Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
Last spring, I spent an hour on the train criss-crossing through Brooklyn on my way to Head Hi’s espresso bar-slash-bookshop in Fort Greene. Such establishments are a dime a dozen, but I made the trek specifically to check out the art org’s annual Lamp Show, where participants create and submit their own original, experimental lamps. Now in their fifth year, the show has gotten so big that it’s moved locations: for 2024, the winning entries will be showcased at 102 Franklin in Tribeca for three days, May 17-19, as part of NYCxDESIGN Festival. If you’re in town, I highly suggest you stop by the exhibit — maybe I’ll see you there!!
Hot Button Issue
TILE LAMP MINI: TANGERINE - JOMBUS DESIGNS ($300)
I’ve been coveting this tile lamp ever since industrial designer Joe Fentress unveiled the initial jade green version last summer. I was especially taken by the hidden power switch, which makes such a satisfying, tactile click when you press it. (You will NEVER convince me to get behind digital displays when I could mash an analog button!) Fentress then expanded the lamp colorways to include lilac, sky, tangerine, latte, and snow, and recently launched mini versions of the lamp that are half the size and half the price. Though I was sorely tempted, I’m still holding out for Fentress to make one in cherry red.
Chip Off the Old Block
KHAKI LAMP 01 - KISMAS (€169)
There’s something so cozy about a warm, honeyed glow refracted through a pane of frosted glass, and I’m a big proponent of bringing them back in modern architectural design. I’m no architect, though, so I’ll happily settle for Kismas’ line of frosted glass lamps. The brand’s Vintage line sources and repurposes glass blocks that were produced in the ‘70s and ‘80s, while their Modern line uses freshly manufactured blocks, which are flawless but lose some of the imperfect time-worn charm. I can’t decide if I want to go with this rich bottle green color or this unusual khaki shade.
Put It On Ice
VINTAGE IKEA IVIKEN TABLE LAMPS "ICE" - LUMEN OWL ($141.45)
I impulsively bought this vintage IKEA ice cube lamp on Etsy when I first moved into my apartment and found myself deep in the throes of furniture shopping. It shipped all the way from the Netherlands, and also needed to be signed for, and of course I was out when it was delivered, so I had to lug this heavy, unwieldy parcel 1.2 miles home from my nearest USPS. Unfortunately, I forgot to account for the fact that the lamp is from the ‘80s and equipped with an EU plug, and now, a year later, I have yet to get around to acquiring a proper converter for it. This listing is a bit more expensive than what I paid for it, but the extra cost for the rewiring is worth it to not have a task languishing on your to-do list for A YEAR.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com!