Modern Planet  

Straight talk on contemporary design & architecture

Archive for the ‘Lighting & Lamps’ Category

Yummmmm………Spiders…

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

I have read so many comments online regarding, Marcel Wanders Zeppelin suspension lamp designed in 2005 which are incredibly negative. Why all the hate? This piece should be appreciated for it’s unique transparent texture and amazing diffused light. The transparent polymethylmethacrylate “candles” & faceted crystal globe provide a “sparkle effect” and play of light and shadow that I think is amazing.

So, my opinion is to keep an open mind – don’t be scared of creepy crawly things they may have inspired and influenced a designer to create something seriously uber interesting.

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Tizio’s doing the horizontal Dance

Friday, March 9th, 2007

I came across a funny design related video on www.youtube.com the other day.

It involves a couple of Tizio lamps doing the nasty.

Check it out and let me know if you think this should be allowed or if it is too risque’ even for the internet

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uUQTkSrRTDI

 

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Let there be Light !

Thursday, January 11th, 2007

I can’t believe that we are finally in the last days of our home renovation.

What started out as a simple interior paint job that would take a couple of weeks, has finished up as a six month, major renovation, that has more than touched every room in the house. Most notably, the entranceway, the kitchen, both of the bathrooms and all three bedrooms.

I could go on in length about all of the changes that have now made our house our home, but, I won’t. I am here today to talk about one major change. Well actually, several major changes in one form.

I have always been the type of person that will go without for years, rather than have something in my home that I just don’t like. Lighting is one of those things that can be so important and yet so many people choose this as the place to save money. Yes, you can spend a pretty penny lighting your home, but there are also ways of doing it on a budget, that will give you great results, great light and possibly leave a few rubles in your pocket.

Like with any purchase for your home, the worst way to save money is to spend it on something you don’t love. If you don’t love it when you buy it, chances are it isn’t far off being at the landfill.

So, we used plenty of pot lights throughout the house. These are relatively inexpensive, they give great light with a contemporary feel and they make a great start to your lighting plan.

Now all you have to do is fill in the holes with a selection of ceiling, suspension, wall, floor and table lamps. This is where I say, “Do it right”

Most of these items are things that I personally plan on taking with me, if I ever move. So, the idea of spending a little more on lighting isn’t quite so painful.

That being said, there are still some great deals on spectacular lighting, that will set you apart from your neighbours.

To name a few:

Table lamps

The Miss K table lamp by Flos is currently on sale for $242. What a bargain !!

Tizio classics are always well priced classics that stand the test of time.

Artemide came out recently with the Castore table lamps, which are a group of four different sizes starting at $238

The Artemide Tolomeo Micro’s were re-released this year in an amazing new color range and a special price, so check them out.

My favourite table lamp / bedside lamp for it’s clean classic lines that fit into any interior is still the Thuban table lamp by Nemo Italinaluce. Beautiful white glass and chrome with an old style cord in white and black or red.

Floor Lamps

We just brought in an Artemide Alfiere Floor Lamp. I know we had sold a few on the internet and now I know why. Very nice floor lamp, somewhat adjustable and a very reasonable price.

The Foscarini Havana Floor Lamp is an elegant piece that lights up at night and fills the room with quite a nice ambient light. My personal favourite is with the white shade.

Suspension

For more reasonably priced fixtures, you can look at Flos Miss K suspension, Nemo Italiana Luce Sirius suspension or Nemo Ursa Major (or Ursa Minor) and the best bang for the buck in Suspension fixtures right now has to be the Modernica Bubble Lamps in all the shapes and sizes. (Saucer Lamp, Cigar Lamp, Ball Lamp, Apple Lamp, Criss Cross Lamp, etc.)

Now, if I had only taken more of my own good advise, maybe I’d still have a few Rubles in my pocket.

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Everyone Needs an 18 karat Bedside Gun!!

Tuesday, May 16th, 2006

Philippe Starck – Whenever that name comes to mind, I think of my first visit to New York city several years ago. High on my list of Priorities was a visit to The Royalton Hotel. Starck was the designer for The Royalton and it has been a few years since I was there, but it still stands out as one of the most amazing showcases of what he does and how he is the master of pushing boundaries when it comes to design. It has also inspired me to make sure to visit more bathrooms in my travels. I have been cursed with an unusually large bladder, which just so happens to be a bigger curse to all of the people that have ever been on a road trip with me. (I’ll leave it at that, except to say, if you ever go on a road trip with me, bring a big bottle if I’m behind the wheel) My point is that this large bladder of mine, means that I very often don’t make the trip to the restroom and therefore, I often miss out on seeing some very cool spaces. So, the next time you’re in New York, break out your wallet and spend the $20 (give or take) for a Martini and make sure you make a trip to the rest room at The Royalton. Just make sure you remember from which direction you entered.

Wow, that’s a hell of a lead into why anyone would need an 18 karat gold gun beside their bed. So, to the point. Starck recently designed three new lamps for Flos. The Bedside Gun, The Table Gun and The Lounge Gun. They are die cast aluminum with a gold plated finish in 18 karat gold. I personally like them. They just seem so out of place and they have this really eerie feeling about them. They are somewhat classy and somewhat “Holy Shit, that lamp is a GUN !!! Some people are going to like them and more people will hate them, so you’ll have to be your own judge. But check out some of the images on the Flos site. www.flos.net They look like they are really nicely finished.

Let me know what you think. Would you have one in your house. Do you think these are appropriate given the times we live in? or do you think they put a “light” spin on how we perceive this object.

Until next time

Flos Gun Lamp

Flos Gun Lamp

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