Who: David Trubridge – New Zealand

What: Coral Pendant

Where: Soon to be available from YLighting. See also the Floral Pendant -$450 with free shipping on orders over $50

Why We Love ‘Em: – Delighted to see the new colors popping up in David Trubridge’s classic pendant lamp. Now you can purchase this dynamic bamboo plywood pendant in bright spark (yellow), wham (green), westside (orange), citrus (lime green), flamingo (pink) or niagara (aqua). The bursts of color line the inside of the lamp for a nice contrast of natural wood finish and bold color. Love the way the light spills through enlivening the ceiling, walls and floor with an organic mosaic. Click to continue »

Who: Peter Stathis for Pablo Inc. – San Francisco, CA

What: LINK Small Table Lamp

Where: yLighting – $525 $350 & Free Shipping; available in White, Black, Grey, Green, and Orange

Why We Love It: We keep hearing about LED lighting as being the next best thing in energy efficient lighting, but it has still yet to hit the main stream. The LINK is one of our favorite new LED lights with a masterful design, high functionality and personality. Great for the office and the home and is the perfect companion to a good book on a gray day. Click to continue »

Who: Modern Fan Company – Ashland, OR

What: Ball Ceiling Fan

Where: Y-Lighting- $540 $288

Why We Love It: This minimalist design captures the modern industrial aesthetic without feeling cold. We first saw it a few years ago and just loved how it looked – when it’s running it looks like a floating orb -  such a simple design, it begs the question why are there so many ugly, fussy fans out there when they can look this good? (We  just saw one that somehow had a glove, a ball and a home plate, seriously.)

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Who: Stray Dog Designs – Chattanooga, TN

What: Artichoke Lamp

Where: Stray Dog Designs – $625

Why We Love ‘Em: Such a playful and fun accent piece. This lamp has texture, spunk and the carefree spirit of the tropics. Perfect for a beach retreat or to add some color to your room.

Each lamp is handmade by artisans in Haiti and made of papier mache from recycled materials. You can leave the base white or go for a pop of color with your choice of 15 different paint colors, all low-VOC, ranging from the bright Bahaman Sea Blue pictured to a cool African Violet to the sharp contrast of a basic black. All bases are paired with a white paper shade. Other items in their collection are crafted from repurposed tin, glass and even cement bags.

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Who: David Trubridge, Cicada, NZ

What: Floral Pendant

Where: YLighting; $500 with free shipping on orders over $50

Why We Love ‘Em:

we love the innovative blend of art, nature & function…

we love the mesmerizing way the light filters through the organic pattern…

we love the way we can’t quite figure the design out – is it a web of hands, roots, petals, flowers or is that the point? to signify interdependence…. Click to continue »

Who: Bambeco; Baker, WV

What: Soji Modern Solar Lanterns

Where: bambeco.com; $39 & 15% off your purchase with code: ecobungajune; 9″x9″ available in pure white, pearl motif or mineral motif

Why: Based on the intricate hand folded shade designs of architect Poul Christiansen, these hard plastic soji lanterns are perfect for outdoor entertaining. Mix and match patterns to create a festive setting and with no outlets or cumbersome cords required, you can cluster them in the trees or string them along the patio with ease.

Powered by solar panels absorbing the sun’s rays during the day and providing a warm glow as the sun goes down and the amber LED lights switch on. And for those in the sun deprived northeast  who haven’t seen the sun for the past week, not to worry, the lanterns come complete with AAA rechargeable batteries for those less than stellar days.

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Who: Bed, Bath & Beyond; Union, NJ (HQ)

What: Solar Patio String Umbrella Lights

Where: Bed, Bath & Beyond, $29.99. Be sure to track down one of their 20% off coupons before you purchase.

Why: The perfect summer accessory, a handy string of  eight hand-blown glass bulbs runs on solar powered LED lights, so you won’t have to replace this very often. The discreet solar panel rests on top of the umbrella soaking up the rays all day so once night falls you will have a well lit retreat for end of the day aperitifs. And surprisingly simple solar strings of lights are not that easy to find, this one is just right.

Who: Designed by Rebecca Asquith; Wellington, New Zealand,

What: Nautilus Pendant Light

Where: Y Lighting, $660, Natural only (Red Stained, Red Mahogany and Yellow Stained  not available), 11″W X 18″H

Why: Such a well executed take on a timeless design, the nautilus–1 million years and counting.  For those with a weakness for marine inspired designs,  the Nautilus Pendant is sure to be a favorite. And the unique design is a welcome reprieve from a market saturated with paper lanterns….. Overlapping strips of plantation grown Australian Hoop Pine Plywood are banded together to create the outer shell of the nautilus. Only when lit are the signature orange stripes of the Nautilus are revealed.

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Who: Lights Up! Brooklyn, NY

What: Soiree Table Lamp

Where: Design Public – $174

Why: Since 1985, Lights Up! has created lighting that makes a statement without shouting. Minimalist by nature, the designs display clean lines, unfussy hardware with interchangeable beautifully patterned lampshades designed by Thomas Fernez of Thomas Paul. You can mix and match the shades with a variety of bases and ceiling mount options to create a lighting fixture that suits your space and aesthetics. Urban Sherp’s favorite? The sleek resin base pictured above paired with Fall ’08′s black ginko lampshade. Perfectly modern. And the good news, soon these lampshades will be available in 100% PET recycled plastic! When it came time to source a new supplier of the linen and silk used for the lampshades, owner Rachel Simon took the advice of her nephew to consider more eco-friendly materials. So keep an eye out for a greener shade.

soiree lamp

Who: J.Good Design; New York, NY

What: Astral Chandelier

Where: J.Good Design, Price TBD

Why: I have been searching for perfect lighting fixture for my dining room–one that is eco-friendly and visually appealing proved to be no easy task. Most of the eco-options consisted of fluorescent monstrosities. I wanted a fixture that was composed of little to no plastic and instead made of more natural, and consequently, more sustainable and less toxic, materials like glass (preferably recycled), wood (preferably FSC Certified), and various metals like copper or aluminum or steel that can easily be recycled. Alas, I discovered the fabulous glass fixtures created by jGoodDesign. Click to continue »