Some of the most innovative lighting seen this year was on show at ICFF, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York last month. Here are five of The Trend Curve’s favorite pieces:
Beaubien, from Lambert & Fils: The shape of this light fixture is a perfect metaphor for the transition from geometric to organic preferences that has just begun for décor (and will continue for the coming 2-3 years). It has a rectangular form and a maze-like geometric layout with arms and bulbs, but it has no sharp corners. Beaubien is also one of the most versatile lights in the market. Its 1/2-inch powder-coated aluminum-and-steel-pipe frame can stand up with an easel-like leg in the back. But remove the leg and it can be attached to the wall or hang from the ceiling.
Modern Verve’s Machine Flower: Inspired by an anemone flower opening its petals to the rising sun (and closing them at sunset), mechanical light can be controlled by a remote control keyboard. It is handcrafted in Seattle of machined aluminum, handmade porcelain shades and hand-formed milk glass cylinders.
Tom Dixon’s Melt Pendant: Melt it is actually machine made with industrial precision, but hang two or three of these organically shaped pendants together, and each distorted orb appears to be unique. Light bouncing and reflecting around the uneven surfaces creates a hot-blown-glass effect that adds to the sense of fluidity. Melt is also looks translucent when on and mirrored when off, giving it multiple personalities.
CP Lighting’s Leaf Nouveau Pendant: The best thing about CP Lighting’s pendants, designed by Christopher Poehlmann, is how they diffuse downward light, which is typically harsh. The Art Nouveau-inspired shade, a 3-d-printed nylon shaped in a tri-leaf array, captures the LED light in a glowing orb, creating a beautiful shadow effect.
Lladró’s Mademoiselle Collection: These unusual pendant lamps and chandeliers look like figurines of Spanish ladies. Each one is dressed in a blossom-embellished finial hat and a bell-shaped shade skirt made of translucent porcelain. Shades covered in etched flowers project a delicate pattern when lighted.
- Lambert & FIls’ Beaubien
- Machine Flower from Modern Verve
- Melt by Tom Dixon
- CP Lighting’s Leaf Nouveau Pendant
- Madmoiselle from Lladro