Summer usually means a few months of taking it easy, but to interior design students, it means classes in residential and commercial lighting.  Lighting is a fascinating and often underutilized tool of design and now that class is over, I want to share some of my favorite trends in the world of illumination.

Who says that light bulbs have to be ugly?  Certainly not london based Hulgar.  Their interpretation is appropriately called the Plumen, which means plume.  The Plumen is graceful enough to need no shade while saving 80% in energy verses a standard light bulb and maintaining a life expectancy of eight years.

Pendants get wilder and more beautiful every year.  From delicate cascades of Swaroski crystals to dramatic mouth-blown globes, there is something for even taste in LBL Lighting's collection.

                                              

The Mademoiselle 2 is a sparkling piece of jewelry disguised as a low voltage halogen fixture, but not all of LBL's crystal designs are dainty.

Crystals become glistening spears on this suspended fixture called the Roxie, which features interlocking metal rings and aircraft cables.

Mid-Century continues to stand the test of time with a fresh generation of drum shades available in fabric and metal for suspended fixtures.

Last but not least is Molo Design's aptly named Cloud Softlight.  The gently corrugated forms appear to hover weightlessly, as much a freeform sculpture as a light fixture.