As is the case in good lighting design, products are often duplicated – but nothing is as good as the real thing. There is a reason original designs are copied. The original producers take time to work out the design details and proportions and provide the best materials for a lasting product. Authentic lighting provides timeless beauty and maximum performance while making the largest impact in your space. Copies simply look cheaper less impactful, if they last.
The right lighting design can add beauty and intrigue to a space, and many iconic designs do just that. Many of these designs have a long history and are still produced today by the original manufacturers. They are offered through high-end lighting retailers and national web/catalog companies that specialize in authentic modern designs.
Classic lighting trends in 2019
Here is a glimpse at some of the most iconic designs that are still trending in 2019.
George Nelson Bubble Lamps
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Originally designed in 1947, the Bubble line of lamps use self-webbing plastic originally designed to coat Liberty cargo ships. Nelson’s creative use of this material provides a beautiful, soft glow while making the lights easy to clean and maintain. They last long and aren’t as pricy as they look (starting at around $400). They come in a range of styles from hanging lights, floor lamps, table lamps, and wall sconces.
Serge Mouille Lighting
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Serge Mouille lighting is guaranteed to bring drama to any space. The designs range from ceiling fixtures that hold up to six lights, to floor and wall-mounted lighting that range from one to three lights. In a home, these pieces are artistic in nature, similar in look to mobile sculptures designed by Alexander Calder. Arms can be in different lengths and positions, and the shades can rotate 360 degrees.
Arco Floor Lamp
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You know a design is iconic when it is in the permanent collection at MoMA. The Arco Light is a perfect balance of grace and drama that ads appeal to any space. Designed by Achille Castiglioni and his brother Pier Giacomo in 1962, it has been in movies and interior design magazines ever since and is for arched lighting what an Eames Chair is to lounge seating. The base is solid marble weighing 78 lbs, so it’s sturdy, and the hole in the base allows for a broomstick to be inserted for easy moving.
Fortuny Lamp
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A wonderful way to provide a smile and intrigue in a space is lighting, and the Fortuny Lamp does just that. It’s hard to believe this light was designed in 1907 – it looks like an item you’d see today on movie, stage, and photo sets. Designer Mario Fortuny is known for many things, and his career in set design is what set the stage for this light. It can be imposing, working most effectively in larger, high ceiling settings such as loft setting as well as open floorplans.
Artichoke Lamps
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This lamp is often copied, but authentic designs create a dramatic, jeweled look for any entry or dining space. Ranging in size and price (up to $18,000 for the large) these lamps are all about quality production. Originally designed in 1958, the designs still feel modern today. Each leaf is meticulously positioned by hand to direct light calmly while achieving a graceful look.
Tiffany Lamps
These lamps were well suited for late 19th century and early 20th-century homes that are rich in natural solid wood (Greene and Greene style craftsman homes, early Frank Lloyd Wright, and pretty much any bungalow style homes). These lamps add beauty and color through their colorful Tiffany glass. The lamps were designed in 1865 by Clara Driscoll, and each was made individually by craftsmen and sold through Tiffany and Company. Now Tiffany Lamps have become a style of lamp, but originals can catch a hefty price. The highest on record is $2.8 million.
K-Tribe
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Phillippe Starck is known for bold, over-the-top themes that can polarize design lovers, and some are made precisely for that purpose. A few examples are the life-size Horse Floor Lamp (a horse wearing a lampshade) and his line of gold plated gun lamps. One lamp, however, is simply gorgeous through and through. The K-Tribe utilizes a unique polycarbonate shade that creates a chromed look when off, but when lit the shade darkens to show a beautifully rounded diffuser that is as soothing to the eye as it is beautiful. This lamp is sold as a floor lamp, table lamp, and ceiling pendant. It is sold by Italy’s largest lighting producer Flos and is still the company’s best seller.