We just recieved this question from Paul, who's moved back up to Yale, and it gave us the notion to start a Top 10 list for this crucial category:
Im getting my office set up, and Im at the point where I need a desk light. I love the ones we used at AT (see pic below) because they were below eye level, cast tons of light on the work surface, and didnt look like they cost an arm and a leg. I figured Id try to track one down for my desk. Any recollection of where they came from?
Infortunately, the ones he remembers are the top ones on our list:
- Crate & Barrel ($60): Awesome Black shaded style that they no longer make. May come back, however (see pic below).
- Tertial Worklamp from Ikea ($7): Where it all began - interpreted by Ikea.
- Tolomeo from Artemide by M. De Lucchi & G. Fassina ($340): A classic non-halogen solution
- Diffrient Task Light ($265): Highly rated in this year's ID product survey. Moves incredibly well and uses mini-flourescent which doesn't heat shade.
- Tizio Lamp by Richard Sapper ($237): Another classic, this one from the 70's - reminiscent of Darth Vader.
- Lester Office Lamp by Vico Magistretti ($1020): Just plain beautiful and rotates 360 degrees.
- Flos Kelvin T Adjustable Table Lamp by Antonio Citterio ($260): The nicest update on the pantograph arm we've seen yet.
Perhaps a contender for the CB replacement, c/o cb2...
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=120&f=2050
For (the always a favorite) Tizios, I'd go right to the source: Artemide. They have great prices and ship amazingly fast. Or visit the showroom in SoHo.
wait, i don't get it. what is the name of the lamp pictured up top?
To all--
Would like anyone's comments on how to properly set up indirect lighting.
cristy, that's the crate and barrel lamp that is no longer made.
it looks like a vintage 50's style.. i vote for the tolomeo, i have the floor version in my living room, it's a great reading lamp.
The Berenice (at ylighting, surrounding and MoMAstore, among other places) is also a consideration.
(and I think the silver one pictured above is the Flos Kelvin)
I'm not sure I agree with the Tizio recommendation. The Tizio's head and arm move in only 2 dimensions, i.e., a plane, so it's not easy to position the head in the exact place you want it.
I have the Tizio Plus, which is the Tizio with a swiveling head and a small rotating knob rather than a 2-position on/off switch, but I wouldn't recommend it either. I heard from a salesman at a lamp store that many people, including me, have had problems with the Tizio Plus. There's something about the swiveling head that makes it prone to failure.
has anyone seen a modern cool looking reading/floor lamp?
i have the castiglione brera lamp for a light source but, simply can't find a good looking floor lamp for reading.
something streamlined or retro modern looking??
any ideas?
ROBBIN--
Many of the above recommendations come as floor lamps.
m--
Not sure the Tizio is any less positionable than some of the others. Even if so, I still love 'em. The Tizio classic I have, my first "real" purchase from my college days, is still in service (only one repair visit after 5 moves) and looking sharp. And I love the polished chrome Tizio Micro I have bedside.
Umm, is that an octopus in the top picture? Perhaps I need new glasses...
love the difrient and the Flos T lamps, but I don't need them for a desk, I need one for my upright piano. what do y'all think about using one of these?
I've had trouble in the past with lighting my piano because my body casts a shadow over the keys/music and i can't see anything... but then a task lamp doesn't light quite enough of the keyboard and sometimes puts glare into my eyes. suggestions?
cristy--
What about more of a lamp idea, but one of the modern long low rectangular versions?
Similar to C&B's Kyoto (but I think that one is actually too small):
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1220&f=3377
or their Celeste (which is perhaps too tall):
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1220&f=8602
or a banker's lamp style:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1220&f=6451
None of these are exactly what I mean, but may give you some idea of the general direction I'd propose.
And any lamp fitted with an opaqe shade and mirror-topped bulbs would throw all the light downward.
Liz--
What, you don't keep your octopus on your desk when you work? C'mon, get with the program. EVERYBODY is doing it! ;)
Levenger has a nice desk lamp, silver with a Wenge veneer drum shade. Quantitities limited, as it is currently on sale...
www.levenger.com
Follow the "Save up to 60%" link from the home page;
Product name is the Coronet Desk lamp; floor model also available.
You can get the Flos Kelvin at Lightology for $247.80 and they have free shipping for web orders.
They also have a Tolomeo for $233.60- I think it may be a smaller version.
http://www.lightology.com
I love the Flos Kelvin--but don't like the clear plastic-looking head on top of the aluminum head of the lamp. I think this is for heat-related reasons, but does anyone know if it comes without it? Thanks.