Lamp Love
Shopping
24th February, 2014
Simone Haag of Hecker Guthrie is back today with another report from the studio! Known for their meticulous attention to detail, the team at Hecker Guthrie are only too aware of the importance of carefully selected lighting. Occasional lamps offer a great opportunity to introduce a bold or slightly quirky statement at home, with far more flexibility than fixed lighting. Whether you're after a cheap and cheerful option or a classic designer piece, Sim has all bases covered with today's round up. - Lucy
Ten amazing table / desk lamps, edit by Simone Haag of Hecker Guthrie. Lamps / stockists listed below.
At the studio we are often asked - 'what's one easy device that can be used to instantly enhance an interior space?'. Other than planting, lamp lighting would be the answer.
On a recent trip to Stockholm, we only had to look up to see how the locals favour lamplight over any overhead light source, making for far more ambient, cosy and welcoming interiors. It seemed opportune timing, then, to round up ten favourite lamps that we are currently loving at the studio.
In the mix you'll spot a few designer classics (we couldn't resist!) alongside affordable options from Ikea and Beacon, and of course a couple of locally produced pieces too. With autumn just around the corner, it might be time to do as the Swedes do, and introduce a little lamp lighting to cosy up your home. See you next month! – Simone
1. Duii lamp by Diesel for Foscarini available from Space ($790.00) – The Duii Lamp brings together contemporary styling and a sweet sense of humour. With its pixar-like qualities, the Duii has been coined a ‘small domestic robot’. It features a trinket tray at the base, and a retro car light-inspired diffuser, all connected by an articulated arm, where wing screws bear a ‘Meccano’ like quality.
2. Hunter table lamp by Ruben Lighting from Fred International ($891.00) – Swedish brand Ruben is one of our favourites at the studio of Hecker Guthrie. The simple articulated ‘Hunter Lamp’, with its sleek form and quality brass joint make it a sophisticated choice for any desk.
3. Mantis table lamp DCW Editions available from Luke Furniture ($745.00) – Bernard Schottlander designed the Mantis table lamp as part of a series of lamps created in the early '50s. Combining a system of counterweights with flexible metal bars, the lamp is testament to Schottlander’s work as an artist and an engineer.
4. Pacman table lamp by Pierre and Charlotte ($440.00) – The Pacman lamp is designed by local creative duo Pierre and Charlotte. This cotton linen lamp has a Japanese lantern quality about it. We love the way its in-built handle allows it to be picked up and moved with ease.
5. BestLite Table Lamp in Brass ($1199) - The original metal BestLite desk lamp was designed in Britain by Robert Dudley Best in 1930. Inspired by a visit to the ‘Exposition Internationale Des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes’ in Paris in 1925, Best's lamp is widely considered to be the first appearance of a 'Bauhaus' aesthetic in the UK. A timeless classic, the BestLite has been in production since the 30's. It's available in Australia through Corporate Culture, in various finishes.
Ten amazing table / desk lamps, edit by Simone Haag of Hecker Guthrie. Lamps / stockists listed below.
6. Meyer 1 Light table lamp from Beacon Lighting ($169.95) – As the theme of articulated lamps continues, here is a well-priced option from Beacon. With its blonde ash frame and white metal shade, the Meyer table lamp channels another modern classic, Ilse Crawford's popular w084 lamp for Wastberg. It works equally well as a bedside or desk lamp.
7. Chipperfield lamp w102 by Wastberg available from Euroluce ($780.00) – Designed by David Chipperfield for Wastberg, the Chipperfield lamp is a perfect choice for lovers of a sleek, minimal aesthetic. The designer’s intention was to create a simple form with a clear distinction between the base, a single arm and a lamp head. Crafted almost entirely in brass, its a contemporary take on the classic brass 'bankers lamp' of yesteryear. Superb.
8. Detroit lamp by Light Industry avilable from Mondo Luce ($163.00) – The Detroit lamp by Light Industry is an industrial table lamp featuring a rotary metal shade and base with an adjustable arm. It's available in grey or white - we love this grey version with ever-so-subtle orange detail.
9. Vate Table lamp from IKEA ($9.95) – With it’s Japanese quality, the IKEA vate lamp is a glowing orb, perfect with its minimal personality and ability to easily assimilate into any scheme. Note from Lucy - BONUS POINTS if you recall that Hecker Guthrie director Paul Hecker has one of these modest yet perfectly formed little lamps on his bedside table - revisit his home here!
10. Silhouette Tablelamp by Ross Gardam ($470.00) – Another brilliant locally produced piece, the Silhouette lamp by Melbourne designer Ross Gardham is a contemporary classic in the making. Its gently fluted shade is available in a range of finishes including matt black anodised aluminium and high sheen copper, on an anodised aluminium arm.
Thanks to Simone and the Hecker Guthrie team for another inspired and informative design round up! For more inspiration from the clever Hecker Guthrie team, be sure to check out the impressive portfolio of work on their website.
If the Ikea lamp is good enough for Paul Hecker, it is good enough for me!
Thanks for the round up. G.
Ridiculous prices. Ikea all the way. The rest of them are a ridiculous waste of money. It’s easy to find lovely pieces to photograph for a blog with an unlimited budget. But for us ordinary folk, try to keep it realistic.
I enjoy seeing and reading about the different pieces – even the ones I can’t afford at the moment.
One day I will have my perfect lamp (brass best lite) and it will be worth the wait.
Wow! I feel this is incredibly out of touch with most readers and household incomes.
Yes they all look great but with a median price of over $600 for a lamp!
But please don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore TDF but this is way off the mark for what I think TDF readers will gain inspiration from.
OMG – ridic prices. Once again design files please keep it realistic.
Couldn’t agree more! Not including the ikea lamp, the average price here is $683. Not only ridiculous but, quite frankly, shameful! Glad to see I’m not the only one who thinks so. Please, please, please demonstrate that good design is not exclusive to those with heaps of money, and indeed that ikea is not the only solution to those of us on a budget!
The Hunter table lamp (#2) is actually $891.00. The pricing above is for the much larger floor lamp. I am not sure where the others lamps are manufactured, but the Rubn range of lamps are handmade in Sweden, with the people manufacturing the lights working with European wages and conditions. They are beautiful lamps.
Regards, Michael Liira (Founder, Fred International)
Everyone has a different appreciation for styles, designs and price points. You have once again presented a beautifully refined selection of pieces that cater for all! You purchase a piece within your means and how much it resonates with you, which for me, would be the ikea piece as well as the most expensive light that I would save hard to acquire!!
What a gorgeous collection of lighting. I love the idea of turning off all our energy burning down lights and creating a warm ambience with beautiful lighting. It depends on your priorities but I think beautiful lights are like an art piece in your room and well worth the investment on something gorgeous rather than a cheap imitation! Beautiful collection my favourite the Chipperfield!
Gorgeous selection of items TDF…..and lovely to see some inspirational items making for a considered purchase…..The items presented are all classically designed and certainly something to be loved for a long time…not just discarded with the next garage-sale or adding to land-fill.
How boring would life be if we could only admire and appreciate the things we can afford.
Susan the Ikea lamp is underpriced.
Chinese Labour + Parts + Shipping from China + Australian Retail Margin = $9.95………………
The other lamps are not expensive just the price that things should be.
Great to see the comments supporting everyday affordable design vs design = art school of thinking. Obviously both views are valid but the comments on TDF generally support the latter rather than the former.
It seems clear that the aim of this feature is unclear to many readers. Unfortunately it seems the hope that “Sim has all bases covered” has not been achieved.
I think it’s fine as a spread, obviously some are investments that will last you a lifetime and some are cheaper and look great for a few years.
I love number 3 and number 8 both look practical and great investments for their different prices.
Oh, love number 8. It looks like it would give off a lot of light. Though the whole selection is fantastic!
Sim I often look at design items and admire them for the beauty, knowing that I may not be able to afford them. that goes for so many thing in life beauty products, designer fashion etc.
If you so longed and loved one of the lamps you have displayed, I say start saving, if not there are options in the market place, if you want cheap look at the spotlight catalogue.
Someone once told me Buy well Buy once.
Simone has a great eye for finding beauty in even the most simplest of products. She recognises true excellence in design and collates these inspiring products together in order to share them with us. It’s unfortunate that we can not all simply appreciate this and just say thank you.
Not being a fan of down lights I love a lamp. Thanks Simone for presenting these inspiring goodies to drool over! I love 3 Mantis and 10 Silhouette, both well out of my price range but very beautiful just the same. Maybe Lucy was intending a pun with ‘all bases covered’. Lighten up!
I love lamps, but hate the cords. If only there was some kind of battery pack thing you could get….
I appreciate beautiful design too, but – I can’t afford the majority of these lamps. It’s very well and good to sprout off about buying once and buying well, but I have to feed my kids.
I spotted this beauty at Freedom the other day, it’s now on my wish list – and well priced too: http://www.freedom.com.au/homewares/lighting/table-lights/23399693/tre-table-lamp-metallic-copper-colour-metallic-copper-colo/
I love all of these lights too, the closest I get to owning one is specifying the Chipperfield for a client. I actually find it very easy to find gorgeous expensive lighting, however the hard part is finding gorgeous lighting at prices that I can afford and most of my clients find reasonable too. For those that are disheartened, try Exhibit, Mondo Luce, About Space, Freedom and even vintage stores like Scout where I bought a beautiful brass lamp the other week. You don’t need to spend this much to enjoy the ambience and instant mood a table lamp can bring!