Lighting Trends: December 2008

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Brand New 2008/2009 Times Square New Year's Eve Ball

Well folks. In just a few hours, 2008 will be over and we will be ushering in a brand new year (I will also be celebrating my birthday!). In my post on Monday about LED street lamps in New York City, I briefly mentioned my desire to one day spend New Year's Eve in Times Square. Well, in my blog post I included a picture of the brand new 2008/2009 New Year's Eve Ball! I decided that since it's New Year's Eve, I would tell you a little bit about this brightly colored beauty!

The new ball was unveiled in November at a press conference in Yonkers. The celebratory orb's predecessor made it's debut at the end of the 20th century and went on to enjoy 7 fabulous New Year's Eves (from 2000 to 2007) at the top of the One Times Square building. This year's ball is a 12 foot geodesic sphere, 2 times the size of any of it's predecessor! Weighing in at 11,875 pounds, this masterpiece is covered in 2,668 Waterford Crystals. Hard to visualize, right? Well to put it all in perspective, last year's ball weighed just 1,070 pounds and was covered in a mere 504 Waterford Crystals! The ball is powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs and unlike previous balls, features a more varied color palette showcasing over 16 million colors and billions of different kaleidoscopic patterns.

According to TimesSquareNYC.org, this year's Time Square ball is 10 to 20 percent more energy efficient than last year's, "consuming only the same amount of energy per hour as it would to operate two traditional home ovens." That's awesome, considering how much bigger this year's ball is and it's still more energy efficient! Even if you can't make it down to Times Square tonight, don't worry! The ball is to become a year round attraction in Times Square from January through December. Have a happy and safe New Year and lights out until 2009! - Via Times Square Alliance

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Monday, December 29, 2008

LED Street Lamps in New York City

One thing I've always wanted to do for New Years witness the great Ball Drop in Times Square. I'm not a big crowd person, and I've heard that New Years Eve in the Big Apple can be a pretty hellacious scene!

2008/2009 Times Square New Years Eve Ball

2008/2009 Times Square New Years Eve Ball

Last year I visited my friend in Brooklyn for New Years. We walked over to Prospect Park and enjoyed the fireworks while freezing our toes off. It was lovely! It was my first time seeing Prospect Park, which was cool. Much of Prospect Park was designed by famed landscape designer Frederick Olmstead, who played a large role in Erik Larson's Devil In The White City, which I had just finished reading. In addition to designing Prospect Park, Olmstead also was responsible for Central Park and much of the landscaping done for the 1893 Colombian Exposition in Chicago, the events of which were chronicled in Larson's book.

Anyway, back to the Big Apple itself. According to Inhabitat, New York is getting closer to installing energy-efficient LED street lamps! In the coming year, 6 eco-friendly street lamps will be tested in a select area, and if proven successful, the rest of NYC's street lights will be replaced with these new energy efficient models. That's over 300,000 street lights! Cool, right?

According to Inhabitat, New York City’s Department of Transportation is working with the Office for Visual Interaction to completely re-design the street lamps. If successful, these new street lamps could reduce the city's power usage by 25 to 30 percent! Additionally, since the lamps are using super efficient LEDs, the bulbs will last a lot longer - from 50,000-70,000 hours compared to the existing high-pressure sodium lights that last only 24,000 hours. Let's hope this idea takes off! Lights out until next time! - Via Just Cool Design / Via Inhabitat

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Friday, December 26, 2008

LED Bonfire Lamp

I'm house sitting for a friend this week while she's away in Seattle. The other day I accidentally flipped a switched that turned off the furnace. Needless to say, it was freezing! Oddly enough, the warmest room in the house was the bathroom. My friend has this bathroom lighting with a heater vent which blows hot air down from the ceiling. Interesting. I had never seen one of those before except in a hotel bathroom. Luckily, I was able to remedy the situation by finding the switch that I flipped off by accident. Good thing, as I wasn't too keen on spending my entire Christmas in the bathroom!

Anyway, I found this cool conceptual piece called the Bonfire lamp on Yanko Design. Designed by Kang Kyung Lee, all you have to do is twist them around in your hands to turn them on. No word on how these lights are powered but they use eco-friendly LED lights. They don't produce any heat like a real bonfire would but they are still pretty cool! I don't know what I would use them for. A table centerpiece maybe? Ideas? Lights out until next time! - Via Yanko Design

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Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Kurrency Chandeliers by Stuart Karten Design

Christmas is tomorrow and I'm already thinking about presents. This year, I'll be celebrating the holiday without my family. I was supposed to fly in to Chicago last weekend to celebrate Hanukkah, but the weather prevented that excursion :-( Oh well. A nice, relaxing day of movies and yummy food sounds good to me!

When it comes to my ideal holiday gift...gift certificates are the way to go! Better yet - give me cash! I know, I know. People always complain about how impersonal a gift certificate is. Frankly, I'd rather choose something that I actually want then risk having to go wait in a returns/exchanges line at the department store.

Speaking of cash, these conceptual chandeliers by Stuart Karten Design are so money - literally! The Kurrency collection of Chandeliers come in a variety of currencies - from dollars to euros to pesos. As cool as these are, I don't advise putting up one of these babies during a financial crisis. You'd be better off sticking with your old brass chandelier.

Happy holidays and lights out until next time! - Via Apartment Therapy / Via Metropolis

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Incandescent-Shaped CFL Bulbs from GE

How cool is this! You've heard me talk about those energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in the past and how they are 4 times more efficient than your average incandescent bulb. The only downside that I can see is that funky spiral shape! It's just so awkward!

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Well, problem solved! GE is unveiling its brand new SmartBulb on December 28th! The GE SmartBulb features a profile much closer to that of a standard incandescent light bulb. Inside the outer glass bulb, however, you have the same internal structure that the spiral CFLs have. The new 15 watt CFL will be an equivalent of a 60 watt incandescent bulb and can last you up to 5 years (if used 4 hours per day). The bulbs will be available at Target at the end of December and at select Ace Hardware locations starting in January. You can expect to find them everywhere else sometime in April. No word on the price point but I can't imagine them being too expensive. Check out this video from GE that explains a little bit more about the bulbs. Also, you can stay up to date on other GE products by periodically checking out their YouTube channel! Lights out until next time! - Via Apartment Therapy

Photos via GEConsumerProducts.com

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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Modern Electric Tree Lights

Growing up with one Jewish parent, and one Christian parent I was one of the lucky children who celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah. Of course, as I got older, this thrill waned as my parents started combining presents and given that my birthday falls on New Years Day - presents were consolidated even more.

The Christmas tree was another tradition that fell by the wayside as I got older. Sad times! I've been living on my own for a few years now and I still haven't bothered to set up my own Christmas tree. This cool modern electric tree from designers Wan-jin Joo, and Hyun-Joung Yoo is giving me new hope, though! The Abre light up tree is made up of branches made from recycled plastic and featuring white LED lights all throughout each branch. A modular lighting system, create whatever shape you like by interlocking the branches together.

While not easy to decorate, this is a great mess-free, eco-friendly Christmas tree alternative! Since Abre is all white, add a twinkle of color by draping some LED Christmas lights around the branches? On second thought, maybe that's not such a hot idea. I don't know if I'd want to put on sun glasses every time I step into the living room. Oh well! Lights out until next time! - Via Yanko Design

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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Modern Hanukkah Menorahs

Woo...late night post tonight! I Had an event for a non-profit that I'm affiliated with and I didn't get in until just now! I just know you all were on the edges of your seats!

As you may or may not have known, I've been in Boston for about 5 years now and I don't get home to Chicago nearly as often as I'd like to. This weekend I'm going home for a quick weekend trip. My family Hanukkah party is on Sunday afternoon, after which I will be jetting right back to Boston - I know, so fast! So to get you all in the Hanukkah spirit (Hanukkah starts at Sundown this Sunday), here are some modern menorahs that I found on Apartment Therapy .

There are some real beauties here! I know that a menorah isn't a light in the conventional sense...but Hanukkah is the Festival Of Lights ...so it all ties in together. What's your favorite menorah? Happy holidays and lights out until next time! - Via Apartment Therapy

Nambe Menorah by Marilyn Davidson - $160.00

Limited Edition Rivington Menorah by Stephanie Caplan - $350.00

Festival Menorah by Chiasso - $6.00 (sold out)

Skyline Menorah by Jonathan Adler - $150.00

Olive Branch Menorah by Michael Aram - $125.00

Flexus Hanukkah Lamp by Herbert & Jeanne Atkin - $130.00 (an Apartment Therapy reader commented on the original Apartment Therapy post about this beautiful contemporary menorah, so I just had to share!)

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Monday, December 15, 2008

LED Umbrella Light

While much of the East coast was battered by a terrible ice storm last Friday, Boston was only hit with a heavy rain. It could have been a lot worse! Considering many residents are expected to be without power for much of this week, I guess being close to the water was our saving grace!

While the storm is on my mind, I thought I would do a little weather-related post today. The LightDrop umbrella is a cool concept by Sang-Kyun Park. When rain drops hit the LightDrop's conductive membrane (called a PDVF), LED lights embedded in the umbrella illuminate, helping to light your way through the storm. The harder the rain falls, the brighter the light.

LightDrop LED Umbrella
This is a cool concept, but I wish there was a way to turn on the light manually - for instance, what if it's really dark out but just drizzling...or snowing? Maybe I'm the only one who uses an umbrella in the snow - I don't know. I would also worry about high winds. This seems like it could be an expensive umbrella to replace if the wind turns it inside out! Here's hoping for a kind and gentle winter. Lights out until next time! - Via Yanko Design/Photos via Yanko Design

LightDrop LED Umbrella

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Friday, December 12, 2008

Apartment Therapy - A Week In Lighting

Apartment Therapy sure knows what's what! I'm always finding things I like on that site! Their 2008 Holiday Giveaway is an amazing place to go if you're looking for some holiday gift ideas - and hey, the prospect of winning some of those goodies is pretty awesome as well! Today I'm highlighting some of the week's coolest lighting as seen on Apartment Therapy. Do you have a favorite? Lights out until next time!

ZiPP Light Shade by Arash & Kelly (Available at Panik Design)
Photos via Panik Design

Coil Lamp - Deconstructed
Coil Lamp by Craighton Berman (Available Early 2009)
Photos via Apartment Therapy

Duck Feather Pendant Lights by Takao Yoshiaki at Bunny and Hole

Big Duck Feather Pendant by Takao Yoshiaki at Bunny and Hole

Duck Feather Pendant Lights by Takao Yoshiaki (Available at Bunny & Hole in Brookyn, NY) -$1,500.00

Photos via Apartment Therapy

Eiffel Tower Lamp by ________
Photo via Apartment Therapy/via hnxing Flickr

*Does anyone know who makes this lamp? Target used to have a similar one, but the lamp pictured looks slightly different

Seltzer Bottle Pendant Lamps by Sundance - $395.00

Photo via Apartment Therapy/via Sundance

Nest-Like Fixtures at the Bergdorf Goodman BG Restaurant (Interior Design by Kelly Wearstler)
Photos via Apartment Therapy/via Kelly Wearstler

The Bedside Lamp by Takumi Kohgei (Available in Japan)
Photos via Apartment Therapy/ via BKM

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

New UK Online Lighting Retailer!

When I set out to create my very own design blog, I wanted to find a niche area of design that wasn't blogged about anywhere else. While other design blogs do feature some great lighting from time to time, the majority of them focus on modern furniture and modern design in general. This leaves a big void in the blogosphere when it comes to modern lighting! Well, enter Lighting Trends! My goal is to blog about all the latest in modern lighting, eco-friendly lighting and cool new technology that uses lighting in an innovative or creative way.

My sponsor, CSN Lighting (who has been so good to me) just launched a UK Lighting Retailer online called CSNLighting.co.uk. Given that so much of the stuff I blog about is modern lighting from Europe - this is good news! The site is definitely still in the process of adding to its selection but there are some good finds on there right now! Here are some of my favorites! Check it out! Lights out until next time!

Milano 3 Light Pendant from Elstead Lighting

Telstar Three Light Semi Flush Mount by Franklite

Felizia Eight Light Chandelier by Franklite

Large Two Light Flush Mount by Franklite

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Modern Paper Lighting

On the Deco Detective this morning, I saw this absolutely spectacular paper chandelier made by an artist by the name of James Vance.

Vance designed this piece, and several others for the B ergdorf Goodman window display in New York City. Vance is a true genius, having worked previously as a window dresser, set designer, prop stylist, interior designer and a slew of other artistically-motivated careers. According to an interview with the artist posted on the Rochambeau blog, Vance has been doing window displays for Bergdorf Goodman for the past few years. Here's hoping this beautiful partnership continues!

At any rate, these brilliant paper creations got me thinking about other cool-looking paper lights. I did a post a while back about modern paper la nterns that you can check out if you want. Lights out until next time! - Via TheDecoDetective Via Rochambeau