CaseStudy Design, has become locally popular for their unique light fixtures that are made out of … wait for it … books! If you’re as surprised as I was when I first learned about CaseStudy Design and its owner/founder/designer Chall Gray, who are engaged in the practice of upcycling old things like books into lovely light fixtures, then read on for an interesting interview with a book-lover turned lamp designer.

1. Hello, Chall, and thanks for talking with me. First, can you tell me a little about your background and upbringing?

I’m a native of western North Carolina, and grew up on a farm out in the country. Design was something that gradually became more and more central to my life and predilections the older I’ve gotten.

2. So you’ve grown up surrounded by upcyclable things. That makes me wonder: Why books? Why not make lamps out of tissue boxes, skulls, or aluminum cans?

4. What are your goals with Case Study Design? What does the future look like?

I currently work full-time as VP at Thirsty Monk, where we have a series of beer and cocktail bars and a brewery, so I’m only able to devote so much time to CaseStudy, but it’s a central passion of my life, and luckily production doesn’t depend on my schedule because our Production Manager crafts the lights in our shop in West Asheville. As of this week our lights will be on display in Downtown Books & News, a great used bookstore in downtown Asheville, and we’re also working on a design collaboration with a local audio company on a set of home speakers, actually, which is a fun side-project. I’d love to grow the business to having a larger retail presence over the next couple of years, but really, we’re having a blast just designing and building lights.

6. Who are some of your favorite designers, lighting or otherwise?

My influences are pretty varied, but a few touchstones are the architect Tom Kundig, whose work I go back to time and time again, the shoe designer John Fluevog, and watchmaker George Daniels. The great modernists of the 20th Century, Frank Lloyd Wright, Saarinen, Eames, etc. And in terms of lighting, Ingo Maurer and Ilse Crawford immediately spring to mind.

Conclusion: Chall Gray and his CaseStudy Design Firm are doing impressive things with upcycled materials and here!

There are always things that need to get done around the house. Some of those jobs tend to be more obvious than others. Things like repainting the walls, fixing the brick pathway or oiling squeaky door hinges tend to be more obvious. However, there are some little things that deserve our attention as well. Little things that are silent, but ignored or used improperly, they can become extremely dangerous. We are referring to the electrical outlets in the home. Little, insignificant and rarely focused on outlets pose a threat explains your Pasadena electrician. The team at The Electric Connection wants you to know you can help make your home a little safer by giving those outlets some well-deserved attention.

There are too many homes that do not have the GFCI outlets in the kitchen and bathroom areas. These outlets have been designed to trip the breaker within a split second of the circuit being interrupted. This one little feature can save lives by preventing electric shock. If you are not sure what the outlets are or whether you already have them or not, a quick visual will tell you the story explains an electrician in Pasadena. A GFCI outlet will have 2 small buttons in the center of the outlet between the top and bottom plug-ins. If the circuit is interrupted, you will want to unplug whatever device triggered the trip and push the reset button.

This one small feature is an important safety feature, especially when water is nearby, like the kitchen or bath areas. It is an inexpensive, quick upgrade that could save lives, prevent minor shocks and electrical shortages that could result in a fire. If you are ready to make this minor change, call your electrician. Pasadena homeowners will appreciate the additional safety precaution. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your GFCI installation.

Scheduling regular electrical inspections is critical to the operation and safety of your major home devices. Having a licensed electrician check out all your systems can not only help prevent house fires and shocks, but will also ensure your refrigerators, computers, lights, and entertainment systems are running effectively and without issue. Your electrical inspection can also help you identify any issues with your systems before they become more severe, saving you money on costly repairs and preventing a breakdown at the worst possible time.

When you schedule an electrical inspection for your home in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington, DC, you can expect the electrician to:

Upon completion of your electrical inspection, your electrician may recommend repairs for any issues they notice during the visit. Minor issues may be remedied on the spot, but more extensive problems will likely require you to schedule a separate appointment.

At Kolb Electric, we want you and your family to be safe in your home at all times. An electrical inspection can give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is safe and all your major appliances are running properly. We can also help you address any electrical issues we may discover during the inspection, saving you the major hassle of a complete breakdown in the future.

To schedule your electrical inspection in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Washington, DC, call us at 877 287-1179 or fill out an online contact form. We’ve been helping Mid-Atlantic homeowners like you with all their electrical needs since 1925!

There are a lot of reasons to love your older home.  Whether it’s a part of history or simply more cost effective than buying a brand new home, older homes can be just as nice as a newly built home with the right care.  Unfortunately, that level of care is often overlooked when it comes to old home wiring.  As technology has progressed in the home building industry, especially when it comes to home electrical, we have learned many safer ways to provide power to all of your appliances and gadgets.  We have also learned that many of the techniques that were used on older homes can lead to a dangerous situation for you and your family.

Here are a few things that you can look out for to help make sure your home’s wiring is up to date and safe:

Each of these issues can be a sign that your home has out of date wiring, and if you notice any of them in your home, you should have it checked by a licensed Dallas electrician to ensure that your home is as safe as possible.

For more information on  older home electrical issues, or to find out how to contact ElectricMan Inc. to discuss your own home’s electrical system, please visit us at www.ElectricManInc.com