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!

Warm weather and clear skies means it is finally barbeque season once again! May is National Barbeque Month, and we are definitely in the festive spirit. But before you get ready to fire up the grill and bust out the pool rafts, make electrical safety a priority. It might be time for an outdoor outlet upgrade to keep your parties running smoothly this summer.

So just what do you need when it comes to outdoor electrical outlets? Make certain to have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) installed outdoors for your outlets to protect from serious electrical problems. It’s also always a good idea to have additional outlets installed if possible, especially if find yourself running extension cords across your deck that have become a safety hazard.

Don’t overlook the manual warning of certain appliances that say “not for outdoor use.” It’s always safer to double-check before running into a problem later on. Make sure that electrical appliances are unplugged and turned off when not in use or left unattended.

Just like your outlets and appliances, extension cords need to be rated for outdoor use when you are using them in your backyard. If you must have extension cords running across your backyard during a barbeque, make sure to keep it out of the walkway and away from where children will be playing.

If a rainstorm begins while you’re working as a master chef outside on your electric grill, don’t be a hero for the burgers. Stay safe and head into the kitchen with a backup plan to avoid the risk of electric shock.

Don’t kick off barbeque season without getting pools and spas inspected by an electrician who can make sure you’re backyard is safe and ready for the summer. This is also a good time to make sure you know where electrical circuits and breakers are in case of an emergency.

If you need any help making your backyard barbeque-ready, our professionals can make your electrical renovations and fix-ups a breeze.

It’s always easy to tell when summer rolls around.  The temperature outside soars, and so does your electricity bill.  Wouldn’t it be great if a top Dallas electrician could save you money on your electric bill?

Everyone knows why your bills get so expensive; you’re running your AC almost all the time.  In fact, the condenser for your air conditioning unit uses more electricity during the summer months than any other appliance in your home, even notorious energy hogs like your refrigerator. There are things an electrician can do to save you money, and electric safety tips you need to know to protect your home, business, and loved ones from disaster.

These days most people call an AC service company the minute an air conditioning problem comes up.   That isn’t always the correct move, though.  In my experience, about half of all the problems that arise with air conditioning systems are electrical problems.  Some of my best customers began using my service because I could help them figure out whether they should be calling an electrician or an HVAC technician to solve their problem.  Obviously, if the problem is the AC unit or condenser, an AC repairman is the way to go, but he doesn’t necessarily understand the details of your home or business electrical system.  There are a few things you should know about your air conditioner from the electrician’s point of view.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were to lose power in your home? For most people, the inconvenience would be enormous. Food spoils, temperature control is an issue, security devices fail and you may even lose access to certain methods of communications. A certified Pasadena electrician can help you prevent these issues by installing a residential generator.

What is a Residential Generator?

A residential generator safeguards your home from the perils of power failure. It is on standby until the time you need it. It operates on natural gas or propane energy and kicks in when the main source of electricity is interrupted. It is a good investment for those who would not be able to handle an extended period of time without electricity. An electrician in Pasadena, such as one from The Electric Connection, can explain more about the benefits.

How Does the Generator Activate When Needed?

The generator is installed by a Pasadena electrical contractor through an electrical transfer switch. The switch “watches” the home’s energy source. When there is an interruption, the switch signals the generator, which in turn activates. When the main power is reconnected, the switch once again signals the generator—this time to shut off. The switch makes certain there is never more than once source of power to your home.

Choosing a Generator

Searching the web for electrician Pasadena to find someone to talk about your generator needs is the best way to go about choosing a generator. It is important to remember that generators come in different sizes, so depending on the square footage of your home, you may need a larger or smaller generator than someone else needs.

If you think a generator may be the right choice to solve your home’s power problem, call The Electric Connection or visit us at ElectricConnection.com  to talk to a Pasadena electrician about your options today.