For The Love Of Minerals: The Designs Of Brenda Houston

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Mar 23rd 2010 at 4:02PM

Sometimes it's hard to improve on what nature provides. Few designers understand that as well as Brenda Houston who incorporates natural minerals into her jewelry and home decor designs. Houston has always been attracted to the mystical and healing properties of natural minerals. She started working with them more than 15 years ago and after traveling extensively she conceptualized a collection of lamps and accessories that make the most of the natural beauty of the stones.

The sculptural qualities of the minerals used reveal themselves in lamps, artwork and jewelry created by an artisan using select stones and gold wire. Large agate slices sit atop hardwood bases. Minerals have been used as bases to form simply spectacular lamps or sit alone mounted for contemplation and enjoyment. Each piece is signed and the couture lamps are available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. The lamps range from $1500 to $3200; the tabletop pieces are about $500 to $5000 and the tables are about $1500 each.

Gallery: Brenda Houston Designs