This beauty came across our desks as a submission for the 2013 CH+D Design Awards, which might help you understand the difficult task of picking a winner in each category. We swooned over the sputnik style and marble base of the Sofia table lamp, created by LA-based designer Kevin Kolanowski, founder of Fuse Lighting.
Though the shape looks space-age, Kolanowski told us he was inspired by a eucalyptus seed pod that was resting on his desk. "I get a lot of inspiration from nature without even realizing it," says the designer. To create the piece, Kolanowski worked with a spinner to shape a piece of flat metal over a mold. This version (with functional swivel arms—hello, task lamp) is finished in polished nickel and a madera brown marble base, but the Sofia is available in a number of finishes.
For a true statement-making stunner, upgrade to the Sofia chandelier. The swiveling arms have a wingspan of more than four feet and taper elegantly towards discrete pods of light. It would be incredible in an industrial space with high ceilings, or in a modern kitchen in need of a showcase piece. Fans of the Sofia style should check out the Fuse Lighting website, where you can also pick it up as a three-part floor lamp or a wall sconce.
