So much goes into designing a thoughtful, well-designed kitchen — backsplashes, countertops, cabinetry, and appliances aside. One of our favorite design elements we’d like to cast a good glow on? Lighting, of course. Since kitchens are used just as much for entertaining as they are for simple and/or elaborate culinary endeavors, we rely on lighting to set the mood and provide the proper illumination. A less acknowledged reason? Lighting offers multiple avenues to adding what is essentially the functional jewelry of a room. From more subdued pieces that add just the right minimalist touch, to installations that more closely resemble works of art—lighting can enhance the ambiance and/or chic factor at the flip of a switch or with a simple tap. After all, if the lighting is terrible, it’s all for naught.
Take a peek below at some of our favorite task, mood, and feature lighting for kitchens from Lodes and Diesel Living with Lodes.
IVY
Italian architect Vittorio Massimo joined forces with Lodes to create Ivy—a minimal lighting solution composed of a die-cast zinc alloy ring with a made-to-measure LED module. When arranged in a cluster using one of Lodes’ multiple canopies, the cables intertwine and overlap in the same way as its namesake Ivy plant—adapting to the environment while subtly highlighting certain details in a space.
ELARA
What better way to illuminate your kitchen’s stellar qualities than Nika Zupanc’s Elara suspension lamp? Perfect for the Zodiac-obsessed, the lamp’s dynamic rings express the fluidity and movement of celestial bodies in orbit.
ROD
This lightweight, portable, and rechargeable table lamp with an eight-hour battery life, is a perfect choice for kitchen nooks, breakfast tables, and alfresco dining. To adjust light levels, the user can simply tap the shade’s top for ease of use. The industrial-meets-chic design is the result of the lighting brand’s ongoing partnership with international lifestyle company, Diesel.
SPIDER
The Spider LED Mini Pendant small frame belies its serious style power. Featuring an adjustable cable, the metal pendant’s spherical body contains a convex lens with an integrated LED. Its ability to rotate 320 degrees and tilted up to 90 degrees allows homeowners to shed a light in their direction of choice.
RANDOM SOLO
Designed by Chia-Ying Lee, Random Solo consists of spherical, blown-glass lamps that come in differing diameters, resembling floating bubbles. Extra important for kitchens? The glass concealing the light source is hermetically sealed, thus preventing the collection of dust.
JIM
Jim, by Patrick Norguet, is a system of suspension lamps available in three distinct shapes—bell, cone, and cylinder—and various diameters that allow for a multitude of compositions. Suspended from a self-supporting cable running through a transparent tinted methacrylate hook, Jim is designed to shed light downwards while still illuminating the hook above the lampshade.
SKY-FALL
Sky-Fall’s eye-catching shape and style was inspired by the expertly crafted wine decanters of ancient times. The design embraces traditional glass processing techniques while incorporating the most advanced LED technologies: the innovative double 10 W LED source diffuses direct and indirect light for the utmost functionality.
FLASK, VINYL, and URBAN CONCRETE
Part of the Diesel Living with Lodes line, three of our favorite over-island or breakfast area designs are Flask (left), Vinyl (middle), and Urban Concrete (right). Inspired by the unique shapes of glass bottles in science labs, Flask features a blown glass body with a matte finish that simulates a metallic shine. The aptly named Vinyl is made up of a metal plate with a circular engraved texture reminiscent of a music record, emulating sound vibrations whilst dividing the light in a captivating manner. Taking inspiration from the bollards found in urban landscapes, Urban Concrete is surprisingly light despite its appearance. The industrial-chic design features a steel diffuser and a cement finish on its exterior.
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