Lighting the Way: LEDs

Starflex and Connetix by SonnemanSleek, beautiful, modern are just some of the words that describe the LED lighting shown at the recent Architectural Digest Home Design Show. But equally important are the more technical descriptions: green, efficient, long-lasting. We discuss this lighting technology in our interior design course.

Light fixtures with LED lamps are appearing in many stores now and interior designers are finally recommending them to their clients. Philips, the big Dutch lighting company, has reported an increase of 38% in sales of LED bulbs over last year. 

Above is the flexible Starflex pendant from Sonneman. The arms hold LED-lamps that can move up and down in various configurations. On the wall is the Connetix sconce that are available in different sizes.  Below is the Axes lighting - available in singles or multiple arms, in sconces, pendant or floor fixtures. 

Axes sconces by SonnemanBrooklyn-based Bec Brittain offers their version of LED lighting in this hanging pendant called Shy.  Its multiple arms are lit with LED tubes and can be arranged in different ways that recall star constellations.

Shy pendant, courtesy of Bec Brittain

Interested in learning more about green design and lighting?  Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design.  At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories. 

Lighting of the Future

(My New Flame by Ingo Maurer)In case you’re wondering, the lighting of the future is HERE now.  You’ve already heard of it – those tiny little lights that can be embedded into just about anything – called LEDs or light-emitting diodes.  You may also be wondering:  yes, I’ve seen light fixtures with LEDs but they’re still not that common and most of my favorite lights still don't use LEDs. 

Well, in just a few years that will change as manufacturing and production slowly ramps up and converts their machinery to creating light fixtures that use LEDs. 

One of the cutting edge lighting designers that use LEDs is German designer, Ingo Maurer. Above is his latest My New Flame light fixture that represents those old-fashioned candles but now re-imagined into a modern LED light.  Just think about it: no more candle wax drips, no more accidental burns! Each My New Flame light fixture contains 128 tiny LEDs that together become an image of a flickering flame. Below is a show-stopping chandelier version of his LED candle fixture – called Candle in the Wind. 

(Candle in the Wind by Ingo Maurer) Designer John Niero from Just Not Normal took a flexible approach to his LED light.  He used silicone, a zipper, and LEDs to create his Zipper Luminaire.  When zipped, the moldable silicone becomes a cylinder and can stand on a table. Unzip it and the light can hang on the ceiling or a wall. The Zipper Luminaire has also the potential to be combined into a large light by just zipping them together.

(Zipper Silicone Luminaire, courtesy of Just Not Normal) 

Interested in learning more about lighting?  Take a look at Sheffield School's Complete Course in Interior Design.  At Sheffield, you will learn how to transform a space, create color schemes, and select furniture, lighting, and accessories.