I'm not going to say that these Recycle Lights by Johanna Keimeyer are pretty because they really aren't (in my opinion), but that doesn't mean I don't like them. Inspired to re-purpose the ugly plastic bottles we all see laying all over the place to into something use-able again, Johanna Keimeyer took a trip through Europe that resulted in this unique collection of eclectic lights that incorporate bottles from water, soda, detergent, and numerous other products. They're especially interesting to me because they look so completely different when the inner bulb is illuminated versus when it isn't. Plus with all that melting and twisting they look really fun to put together!
It's amazing how something so common and simple like a classic pair of aviator style sunglasses can be the inspiration for a gaudy (but still strangely attractive) lamp called the Celebrity Lamp. Named after the many celebrities who are more often than not spotted in public wearing their favorite shades, this lamp is made up of 40 pairs of mirrored aviator glasses resting on a shiny linear stand with a temple light switch. It's a shiny silver sculpture during daylight and becomes a kaleidoscope of color and light when turned on at night. Like I said, gaudy but strangely attractive... $1,600.
Lotus Flower Chandeliers are created by artisans combining hundreds of hand-cut capiz shells edged in metal together into large pearl and smoke colored spheres. When lit from within the pendants shimmer and shine like stained glass and look equally impressive hanging alone or in a grouping. Two sizes (13" and 21" diameters) are available from Viva Terra for $329 and $629, and in keeping with their eco-friendly and sustainable stance as many supplies as possible are recycled and reclaimed in the manufacturing of the product -- plus the company recommends using an energy saving light bulb to illuminate your new purchase.
The Polaris Floor Lamp is more like a piece of art than a lamp. Made of lacquered nylon that has been rotationally molded, it's a modern, clean piece that would work well in a corner or next to a bed or sofa. The lamp pivots, "revealing a different fluid vertical form on its satin steel footprint base." No fancy bulbs required, just one 300-watt halogen bulb (included). For atmosphere, use the floor dimmer.
A 2008 design by Marco Acerbis for Fontana Arte, it's available in glossy white, glossy black or glossy amethyst (aubergine/eggplant). Retromodern.com sells it for $1,840 (a 20% discount from the list price of $2,300). Measures 11.8" W x 76" H. Delivery in 2-4 weeks.
The latest design from superdesigner Marcel Wanders is the Flos Skygarden is a new pendant light series. The Skygarden was inspired by an antique decorated plaster ceiling in one of Wanders's previous homes. The exterior of the lamp is done in sleek glossy black, white, rust or gold. The interior shows intricate old-fashioned detail including leaves flowers and branches. The light bulb cover also has a laser cut pattern featuring one of Marcel Wanders design patterns. The design is typical of the way Wanders blends the modern and the classic. It sells for $1940.
I love this light! I'm partial to anything with nature in it but usually art and decorative pieces that include animals end up so cheesy and overdone. But Shoal 284 by Dominic Bromley is simple, classy, and really does capture the essence of shoaling fish. You can almost feel the movement! It's created by taking 284 unglazed bone china fish and stringing them by hand from a chrome steel frame to hang around a light source in the center. About 50cm wide and 1m high it's an impressive piece of art.
And if you like the look of this light but aren't into the fish so much then check out his Drawn to the Light creation.
Gallery: Dominic Bromley: 'Shoal 284' and 'Drawn to the Light'
It's all about "multimedia" these days with cell phones that double as mp3 players and iPods that play movies. But have you ever considered getting yourself a multimedia washbasin? It probably strikes you as ridiculous (and if it doesn't it probably should), but honestly I think it's actually a pretty cool idea. At least I think this interpretation, the Meltdown Sink by WET STUDIO, is a cool idea. The Meltdown functions as (of course) a sink, but in addition to that it has the following decidedly unique and weird (but totally fun and useful) multimedia features: • It glows from within in your choice of orange, lemon, white, or black. • The glow can be customized with a small static projection screen to display personalized messages, artwork, or anything else onto the sink's surface from within. • An internal amplified speaker system allows the sink to play your CDs and mp3s. No more ugly radio in the bathroom messing up your decor!
If there's one thing I always go for it's delicate sparkling lights in bunches -- half the reason I like Christmas so much is because of Christmas lights suddenly being everywhere I look. So obviously I'm loving these Contemporary Suspension Lights from Kundalini. Individually each orb is nothing special really, but in a group they have a truly unique and beautiful impact. Made of cast glass and chrome-plated metal these lights will certainly bring a festive sparkle to your home on a year-round basis.
Wow, I realize it could just be the photography but this shower looks positively dreamy. Which is quite appropriate considering it's called "Dream Light." It's a chromatherapy rain canopy from Jaclo Industries that's designed to take the standard relaxing power of a shower and turn it up a notch with the emotional and soothing power of color. It's made of a stainless steel sheet in round, rectangle, or cube shapes with programmable LED lights that illuminate the water as it falls.
Now here's a high-tech faucet: the Miscea Sensor Activated Faucet. The faucet recognizes through motion alone what you want not only in the way of water on/water off, water warmer/water colder but also soap and disinfectant lotion options. It's made of stainless steel with a laser-engraved glass interface that uses LED lighting to activate corresponding features as you bring your hand close. And it's high-tech in an eco-friendly way by both encouraging a cleaner environment (no touching germy or wet hands to the faucet) and by using 70% less water on average for washing hands.
I love fun techie gadgets as much as anybody, and it definitely looks futuristic (although I generally like things simpler), but I'm skeptical that it can't always be reliable to use -- shaky hands? Don't scald yourself!
I love the outdoors, so it's always a bit of a bummer when this time of year swings around and it starts getting darker earlier. For you bikers out there who find yourself pedaling in the dusk and the dark this is something you might want to check out: the Betty, by Lupine Lighting Systems. It's made to attach to your bike or your helmet (or wherever) and it's the brightest (and possibly most expensive) bike light ever made. The Betty is so bright, in fact, that if you pedal too slowly or stop completely it will start dimming itself automatically because it needs your self-generated wind to keep from overheating. Nice motivation to keep pushing yourself!
Made of seven LEDs, the Betty bike light is about as bright as a car's headlights (watch out for deer!). $1185
Swarovski crystals are all over everything these days, and interior lighting is no exception. Except in this case we're not talking a crystal chandelier, but crystal used in a different way for unique lighting patterns and beauty. New in a line of contemporary lighting from Swarovski is the Crystal StarLED, the Crystal StarLED Deluxe, and the Atlas Select.
There's a lot going on with these new collections, including both different lighting styles and different bulb arrangements. The one pictured here, the Melody, is one of my personal favorites.
Described as both organic and mechanical, this Calliope Luxury Chandelier is beautiful for sure. It's made up of rectangular pieces of artistic rippled glass clipped by 100% recycled aluminum clasps to form a multicolored glittering sphere. Definitely a modern design, even futuristic, although has an certain natural appeal also. Some say it looks like a flower bud about to open, although that wasn't my first thought. Available from Eleek it can be customized in a variety of colors and/or patinas for a truly unique lighting experience. $15,800
The Zettel'z 5 light will not only illuminate your home or office, but it will also provide a conversation piece and interesting focal point because you can actually do some reading while admiring this lamp. It's made up of 80 sheets of Japanese paper hung in such a way to disguise the bulb inside, diffusing the light in an interesting way. Designed in 1997 by Ingo Maurer, 49 of the paper sheets are printed and 31 are blank, and the rest of the lamp is made of stainless steel and satin-frosted glass. £571
This is one of those pieces that needs careful placement in the right environment to look right, but if you achieve that it could really be an interesting addition to a room. It's the Sputnik Floor Lamp, and its satellite-inspired look is sure to be a conversation starter. It has 24 chrome arms, some with chrome spheres on the end and others with light bulbs. I'm curious to see what it looks like turned on because it seems like it might need a shade? That's going to be a lot of light -- I hope it comes with a dimmer switch! 173cm tall, £255.
I love this light! I'm partial to anything with nature in it but usually art and decorative pieces that include animals end up so cheesy and overdone. But 
