Decorating
15 Must-Know Contemporary Lights and Their Illuminating Designs
These contemporary pendants and lamps are fast becoming design classics
There’s no denying the legacy of a good design as it finds its way into homes around the world and takes on the status of classic design object. Certainly these contemporary lights have become, or are fast becoming, just that – classic – despite having been around for a few decades or less. Here are 15 contemporary pendants and lamps that have light and longevity to burn.
2. 85 Lamp
Rody Graumans’ 85 Lamp is another lighting design for Droog Design and it uses only what is necessary to create light: bulbs, wires, connectors. By multiplying these essential elements, Graumans creates an illuminated mass suspended from the ceiling.
Rody Graumans’ 85 Lamp is another lighting design for Droog Design and it uses only what is necessary to create light: bulbs, wires, connectors. By multiplying these essential elements, Graumans creates an illuminated mass suspended from the ceiling.
3. Aim Suspension Light
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Aim Suspension Light is the industrial version of the Lianes Hanging Lamp designed for an exhibition in 2010. The concept was to interconnect all the elements of a lamp – from the long cables to the fixation points to the actual shade and bulb. The long cables, intertwined like a tangled and web-like network, allow the lamps to be adjusted to satisfy all lighting needs.
Kitchen glamour for grown-ups
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Aim Suspension Light is the industrial version of the Lianes Hanging Lamp designed for an exhibition in 2010. The concept was to interconnect all the elements of a lamp – from the long cables to the fixation points to the actual shade and bulb. The long cables, intertwined like a tangled and web-like network, allow the lamps to be adjusted to satisfy all lighting needs.
Kitchen glamour for grown-ups
4. Random Light
Bertjan Pot’s Random Light began as a material experiment. Demonstrating Pot’s fascination for techniques, structures, patterns and colour, its circular and web-like form is light and transparent.
Bertjan Pot’s Random Light began as a material experiment. Demonstrating Pot’s fascination for techniques, structures, patterns and colour, its circular and web-like form is light and transparent.
5. Twiggy Floor Lamp
Marc Saddler’s Twiggy Floor Lamp for Foscarini takes its cues from the classic Arco lamp that transforms a floor lamp into an overhead light that eliminates the need for wiring.
Marc Saddler’s Twiggy Floor Lamp for Foscarini takes its cues from the classic Arco lamp that transforms a floor lamp into an overhead light that eliminates the need for wiring.
6. Coco
The Coco Pendant, designed by Kate Stokes of Australian studio Coco Flip, is influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics and is individually turned by local artisans. It has a smooth and balanced form that hangs heavy at the end of its cord, while also having a great sense of lightness. As Stokes suggests, “Do as the Danes do and hang it low over your dining table.”
Browse more kitchen photos
The Coco Pendant, designed by Kate Stokes of Australian studio Coco Flip, is influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics and is individually turned by local artisans. It has a smooth and balanced form that hangs heavy at the end of its cord, while also having a great sense of lightness. As Stokes suggests, “Do as the Danes do and hang it low over your dining table.”
Browse more kitchen photos
7. Link
The curving and organic Link pendant by Ray Power for LZF has vibrancy and youthfulness, especially in zesty burnt orange. The curving three-dimensional pendant is fluid and effortless, with wood veneer strips layered and swirling on top of each other.
The curving and organic Link pendant by Ray Power for LZF has vibrancy and youthfulness, especially in zesty burnt orange. The curving three-dimensional pendant is fluid and effortless, with wood veneer strips layered and swirling on top of each other.
8. Plumen
Plumen bulbs, such as the Original 001s seen here, are stunning simply for their decorative shapes that change appearance depending on the angle from which they are viewed. In addition to their sculpted looks, the bulbs are efficient and energy saving.
Plumen bulbs, such as the Original 001s seen here, are stunning simply for their decorative shapes that change appearance depending on the angle from which they are viewed. In addition to their sculpted looks, the bulbs are efficient and energy saving.
10. Pigeon Light
Ed Carpenter designed the Pigeon Light for his graduate exhibition. Received with resounding success, design museums and stores picked up the light, as did manufacturer Thorsten van Elten.
The Pigeon Light responded to the brief of creating a new souvenir for London. It has an acrylic plastic shell formed into the shape of the bird. A simple wooden clothes peg attached to a dowel enables it to be clamped onto a shelf or nail in the wall.
Ed Carpenter designed the Pigeon Light for his graduate exhibition. Received with resounding success, design museums and stores picked up the light, as did manufacturer Thorsten van Elten.
The Pigeon Light responded to the brief of creating a new souvenir for London. It has an acrylic plastic shell formed into the shape of the bird. A simple wooden clothes peg attached to a dowel enables it to be clamped onto a shelf or nail in the wall.
11. Modo Chandelier
Jason Miller’s Modo Chandelier was inspired by ready-made, off-the-shelf parts found in inexpensive lighting stores, but it is painstakingly engineered from solid aluminium. Its spoke-and-hub system enables users to configure the Modo in dozens of different ways for a luxurious standout lighting feature.
Spotted! statement chandeliers
Jason Miller’s Modo Chandelier was inspired by ready-made, off-the-shelf parts found in inexpensive lighting stores, but it is painstakingly engineered from solid aluminium. Its spoke-and-hub system enables users to configure the Modo in dozens of different ways for a luxurious standout lighting feature.
Spotted! statement chandeliers
12. Stchu-Moon
Enzo Catellani’s Stchu-Moon collection pays homage to the moon. The effect of the lunar surface is created on the inner surface of the shade with light projected and reflected onto the irregular relief.
Enzo Catellani’s Stchu-Moon collection pays homage to the moon. The effect of the lunar surface is created on the inner surface of the shade with light projected and reflected onto the irregular relief.
14. Beat Light
Tom Dixon’s collection of Beat Lights have a sculptural simplicity inspired by the brass cooking pots and traditional water vessels of India. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, each is hand-spun and hand-beaten by skilled craftsmen of Moradabad in northern India, and they work beautifully individually, in pairs or trios, or as a group.
Tom Dixon’s collection of Beat Lights have a sculptural simplicity inspired by the brass cooking pots and traditional water vessels of India. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, each is hand-spun and hand-beaten by skilled craftsmen of Moradabad in northern India, and they work beautifully individually, in pairs or trios, or as a group.
15. Josephine
Jaime Hayon is known for elegant and whimsical designs, so of course his Josephine lighting collection is no different. The chandelier consists of overblown Baroque-moulds with dramatic yet modern curvaceous forms.
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Jaime Hayon is known for elegant and whimsical designs, so of course his Josephine lighting collection is no different. The chandelier consists of overblown Baroque-moulds with dramatic yet modern curvaceous forms.
TELL US
Do you have a favourite contemporary light to add to the list? Upload a picture to the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse more home design ideas
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Tejo Remy designed the Milk Bottle Lamps Chandelier for cult label Droog Design in the Netherlands. The design groups 12 old-school recycled milk bottles in three rows of four, just like the Dutch milk crates from back in the day. The bottles are sandblasted with chrome tops and hang from long cables.