January 22, 2006
Scented Light Bulbs
These scented light bulbs may look more like hand-dipped cones from the local ice cream shop than any sort of illumination, but Moonscent--the company that makes them--promises they will light up your room and smell good too. They are hand-dipped in a "batter" that hardens on the bulb, then releases aromas like cinnamon, pine, applesauce, and pumpkin spice when the light is turned on. Because the bulbs are primarily decorative and only give off a few watts of energy, there's no chance of the batter melting or catching fire. The company recommends using their scented light bulbs as Christmas tree lights, window lights, bathroom night lights, or in candelabras. At less than $6, these fun accents won't break the bank.
The Tuba Lamp doesn't look much like a lava lamp, but it's got some unique features that bring to mind that familiar old piece. Offering light effects created by chip-controlled LEDs, the lamp can cycle randomly through different colors or it can be set to respond to noise (if you turn on your favorite tunes, it will change colors at different speeds to match the mood of the music). The tuba lamp is made from pressed glass and is available in three finishes: white, black, and silver. 
What's a tiered light shade? Uhh. *points at picture* Well, that's a tiered lightshade. The Moonshine Light and Shade company creates reproduction lampshades, and they specialize in those tiers. The handcrafted retro designs are made to order, so you can choose the color, pattern, and shape you want. Examples of shapes are round, oval, square, and rectangle. Some of the textures available are paper, bamboo, and reed. 
The unique Asana floor lamp doubles as a statue-like 80" tall chair built from lacquered fiberglass and supported by a chrome-plated steel base. Made by Italian lighting specalists, Kundalini, the chair lamp can hold a bright 250 watt bulb in its Murana triplex, blown-glass diffuser. The piece is available in orange, red, white, and black, and costs $3,580.
The Oregon City: Late Victorian Gas-Style Wall Bracket from Rejuvenation's Early Eclectic Victorian Lighting is one of several models the company carries of antique lamps from a forgotten time. It is available in 12 finishes and with 36 different shades. Priced at $163, the lamp can be had for a fraction of the cost of a genuine antique (and the modern, electrical innards won't burn the house down like real gas lamps were wont to do--those pesky flames were a constant concern in ye romanticized olden days).
Offered by the Antiki Trading Company, this unique floor lamp is sure to catch the eye of guests (though it would probably go best with an African room theme). Made in Morocco, the hand-crafted Sultans Lamp is decorated in an ethnic style, using authentic materials such as goatskin leather stretched over an iron frame. The price for the lamp is $192.
To bring a touch of nature in your home, check out the handmade paper wall sconces from Ambient Art. The company creates lamps, pendants, and sconces crafted from natural paper impoorted from Asia and Indonesia. They use real branches and other collected plant materials for the wooden bases, and they are treated with nontoxic, oil-based sealants. This is their "Forest Ferns" sconce and features a willow branch frame that can be ordered with either straight twigs or more branchy ones. The price for the Forest Fern is $60.
If you belong to the ever-growing population of luxury log home owners, you'll be needing suitably rustic furniture to fill that loggy interior. Let's start with the lighting, shall we? Naytura is a company that specializes in chandeliers and sconces crafted from solid bronze, glass, and alabaster. Inspired by nature, their work often weaves in animals, leaves, branches, or the log home favorite: antlers. This pot rack chandelier is, alas, without antlers, but it definitely has a nature theme. It offers lighting and draws attention to those professional chef-style pots you want to show off. The pot rack chandelier comes in three different sizes that weigh up to 300 pounds, so you'll want to make sure you've got a solid beam to attach it to before ordering!
If you're looking for more interesting lighting than the run-of-mill Ikea stuff, check out Rejuvenation, a company that specializes in period-authentic lighting and restoration hardware; they have "a passionate love affair with antique lighting" (plus they have a cool online catalogue of pictures you can browse for ideas). They also have a nifty Lighting Wizard, which helps you figure out what style of lighting is best for your home, based on when it was built, the room you're lighting, and the architecture of the house. 
We've taken a look at those popular 
Just looking at the picture might stump you, so we'll help you out: it's a lamp. The Snap Lamp from Property Furniture can be a suspension or table lamp. Its unique shape comes from 60 identical "injection molded components" (no, we're not sure what that means either) that have been snapped together to form a cohesive globe-shaped piece. 12 inches in diameter, the Snap Lamp is available in Pearl White or Amethyst Red.
Solar outdoor lighting is nice, if only because it means there's no hassle involved with installation (no electrical wires to run under the ground). These solar stepping stones are a fun way to add some lighting underfoot. Made of a cement composite designed to look like real stone, they charge during the day and glow for hours once it gets dark. Available from Sporty's Tool Shop, the solar stepping stones cost $25 a piece.
It takes a special person to appreciate a nightlight shaped like a cow or a pig, but if you're one of those unique souls (or you're Christmas shopping for one), you can get farm animal nightlights online from Uncommon Goods, a store that lives up to its name. These 4-watt lights are hand blown in New York by master glass designer John Burchetta. You can choose from either the pig or cow, and the price is $90.
I'm not sure a pineapple chandelier would fit my decor up here in Seattle, but for those living in sunny, warm climates who like that tropical look, you need to take a peek at Charleston Gardens. They have three pages of pineapple inspired decorations such as doormats, doorknockers, outdoor lamps, fencing, doorstops, and yes, this pineapple chandelier. This six-arm light fixutre has green metallic leaves, comes with a 3" chain, and takes 40-watt bulbs. The price is $725.
Sorry, no, we haven't found a lamp made out of water, but this lighting fixture by artist Michele Brody celebrates one of New York City's "overlooked urban elements." Specifically, she took a rubbing of one of the city's water valve covers (the kind found on sidewalks) and transformed it into an unique lamp for the wall. Its compact fluorescent light bulbs (energy efficient) shine from behind the frosted gas to emit a "bright but soft circular glow." Light gels can be inserted behind the glass to adjust the color. The lamp costs $260 and is available through Uncommon Goods.
Here's a snazzy new lamp from Italian company, Monna Lisa Design. The Nexflex lamp is made from translucent, white bone china and has a bending, rotating spine to allow you to place the light just so. It's 15 inches high and has a 6 inch wide base. The company has quite a few interesting light fixtures pictured on their site, so it's worth browsing if you're looking for inspiration.
Changing out the hardware and lighting fixtures in your home is one of the easiest ways to create a new look without spending a lot of money. Ballard Design's Claire Lighting is meant to mount above your vanity. The blooming leaf-laden vines offer a touch of nature to the light, which is topped with parchment-colored glass bell shades, made to cast a warm glow. The vanity fixture is available in Bronze or Etruscan Gold finishes, two or three light models, and the shades can be turned up or down. The price is $99. 
Do you have children who are afraid of the dark? A night light is an age-old solution, but this egg-shaped lamp from Uncommon Goods offers an unique twist. Made from ceramic, the "Star Egg Night Light" has tiny holes in it that shine pinpricks of light on the ceiling. At night, it looks like there are stars above your kid's bed. The handmade lamp stands 8.5 inches high, 6 inches wide, and costs $125. 
Some of us are lucky enough to have decent weather still, and upgrades to outdoor living areas such as firepits are extending the entertaining season. If you're looking for fun lighting, either for this fall or next summer, Sharper Image sells a "Flickering LED solar-powered garden lantern." The outdoor lamp is powered in the day by the sun's rays and emits light for several hours in the evening, thus requiring no source of electricity. There are numerous solar-powered deck and yard lanterns out there; the fun thing about this one is it emulates a candle's flickering effect. A set of two is available via their web site for $70.
There was a time between candle light and oil lamps but before electricity that gas lighting was popular for outdoor illumination. If you fancy that old-fashioned look for your front yard, the Gas-Lite Manufacturing Company offers working gas lamps (wall mounts, post mounts, or pier mounts) for residential use. Shown here is the Westmoreland, which comes in all three styles and starts at $182. It's made from cast aluminum, can run on standard or natural gas, and is available in black, white, bronze, verdi green, and special colors upon request.
If novelty lamps are your thing, take a look at the Laserpod. Reminiscent of the classic lava lamp, this lamp incorporates lasers, LEDS, and optics to create a fun light show in your room. The Laserpod "splits three lasers and a load of ultraviolet LEDs through a Swarovski Crystal to generate random patterns of multicolored LED light." The lamp projects its swirling patterns on a translucent plastic dome, but you can also remove the dome, allowing the light to dance across the walls and ceiling. The price is $99.
This Carved Ice Cube Lamp is a part of the McGuire Furniture Collection from Kohler Interiors. The light glows upward through its Oyster Pongee shade, down the white bronze neck, and through its natural, hand-carved crystal base. The craftsmanship used to create the lamp comes from traditional Chinese techniques combined with a contemporary feel. The MSRP is $2,740.
