Alexandra Raben

At only twenty-four years old, Danish designer Alexandra Raben has begun creating furniture and lighting to froth over. Her Intricate range of lighting underlines the need to make space for the fine, unique objects that require patience and fascinating craftsmanship. Inspiration was found in feathers, transparency and contrasts which led to the design of a steel framed pendant light with coiled wire and thread hand-woven through, forming a thin surface of patterns. From afar the range reminds me of stained glass windows which display similar characteristics of effecting light and shadows.

Yoshiyuki Hibino

Japanese designer Yoshiyuki Hibino presented his range of incredible pendant lights at the recent Stockholm furniture fair. Simple form and functional ecological beauty are combined perfectly in his designs of hanging lamps. Two styles are available; the first an easy elastic shade that is rolled up in uncoated metal... the second is formed by the halved sheet of material being fixed at the top on both sides. The lamp when turned on creates a soft, diffused light due to the choice of materials used.

Chris Hardy

I discovered the work of Chris Hardy in the latest issue (September/October) of (inside) magazine. Canberra based furniture and lighting designer, Hardy is well equipped with a Bachelor of Industrial Design, Diploma of Interior Design and is currently completing a PhD. His work is influenced by key elements of modernism, sustainability and user experience together with a materials-led approach to produce Australian designs with a unique user focus.

The Big Bubble - Light

Dutch designer Alex de Witte graduated from the Artemis Academy Amsterdam in 2003 where he studied the universal values in the perception of beauty amongst people and animals. 

The Big Bubble is one of de Witte's most recent designs. It is a huge light made of blown glass, each light unique, ranging between 85 and 115cm long. It won first prize for best product at Design District Amsterdam 2013.

The size, shape and appearance of the glass reminds me of huge bubble blowers. They are whimsical and inspiring...

Monocle Flat Lens

How cool is the modern wall light! Made of milled aluminium the LED light is rotatable in order to lighten your chosen angle. I think it's super pretty. 

Find it here.

Alya Light

Recently launched by NEMO Cassina Lighting at EuroLuce 2013, was Gabrielle Rosa's light design Alya. The name rightly translates from Arabic to mean Dynamism and Lightness. The three slender luminous arms recall a gesture, or a drawing in the air, rather than a material object. The fluid shapes are achieved through the natural blend in aluminium that houses the LED lights. The light features three delicate strips of LED lighting and an additional LED downlight located in the centre. The light is available in white or opaque black and can be supplied with dimmable controls upon request.

Enough of that information.... I just think is beautiful.

Workstead

Design firm Workstead is made up of a triplet of graduates of the RISD Architecture program; Stefanie Brechbuehler, Robert Andrew Highsmith and Ryan Mahoney. The firm have offices in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley where they focus on architectural and interior design, lighting and furniture design, and exhibitions. The firm aims to design responsible works that create a sense of place for both the objects they contain and they people that experience them.

This particular project in Prospect Park involved a complete reorganisation of spaces, with highly tailored millwork creatively positioned throughout. "Modern in form, simple in material, but complex in texture, hand-painted elements conceal a warm walnut beyond. Rich wood and colourful brass create a sense of grace and punctuate a backdrop to the bustle of everyday life."

This Brooklyn home is clearly an example of Workstead's mastery of refinement and understated luxe.

Photos by Matthew Williams

Orient

The Orient pendant light was designed by Jo Hammerborg in 1963 for Danish lighting company Fog & Mørup. The light was one of Hammerborg's many design successes in the 60's and 70's. Today, 50 years have gone by since the first design of the Orient light. Company Lightyears has chosen to relaunch Orient in close collaboration with the Hammerborg family. The light has been resurrected completely true to the original design with the organic lines of the copper pendant and rosewood top. 

Andréason & Leibel

Kristian Andréason and Kristin Leibel are the creatives behind Swedish design studio Andréason & Leibel. Initially the designers were recognised for their architectural lighting design but have come to design furniture also. I'm loving their new Babylon Tower Desk which, like the Tower of Babel, collapses into a very flat plack.

Ontwerpduo

Completing their studies at the Design Academy in 2008, Dutch design duo Tineke Beunders and Nathan Wierink couldn't wait to get their creations into the marketplace. Known as 'a dreamer and a mathematician', the duo work with simplicity as the key as Tineke's wistful approach blends perfectly with Nathan's mathematical line of attack.

Here's a look at some of their quirky and inspiring work.

To see more click here.

Cottage Town - where ordinary potplants are turned into a mini village of huge trees or fields. 

Light Forest - custom made lighting that 'grows where other lights will not go' for on the ceiling or walls.

Cageling - "quietly daydreaming in your own space, but not sealed from the surroundings. Swinging with your toes in the grass, and your back against a soft pillow. Not captured, but free as a bird."

Rockid - a rocking chair and cradle in one.