This time of year can be difficult to welcome with open arms. Shorter (and wetter) days, longer nights, more dark, less light. However, one perk of Fall – aside from colourful leaves and cozy scarves – is that our showroom becomes magic after 5pm.

While our lighting lines: Flos, Foscarini, Modernica, Akari, Vibia, among others, are amazing during the day … during the dark they become truly awesome. And it’s not just the lighting itself, it’s everything that falls under their glow. All of perfectly designed, constructed, upholstered, and polished pieces in our showroom shine a little more fabulous after 5pm on a crisp Fall evening.

I can’t wait to see these George Nelson Bubble Lamps shine through the checkered warehouse windows of our future showroom across the street. Get ready to glow Harjim.

Tab Table Lamp, Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby 2007, for Flos

Tab, by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for Flos is an elegant, modern, minimal design in both table and floor lamp versions.

Available in black, white and blue , this light boasts big visual value for a small footprint. It’s rotating head swings horizontally, making it a great task light on top of being beautiful to look at.

Great for small spaces, the table lamp only measures approx. 13″, and the floor lamp 44″ high. I love the understated, quiet nature of this design and think it would make a brilliant bedside lamp, hallway table light, or living room accent light.

Luckily for us, the price point for this little gem is congruent with it’s minimal design at only $295 for the table lamp and $395 for the floor lamp, available here at gabrielross.com.

Marcel Wanders, born in the Netherlands, has become famous for his fabulous creations in design.  One of my favourite pieces is the Skygarden Suspension Lamp.  It looks like a boring, plain, semi-spherical lamp from a distance, but if you have a chance – look up inside!

Inspired by an antique plaster ceiling in a former home, Wanders captured the essence of classical plaster design inside a modern, sleek exterior.

The Skygarden comes in two sizes; the S1 (w60cm  x h30cm), or the S2 (w90cm  x h45cm).  It is also available in 4 colours: Rust, Gold, White and Black.

Marcel designed the lamp for Flos, who still carries the lamp today.

Like Marcel Duchamp, the Castiglioni brothers used ready-made objects to create whimsical, strange and beautiful objects.  Luminator by Flos,  is magnificent.

Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni 1954

  It is industrial and sparse,  delicate and insect like (praying mantas).  Like sculpture, it provoke a response from the viewer.  It refuses to  sit quietly.  Italian mid-century design  seems to have a passion, or an enthusiasm, that life, and design, is best lived LARGE, and with a sense of humour.  NO HOLDS BARRED.

Why hide the little miracle that makes it all happen?  Props out to those designers who bare all and assert the thing for what it is – a light bulb in a fancy vehicle… or best yet: not so fancy.  Bare bulbs are honest, straight up, industrial, and georgous! … so long as they don’t leave a million blind spots in your vision.  Here are some of my faves:

Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Toio Floor Lamp, 1962 by Flos

Archille Castiglioni and Pio Manzu', Parentesi Suspension, 1970 by Flos

Jean Prouve Potence Lamp, 1950 by Vitra

Ernesto Gismondi Miconos Table lamp, by Artemide

Achille Castiglioni Taraxacum 88 S Suspension, 1988, by Flos

Achille and Pier Ciacomo Castiglioni, Luminator 1954, by Flos

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.