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lighting

Inhabit Builtby Lamps

Filed under: Decor


The Builtby lamps by Inhabit are fun because you can either design your own or choose one from their preselected designs with cutesy names like Chump Change, Even Steven and Mack Daddy. The personalized way is definitely the way to go, if only because their selection website is really easy and fun to use. The color scheme is rather firmly entrenched in the hipster modern with colors like periwinkle, pea green and orange but you can do something a little more stark by combining silver, white and wenge wood blocks. I'd love to see this with more color options though. The price varies depending on selections but most lamps are in the $200 range.

The 'Shoal 284' Pendant Light

Filed under: Decor

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.


Via Design Mind

The Meltdown Sink (It Does More Than You Expect)

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets


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!

Contemporary Suspension Lights from Kundalini

Filed under: 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.

Erich Ginder Mansion Chandelier

Filed under: Decor


It may look like intricately carved wood, but this magnificent chandelier is actually made from laser-cut aluminum, glass and stainless steel. Halogen bulbs illuminate faux candles and the result is a glowing spectacle that is surely fit for a mansion. If you don't actually have a mansion in which to hang this chandelier, you will at least need a very large room as the fixture measures 3 feet across. Suspended by aircraft cables and available in several colors , this made-to-order chandelier sells for $3,700.

Dahlia Wall Sconce

Filed under: Decor


Inspired by the mathematics of nature, this unusual sconce reflects more than light. When mounted on the ceiling or wall, shadows are created on the surface behind, resulting in an eerily beautiful image of flower petals. Even when unlit, the white polyamide shades makes a stunning statement, especially when arranged in a group. Designed by Janne Kyttanen, the sconce measures 12.5" diameter by 6.3" deep, is wired for European outlets and use Halogen bulbs. $980.

The Brightest (and Most Expensive?) Bike Light Ever

Filed under: Gadgets

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


Via Book of Joe

Swarovski Contemporary Lighting

Filed under: Decor


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.

Calliope Luxury Chandelier

Filed under: Decor, Green


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

Filed under: Decor, Art

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

Sputnik Floor Lamp

Filed under: Decor


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.


Via Retro To Go

Donovan Design Screen

Filed under: Decor


My friend Art Donovan, the genius behind Donovan Illumination and Design sent me a picture of his latest piece. This piece is a moire screen that he did for Fellissimo in New York City. The polycarbonate screen is lit from behind and topped with hand made palm lamps. The screen as shown is 48" wide x 86" tall and sells for $8700. Custom sizes are available. I love it, it looks like something a 1920s-era actress would duck behind to change her dress.

Da Vinci LED Swarovski Crystal Chandelier

Filed under: Decor


Not a chandelier for a timid room or for a timid decorator, the new Da Vinci LED Crystal Chandelier from Schonbek "puts on a dazzling light show." And it's no wonder, since it's both enormous (available in 3 foot and 5 foot diameters) and is made up of hundreds of Swarovski crystals illuminated by either halogen or LED lights from within. The different lighting options mean you can either have a gently glittering moon hovering over your party or (by switching to LED mode) bursts of brightly changing color instead.

It's gorgeous, but I'm sure there are few with a place to put it!


Via Trendir

Colorblock Hanging Light

Filed under: Decor


Some great reasons to drink more wine, if you were looking for some, are these Colorblock Hanging Lights. Designed and made by Jerry Kott of recycled wine bottles (he cuts them apart, puts them back together, and polishes them) they're bright without being obnoxious, stylish, functional, and good for the environment because they're made of recycled materials -- what else can you ask for in a lighting fixture? Each hanging lamp measures 17"Hx3"W, is priced according to the number of color blocks, and is custom made to order. $190-$310


Via Design Mind

Get Your Own Personal Moon

Filed under: Decor


I love this idea! I have no clue how or what I would do to pull this off in a decorating scheme but I just love the idea of having my own moon. The design comes from Russia and this is one situation where if somebody was feeling all romantic they really could throw a lasso around the moon and pull down out of the sky (or tree, as it were). It's a large lightbox and is called "Your Personal Moon." What do you think? Cool or ridiculous? I'm just wondering if it has a dimmer switch?

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