Pretty Little Green Things

Archive for the ‘Lighting’ Category

After my successful weekend painting furniture and accepting delivery of my brand new chair (okay, I didn’t actually do any work on that one, but the result was fabulous), I’m that much more impressed with people who refurbish vintage pieces.  They always make the “afters” look so easy, which, I can attest to, are not.  Maybe that’s why I’m addicted to before & after pics like those on Design Sponge’s - it’s the raw possibility that exists in each and every piece that makes their transformations that much more interesting.

So with all that said, I bring you Mod Pieces, a restyled vintage lighting boutique, created by Lia Fagan.  She salvages cool antique lamps and brings out their true awesomeness.  They’re fitted with new (and modern) wiring, super fun shades and nicely lacquered bodies.  Even the lamp shades are salvaged where possible, making these lights as green as could be.

Photos from Mod Pieces

I love the look of antique Edison lightbulbs – they have a really nice warm glow with just the right amount of vintage-ness.  Unfortunately looking vintage doesn’t necessarily equal actually being vintage and eco-friendly.  So that’s why I was excited when I saw these awesome lightbulbs from Plumen.  They’re actually compact fluorescents, reshaped into something that’s as far from boring as you can get.  In fact their dynamic little shape was inspired by feathers (hence Plumen – clever, huh?).  I think they also somewhat resembles those Edison bulbs that I was just waxing poetic about moments ago.  And best of all, they’re also as energy efficient as a CLF.  The one bummer is that you can’t dim them, although with a shape like that, why would you wanto to?

For you lucky Brits and Europeans, the Plumen lightbulb has been out in 220v for a while.  But they’ve finally branched out to a US version for us 110 volt-ers.  You can purchase them online or in stores at MoMA or The Future Perfect.

These light bulbs really do look like a modern take on an Edison bulb.

I love that they’re hung without a shade in this installation so their shape really takes center stage.

Of course, they also look great peeking out from the bottom of a pendant…

or thru a translucent shade

Photos from Plumen by Tom Mannion

As I said in yesterday’s post about ICFF, I spent most of the day Sunday walking up and down the aisles of the Javits Center in search of unique, beautiful and inventive eco-friendly products to show you.  If you didn’t take a look yet, you should pop over to that round-up as well.

I have to say, this Binary Chair from BRC Designs, is one of the most unique and inventive pieces I’ve ever seen.  There’s also an accompanying coffee table and both are made out of motherboards and computer rescued from old computers and printers with the upholstery on the chair meticulously woven from ribbon cable.  These pieces are conversation starters to say the least.  I for one could spend quite a while just looking at all the different components and trying to guess where they came from.

I’m not even sure how to describe Molo other than absolutely unique and interesting.  They make reusable partitions, furniture and lighting from their surprisingly strong kevlar & kraft paper accordion forms which are recyclable and reusable.  My pictures definitely don’t do their products justice so take a peek at Molo’s website to get an idea of what they do.

Newly launched pillow resource, MUMO is a socially and environmentally responsible company.  Their fabrics are sourced from developing nations and their products are made through fair trade labor.  But I’ll just call them unique and artistic, made out of everything from traditional textiles to interesting materials like fish skin.  If you wan to see more, take a peek at MUMO’s Facebook page.

If I had known about Fermob when I wrote my round-up of fun outdoor furniture, I would have included their brightly colored bistro chairs and tables.  Their products are made from recycled steel, coated with paint in a zero-release facility (which means that their sprays don’t become airborne and therefore don’t get out into the world) and made to last.  You might have even seen these chairs before since they’re scattered throughout Bryant Park and Times Square in New York City.

John Ross makes beautiful furniture and art out of reclaimed wood found near his home in Vancouver Island, BC.  Each one is formed from the inherent shape the wood takes when he finds it.  I really love this wall piece, but his furniture is just as gorgeous.

Made with LED lights, these newly debuted lamps from Cerno are sculptural but still fun.  They’re made with an integrated cooling technology so the bulbs don’t get hot, which you can cover, as they did with this lamp or keep out as a decorative element.  They also have an oversized floor lamp version which I love.

I really haven’t gotten into mattresses yet on the blog, but I thought these hi-tech and allergy free ones from Somnium were quite interesting.  From the TPEE springs (or Thermoplastic Polyether-Ester Elastomer) that contour to your body to the hypoallergenic covers and foam, my interest was definitely piqued.  I can tell you from sitting on it, the mattress was quite comfortable, although I suppose that’s not the most thorough test.  I’d love to try one out for a few nights or hear from someone else who has.

It was nice to finally meet Jason Phillips of the Phillips Collection in person.  If you remember back, I wrote about his beautiful organic furniture a while ago.  All of his wood furniture comes from sustainable source and is coated with water based, non-toxic finishes.  Take a look at the entire collection here.

You may have seen these CFLs before, but guess what, they’re finally available in the United States!  Plumen takes the regular compact fluorescent light bulb design and turns it on its head.  The shape is reminiscent of the filaments of an Edison bulb, but of course as a much more energy efficient version.  If you’ve been using incandescents only so you didn’t have to see the ugly shape of the CFL, this is your answer.  I’m almost tempted to buy a fixture with an exposed bulb just so I can try it out.

I’ve been in an industrial furniture mood lately.  Something about the raw and textured metal together with beautiful wood full of character.  That combined with it’s practical beginnings gives each piece such history and interest.  While looking around for a work project, I stumbled on the fabulous collection of industrial chic furniture from Interieurs.  They have a particularly good collection so I wanted to post a few of my favorites.  Make sure to check out their entire antique collection online.

Photos from Interieurs

Okay, so I actually went to the Architectural Digest Home Design Show all within one day, but this is day 2 of your peek into the show, hence the title.  If you didn’t see yesterday’s post of my eco-chic picks from the show, take a look here.  As I said before, the show was the best I’ve seen with a great variety of amazing products and vendors.  I can’t wait to see what ICFF brings!

So without further ado, my eco picks, round 2:

When I saw this chandelier from Andre Joyau from afar, I actually thought it was made of fringe.  That of course made me immediately walk over and check it out (I mean who wouldn’t?).  It’s actually made from bits of recycled steel wire all strung together in a spiral shape.  Gorgeous, huh?  Then as Andre and I were chatting about the chandelier, I looked down and noticed this beautiful table….

If you notice from this picture, the table is on hydraulics!!!  Gorgeous table + raw reclaimed wood + totally functional for a New York City apartment?  I don’t think furniture could get any better! (By the way, if you don’t live in a teeny apartment, you’re probably thinking I’m off my rocker right now.  But let me tell you, I’m already fantasizing about what I could put in the corner instead of a dining table.  Hello ping pong table!)

I have been following Susan Serra on Twitter for quite some time now, so it was wonderful to finally meet her and see her Bornholm Kitchens in person.  I love the Scandinavian style of her kitchens – it’s not a style I see very often so I’m always happy to find a unique cabinet option.  The wood she uses is just gorgeous and every piece is finished with no-VOC waxes and sealers.

It was lovely to see the latest collection of beautiful carpets from Malene B, and I have to say she’s just as lovely as her rugs.  What I really love about her designs is the international ethic feel they have.  I mean, if you can’t get to Africa, you should at least have some of it in your house!

How cool are these stone tables from Snug Furniture?  I love the intricate almost lacy look of the fretwork style coffee table on the left and the bold artful lines of the ones on the right.  Co-founder, Maybelline Te and Snug Furniture are also on Twitter, so if you don’t already follow them, you should!

These stools and art piece come from Artists for Humanity, a non-profit in Boston whose mission is to “bridge economic, racial and social divisions by providing underserved youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts.”  Not only does this group do so much good in their own community, but their products are made from recycled and non-toxic materials.  Plus the colorful design is totally fun and unique.  I am going to follow up with an in depth look at Artists for Humanity so stay tuned.  In the meantime, you can take a peek at their range of products on their website.

Coney Island is such a big part of New York’s history  so I loved seeing these benches from Douglas Thayer.  They’re made from cross beams that held up the iconic boardwalk.  I love that when the wood was removed, it was ripped out with so much force that the screws bent.  Instead of removing all those screws, Douglas elected to keep them and just turn them into the center so they’re not dangerous.  The wood and screw combo gives so much character to this amazing piece of history.

Last but certainly not least is this movable art piece from Susan Weinthaler.  You can’t really tell from this picture, but each of those little reclaimed wood pieces is attached via magnet to the background sheet and is totally movable.  That means you can have as many pieces of art in your home as your creativity allows.  I bet this makes for an awesome party game!

I spent most of yesterday walking through the very crowded Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94.  I’ve attended the show for many years now and I have to say this was the best show I’ve seen in terms of quality of products and number of attendees. Maybe it’s due to the addition of Margaret Russell to AD (formerly the editor in chief of Elle Decor) or maybe it’s that projects have started to pick back up.  Whatever the reason you could feel the buzz and excitement in the air.  And the products and vendors I saw were absolutely the best of the best.  Of course I love looking at everything, but it’s always the eco-friendly or socially responsible products that really catch my eye.  Since this year’s show was so great and I found so many amazing things, I’m going to break my pics into two posts.  Check back tomorrow for more!

These are my top eco-friendly finds, in no particular order:

These gorgeous pillows come from D. Bryant Archie Textiles who also won an ASID Imagine Top Pick for her presentation.  Her wool blankets and pillows have always topped of my list of favorites and this award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving, talented and lovely person.  Her newest line made from metallic vintage fabric as shown in the two pictures on the right, is super chic.

This awesome little console table comes from Jeff Soderbergh, who if you remember, also made the beautiful reclaimed wood table featured in the 2010 House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year.  This new console is made from wood taken from the hull an antique schooner that was built in 1885.  I love the copper nailheads spotted all over the wood which gives it such character.  Jeff has plenty of this unique wood left so hopefully we’ll be seeing more pieces from him soon.

I’m really in love with these clocks from Palo Samko.  I’ve always known him as an incredibly talented furniture maker, so it’s great to see that he’s added accessories to his repertoire.  I would mind time passing by quickly if I had one of these clocks to stare at.

This gorgeous chandelier comes from Elizabeth Polish Design and it’s made entirely of paper (except for the framing of course).  I just love the organic feel of this fixture and I can only imagine the soft light it casts in a room.  Custom options are always available for any project.

How cool is this table from Studio Roeper?  I love the contrast of the salvaged bleached wood and the metallic faceted legs.

I have to say that my pictures don’t do any sort of justice to these stunning art installations from Moran/Brown.  They’re made of small copper tiles that have been heated so they change color into these vibrant shades you see here.  And all without any chemical processing.  You have to take a peek on their website at some of their larger pieces to really get an idea of what Moran/Brown can do.  I’m not sure I’d want Lady Gaga hanging on my wall, but you get the idea of their capabilities.

I’m always a fan of the industrial vintage look so I’m loving these light fixtures from Strawser & Smith who are based in Brooklyn.  Each one is made out of various industrial parts like chains, pipes and cogs.  The glass is also hand blown right here in New York.

And of course, I’m always a fan of the New Traditionalists and their elegant and tailored line of eco-friendly furniture.  They have a few gorgeous new finishes which was great to see in person.

I found these really beautiful lampshades from Greener Abode in my inbox the other day and thought they were so artful and unique that I had to share.  Designed by Sarah Newman, DesignBark lampshades are not only colorful and fun, they’re also green.  The veneer comes from FSC certified suppliers and the patterns are screen printed with environmentally friendly pigments where possible.  And if you’re from the Brit side of the pond, your delivery is totally local.

You could definitely use these lampshades as art instead of (or in addition to!) hanging prints on your walls.  And because they’ll always have a lightbulb behind them, they glow!  I couldn’t decide which one I liked the best, so I just posted them all.  Enjoy!

Photos from Greener Abode

While I was oohing and aahing over the gorgeous eco-friendly jewelry at Linhardt (take a peek at yesterday’s post to see what I’m talking about), I also noticed a display of really unique lamps.  I found out that they’re made by furniture designer Stephane Hubert.  He uses a lot of reclaimed and reused materials, especially wood, in his designs.  But what I like best are his salvaged pieces made from materials that people have just thrown away.  He turns them into something really beautiful and totally different from the original.  It just shows you that amazing design can be done with a bit of ingenuity, creativity and elbow grease.  I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

This was the lamp that first caught my eye at Linhardt.  It’s made from reclaimed wood and finished with walnut dye and linseed oil.  I love the metal cage around the bulb, which gives it a vintage look.

These table and floor lamps are also quite unique.  I really like the thick organic lines running through the block of reclaimed wood, which adds a lot of depth to these pieces.

This is another beautiful lamp, made from salvaged wood scraps, dyed with walnut stain and finished with linseed oil.

For an even more eco-friendly option, this tall lamp is also energy efficient with its long row of LED bulbs.  The post is made out a pine slice from an old telephone pole and the base is salvaged redwood from an NYC water tank.  This lamp would look really stunning with the bulbs facing a wall so all you see is the wood and a soft glow from the lighting.

Stephane salvaged this really unique stand lamp and turned it from dark and black to luminous and silver.  What a great transformation!

Not only does Stephane make really beautiful light fixtures, he also creates and refurbishes furniture.  These nesting tables are crafted from reclaimed wood from an old NYC water tank.  I think they’re a really interesting take on what a nesting table is – why should the tables always stack sideways when they can stack vertically?  And I really love how the legs poke through the table below.

How cool is this desk chair?  I love the angular shape of the seat contrasting against the chrome base.  It’s made from reclaimed wood and cork.

I love the triangular shape of the cork in this stool version.  The base is made from reclaimed poplar and walnut.

This might be my favorite table, made from salvaged pieces of a walnut slab.  The asymmetrical shape and organic texture make it such a dynamic piece

Last but certainly not least, Stephane found this industrial style locker on the street and took it home.  After sanding and waxing the stainless steel, he added a reclaimed oak & maple base and turned it into something totally functional and unique.

Photos from Stephane Hubert

I feel like I’ve been running around like crazy since we got back from our trip to SE Asia (the price you pay for a vacation, right?), that I haven’t even gotten a chance to take a look through any of our photos.  But I made a point to look through the pictures of Hong Kong today because I wanted to share a stylish home store we happened upon while wandering the streets of Soho.  Tree is Hong Kong’s first eco-chic furniture boutique, started in 2005 by Nicole Wakley.  I’m loving the clean lines and simple design of their pieces.  Plus their wood is all responsibly sourced – either certified wood from Indonesia or reclaimed wood from the Philippines.  And because they’re located in Hong Kong, this is actually local!

The pictures I took in the store give you a good idea of what Tree does, but make sure to check out their website too for more inspiration.  Enjoy!

Yup, that’s Trove eco-friendly wallpaper behind.  And this is my absolute favorite pattern of theirs.

How cool is this coffee table?  Love!

Eco-friendly Wishbone chairs!

I love the shape of these pendants all hung together.

I have a soft spot in my heart for red home accents.  These side table are just the perfect amount of red.

I love the white side table version as well.

Now that it’s officially fall and Daylight Savings time right around the corner, I can tell it’s starting to get much darker much earlier.  So to brighten your day (and night!) I’ve put together a collection of a few of my favorite eco-friendly pendant lights and lamps.  They’re all green in some way, but if you want more info on exactly how, just pop on over to the manufacturer’s website.  Enjoy!

1. Cluster Chandelier from Andre Joyau 2. Shade Pendel Lamp sold through Branch 3. Cola 30 from Sarah Turner 4. Medium Corona Chandelier from Candastiks on Etsy 5. Glass Series No. 10 from whyrHymer 6. Tibetan Milk Jug Hanging Lamp from Wildflower Organics 7. Courtney Pendant from Stray Dog Designs 8. Oval Cylinder Lamp from Cisco Brothers 9. City Map Lamp from Umbu on Etsy 10. Brann Lighting Series from Pickett Furniture

1. Burma Table Lamp from Wildflower Organics 2. Whitewash Trophy Lamp from VivaTerra 3. Lucinda Lamp from Vivavi 4. Metro Series No. 6 from whyrHymer 5. Katie Lamp from Stray Dog Designs 6. El Monte Lamp from Lawson Fenning 7. Glass Series No. 4 from whyrHymer 8. Ren Series from Andre Joyau 9. Lamp Ashevak from Bleu Nature 10. Curly Lamps sold through Branch