What: Dino Desk Lamp

Where: Voos – $220

Why We Love It: Created by architect and industrial designer Deger Cengiz, this quirky lamp is certainly a one of a kind and definitely the only lamp we’ve ever seen covered in all natural wool felt. Swoon. It’s the perfect blend of fun and function.

It makes our desk lamp seem so one dimensional. With the Dino, it’s like having a comforating pet in the office, one that can nurture a plant or protect your pens and hidden snacks, all while providing light where you need it most courtesy of a flexible neck. And it’s not needy like most pets; a single, long-lasting LED bulb will keep this little guy happy. (Yes, we’ve turned a desk lamp into a pet, but come on, how can you not?)

Available in grey, red, or green.

What: PLUMEN Light Bulb

Where: GENERATE – $29

Why We Love It: Rarely can a lightbulb stand on its own as a thing of pure beauty, but this trio of uber cool lightbulbs from Holger certainly need not be hidden behind a shade, globe or Swavorski crystal (of course, you can if you want to). As the CFL bulb was bemoaned for its curly cue shape the PLUMENS light plumes are meant to be celebrated! By simply reconfiguring the glass tubes of the standard CFL, designer Samuel Wilkinson created a work of art.

And it’s a low energy light bulb to boot! Holger says their stylish bulb could save you up to 80% on your energy bills and that it will last 8 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb. Fits in standard light fixtures.

What: Silva Table Lamp

Where: YLighting – $382.50

Why We Love It: Lately we’ve been obsessed with LED lighting especially with the scheduled retirement of the incandescent in 2012 and our love/hate of the CFL. LEDs are clearly superior in terms of energy efficiency and flexibility of design, but since its such a young market the options have been limited so we were excited to learn about the Silva Table Lamp from Cerno.

Cerno’s LED lights balance innovative technology, traditional materials, and contemporary design. The Silva is blends art and science with a wood combination of a wood and metal base bringing a warmth to it feeling less overtly futuristic than most of the LEDs on the market. The base is made of CNC cut wood which cuts down on waste during the manufacturing process and has a unique tri-leg base. The heat sink detail on the top combines form and function allowing heat to dissipate more efficiently while adding a visually appealing and unexpected element.

Available in lacquered Baltic birch plywood, oiled walnut, or black lacquer with choice of white polymer, beech wood veneer, ebony wood veneer or white linen shade.

Made in California.

What: o-Re-gami Lampshade

Where: Regenesi Concept Store – 98EU

Why We Love It: Looking for an innovative design for your lighting? This unique lampshade, designed by Matali Crasset for Regenesi, is handcrafted by Italian artisans who fold sheets of regenerated leather into this origami-esque shapes, hence the name. Organic cut-outs along the edges create a peek-a-boo affect for the bright orange hidden inside. Almost has the feel of a welted wool, but in fact it is made from leather scraps as suits Regenesi’s eco-sensibilities.

Their motto: “We turn waste products into things of beauty because there is no contradiction between being functional, eco-friendly and beautiful. We believe that something fine and useful can be gleaned from the consumer society and from wastage”. The o-Re-gami Lampshade is made of sheets of regenerated leather that is 100% recyclable. Chrome shavings and vegetable-tanned leather scraps obtained from all around the world are salvaged and milled to create the regenerated leather. The final product is composed of 65% vegetable tanned leather fibers, 18% natural latex extracted from rubber plants, 10% water, 5% natural fats and 2% natural coloring agents and salts comparable in look and feel to genuine leather.

Clearance: Save up to 75% on Select Lighting, Fans, Gifts & Accessories at Lumens.com. Free shipping. Easy Returns. Low price guarantee.

What: Libri Lamp

Where: Not yet in stores, expected to retail for £300.

Why We Love It: It was hard to miss alle’s booth at 100% design. Their candy colors, jell-o like molds and sleek designs definitely stood out. Once our eyes sifted through the bright colors, they settled on an unusual set of reading lamps all bent from single sheets of Methacrylate (a durable, stain resistant, flexible acrylic that is 100% recyclable) increasing strength because there are no joints and minimizing waste. In fact, the entire manufacturing process is designed to achieve zero % waste. Off cuts from oval shaped tables become the frame for oval shaped mirrors; excess acrylic scraps can be used in the new Jelly collection, so that every scrap of waste produced is reused for other projects.

The lamps had a fabulous glow about them reflecting off the white back plastics and love that book slats were built right into the Libri lamp. The boxy shape is also quite fascinating the way it is bent to form a continuous shape. Excited to see this product make it to the states.

table lamps

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.

we love the fact that although designer, David Trubridge, balks at the label “eco-designer,” there is no denying that he is one: 70% of the energy supply is from hydro-electric power; the hoop pine plywood is sustainably sourced and cut with CNC lasers to minimize waste; he uses non-toxic organic finishes (or in this case, no finish at all); the pendants are designed to pack neatly into a small box and assemble easily with recyclable plastic clips to minimize environmental and economical shipping costs.

wood pendant light

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.

Designed with the workplace in mind, you can bend, twist, tilt and pivot the frame up to 360 degrees to achieve just the right lighting for your task. The optical diffusing optical film over the circle of LED lights provides glare-free light control. The LED bulb included has a 25,000 hour lifespan – compare that to CFL’s that last anywhere from 6,000 to 15,000 hours and incandescent bulbs that last anywhere from 750 to 1,000 hours.

In addition to being incredibly energy efficient, the LINK lamp is an incredibly minimalist design streamlined to reduce the amount of parts and materials to build it. The arms are made of stamped aluminum, the lens is a polycarbonate and the base is made of die-cast zinc base finished with a matte soft-feel paint. As much thought was put into the creation of the lamp as was put into its end. It is built to last, but can be easily disassembled for recycling and 97% of the components are completely recyclable.

See also the LINK Task Light, the LINK Small Floor Lamp and the LINK Medium Floor Lamp.

led lamp

Who:

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.)

Design and function were of equal importance when creating the Modern Fan line. A streamlined design meant easier installation, a more efficient and quieter motor and a bigger breeze. Anyone who has wrestled with installing a ceiling mounted fan will appreciate the ease of installation.  Running a fan in the hot summer months can reduce your energy bill even if you have A/C, you’ll be able to keep the A/C thermostat an average of 8 degrees lower if you keep your fan running which could reduce your energy bill by up to 40%. They also help circulate air in the winter sending hot air trapped near the ceiling down to where you need it. These fans are also compatible with compact fluorescents (CFLs) to further reduce energy consumption.

Take a look at the ball fan in the home of Dixie Chick Emily Robinson.

Available in aluminum, white or with maple blades and can be hung with or without a light. Also available in other sizes/heights: Ball Hugger Ceiling Fan | Cirrus Ceiling Fan | Cirrus Hugger Ceiling Fan | Stratos Ceiling Fan

Who:

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.

Initially, the founders of Stray Dogs design set out to create unique pieces while providing sustainable jobs for communities in need, as was the case with Haiti. In light of the recent earthquake, they have set up the Stray Dog Designs Haitian Worker Relief fund to directly support the workers they employed. In addition, a portion of each Stray Dog Design purchase is donated to organizations that feed hungry children, shelter homeless families, or create loving homes for stray dogs and cats. So bringing some color and whimsy into your home will help bring color to those in need.

Related Articles: Paperstone Cutting Boards | Green Guides: Paperstone Countertops

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….

we love the fact that although designer, David Trubridge, balks at the label “eco-designer,” there is no denying that he is one: 70% of the energy supply is from hydro-electric power; the hoop pine plywood is sustainably sourced and cut with CNC lasers to minimize waste; he uses non-toxic organic finishes (or in this case, no finish at all); the pendants are designed to assemble easily with recyclable plastic clips and pack flat  to minimize shipping costs, both eco-friendly and economical….