Tag Archives: wall lamp

IKEA JETSTRÖM smart LED wall light panel embodies the brand’s minimalist spirit

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It’s almost too easy to get into the smart lighting scene, especially if you consider bulbs you can simply screw on, string lights you just need to hang, or panels you can stick to walls or other flat surfaces. That said, the theory might be simple, but the design and features of these smart lights can sometimes be complex and confusing, requiring owners to spend time, effort, and energy on setting up the “perfect” installation. Ever the masters of minimalism, IKEA is fighting against the flow with its newest smart light design, basically just a simple, nondescript square panel that does one thing but does it to beautiful perfection.

Designer: Andreas Fredriksson (IKEA)

IKEA can probably be credited for popularizing two things: flat-packed furniture, and Scandinavian minimalism. Granted, some of its designs straddle the fine line separating design trends, and it has also become infamous for simple yet overpriced products. The new IKEA JETSTRÖM, however, seems to go back to the roots of the brand’s design language, championing elegant minimalism that can fit any interior motif over complex shapes and features.

Like the ceiling lamp of the same name, the new JETSTRÖM is a single-piece lighting panel, this time just a 30cm x 30cm (11.8in x 11.8in) square. It’s not a plain square though, as it has rounded corners and curved edges, softening some of the harshness that usually comes from straight edges and inorganic forms. There’s only one color available for the diffuser cover, and you can’t really go wrong with white in order to blend well with different wall colors and decors.

That’s pretty much it in terms of visual design and aesthetics. There are no connecting mechanisms to worry about, as each JETSTRÖM is intended to be a self-sufficient and sometimes isolated unit. You can place several of these squares side by side if you want to, but there’s no requirement or expectation to do so, unlike wall-mounted smart lights like those from Nanoleaf. In a way, it’s a “what you see is what you get” kind of experience, and it’s a simple yet powerful one.

It might look simple, but the JETSTRÖM isn’t lacking in smart lighting features, at least when it comes to the essentials. The default cold white light can be made warmer to set the mood, or set to different colors to match a theme. All of these can be set from the IKEA Home mobile app, whether on its own or in concert with other IKEA smart lights via the DIRIGERA hub. To keep things even simpler, you can use a dedicated remote, though that’s a separate purchase. And contrary to expectations, the IKEA JETSTRÖM actually only costs around $44, which is pretty affordable for a large smart LED panel, especially one that comes from IKEA.

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Sculptural wall lamps bring an otherworldly aura inspired by sunflowers

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A lot of designs these days take their cue from nature, perhaps the greatest designer that ever existed. Some simply use natural forms as their starting point while others imitate them almost completely. Yet there are also others who try to interpret organic shapes in a different way, resulting in a design that is both familiar yet almost alien. This wall lighting, for example, takes inspiration from the tiny disk flowers inside a beautiful sunflower, but the play of light and shadows gives it an almost hypnotic appearance, whether the lamp is actually on or not.

Designer: Rollo Bryant

It’s probably not common knowledge, but the flower that most people “see” when looking at a sunflower is actually a flower head that’s made up of a bunch of tiny flowers called disk florets. It’s a rather unique arrangement that becomes even more enchanting when you learn about it, giving the sunflower an otherworldly character. That’s the kind of character that the Aureole collection of wall-mounted lighting tries to embody, not just in its appearance but also in the material used to create its mesmerizing form.

The lamps use quartz sand for its main body, a material that’s often used for moulds that are then used to create other objects. In Aureole, however, the sand is the final product instead, and its production pushes the envelope of both what the material can be used for as well as the 3D printing technology employed for creating the complex structures of the lamp’s shape.

That shape is almost like a maze of intersecting curves or an array of raised bits swirling around the center, trying to recreate the appearance of those disk florets without being too literal. They only suggest the general shape of the sunflower head but still leave plenty of room for artistic interpretation. Closer inspection reveals a more intricate network of lines and curves, almost like the structures that bees and ants leave behind in their hives and homes. While completely natural in inspiration, it almost gives the lamp an alien-like vibe as well.

Once the light shines from beneath an opaque black disc in the center, the wall-mounting lighting takes on a completely different personality, ethereal and mesmerizing. Thanks to those complex 3D structures, the light casts shadows in unique and intricate ways, creating an eerie atmosphere that seems to lock your eyes in a swirling spiral of yellow and black contrasts. Because the light is coming from behind the disc, there is also an element of mystery to the aesthetic, as if watching a solar eclipse corona burst into a dizzying pattern. Either way, the Aureole wall lamps definitely captivate people’s minds and imagination, a true conversation starter in any setting.

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Upcycled skateboard factory rejects transform into warm wall lighting

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Recycling is a great way to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, but the process itself can sometimes have some negative impact. There’s still a lot of energy and water involved in converting materials into something usable again, and there’s also some loss when the original design gets destroyed in the process. Upcycling is a more efficient and time-saving alternative, but not everything can be upcycled and not everything that can be upcycled can be used in newer and better ways. Sometimes, it takes a bit more creative thinking to transform one thing into a completely different thing, like how factory seconds from skateboard manufacturers are turned into these understated yet elegant wall lamps.

Designers: Michael and Mariel Upton

Skateboards are objects that bring up images of speed, tricks, and devilish stunts. They’re hardly associated with warmth, subtlety, or even light. Of course, these associations aren’t inherent in the shape of the skateboard’s wooden deck, which makes them open for reuse and reinterpretation, as the case of this trio of wall lamps demonstrates, providing stylish lighting that hardly gives a clue to their origins.

Considering the long oval shapes of skateboard decks, not to mention their upward curved ends, you definitely wouldn’t be able to guess that these wall lights are exactly made from those wooden parts. That’s because these pieces of 7-ply maple wood are taken from factory rejects, decks that obviously didn’t make the cut. Since the shapes of these boards are too specific for general use, they often end up simply being discarded. They’re thankfully made from wood, so they’re biodegradable and have fewer harmful effects on the environment, but they’re still waste and, more importantly, wasted opportunity.

Upton thankfully has the wonderful idea of using those boards to provide ambient lighting as well as a piece of minimalist wall art. The discarded decks are cut to create a shorter and straighter oval shape and then paired with lighting hardware on the back. Each of the three variants, namely, Heru, Cuna, and Mara, get a square piece of original art that becomes the visual center of the entire fixture. With this, even if the light is off, the designs act as decorative pieces that enhance a room’s ambiance in a subtle way.

When the light is on, however, you get a warm ambient halo of light that sets a calming and relaxing mood in any space. The light is emitted from the back and is reflected on the mounting surface, making it look softer and avoiding painful glare when you look in its direction. The wall lamp projects a character of calm and warmth, definitely not something you’d expect from a speedster skateboard that it would have become in some other lifetime.

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How marble waste is reused to become mesmerizing eclipse-inspired wall lamps

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When people hear the word “waste,” they most probably think of trash or rubbish that no longer has use, like leftover food, paper cups, and plastic bags. In reality, a lot of waste material also comes from production, whether it’s food, wooden furniture, textile, or even rock pieces. Marble, for example, is a much sought-after material for making luxurious-looking products, from furniture to decorations. Not all parts of a chunk of marble end up in the final product, though, and plenty is thrown away without much consideration of how they affect the environment in the long run. It might not be easy to work with unused marble waste, but this rather creative design reuses those pieces to turn them into parts of a wall lamp cluster that gives your space an unearthly glow.

Designer: Hadiye Ozdemir

Beautiful as it may be, marble isn’t exactly an easy material to work with, and its sustainability value is a bit all over the place. It’s a naturally occurring rock, yes, but extracting it and processing it requires a lot of energy and water. It isn’t an easily renewable resource either, but it is at least recyclable and reusable when ground and added to a concrete mixture or other hard materials. Reusing bits and pieces of polished marble as they are, however, is harder to pull off, and that’s exactly the feat that the Sole Lamp concept design accomplishes.

Pieces of thin marble, such as those used in tiles, are combined with resin in square or circular molds, depending on the shape of the discarded marble. This combination of marble and translucent resin serve has a cover layer for a circular LED lamp underneath, creating a visual effect that’s similar to a corona during a solar eclipse. On its own, this lamp design is already striking, it becomes even more impactful when combined with other pieces of the puzzle.

Horizontal and vertical wall fixing bars bridge the lamps together, either directly or with an intermediary piece in between. These can also be made from reused marble pieces, often in the shape of discs, that only have small or no parts broken off. Unlike the lamp parts, these are mixed with opaque resin and are used to create unlit segments that break apart would be a visually monotonous sequence of lights.

With an almost random series of lights and opaque discs arranged in a maze-like structure, the Sole Lamp provides not only illumination but also an artistic decoration for your wall. The light from the circular LEDs gets diffused not only through the resin but also on the wall itself, creating a softer glow that contrasts with the sharp light of the lamps. More importantly, the design concept also introduces a novel way to utilize marble waste and even potentially recoup economic losses from these beautiful but underutilized pieces.

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This heavenly lamp puts the otherworldly beauty of the moon on your wall

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Humanity has given birth to dozens of bright minds and creative designers, but few, if not none, will ever claim to have surpassed the grand and almost miraculous designs of nature and the universe. From the intricate and fragile snowflakes to the majesty of the mountains to the grandeur of heavenly bodies, there is an almost endless richness of beauty to inspire designers. Many have indeed tried to recreate the unparalleled beauty of natural objects and forms, some more successful than others. This wall lamp, for example, might not resemble the moon in accurate detail, but its adjustable light perfectly recreates the ethereal glow of the moon against the night sky right inside your house.

Designer: Simay Tokus

Unlike the sun, the moon’s light isn’t blinding even at its brightest. More importantly, however, its shape and light changes over time, going from full brightness to complete darkness and back again. For millennia, the moon has always been a symbol of mystery, magic, and enchantment. These are pretty much the same images that will come to your mind when you gaze upon the gentle light of this wall lamp.

Named after the Italian word for “full moon,” Luna Piena tries to recreate the changing light of the moon as it changes its phase in an elegant and non-literal way. For example, the wall lamp is a ring rather than a full circle, and only the upper half of the ring actually holds the light. The lower half is the control interface, using a ball on a rail system to indicate the intensity of the light. Move it to the right to dim the lamp, then move it in the opposite direction to brighten the light.

The choice of marble for the lower half of the Luna Piena is intriguing and a stroke of genius. The marbling is almost reminiscent of the imperfect yet beautiful surface of the moon. The effect of light on the marble’s surface creates an enchanting aura that brings the beauty of natural stone into focus. In a way, it’s a poetic reference to the juxtaposition of a heavenly body against an earthly material, combined in harmony to create a beautiful whole.

Luna Piena is quite a creative interpretation of the phases of the moon that doesn’t get hung up on faithfully recreating the waxing and waning shapes of our planet’s satellite. The effect is a lighting fixture that effectively conveys the bewitching beauty of moonlight while also enthroning the elegance of natural materials like stone. Whether it’s at its brightest or turned off, the wall lamp becomes a striking piece of wall decor that will elevate the ambiance in any room.

The post This heavenly lamp puts the otherworldly beauty of the moon on your wall first appeared on Yanko Design.

A modular lamp with an industrial aesthetic is the perfect space-saving desk accessory

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Sooner or later, we all run out of desk space. Even the most spacious desk falls victim not only to clutter but also to the necessary items that we use for work or entertainment. That’s why some people prefer products that serve multiple functions or modular ones that can be configured to their needs. Sometimes, however, the simplest solution is opting for a piece of furniture or accessory that takes up as little space as possible without actually sacrificing functionality. Piú is such a lamp that looks incredibly thin as if it barely has anything to offer. Looks can be deceiving, as they say, and this industrial-styled accessory distills its functionality to its most basic form.

Designer: Maximilian Helmut Ewert

What makes a lamp take up so much space? In most cases, it’s the base that eats up space on a surface, but there are times when bulky lampshades also leave little room for other things to stand beside it. In both cases, however, the real culprits are the electronics that make the lamp function, parts that are either housed in the base or stored in the head of the lamp.

Piú puts a different spin on the desk lamp by compressing its form as much as possible without compromising its features. In fact, this space-efficient design even makes it possible for the lamp to be used in more than one way. While many lamps either stand on a desk or stick to a wall, Piú can do both, though not simultaneously, of course. You can even switch between those two modes in a flash.

The secret is that everything that the lamp needs to function is stored inside the lampshade. Instead of a nearly perfect cone, that lampshade has a flattened side that serves as the compartment for all the electronics. The lamp shade itself is compressed tightly to include just enough space for all the important pieces, nothing more, nothing less. The end result is a lamp that can actually be moved around and used without any base or holder, presuming you are near enough to a wall socket.

The base and stem of the desk lamp itself are pretty bare and don’t take up much room. The lamp head is held up by a thin metal rod that has no other attachment or detail. The lamp head stays in place thanks to its own weight without using any adhesive or complicated mechanics. It is equally easy to attach it to a similar hook hanging on a wall, instantly turning it into a wall lamp.

Piú’s understated design belies its best feature, providing proper lighting in the most minimalist form possible. It makes no room for excesses, whether in parts or decoration, but its industrial aesthetic makes it stand out enough to provide a pleasing decoration on top of your desk or on your wall. It is form and function smashed together in the simplest shapes possible, making it the perfect light source for an already crowded desk.

The post A modular lamp with an industrial aesthetic is the perfect space-saving desk accessory first appeared on Yanko Design.

This wall lamp simulates a solar eclipse to bring light and life to your walls

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When it comes to providing light, lamps that hang from ceilings or stand on surfaces are actually more effective and more efficient at what they do. Wall lamps, on the other hand, are better at setting the mood, thanks to their often more subdued or diffused lighting. They also offer more opportunities for making a visual statement because of how visible they often are. That’s why many wall lamps also double as decorative pieces that bring a bit of character to walls and rooms, sometimes to an excessive degree. This die-cast and aluminum wall lamp, however, looks almost nondescript and forgettable, that is until you rotate the lamp around to create playful arrangements that somewhat mimic the charm of an eclipse.

Designer: Arshak Sirunyan

There are only a few phenomena in nature that can bring awe and wonder even today, and one of those is a solar eclipse. Although feared in ancient times, eclipses, both solar and lunar, have become sensational events, partly because of their rarity and partly because of their natural beauty. You don’t have to wait for that event to enjoy its eerie yet mesmerizing play of light, of course, especially with this handmade wall lamp that tries to recreate multiple eclipses in your home.

Made from die-cast with an aluminum finish, the Eclipse looks almost like a bulky ring light affixed to your wall at first. The round cone-shaped body protrudes from the wall and seemingly emits faint light inside, occluded by a circular cover of the same black or white colorway. In this base position, the Eclipse lamp already demonstrates the reason for its name, looking like an annular solar eclipse, where the moon is too far away to completely cover the sun, resulting in a ring of light.

Looks can be deceiving, as they say, and that “cover” is actually the lamp’s light source itself. Beneath the disc is an LED light that emits a warm 3500K color at a brightness of around 400 lumens. The choice of an LED light was made for the sake of saving energy in the long run. That, however, is not what makes this lamp special. What sets it apart from other wall lamps is how you can move that disc around 360 degrees, letting a bit more light shine through in any direction of your choosing.

A pivot screw holds the actual lamp in place and lets it slide out and swing around the conical base at any angle. While this does break the illusion of an annular solar eclipse, it does make it easier to direct soft light in other directions. It also creates interesting forms and arrangements in a room, especially if you have a number of these in a single space. You could try to mimic the stages of a solar eclipse, though with the “moon” actually casting the light instead.

The idea behind the Eclipse wall lamp is definitely creative and innovative, though perhaps the actual execution might need a bit of refinement. Even with the use of some moving parts, it still offers a simple way to spruce up a space, especially one that needs a bit of lighting to set the atmosphere. Even better, the adjustable part of the lamp isn’t just an embellishment but actually serves some function when you need to shine more light in the area.

The post This wall lamp simulates a solar eclipse to bring light and life to your walls first appeared on Yanko Design.

Karim Rashid and Gantri collaborate to debut the ‘Kobble’ collection of eclectic 3D-printed lamps

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It seemed only natural that Karim “Prince of Plastic” Rashid and Gantri would eventually team up to create a signature collection of 3D printed lighting solutions. The collaborative effort, dubbed Kobble, is a collection of lamps printed in Gantri‘s Plant Polymer (GPP) with Karim Rashid‘s signature ‘blobject’ design style.

Inspired by the soft form of cobblestones, the Kobble collection features a Floor, Table, Task, and Wall Light. Each lamp in the collection explores a different silhouette, drawing from the fact that various pebbles and cobblestones look like a part of the same family, but are visually unique in their own way.

The task light from the Kobble collection is easily the most memorable and distinctly Karim-esque of the lot, with an alien-blob aesthetic that gives it an immensely strong character when placed on a desk or table. Its purity of form comes from how seamless the design is (something that Gantri’s made massive leaps and bounds with) and the fact that the switch exists on the cord and not on the lamp itself.

The bubble appearance of the Wall and Table lamps are much more subtle yet still expressive with their voluminous forms. Designed to cast light further and wider than the task lamp, they also come with larger diffusers/shades, allowing that color split between the base and the translucent diffuser to be much more balanced.

Finally, the floor lamp exists as the largest in the collection, allowing your lamp to easily become a statement-piece in any living room or bedroom’s decor. It sports a neo-contemporary design that’s less blob-like compared to the rest of the collection, yet still captures the essence of Karim’s design style and brings it to Gantri’s vast collection of design-driven lighting pieces.

While each piece within the collection can stand on its own, the Kobble lights work seamlessly as a group to create balanced lighting throughout the home. Complete with a museum-grade LED bulb, custom dimmer switch, and made with innovative plant-based materials, every light from the Kobble Collection was built in Gantri’s factory, redefining American-made design.

Kobble Collection is available in Carbon Black as well as 3 new colorways – Blossom Pink, Sprout Green, and Glossy Snow. Karim’s designs will be available to purchase starting October 28th, 2021 with pricing starting at $148.

Designer: Karim Rashid for Gantri

These Bauhaus-inspired chandeliers and wall-lamps add a touch of modernism to your interiors!

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Titled the Moonrise collection, these lighting designs are a Bauhaus-inspired interpretation of the different phases of the moon. Designed by Lara Bohinc for Brooklyn-based design outfit Roll & Hill, the Moonrise comes in 3 styles – two wall sconces, and one chandelier, available in either brushed brass or black anodized aluminum.

The collection makes use of straight lines intermingled with circles and half-round shapes, creating different stages of the moon ranging from a full to a half and even a crescent moon. The lighting elements sit within artistically detailed aluminum frames that end up looking like sculptural pieces when the lights are off. Switch the lights on, however, and they attract the eye even more!

The Moonrise’s playfully geometric design manages to stay true to its lunar inspiration in a beautifully abstract way. The design manages to be bold yet light, geometric yet fluid, and echoes the moon’s feminine qualities wonderfully through its almost jewel-like design.

“Lighting is like jewelry for the room – it brings sparkle, life, and joy to any space. Lights are accents that determine the mood. The room is never complete without lighting,” says Lara Bohinc, the designer behind the collection.

Designer: Lara Bohinc for Roll & Hill

The Caleta Wall Lamp transforms a plain wall into a spectacular light-show

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Styled almost like a table-fan’s grille, David Pompa’s Caleta Wall Lamp comes with a hand-woven PVC shade… if one can call it that. The PVC weaving rests on a powder-coated metal frame, available in black and in white, and with a bulb placed inside its socket, turns into ‘a game of light and shade’ by casting multiple concentric rays on the wall. Interesting to look at both when on or off, the Caleta Wall Lamp can be either used as a singular unit, or as an installation with multiple units casting a series of rays to help truly uplift a blank wall into an illuminating art-piece! A lamp with flair and flare, if you know what I mean!

Designer: David Pompa