Pallet lamps

  

Everyone seems to be up-cycling pallets these days. While I like the idea, most of it ends up looking like pallets. These lamps from UK-based Factory Twenty One look so sophisticated you can't tell the source wood is so humble. 

The clever assembly (giant hair elastics?) and color fade (so on trend!) make them almost perfect. The icing on the green cake is that they ship flat-packed. Want one of your very own? Check out Factory Twenty One's Etsy shop.

Images from FactoryTwentyOne. Via Upcyclista.

Electric slides

Our local reuse center always has bins of vintage slides. I've seen other slide lamps, but nothing so fantastic as this Film lamp by Davide Groppi. They use LED bulbs and can be linked up to form long, candy-colored strings of awesome (or black and white, depending on your choice of slides).

Images from Davide Groppi. Via This Is Colossal.

Line drawings in the air

 

One of the best things about the global maelstrom of images is that when people are showing off their new awesomeness in Italy, bloggers share that with the world. I find this piece so lovely, delicate, modern, and retro all at the same time.


There's nothing really green about it except the simplicity and minimal use of materials (and let's be honest, I'm not posting it because it's simple. I'm posting it because the design my heart go all a-flutter). 

File under inspiration.


Via Apartment Therapy.

Tubular!

As you know, I'm a sucker for a good cardboard project. Love these--so simple!  

Via Inhabitat.

This little piggy

What's there to say. It's adorable, it's made of cork, and it lights up!

 Images from Corkway. Via Apartment Therapy.

Must-see TV

Some of you may know that I have a minor obsession with what happened to all the old tube televisionss when everyone upgraded to flat screens. I remember seeing giant TVs just sitting on the roadside with little free signs on them, just because no one knew exactly what to do with them.

I never found a good upcycling answer for the ubiquitous 2003-era giganto-TV, but Nashville artist and Etsy seller Macho Octopus is getting close. He's making super cool lamps from retro 80s versions. It would have been simple to just gut them and add light bulbs, but the addition of sandblasted details on the glass and a pop of color makes all the difference. The zig-zag is my favorite, and that sugar skull test pattern is amazing.

Images from Etsy shop Macho Optopus.

Fiber cement pendant lights

I stumbled across these fiber cement pendants by Ranier Mutsch. The eco-friendly fiber cement pieces are by Eternit, and usually used for roofing or siding. The rope is simple sailing cord. Nice!
 
Image from Ranier Mutsch. Via Moco Loco.

Tokio LED lighting

LED lights are finally coming into their own. Even IKEA has upgraded their offerings for 2012. The design challenge is to take advantage of the LED's smaller size without losing all the visual impact of a large fixture. 

I like the way Tokio has approached this, with carbon fiber spans connecting the LED spots. 

 Images from Tokio. Via NOTCOT.

Dylan Design

I've been working on some geometric lighting designs (more to come on that soon), and I discovered Dylan Design. The team at Design*Sponge always find the most exquisite lighting, and these pendants are no exception. 

I'm crazy for the dark faceted wood and the red cord (available in other colors, too), and check the chandelier version!

 Images from Dylan Design's Etsy shop. Via Design*Sponge.

Brent Comber

I spotted one of these tables in a Houzz tour and wanted to know more. Unlike most Houzz posts, this one gave the artist details--Brent Comber in Vancouver, BC. One quick click, and I was in love with these Alder rounds. There's a lot of great sculpture here, but it's the pieces comprised of smaller bits that really send me. 

If you're lucky enough to live in or visit Vancouver, you can see some of his work in person at the Salt Tasting Room or Yew restaurant. The glass-topped tables above are at Salt.

Images from Brent Comber. Via Houzz.

The modern daily doily

I love a good modern take on a vintage doily. This one is a nice improvement of the string lamps on every green blog. Isabelle at Dos Family shares how she made this from flea market doilies and a large party balloon. 

She provides a full tutorial (with photos) and even helps to troubleshoot for her readers who've struggled to reproduce the look.

 
Images from Dos Family. Via Apartment Therapy.