1969JL341 Pendant light by Juha Leiviskä for Artek.

On the second-floor landing, an Alvar Aalto A110 pendant light from Artek hangs above an improvised green space.

Arbel’s projects—both products and architectural commissions—follow a chronological numbering system. The house itself is his 23rd design, while the one-of-a-kind glass pendants that accent nearly every room like a starscape are called “28.”

Brammy and Kyprianou hung Koura pendant lights by New Zealand designer David Trubridge above the dining area. Their organic forms and diamond-shaped shadows create intimacy in the vast space. Among Bilardo’s contributions were the black tulipwood cabinetry and ceiling and the cantilevered concrete countertop that appears to go through the glass wall.

For the dining room, Freeman and Feldmann swapped their tiny table for developer John Walker's larger one since he was moving into a smaller space. They topped it with a $12 pendant lamp from Ikea and finished the "room" with a counsel from West Elm.

Desk and table lamps typically provide light in a downward direction, illuminating the surface directly below it rather than providing a general glow, which prevents them from often being used as ambient lights.

While Brooklyn brownstones conjure up memories of their turn-of-the-century roots, they also remain the modern-day face of New York’s coolest boroughs. With brownstone living, however, comes responsibility—many of these classic beauties are in need of renovation and restoration. Here are 10 standout, renovated brownstones that retain their original charm with added contemporary cool.

The newly released Original 1227 Brass Desk Lamp in Dusty Blue is both cheerful and sophisticated.

The black steel A110 pendants by Alvar Aalto match the Poliform ventilation hood and ebonized white oak cabinets by Leicht Haus. LED lighting is integrated into the island shelving. The drawers underneath are handleless and open electronically by touch using a servo drive.

A built-in bench by the window is a cozy perch for Tyler. The herringbone flooring looks like wood but is actually man-made.

Nicolas Gervais designed the pendant lights above the kitchen island, which was designed by Plasse and built by woodworker Stéphane Bilodeau.

Kartell Neutra LampItalian designer Ferrucio Lavani designed this elegant, shell-like lamp in 2008. $1,100

Anglepoise Original 1227 Brass Desk Lamp in deep slate designed by George Carwardine

"The kitchen refers to London’s feeling the most," says Stepanova. Pendant lamps from Normann Copenhagen illuminate the kitchen, all of which was fabricated by the woodworking studio Dyzyk according to Stepanova's designs.

In the Denmark home of designer Eglantine Charrier, original 1920s windows and moldings meet modern accessories like a black Caravaggio pendant lamp by Cecilie Manz for Lightyears.

As Østergaard says, “With a small house, you really consider everything you own. You don’t have 20 pots and pans, you have only four good ones.”

Artek's birch plywood Trienna table, also by Ilmari Tapiovaara, will be on hand in the Austere lounge at Dwell on Design NY. (Read on for more timeless design classics from Artek.)

The Hex 750 Brass Pendant is a statement lighting fixture that is created from brass electroplated aluminum that is hand-brushed and finished in a clear matte lacquer that maintains and protects the distinctive finish. The entire hexagon shape is fixed with high output LED strips, which provide a strong and consistent diffusion of light.

The Workstead Floor Lamp, available in the Dwell store, is designed by Brooklyn duo Stefanie Brechbuehler and Robert Highsmith. It's cast iron, steel, and brass—all a blacksmith could dream of.

The architects used blackbutt wood for the flooring and Whisper White paint by Dulux throughout the interior. An A110 Hand Grenade Pendant Lamp, by Alvar Aalto for Artek, hangs above the white Carrara marble-topped island.

Another Aalto creation, the Artek A330S Golden Bell Pendant Light ($338) comes in a range of metallic finishes, including the luminous original brass design seen here. This piece dates back to 1936 when Aalto created it as part of the interior of the Savoy Restaurant in Helsinki.

Cobra Wall Lamp Sweden-by-way-of-California designer Greta Magnusson Grossman's iconic lighting is now available in a compact sconce version.

Brass Dog MACK Lamp Made by a friend of the store, these lamps are made from vintage figurines ( based on the Mack truck bulldog vintage hood ornament), which function as touch-sensitive switches. Unique and fun, it’s both classical and quirky.

Happy Accent Now that the interior’s palette is firmly in place, Winterhalder has slowly been adding splashes of color. E27 pendant lamps from Muuto in the kitchen and guest room have red cords; one wall in the guest room is also red, with matching red locker storage. The inside of the front door is painted bright green. “For me, they’re kids’ colors,” she says. “I just love them.” muuto.com

The almost-entirely tallowwood kitchen is custom. Muuto pendant lights, bar stools by Alvar Aalto for Artek, a Vola faucet, and a ceiling fan by Beacon Lighting finish the room.

The Globo di Luce pendants in the kitchen are by Roberto Menghi for Fontana Arte.

Knot pendant lamp by KiBiSi. Designed in 2005. Limited Edition. Photo courtesy of KiBiSi

Norm 12 comes in two finishes, pure white and simple matt white, the extra large light is intended for hallways or larger rooms, while the small light is meant to be hung over a table or in a nook.

Utilizing lightweight LED technology, Arik Levy's Wireflow pendant lamps are an airy, geometric take on lighting design.

Intending to take light to an elemental place, the Aura Light from Ladies & Gentlemen Studio features two simple, primary elements: the light source—the bulb—and the illumination, which is highlighted by a brass ring. The result is a simple but sophisticated fixture that can be used as a singular suspended piece, or can be grouped with other Aura Lights for a more dramatic, installation-like effect.

"I always have ideas floating around, inspired by a number of deferent things: previous generations, art, technology, color," says Dowie. "I think a lot and process these ideas through thought—it is the ideas that keep coming back that we end up developing." In the case of the Line collection, the balance and lightness of Alexander Calder's mobiles was pared with practicality. "It's perhaps a more romantic approach, but I do hope to strike a balance between form and function."

Davor and August check out the yard from the living room. “The bifold Vistalite doors allow us to open the house up completely and enjoy the fresh, warm air,” Davor says.

Aalto would often linger for discussion-filled afternoons in the Atelier's canteen. The A111 fixture (a variation of the A110 with brass tubing) was developed for Artek. In the company's prosaic naming methods "A" recognized that the design was by Alvar Aalto (his wife Aino's design were tagged AMA).

The Doo Wop Suspension Light, originally called the Navy Light, was first designed in the 1950s in collaboration with the Navy Buildings Department. The pendant was prevalent during this time period because of its practical functionality and distinctive look. This modern version of the classic lamp features a stunning brass shade that will elevate an interior space.

Designed by iconic Scandinavian modernist Alvar Aalto, the Artek A331 Beehive Pendant Light ($1,020) comes in either brass- or chrome-plated steel. Aalto created this piece for the University of Jyväskylä in Finland in 1953 and ever since it's remained popular across the world. Standing alone or with other Beehive Pendants, turned on or off, it's a true work of art.

Istanbul-based design duo Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar of Autoban took a page from Warren Platner's book for this chic gold-plated steel lamp. Read more about Autoban’s Tulip Lamp here.