Funky, upcycled, organic and industrial lighting

When it comes to decorating your room, lighting is probably the most important feature.  I know I talk a lot about color, but it's just because I love it so.  Lighting is just as important, if not more so.  But that doesn't mean it has to be boring.  I am really loving all the industrial, upcycled and organic lighting I've been seeing lately.  Like everything else in your room, be sure to have fun with it.  There's only one rule - make sure you love it!  Here's some lighting that I'm in love with, any of these would fit well in the romantic, edgy, neutral schemes that have been occupying my thoughts of late.  Hope you enjoy!

 

I've featured architect/designer Victor Vetterlein on this blog before (see previous posts here).  He never ceases to amaze.  This is his upcycled egg carton lamp.  Victor's lamp was part of the Inhabitat and Philips Bright Ideas Lighting Design Competition.  It is also being featured in MoMA's collection this Fall.  Congratulations, Victor!

This artisan goes by the name CrudeOil.  I adore these lamps made of chicken wire so much that I had a hard time featuring only a couple of them.  I could see these in a edgy, modern, urban loft.  Wonder how they would look with pink bulbs.  I kinda like that idea, the pink might be a nice foil to the edginess of the wire.  Kind of yin and yang.

 

I adore these burlap creations by Splurgeavl.  These would really work in the romantic, organic, neutral spaces I've been describing lately.  I adore the flower shaped chandelier, and I got so excited the cord was wrapped in the same fabric, well... suffice it to say that I am swooning.

Love the geometry of these pieces.  Love them hanging in multiples and at staggered lengths as shown.  Khalima Lights.

My friends think I'm crazy because I'm always noticing (and photographing) lighting at restaurants.  Just kidding, to be honest, my friends are used to me.  They often take my design advice, and no longer think I'm crazy.  In fact, they have all developed the habit of looking thoroughly at the unexpected.  It's contagious.  And fun.  Have you ever been in Chipotle?  I love their chicken burritos, and the industrial vibe of their restaurants, although I wish they'd vary it up a bit.  They all look the same.   I've always wanted to experiment with putting corrugated steel on a wall, and I love how the sockets are exposed on these lights. Image by Peggy.

Swoon.  As you already know, a pop of pink fits in any room.  This is a nice subtle way to achieve that pop, yet still be thoroughly modern.  I'd love to see this globe hung in multiples.  Fizz sphere pendant at ABC Home.

I love this lamp!  I think I need to start making hanging lamps.  Image Lo Bjurulf via Agent Bauer.

Here's another one I'd like to attempt.  Love the strips of fabrics, and the tiniest smattering of embellishment provided by beads.  Image via Annaleenas Hem.

The block lamp designed by Harri Koskinen, has always been one of my favorites.  It's a little witty for my own personal environment.  I'd love to design an edgy teen bedroom around this lamp.  Available at MoMA.

The Akari Beehive lamp by Isamu Noguchi (one of my favorite designers) has been my long-time favorite lamp.  It would look great in a neutral scheme, or indeed, in any room.

Architect Love and Procrastination

I have a confession to make. I don't buy exercise equipment. I've never used it for its intended purpose. Instead I've hung (dirty) clothes on it.

Architect Victor Vetterlein has come up with a stylish solution with his G-Force wardrobe chair. I think I need one. The G-Force is such a fab piece of sculpture, it would dissuade me from hanging clothes on it. I would sit on it to put on my pink pumps, though, and I'd be lookin' good. I'd call that a success. Design at its best. Solving problems. Victor is one of my favorite designers, I've written about him before. See previous posts here and here.

Do visit Victor's website. I love the presentation of his products. I think his model and wife is too fab! Love the white hair and pink eye lashes.

looooove from my Starbucks cup. Playing with fonts in Picasa, this one's called Australian Sunrise. Yep, I'm in procrastination mode.

Is it pottery or is it sculpture?

It's both! I adore these new ceramic works by Paloma's Nest. So much so that I would like to design a room around them. These unique artworks lend themselves to so many interpretations. Perhaps they are inspired by undersea creatures, or perhaps they are alien spacecraft. Whatever the inspiration, they are funky and fun.

I could see these vases paired with African or Aboriginal sculpture. Or perhaps in a room designed by Victor Vetterlein with some of his funky lighting.

I could also see the vases in a room designed by Vincent Wolfe. Wolfe's designs tend toward clean, traditional rooms with pops of primitive art. I adore the sculptural elements in this room via Desire to Inspire. The Paloma's Nest vases would look great in here!

I could also see them in these wonderful rooms designed by Frank Roop. I adore Roop's designs. I could see the vases on the mantel here or on the shelf below. Roop always features the most wonderful paintings, I wonder if he is a painter.

I hope these sculptural vases garner a lot of attention. It would be so fun to see them appear in decorating magazines. Or, even in my own home.

Victor Vetterlein - New Design

I was excited to receive an email from artist/architect Victor Vetterlein announcing his new design, the totally fab Meeraboo FL-1 floor lamp. See my previous post about Victor here.

Victor states that the lamp is "60 inches tall and made of fiberglass with a high gloss white finish. The interior is gold leaf. The FL-1 is designed to cast light downward... This is the third and final piece in the Meeraboo-2007 Collection, the LC-1 lounge chair, is currently under development."

At first glance, I find Victor's work other-worldly. However, the piece is far more complex than initially appears. Though its alien-like appeal is evident, it is nonetheless organic in form. The form does not appear forced, but natural. At once primitive and modern, an amazing accomplishment.

This lamp could work in so many environments, in a clean modern minimalist home. In a home with Asian inspiration or organic inspiration. I could also see it alongside African sculpture, and because the light is cast downward, it would highlight sculpture very well. As I contemplated the lamp further, I thought it looked a bit like a house and became amused at the idea of the lamp paired with African family sculpture.

Image from Shona Gallery.

This piece would fit beautifully in my conceptual white box. But in order to give this piece the full meditative contemplation it deserves, I would need a Noguchi sofa to lounge on.

Victor and Noguchi's artistry have something in common. They both employ a sculptural elegance. In fact, I believe Victor's Woojiun lamp, could easily take its place among such classics as Noguchi's Akari lamps.

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Victor, thanks for being an inspiration, and thanks for keeping me apprised of your work. I can't wait to see the Meeraboo lounge chair!

Contemplating a White, Empty Shelf

In my post regarding Victor Vetterlein below, I spoke of how I would love to sit on the white sofa and contemplate the potentiality of the empty white shelf all day long. I never tire of contemplation of space. If I were to place an object(s) on that shelf what would it be? Of course it would have to be something simple and I would go for assymetry. Placing an object to the left and leaving the right empty. I find negative space very important when trying to make a beautiful object or two impactful. What would I place there?

Maybe a white bottle with graphic lettering?



"Poet's Bottle: Sin"
Art Glass BottleBy: Jeff Crandall

Or maybe an art glass genie bottle?

"Topaz Genie Bottle"
Art Glass VaseBy: Claire Kelly and Anthony Schafermeyer



Or what about my new toys? UniPo's Cosmo-Knots from Fugitive Toys, as seen on my flickr set.


Or maybe I should stick with all white and juxtapose the white Cosmo-Knot with the Vietnamese statute (formerly available from Pier One). Every home needs an Asian piece.

In the end, I would probably leave the shelf empty.



A painting is definitely brewing here. Victor, thanks for being an inspiration.

The White Box - Victor Vetterlein

I absolutely adore Victor Vetterlein's work. I first discovered him at the AT Smallest Coolest 2007 contest. The apartment he designed was in the final four. No matter how much I experiment with color, I keep coming back to all white. White, light filled boxes make me swoon. In my love of mod retro design, I've been noticing the pod as a recurring motif, so am very drawn to Victor's alien pod-like lamps and coffee tables.

I could live here. I could sit on that sofa and contemplete the pure potentiality of the empty shelves all day. Also really love the monochromatic effect of the white painting against the white walls.

Victor & Soeun's Romatic Loft.

Image from MocoLoco. Totally groovy combo light/table. And doesn't she look great! I adore the idea of matching costume to design.

Victor is very talented. I love the graphic nature of his paintings too. I've been wanting to experiment with words in my own paintings.

Images from Victor Vetterlein.com.

I've got a painting brewing in my head. Victor's place is influencing me. I keep thinking, what would I paint for this space? His space if definitely talking to me.