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Hive & Kenneth Cobonpue
Hive is a group of designers who’s work I admire. I’m especially attracted to the work of Kenneth Cobonpue. I first saw his furniture and lighting at last Spring’s ICFF show in New York.
Here is Kenneth’s series called Crokkis. I think I’ve found a starting point for my kitchen island dilemma. Yay!
It comes in three sizes. I’ve contacted Kenneth for prices.
Here are some of my other favorites. At the top is his Little People pendant lamp. Love that. Next up is this wonderful shelf unit, Bandoo, designed by fellow Hive member, Andreas Löschner-Gornau. Finally, Kenneth’s CU-C-ME screen is one of several he’s designed. I adore them because they create height in a room without blocking the view. There are 1,001 uses for that.
One little wish is that Hive would put pricing on their site. Or an easier way to get this information. Please? If anyone would like pricing, I’m working on it. Contact me in a few days and I’ll be able to give you a quote. I’ll add retail prices for my faves on this post.
Roger Borg: Rethinking Neon Lighting
I’ve been hard at work here in the design studio these days. When I got a call from neon artist, Roger Borg, I was relieved to take a rest from the day-to-day to feast on some illuminating eye-candy.
Roger takes neon to a new level. He’s created some brilliant designs for the home, including this neon chandelier.
He’s been experimenting with various forms like this colorful table lamp and, as with the chandelier, a different take on the standard shade pendant.
He does his own things, too. The orange pendant light (left) and the yellow floor lamp are truly unique.
This is my favorite. It’s a pendant lamp. So very cool.
To see more of Roger’s work, including his neon signs, visit his personal site here. Or, visit his company’s site, 419 Neon. You can find Roger’s work at various retail shops. Or, shoot him an email and he’ll give you pricing. He can also explain what to do with the transformer, etc.
A neon chandelier? I’m thinking yes. How about you?
David Weeks & Dunny: What Were You Thinking?
Will David Weeks please report to the Principal’s Office at Design Hole? (I’m looking for my ruler. I know it’s around here somewhere.)
Okay, so, Mr. Weeks, what were you thinking coming up with a very adorable Dunny doll that costs $1,200?
Okay, so there are only five in the world. I get that. But still, these are difficult times we’re living in, as I’m sure you read in your Economics class. David, your work in Lighting class is the best ever. But in Shop I’m afraid you get a FAIL. Now hold out your hand.
This or That: floor lamps
I think I finally have the hang of my very own idea. (Gotta lay off that glowing pink furry stuff I found in the woods the other night). This or that! Here we go.
Okay, so which do you prefer? Are you a new modernist or a vintage modernist? A you a little bit Oly or a little bit Noguchi? There is no right or wrong answer – just your answer!
Friday Favorite: Handblown glass doorknobs, lighting & vases by Tracy Glover
Providence-based Tracy Glover, is a designer of handblown glass lighting and decorative accessories. Her studio, founded in 1992, produces a variety of lighting, door- and drawer knobs, and vases. I found her collection at ICFF.
Glover studied glass making techniques in Venice and trained formally at RISD. She blows all her own glass in her studio, where a crucible burns 24 hours a day with molten glass for shaping.
Let’s take a peek at her new designs.
Tracy Glover’s Prospect Hill door knobs come in a wide variety of colors and finishes. They take their cue from classic glass Victorian glass knobs. They sell in pairs for $260.00.
Her new wall sconces are new as well. I especially like the blue Susan, which retails for $550.
Tracy also makes handblown vases in a variety of sizes and shapes. Vases are my favorite gift to give.
Finally, here are a few of Tracy’s table lamps. Which one do you like best?
Tracy’s work is available via her online shop. She discounts to the trade and her things are sold in a variety of shops. To find out more, visit her site by following this link.
Forget the food, at Buddakan great lighting makes the meal
I spent a wonderful evening at Buddakan, an Asian fusion restuarant on 9th Avenue. The food was delicious. The evening was spectacular. Why? Well, first I was with some amazing friends. That aside, Buddakan’s designer did such an amazing job that I felt I had been transported to an Asian palace far away.
Before you start rolling your eyes, take a look at the photos (not so great, but they suffice I think). The incredibly tall ceilings are brilliant, but for me it was all about the lighting.
The use of tightly focused spots emphasized the height of the ceilings.
Large chandeliers, hung along the length of one enormous table, give the illusion of a different place and time. A ball at Versailles perhaps?
The touch of red was highlighted by more spots.
Floor lamps and candles on the table serve as task lighting -so you can read the menu. The layers of light give an overall look of drama and romance.
A large canvas, hung like a curtain behind the entrance counter is spotted. All around is mysterious darkness.
Buddakan is an enormous restaurant, with lots of rooms – each with its own sort of design. But they all work together. To find out more about the restaurant, visit their website by following this link.
Mood indigo: decorating inspiration in a blue hue
I thought you’d enjoy taking a look at interior design inspiration based on indigo, one of the most rare and expensive dyes in the ancient world. 
Deep blue hues seem to like living with turquoise and voilet.
The contrast it offers next to white is also perfection.
It all depends what mood you’re in. Here, the designer jumped across the color wheel to create a warm contrast.
Feeling dark and mysterious? Indigo is the way to go.
Indigo will make the orange tones in wood pop.
Feeling uncommitted? You can paint your walls white and use indigo for accents. Some choices are: IKEA’s PS Collection African rug, Indigo toss pillows from Persnickety Home ($17.95), Ink Dish Tattoo dishware from Fitzsu ($82.00 for a 4-piece setting), & Crate & Barrel’s Lago Lamp ($129).
Maybe because it’s summer, I think white is looking really good next to indigo. But turquoise, and other jewel tones, are also beautiful. Agree?
images: Henry Bourne, William Waldron, Hanks Fonk
Lighting design ideas
Last month I discussed ways to place furniture into separate groupings in one large room. How do you light that space? In the olden days, each room had a ceiling fixture in the center of the ceiling. Add a few table lamps and that was that. Now, designers look at lighting as yet another layer of the overall design.
Here are some inspirational photos and a few tips to get you thinking about using light to change the look of your home.
Ambient Lighting
Let’s start at the beginning – ambient light. This provides general lighting so you don’t trip over the furniture. Recessed lighting and/or a ceiling fixture accomplish this.
However, you don’t have to space the recessed lights evenly throughout the room. Instead, take a look at your room and think about what you’d like to highlight. If you have two groups of seating, placing the recessed fixtures over those will provide ambient light, but more dramatically. Putting the lighting dimmers gives you the freedom the add to the drama.
Ambient lighting can also be placed in such a way that it makes the room appear larger.
Task lighting
We all understand this concept. Each room needs to be lit so that we have enough light to read, or work, etc… Use a recessed lights with a focused beam spread,. Pendant lamps are both decorative and functional. The key is to make sure you have enough light without glare.
read more! (more…)
This or That: Martha Stewart v Crate & Barrel
Okay, which lamp woudl you rather own? They’re different takes on the ceramic table lamp.
On the left is Martha Stewart’s Milk Glass Lamp #9538. It’s made of glass, and has a silk Shantung shade. It’s available at Lumens where it sells for $279.50. Shipping is free.
On the right is Crate & Barrel’s Trudie Lamp. The base and shade are made of polyester with a hand-done cement finish. It sells for $149 plus shipping.
Which do you want by your bedside table? I like shape of the Trudie, but it seems over-priced for polyester. Am I wrong?
Nebu vintage glass chandelier
My friend loved this chandelier, which was part of the Brooklyn Designs exhibit at ICFF. She thought it would look great over her kitchen island instead of the existing pot rack. 
The Nebu Chandelier was originally designed as a commission for Bar Breton, in New York. It was such a hit that the company decided to turn it into a product.
Nebu is completely customizable – they’ll make you one in any size you like. It’s fashioned from cut acrylic and vintage glassware, which they find at garage sales, on eBay, just about anywhere.
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?
Little People pendant lamps by Kenneth Cobonpue
The lighting designs were fabulous at this year’s ICFF. In particular, I loved Kenneth Cobonpue’s Little People Collection. 
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?
ICFF: Design Hole’s Top Eight
There was lots to like at this year’s ICFF. Too much to pack into just one post. I’m starting with my favorites. Here are my top eight.
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?