Recycled Chandeliers

I am past due for a new post on recycled lighting. Sorry for that. These cool lights are by Christian DuCharme, a Swiss designer from Zürich. Previously a set designer and window display artist, Ducharme now works as an interior and accessories designer.

The first light is titled 300 Cups Lamp. As you might guess, it was created from 300 cups. DuCharme’s other lights are made from plastic spoons and coffee filters. I think he really loves coffee or coffee houses.

This playing card sphere is from graphic designer Nick Sayer. He’s a master at creating geodesic spheres. I especially like the one he made from bicycle reflectors. For the first lamp, 270 recycled poker cards are precisely cut with 4 slits and locked together – no glue! The Coke bottle light is also amazing when I think that it is held together without any adhesive.

April 1, 2010

Appliance Savings

Combining utility, manufacturer, store and state rebates when buying a single Energy Star appliance can save hundreds of dollars.

Depending on where you live, the savings on new appliances this spring could be very significant.

Major appliance manufacturers such as Thermador, LG, Monogram and Sub-Zero are making the dollar go further with large rebates on appliance packages (Ovens, Ranges & Cooktops, etc.) that probably do not fall under the Energy Star requirements in the State Rebate programs.

Rebate Programs Overview

Thermador’s One, Two, FREE

Purchase a Professional Series 36- or 48-inch Range, or any Rangetop, or any Masterpiece Series Cooktop, with an accompanying Professional or Masterpiece Double or Triple Oven and get a free Thermador Emerald Dishwasher.

New for 2010, step-up to Thermador’s top-of-the-line Sapphire™ 6-program Dishwashers for an additional $500 or $750 (depending on model).

Add any Thermador Refrigerator or any two Freedom Columns and get any size free Ventilation System.

Thermaodr Freedom columns are Energy Star Qualified while the built-in refrigeration is not and will not qualify for state rebates.

LG’s Buy More, Save More

Homeowners who purchase an appliance within 2, 3 or 4 categories qualify for a $200, $300 or $500 rebate. Add a LWS3081ST or LWD3081ST wall oven and get a bonus $500 mail-in rebate for up to $1000 in savings.

Monogram’s Luxury Has It’s Rewards

Buy any pro range and hood OR cooktop, wall oven and hood and receive and instant rebate of $1,000. Add a built-in refrigerator and get an additional $1000 rebate.

Monogram’s list of qualified refrigerators appear to be Energy Star Certified making them eligible for State rebate programs.

Sub-Zero and Wolf National Consumer Promotion

Purchase a full-size (600 series excluded) built-in integrated or pro refrigerator plus any Range OR any wall oven with accompanying range top or 30″/36″ cooktop and receive an instant $1000 savings.

If you purchase 6 additional appliances you can receive an additional $1,500 in savings ($250 each). Eligible appliances listed here.

Not all of Sub-Zero’s refrigerators such as the Pro Refrigeration and the Dispenser models are Energy Star Qualified. Check your selection for eligibility in State rebate programs.

* Subject to retail participation.

January 10, 2010

Bic Biro Recycled Chandelier

This fabulous chandelier made from 347 Bic Cristal pens and 347 paper clips. It is on display at the Science Museum of London as part of the exhibit Plasticity – 100 years of making plastics. The exhibit celebrates the ingenuity involved in creating “the first truly man-made material,” as well as its modern substitutes, while looking at the environmental implications of this discovery and plastics’ subsequent spread around the world.

The Bic Biro Chandelier was made by Spanish design company enPieza Studio. This is not their first light made from recycled pens. They have created a table lamp named the Volivik 50 from various color Bic pens and the Volivik 77 pendant light from orange pens.

The chandelier reminds me some of the chandelier made from plastic coffee stirrers that I mentioned a while ago on KitchAnn Style. The pens in the close up view also seem to be full of ink so I am not sure they were not purchased solely to make the lights.

August 18, 2009

Flo Sink and Dune Tile by DEX

This double trough sink by Dex Studiosis named the Flo. It is 66″ by 17.5″ deep with a 6.5″ apron. The sink shown is made from DexTerra which is a terrazzo product available in 65 color combinations.

The Flo sink can be customized up to 9 feet in length. A smaller single basin Flo Vanity is also available.

The Dune wall tile was also made by Dex. It is shown in St. Simon’s Tan, one of their 25 standard solid colors. Other tiles designs should be on their website soon.

Dex products are ideal for use in projects obtaining LEED qualification. Recycled content of DEX concrete and terrazzo can be specified from 10% to 70% of total content.