't do!) I found that accordion folding them into little fans, and layering them in a sunburst shape around the wreath, made a lovely design.

If you'd like to try it too, here are the materials and how-tos:

Time: This is a more involved project than most we have had on the blog, in that it requires painting and folding 50 plus corn husks. I painted the corn husks one evening and left them to dry overnight. I folded the husks into fans while watching a movie at home the next night, and glued it all together on a third day. So even though the whole project took about 3 hours and was over several days, much of that time was spent multitasking.

Materials:

corn husks (one package of tamale wrappers was enough)

12 inch wreath frame

scissors 

paint (I used a layer of gold acrylic paint, but a clear acrylic varnish would work and leave it the natural color)

hot glue gun

glue sticks

gold floral wire

natural raffia (optional)

gold wooden beads

Steps:

1) First, soak the husks in warm water to soften them and make them more pliable. Pat dry.

2) Cut them in half horizontally (not all the husks will be large enough to use for this project, but there still should be plenty to make 50 or so "fans.")  You will end up with half of them roughly rectangular in shape, and half shaped more like a wedge. Both work equally well for creating the little "fans."

3) Paint the pieces one one side. The acrylic paint seemed to make the make them stay more pliable as they were folded into fans, and I liked the slightly metallic gold sheen,  but this step could be eliminated.

4) After the paint has dried thoroughly, accordion fold each piece and tie at the bottom with floral wire. Press the wire flat with the fan in the "open position"

5) Separate the longer vs. shorter fans. The longer ones will be the first layer. The shorter ones will be the top layer, so cover their wire with some natural raffia ribbon to give them a more polished look. Some of the progress photos here don't show this, because it was an afterthought, but I went back and added it after the fact and liked the look.

6) Use hot glue to place the first layer. Try laying them out first before gluing, to check the placement.

7) Add the top layer. Top layer pieces go in between the fans on the first layer to fill the space. Try to align the wired ends to create a fairly even circle.

8) Add the beads with a length of floral wire. Place them on top of the wires on the first layer pieces between the bases of the second layer pieces. Push the wires through to the back and twist to hold them. Note that in the final version, I went back and covered the wires of the top layer pieces with raffia. I did not cover them in the bottom layer because the beads cover the wires.

9) Trim the rough edges (not too perfectly--just enough to make nice circular shape. 

10) Hang it in a place of pride. For now it's in our showroom, but when we break for Thanksgiving, it's going home with me to hang on my front door!

The original motor inn on Beverly Boulevard is a third generation family property beloved to hipsters and traveling bands. To tackle the project, Shawn Hausman Design teamed up with Koning Eizenberg Architecture on their third project together. The two firms had previously collaborated on the Downtown Standard Hotel and the Hollywood Hills Hotel. Together, they took on the challenge to revamp the hotel’s public spaces, bedrooms and furnishings throughout, seeking to keep the spirit intact and reference its midcentury beginnings. Ideally situated in central Los Angeles, the hotel’s décor is chic and modern - reflecting that trendy, fresh atmosphere now permeating the cosmopolitan ambiance of this California city. To discuss the hotel's redesign, we spoke with Jessica Kimberly of SHD.

Photo by Tim Street-Porter

Please, tell us a little bit about the company and your role within it.

Shawn Hausman Design is a boutique design firm that proudly maintains a hands on approach. I'm Shawn’s partner in both life & work, and have been for more than 19 years. 

Photo by Tim Street-Porter

What has been the main inspiration behind this design?

The hotel itself. As you mentioned, the Beverly Laurel is a midcentury treasure beloved to West Hollywood. It is a symbol of California motel ethos and ideal for travelers looking to savor a moment of the Los Angeles lifestyle. The property has maintained this feeling for three generations. A family business, it was conceived, built and run by the parents and grandparents of its current owners. At SHD, we drew on our ongoing relationship with the family and our passion for midcentury design in the city of Los Angeles as inspiration.

Product featured: Hip Haven Jellyfish Pendant, Photo by Tim Street-Porter

What would you say are the overarching design styles you’ve chosen to incorporate into the space?

While conceptualizing the design, it was important for us to maintain the hotel's original midcentury casualness, while making the redesign feel like an upgrade. We aimed to make sure rooms felt bright and happy as well comfortable.

Product Featured: Single Bullet Sconce, Photo by Tim Street-Porter

How did you initially come to hear of Hip Haven and their midcentury modern decor and lighting products?

Hip Haven had been on in our periphery view for quite a while, but we only developed a relationship fully when we were introduced at the ICFF show in New York City in 2013.

Product Featured: Hip Haven Jellyfish Pendant, Photo by Tim Street-Porter

What would you say you love most about working with Hip Haven and their products? We have always had a respect of the medium that is fiberglass and Kelley at Hip Haven really pushes the envelope.

Product Featured: Hip Haven Double Bullet Sconce, Photo by Tim Street-Porter

We set out to find ways to style our Retro Bullet Planters for Valentine's decor and gifts, but it was so much fun, we just kept going! These cheery paper crafts were just the thing for dressing up our space, and we hope you'll enjoy them as much as we have. 

Here are the how-tos for making festive cut-paper Accordion Flowers, 3-D Valentines, garlands, and hanging Valentine ornaments...

MATERIALS: 

8 1/2 x 11 brightly colored office paper (heavy bond, not cardstock)

medium or small scissors for precision work

thin cardboard for stencils (a recycled cereal box works great for this)

glue-stick

pencil

ruler

stapler

chopsticks or skewers and a hot glue gun if making floral picks

hole punch and string if making the Valentine Ornament

ACCORDION FOLD FLOWERS 

There are several methods online for making these, with varying degrees of complexity, but this technique is the one we found the easiest to do using easily sourced supplies.

We made our flowers in two sizes--the large size, approximately 8.5 inches in diameter requires 3 sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper, and the smaller 5.5 inch diameter, requires 1.5 sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper.

1) Accordion-fold a half sheet for small, or a full sheet for large, into eight sections. You can do more folds for finer pleats, but we found eight the easiest to fold without measuring.

3) On the side with the closed tops of the folds only, cut a design. We cut half a heart shape, to open into a full heart shape, and also rounded off the ends of the rectangle to look like the top of a heart.

4) Fold the pleated and already-cut piece of paper in half, and glue the inner sides together to create a fan. Make an additional two fans. Glue all these fans together, side to side, until they create a full circle. We used three fans for our flowers, but four work well too if you want tighter folds.

5) If using your Accordion Fold Flower for a for a floral pick, use hot glue or other fast drying glue to attach a chopstick or skewer to the back.

6 ) For an even more fabulous version, hot glue a small flower to the center of a large flower!

Et Voila!

3-D VALENTINE CARD

1) Create a template for your heart shapes using thin cardboard. We used a recycled cereal box to make ours. 

2) Create a card using a letter size sheet of cardstock folded in half, or use a pre-made blank card.

3) Fold one side of your colored paper to a width that will be just enough for your heart template, and place the straight side on the fold. Outline the template with a pencil and cut out. Repeat, cutting out 12-15 hearts in the colors of your choice. We did red and pink, as well as rainbow for our designs.

4) Glue the first heart to the center of the card.

5)Next, glue a folded heart on the left side, and another on the right side, and continue to repeat until you have only one heart left.

6) Glue down the last heart shape in the middle of your card. Spread that heart out across the two folded ones below, and that will be the center of your 3-D shape.

7) After the glue has dried, fan out the shapes to spread them out evenly, and you have a 3-D heart! If you're putting your card in an envelope, press the two sides down evenly. When it's removed from the envelope it will unfurl a bit on its own, but might need a little help opening all the way.

8) Don't limit yourself to traditional Valentine colors. Bright colors in any combo work well too!

3-D VALENTINE FLOWER PICK

Using the same techniques as used for the 3-D card, create a 360 degree 3-D heart to use as a hanging ornament, or as in our case, as a floral pick. Simply glue a skewer in the center, and glue together the open sides to form a circle.

\

POP UP VALENTINE CARD

1) Accordion fold your paper to slightly less than the width of your template, and trace the outline.

2) Cut only the bottom edge and the top edge, being sure to leave the folded edges intact.

3) Unfold the shape and test out the location that will allow the card to open and close easily. Compress the folds back together, add glue to the outer surfaces, and close the card to glue them in place.

4) To add some interest to the front of the card, add more hearts in a design to your liking.

PAPER CHAIN HEART GARLAND

We took the easy route and used a paper cutter and a stapler on this project. You can use a ruler and cut the strips by hand, but if you have access to a paper cutter, it's the best choice. Glue works in the place of a stapler, but if you're making a long chain, a stapler is best.

1) Cut strips approximately 1 inch wide across the short side of a letter sized page.

2) Pinch together four strips, and staple about 1.5 inches from one end.

3) Fold down the two outer strips add one more to each side, which will create the next heart in the chain, then form a heart shape with the center two, and staple again about 1.5 inches from this end. Now the two hanging strips become the next heart shape, and these steps are repeated for as many chain links as you want.

HANGING PAPER HEART ORNAMENT

1)This ornament uses the same idea as the garland, but with more layers and sizes. Start this one with 8 strips, cut front the long side of a letter sized page, and leave the two strips in the center pointing upward. Use a paper clip to position the strips of paper to form three hearts, trim the excess length, then staple.

2) Punch a hole in the upward pointing strips and hang as an ornament.

After making all these fun projects, we are now people who decorate for Valentine's (who knew?!) Maybe you will be too!

Supplies:

1. A dried branch

2. Black paint (this can be tempera for smaller children, acrylic for older ages, and spray paint for adults)

3. Black card stock

4. Paintbrush, pencil, scissors

5. Fine fishing line (monofilament), and a needle

6. Floral foam or other material to serve as a base

Instructions:

1. Select a dry branch of the size you want to display

2. Paint most of the branch, holding an unpainted area. Allow it to dry and then come back for the rest.

3. While the branch is drying, make some bats. Using half a sheet of cardstock (smaller or bigger depending on your branch), fold it in half like you would a valentine heart. In pencil, draw the outline of half a bat. Cut it out and unfold for a complete bat.

4. Flatten the bat, then using a large needle poke a hole about 1/4 inch down from the top of its head. Thread through a length of fishing line, and tie a knot. Create a slip knot on the opposite end, and place it on the desired branch.

5. To "plant" your branch in the container of your choice, you may use a piece of floral foam for smaller branches, or a flower pot full of supporting material for a larger branch. We secured our small branch in the Mini Bullet Planter using just floral foam. For the larger branch in our Retro Bullet Planter we used floral foam wedged tightly in an empty flower pot, which gave it extra weight. Both were covered over using Spanish Moss.  

We are thrilled with the results and hope you will be too!

Here's our Mini version...

And the larger version...

This project is super simple, but is a great look for indoor or outdoor decor. You might "branch" off from this idea with other themes, like witches, owls, ghosts, spiders, or eyeballs hanging from the branches. The possibilities are endless!