I very much prefer this version made from clear acrylic. It shows off the glassware.

Nebu walks a fine line between Light as Art and a One-Trick Pony (something that’s cute for a little while and then seems silly. Which side do you think it’s on?

The 2009 IKEA PS collection consists of 71 pieces by 20 designers, and will be available in four U.S. IKEA
markets starting August 1, 2009: San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.

What! Not Detroit? I’m mystified. Would you like to see more things from the collection? I’ll put a post together tomorrow.

Little people unite! These 9″ tall characters are made from Salago fiber on hand-bowed metal. I have no idea what Salago is, but I love the result.

The collection is comprised of 3 pendant lamps and a screen. This large circle is 47″ in diameter and retails for $970.

The small circle pendant is 35-1/2″ in diameter. It retails for $500 – a great price. Really great, if you ask me.

There is also a rectangular pendant, shown at the top of the post. Finally, this screen is 6′ tall. All come in various finishes. They didn’t have the prices for these handy when I called. Check the comments for further details later today.

The designer, Kenneth Cobonpue, is a member of Hive, a six -member design group who work together as both designers and manufacturers. They have studios in Washington, D.C., the Philippines and Portugal.

To purchase some Little People, contact Hive directly at 202-667-3440. Or, check out Muleh.

My favorite is the small pendant. I don’t know where I’d put the screen. Any ideas?

For the Spanish porcelain company, Lladro, he channeled clowns in his figurines (Lladro is world famous for them). Most people (including me) think clowns are scary. Did he know this? Whatever. His seem friendly – but the lights are on. I think, however, that they work in a strange kind of way – beginning with this woman seated in a chair Jaime designed last year for Bd Barcelona.

His Fantasy Collection is comprised of figurines, vases, a lamp, and jewelry. The clown with the stick (upper right) is a candle holder. I like the cactus. But I don’t like figurines, so while I appreciate his style, please don’t buy me one for Christmas.

More to my liking are these large (each about a foot tall) candy vessels he created for Baccarat. Love ‘em! No clowns. But they’re still Jaime. His style is unique, but recognizable. You can see a thought process as well. He’s not resting on his previous hits and throwing a different color or material at it.

These projects must have been fun to work on. But I can’t wait to see more furniture from Jaime’s studio.

Mr. Spectrum West said he designed his chair last year and went on to say that it was inspired by [insert indeciferable mumbo jumbo]. I thought hmmmm. This looks an awful lot like…Artifort’s Lotus chair, which made its debut in Milan last year.

We’re all inspired by things we see around us. But is this enough of a derivation to be “new”? More importantly, should I get over my fixation on this and move on? After all, IKEA is always “reinventing” other designers’ work, and I don’t complain about it because Ikea’s versions are really affordable and I like IKEA.

Am I being fair or a bit too snarky?

1. Siemon + Salazar

Glass lighting was everywhere. The California couple, Caleb Siemon and Carmen Salazar, stood out because of their beautiful use of color – combined with organic shapes.

Each of their pendant lamps is hand blown. They also make bowls and vases. Click here to find store locations. Click here to view their lighting collection.

2. Tom Dixon

Tom Dixon is one of my favorite designers, in general. I love his twist on the classic wingback chair. This offers a better view. The fabric is black velvet. But I’d prefer it covered in a wild, bold print.

3. Ochre’s Circular Mirror

This is a surprise. I didn’t expect to be quite so captured by this beautiful mirror from Ochre. I suppose its quiet simplicity makes it the perfect sophisticated thing.

4. Lizzie Allen

From sophisticated to whimsical. Lizzie Allen’s wallpapers and fabrics are fresh and new. Read more about her in my previous post.

5. Eve Design

My friend, Emily and I both loved these elegant, lively chandeliers from Eve Design. They’re handmade in white, silver and black. These offer some bling without being tacky. You can find them in the US here.

6. Ikea’s Stuga Rug

I loved IKEA’s large exhibit – especially this rug designed by Kazuyo Namura. It was inspired by how Northern African nomads make their rugs. Each year they weave a thin strip, where the length is defined by how rich the harvest has been. After several years they put the strips together and make a larger rug. The length and pattern changes depending how good or bad former years were.

7. J Good Design

More lighting. This time, J Good Design. Glass pendants were all over ICFF. A trend? Perhaps. No doubt I was attracted to their organic forms and beautiful colors. So the best of the bunch deserve a place on my best list.Jeffrey Goodman is the artisan who creates lighting in his Greenwich Village, New York studio.

8. Jaime Hayon

Jaime Hayon created a series of candy jars for Baccarat. This is my favorite. I wish I had the $21,500 to buy one. Only 25 were made. Sigh.

Are these all contemporary? I don’t think we’d all agree that they are. What style do you prefer – contemporary or classic? Or do you see yourself as a little of both? I’m a little of both. How about you?

Now, they’re asking all of us to vote for our favorite design. Voters enter for a chance to win the totally fab stereo system.

To enter, click here. Good luck!