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Before the holiday break, my home’s recessed can lights looked like a sad sack of characters past their prime: their springs that had lost their ‘spring’ and the plastic trim had yellowed, giving the appearance that the lights were much older than their dozen years. My home is pretty modern- it’s a very open plan, loft-like townhome- and the lights just weren’t cutting it. Plus, we (my husband and I) wanted to upgrade to LEDs, so we bit the bullet and decided to purchase new lights.
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When a modern lamp has a USB port and costs $150, it’s worth a look. Designed by Studio 1A.M and sold by CB2, this little task light has an inset panel of LEDs for a warm glow and a red woven cord and switch for a primary pop of contrast.
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Hey Santa, if you’re going to blow your budget on my Christmas present, please make it this Spin Candelabra by Tom Dixon. It’s one heck of a centerpiece, and pretty much takes the place of a low light or chandelier above a larger table. The candelabra’s arms spin 360 degrees to give a variety of configurations, and, as it’s made from cast iron, it will last forever.
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Want a home of the future? Well, you’ve updated your thermostat, maybe even your smoke alarm, so why not your lights? Goldee is a smart light switch that allows you to control your lights with a wave of your hand, or just set it up to take care of them for you automatically. Goldee can begin your day by turning on your lights softly and turning them off when you leave. Set a sleep timer, and your lights will gradually fade to dark. And, yes, you can also control your lights with a smartphone.

Available for preorder now, with plans to ship next summer. Keep in mind that you’ll need to update your bulbs to Smart LED bulbs, and you’ll need one Goldee Controller per room (not per switch), so it can get pretty expensive if you plan to automate several rooms.
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A small, LED light that you put together yourself is just what you need to bolster your construction confidence. A ping pong ball, optical fibers, a battery, and clothespin all come in this Lichtbloem DIY kit, and after a few minutes of assembly, this little light of yours will shine for all to see. Should you feel the need to brag about making it yourself, do limit your chest puffing to those who aren’t particularly handy, as it’s really easy to assemble.
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Sorry, I can’t help but share certain space imagery applied to ordinary household goods. You’ve seen the Night Light Moon, Earth, but this one has a portion of the Galaxy on its translucent disc, and it’s only $6! Calm down, there’s enough for everyone. For the bathroom, hallway, bedroom, etc. (I swear my home would look like a crazy Cosmologist’s if I didn’t have a little bit of restraint.)

Perhaps with your keen design eye you’ve guessed that the Bouroullec brothers have something to do with this cute little lamp; you’d be right, of course. With rather petite dimensions and a lower base tray- perfect for those little things like keys and coins- this lamp would do well in an entrance hall or small desk area. And, for what it’s worth, I ended up purchasing a green Piani Lamp for our entrance console, and I am very fond of it. It sheds just the right amount of light for the area. And, if you need further encouragement, the Flos 15% off sale is going on right now, so if you purchase before October 24th, the price is $271.
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“She blinded me with science!“… that song will immediately spring to mind each time you walk by this wall sconce, for how could it not when it’s made from real chemistry lab supplies? And, shall we take a moment to admire how the look may change depending on the finish, cord color, and bulb you choose? Note: you might be a little sick of Edison bulbs, because they seem to be everywhere now, but I think there’s still something very appealing about their soft, candle-like glow and I refuse to be put off by their popularity.
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This little solar-powered LED lamp helps get clean, affordable light to the 1.6 billion people without access to electricity. How so? With every purchase you make, a Little Sun can be sold off-grid at much lower, locally affordable prices. Five hours of charging gives three hours of bright light. Do take a look at the video below or Little Sun’s website for more info.
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Well, these pendants sure look impressive grouped together. They hint at the classic industrial bulbs of the past yet have a distinct modern feel thanks to the simple cord treatment. Each one is made from mouth-blown white opal glass and requires basic hardwiring (so, to do a cluster of lights you might want to call in an electrician).
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The Plumen bulb looks especially appealing in this blown glass form by Decode, doesn’t it? The subtle color tint softens the light ever so slightly while the glass gives an irregular reflection that accentuates the form. In other words, it’s pretty. Also, don’t forget you can purchase the Plumen Bulb separately for your own existing light fixture should it need an upgrade.
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Say what? It’s a flashlight and a low-heat LED rechargeable bulb? Sounds strange, but it makes sense, I guess. Extend the telescopic handle to use as a flashlight (up to 3 hours) or use it as a bulb in any standard screw-in light fitting. Like I said, strange, but seemingly practical. Using only six watts of power, the bulb is equivalent to a 40w incandescent bulb.

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Upcycling! If you’ve watched any home shows (say, on HGTV) you’re likely to have seen some upcycled stuff, with some of the results semi-impressive and other attempts being downright awful. Now, I know I’ve seen used washing machine drums upcycled into lights and tables before, but it certainly wasn’t executed in such a precise manner, as shown above/below.

Powder-coating, rather than hand spray paint, helps convey a higher end look, as does the matching color cable and acrylic sheet diffusers. Tip of the hat goes to you, Willem Heeffer, for acing an upcycling project and offering more for sale for those of us that can’t be bothered with doing it ourselves.
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Is it magic that keeps this pendant in place? No, it’s not, but you can pretend if you want. This light fixture appears to be floating, thanks to a mono filament suspension, giving you a very minimal (and magical) look to your room. A frosted glass lens hides an LED strip on the underside, which keeps the 2×4 pristine with its simple, whitewashed finish.

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Brass has made a comeback, and this little number from Schoolhouse Electric certainly catches the eye for its perfect, petite size that’s ideal for smaller desktops or side tables. With vintage style and an aged black patinaed arm, it offers an ambient light that would quietly compliment a refined interior.
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