droolicious : lighting

In the Nursery: Modern Letter Lights

elizabeth leach — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

These modern lamps are handmade by artist, Amy Adams. Each lamp is 5" in diameter and can be ordered as a cord and switch or with a dome for hardwiring into your ceiling. Looking for an even bigger statement? Lamps can also be ordered as a chandelier with six lamps, each with a different letter. Lamp uses a 60 watt bulb.

Find the Letter Light at Romp.

A Clock that Talks Back at You

JeanneSager — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:23:00 GMT

The mark of a truly great toy for kids? Something that talks. The mark of a truly great toy for parents? Something that teaches . . . and doesn't talk too loudly.

The Tick Talk hits both marks, making it an all around hit for families.

From the folks at American Innovative, the clock does double duty as an alarm clock, night light and toy that helps them get out the door in the morning. Kids can record their own voices being goofy as their wake-up alarm, or you can record yourself nagging, er, gently reminding them it's up and at 'em. For kids who are always on the go, record messages so they can come home and check them at the touch of the clock's "toe."

Want a stress-free morning? The clock will start shipping next month, so pre-order from American Innovative for $29.95.

Meet Chloe, My New Favorite Chandelier

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:30:00 GMT

Admittedly I have a chandelier obsession. Wherever you can make them work I say go for it. I love this new one from lighting design extraordinaire Maura Daniel.

It’s definitely in the splurge category at $536, but the Chloe Sphere is a crystal-encrusted gem. Measuring 16 inches in diameter it comes with all necessary hardware for installation. Each piece is custom made and usually ships within 2-3 weeks.

Cut Through the Dark with a Star Wars Lightsaber USB Glow Lamp

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT

This Star Wars Lightsaber USB Glow Lamp ($26.99) casts a cool blue glow when it's plugged into your PC or wall (via a separate USB-to-AC power adapter), but considering the removable lightsaber holds its glow once charged, it's a little too easy to imagine the kids adapting it for battle. Find a high shelf and place your order at StarWarsShop.com.

Mid-Century Modern Lamp

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:30:00 GMT

Warmed up tones of brown and teal coupled with geometric shapes make this lamp a bright spot in the nursery or child’s bedroom (heck, I’d like it in my bedroom).

Detailed appliqué and embroidery, along with a mix of textured fabrics, create the contemporary look of Kimberly Grant’s Spa Baby Lamp, $49.99.

On or Off, this Joker Lights Up Any Room

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Originally created in 1970 by designer Christian Ræder, the Joker light (which, frankly, looks more like something you'd find in the Batcave) is available again from Le Klint. Even for those of us who don't call Gotham City home, the hand-assembled pendant lamp makes a striking addition to any room -- get it in black or white for $285 Canadian (around $221 U.S.) from Morba. [The Awesomer]

First Look: Bholu Animal Lamps

Nicole Feliciano — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:44:00 GMT

Meet Mavis the monkey. She’s one of the latest creations from Australian design house Bholu.

We’ve stumbled upon some serious monkey business going on Down Under: A small design team with lofty aspirations. Bholu aims to bring contemporary furnishings to families while remaining socially conscious and environmentally friendly. All their pieces are hand crafted by traditional Indian artisans (so each lamp is a one-of-a-kind—just like your kid). While the mission is commendable, we’re mostly thrilled with the funky results.

Available in felt and linen the new line of children’s lamps involve citizens of the animal kingdom like Mavis the monkey and her friends Frederick Elephant and Ignatious Critter. Mavis sells for $249 AUD (about $160 US) and can be shipped just about anywhere in the world from the newly launched Online store www.bholushop.com.

In the Nursery: A Lamp for Your Budding Artist

elizabeth leach — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:31:00 GMT

This teddy bear lamp by Offi is a fun accent piece that your child can personalize by drawing on it. Change the bear's look many times with the washable markers that come with the lamp.

Offi also makes an adorable puppy lamp (below photo) that you can draw on, too. Both Offi Lamps are available in white, yellow, green, hot pink and orange and are made of non-toxic molded plastic.

Buy the Offi TerriBear Jr. and buy the Offi HoweePup Jr. for $59 each plus free shipping.

And check out our past post on the Offi Dachshund Lamp. (My personal favorite, being a dachshund owner!)

Buy all three Offi Lamps at All Modern Lighting.

Rainbow Jack O’Lantern Light

alibaba — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:20:00 GMT

I live in Brooklyn where it’s a surefire bet that your lovingly carved jack o’lantern is going to be smashed to bits in the street by neighborhood big kids if you dare to set it out on your doorstep. But for those of you Halloween-lovers who go the extra mile for this holiday, check out this automatic jack o’lantern light that rotates – get this – a dazzling rainbow of colored light! As it runs on AAA batteries, there’s no chance it will, say, topple over and start your living room on fire, as a candle might. And despite its clear seniority in the safety category, I think it’s also a winner in the fabulous category. In fact, I might keep one of these in my office cubicle after Halloween for our rare Thursday afternoon Happy Hours. Who doesn’t want a revolving rainbow of light in their front window in October?

The Deluxe Amazing Rainbow Pumpkin Light comes in a set of 2 for $9.95 from Leaps & Bounds. And it is amazing.

Smila Sjohast - Seascape of Lights

alibaba — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:16:00 GMT

Today I braved the outskirts of Brooklyn to visit the not-so-new-anymore Ikea in Red Hook. It’s been a while since I have felt the urge to endure Ikea on a weekend; as a crowd-avoider I make the trek maybe once a year, tops. I always find myself uncontrollably drawn to the show room of fake room set-ups even though once within the labyrinth of faux living rooms and home offices I am overwhelmed to the point of nearly having an agoraphobic attack - meatball odors! Crying children! Couples arguing over shelving units! Sensory overload! However, there’s something about the children’s section that always makes me feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Maybe it’s the adorable stuffed animals for less than $10, or the rainbow color options on all furniture items. On this particular trip what floored me was the wall of sea-inspired lights. Having a nephew who still watches Little Nemo at least once a week keeps me on the lookout for anything oceanic, and these lights are beautiful and could turn any child’s bedroom into a sea-themed wonderland. I don't know the exact Swedish translation for Smila Sjohast but I suspect it means "mighty cute."

Available lamps include the sea horse (aka Smila Sjohast, shown) sea shell, and star - $14.99 each at Ikea.com.

Good Nite Lite Gives 'Goodnight Moon' a Whole New Meaning

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:04:00 GMT

On the surface, the new Good Nite Lite is just that -- a night light that casts a good, warm (or cool, or creepy, depending on how your kids react to that face) glow at bedtime. But considering that it also packs a feature designed to help you modify the kiddoes' sleep habits, the light comes in especially handy during the changing seasons, back-to-school days, and any other time when the natural light outside isn't jibing with the kids' opinion on when they should be going to bed.

After you program it with a period of time for sleeping, the Good Nite Lite responds with a visual cue that'll be easy for kids to understand: At bedtime, the mellow-looking Moon face appears to let kids know it's lights-out, and when your predetermined wakeup time arrives, the Moon changes back to the smiling Sun character. below It also shuts off automatically during the day to help conserve energy. Sure, the kids will still argue about whether they're actually tired or ready to wake up, but c'mon -- the thing's not meant to take the place of actual parenting.

Priced at $34.99, the Good Nite Lite is available starting this month at goodnitelite.com.

Aduki Ni – Nightlight extraordinaire

alibaba — Tue, 13 May 2008 19:33:00 GMT

The Aduki Ni lighting solution looks like a magical metallic rock, heavy and smooth. But in fact it’s not magical or a rock, it’s a rechargeable light that can run for 6 – 8 hours without being plugged in. When turned on, the light it emits will transition across an array of hues. Who else would have come up with this other than Mathmos, the original creators of the lavalamp? If you’ve got a favorite hue you can also pause the transition and have it hold that shade with the press of a button. The color is cast by die cast zinc, so while the light fixture may look like it’s a potential source of 25^th Century toxicity, it’s not at all.

Available at Modern Tots for $77.00 online or in DUMBO.

New Kid (Catalog) on the Block

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:38:00 GMT

Adding to the growing list of baby retailers with sophisticated style, Restoration Hardware is throwing its hat into the ring. As of yet there’s no word of brick and mortar stores, but The Restoration Hardware Baby & Child catalog will debut this summer.

Promising collections of furniture, bedding and bath linens, drapery, rugs, lighting, wall décor and gift items, the new venture plays on the “updated classic” aesthetic that the brand is known for. If you love Restoration Hardware, or simply want a gawk at what they’re up to, you can sign up to receive the premiere issue of the Baby & Child catalog at www.rhbabyandchild.com.

Black Bling for the Nursery

Lisa Mulcahy — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:28:00 GMT

It’s interesting to see how home haute couture translates into baby’s boudoir. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I’m still trying to figure this one out. Clearly it’s a scaled down (and priced down) reinterpretation of Baccarat’s black Zenith Chandelier, which by the way retails for a jaw-dropping $ 82,800. For 30 bucks maybe it’s worth it to get a baby version.

It might not be made of Baccarat lead crystal and black onyx, but this night light from Tadpole Basics sure has the look. In case you have a traditional streak in you and feel that black isn’t for babies, it’s also available in the more mainstream clear crystal.

$29.99 at Amazon.

Mathmos Tuba Light a Mood Lamp for the Nursery

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:03:00 GMT

As much as the Mathmos Tuba Light could work to set a mood in the nursery, it's just as easy to imagine it casting a warm, color-enhanced glow in grown-ups' rooms. Stick your hand into the seemingly innocuous center hole, and the light starts to cycle through a series of cozy colors while also responding to ambient sound when in "Music" mode. The $196 Tuba Light is made from pressed glass and can be snagged in two different finishes (white and silver) from Moderntots.

Mount a UFO Invasion Via Creative Lighting

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:03:00 GMT

Inspired by pretty much every alien-themed B movie you'd care to mention, El Ultimo Grito's "Don't Run We Are Your Friends" lamp ($99 at Generate) has some wonderful functionality to match its quirky name and even quirkier UFO shape.

Depending on where you hang it, the light's intensity changes to match: Place it low, and it'll emit warm, soft ambience through its color shade. Move it closer to the ceiling, and it bathes the room in a brighter, more direct glow from the shade's bottom.

It's controlled via a corded foot switch, though, so unless your junior space traveler is coordinated enough not to trip over it, you may want to wait a few years to go all Mars Attacks! with the room decor. (Via Babygadget.)

D.I.Y. Elephant Light With or Without Feet

Erin Behan — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:57:00 GMT

There's really not too much to do to get this elephant lamp ready for action. The Polypropelene pachyderm is delivered flat and you simply fold the flaps according to the directions for the finished shape above (amusingly ready for folding by either left- or right-handed folks). You'll need to specify U.S. or E.U. voltage for your cord and supply the lightbulb yourself.

In addition to the elephant lamp ($69.50), the clever designers at multi4m have come up with optional leather feet ($19) to add to your lamp, which is heat-resistant, durable, and even washable.

MyPetLamp Looks Great, Lights Well Even When Defaced

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:02:00 GMT

Kids already coloring everywhere they shouldn't be? Encourage them while sprucing up the bedroom or nursery with the MyPetLamp HoweePup Jr. from Offi ($59). Made from odorless, non-toxic plastic, Howee casts a warm glow in one of six different colors (there's also an equally cute teddy-bear version) and includes washable markers that let you color right on its surface. At just 12 volts, the light bulb shouldn't ever get too hot to touch, and kids will love having carte blanche to deface Howee as creatively as they like.

TwistTogether Lamp - A Night Light for Almost Everyone

Chris Ford — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:54:00 GMT

Unless you're lighting up the hallway to make sure Grandma doesn't trip and fall on her way to the bathroom in the middle of the night, night lights are typically the domain of children. This lamp from TwistTogether Company wouldn't be so good for the hallway, but it might make a good addition to your little girl or boy's room for many years to come.

The lamp is a set of plastic blocks, each with illuminating LED lights. But what makes it really unique is that you can move and connect the individual blocks together to form any configuration you can think of.

I'm interested in this product for a couple of reasons. The first is, because of the "candy colors" (red, blue, green and orange) the lamp is completely gender neutral. This comes in handy if you're trying to decorate the nursery of a baby you don't know the sex of yet, or if you're just trying to get away from blue and pink for a change. The other thing I love is it's timelessness. Some of the best things I've put in my daughter's room are things that I can also imagine her bringing to her college dorm room with her, and this would probably fit right in with that.

TwistTogether Lamp $104 from Design Public

Tord Boontje Shadow Light Puts on a Show

Mir — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:31:00 GMT

What a way to turn a small space into a wonderland: This 60-watt halogen pendant light casts the surrounding designs onto nearby walls to create a dazzling shadow-mural of foliage and animals. Created by Tord Boontje for Artecnica; $150 from Heliotrope.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Turtle?

Karen — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:02:00 GMT

Twilight Turtle turns your kid's room into a night sky, but this isn't just any night sky: this plush buddy displays 8 actual constellations so you and your little one can identify them, using the handy guide.

I know I'd rather be doing that than pouring a glass of wine after a long day of "Mommy! Mommy" but that's just me.

Available at Pokkadots for $35.

Light the Way with Candeloo

Mir — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 15:02:00 GMT

No, these aren't deformed plastic bunnies. Meet Candeloo, rechargeable lights ready whenever your child needs a bit of illumination for exploring or just a late-night potty trip. Runs eight hours on a charge, and comes in pairs (two lamps on a single charger base) so there's always one ready for action. Pink/orange or blue/green, $50 at Sparkability.

Louise Antoinette Nursery Chandeliers Illuminate Your Empty Wallet

Mir — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:04:00 GMT

This Louise Antoinette chandelier is just one of the hand-painted creations designed to set your nursery apart from the pack. This one is the Adam's Airplane Chandelier and probably my favorite of the ones I've seen (check out more here). Who wouldn't want this gorgeous piece adorning Junior's nursery? Well, for starters, I hope you're short or have cathedral ceilings in your nursery. (A chandelier? In a child's room?) And then I hope you're either independently wealthy or willing to eat nothing but Top Ramen for a few months, because the model pictured will cost you $855.

I'm thinking that for that price, the thing should actually fly around the room.