Scheduled for release in May 2014, Flos' String Lights can be combined and customized. They are held together with thin black electrical cords that are drawn into taught, geometric shapes. Photo by Ben Murphy.

The String Lights represent another way that Flos is, as Vingerhoets puts it, giving “people the tools to express themselves with our lights.” Photo by Ben Murphy.

The apartment has no couch; “We simply don’t need one—plus it would take up a lot of space,” says Susanna. A string of outdoor lights fosters a cozy atmosphere. “I tried them out once for a party and they looked so nice that I decided to keep them. The light is warm and inviting.”

@afirepoleinthediningroom: Wishing the rain would go away so we could visit our happy place (the courtyard)

Just because the sun sets doesn't mean the party has to end. Create the perfect ambiance with these vintage light strings from Restoration Hardware.

In the 2EM lounge, light fare like duck confit cassoulet and flatbread with lamb, blue cheese, and caramelized pears is served. Beacon-based vendor Niche Modern crafted the chandelier above the bar, and the stools come from Rexhill. A major philosophy of the Roundhouse is “keep it local.” Photo by Eric Laignel.

One of the bedrooms became Norelius’s studio, which includes lighting from Artemide above a custom desk.

Ted Lights

Described as “Lego for grown-ups” Grupa’s ili_ili lamps (which translates to “either-or”) allow the consumer to pick and choose between six modular elements in different colors in order to create their own individualized lamps.

At night, the exterior is lit with small LED bulbs for minimum impact. Steps are carved directly into the mountain landscape, leading visitors into one of the home’s two main entrances.

VINTAGE LIGHTING STRING Just because the sun sets doesn't mean the party has to end. Create the perfect ambiance with these vintage light strings from Restoration Hardware.

A glimpse of the 010-020 exhibition in Ventura Lambrate featuring Mae Engelgeer, Studio WM, and more.

A pair of matching Idea lights by Vesoi over a dining room table and chairs, both locally-made.

New lighting design by Scholten & Baijings for Moooi.

The dining table is from French retailer AM.PM., the pendants are by Him + Her, and the shelves are by Tomado Holland. An Ikea rug echoes the geometric motif found throughout the apartment.

“Perhaps the most recurrent request from the client was to create as much storage space as possible, which they desperately lacked in the original apartment,” Hammer says. The kitchen’s medium-density fibreboard cabinets provide plenty of room to keep things tidy. Tom Dixon bar lamps hang over the island.

Two green accent walls—one seen here in the dining room—are the only departures from the strategically white backdrop. Wierciński and team designed the dining table and its orange steel frame, along with the seating benches and wall-mounted seat backs. A Sticks pendant light from Nowodvorski illuminates the space.

The collection combines influences from modernism and the Arts and Crafts movement. The Cedar & Moss pendants with a brushed satin finish are shown here.

The kitchen includes ceiling lights whose fittings are recessed and offset; their glow is both diffuse and elusive.

Constructed in Moscow’s Park Muzeon for Archiwood and Office 17, the book pavilion accommodates those with larger libraries, offering walls of shelf space. Extending from the covered space of the pavilion, walls of shelving provide readers with privacy both in and out of doors. Photo courtesy of Ruetemple Architectural Studio.

The living room features a roomy Scandinavia sofa from Bolia and vintage glass pendants from Holmegaard. The original gold stucco wall frames are accented with Farrow & Ball paint in Mole’s Breath.

A bridge connects the second-floor office and guest bedroom with the backyard-facing master bedroom. To prevent excessive solar heat gain in this especial space, Butler Armsden used high performance Unilux low-e windows. Two Eurofase pendant lights from Chromos illuminate the hallway at night.

The Anastassiades String Pendant Lights from Flos bring suspension lighting to the ceiling. Available with spherical and conical pendants, each Anastassiades String Light provides diffused light, and can be used as overhead lighting in living rooms, bedrooms, or dining rooms. With two different cable lengths, the pendants can be strung in a variety of configurations from simple and streamlined to geometric and intricate. Each pendant light includes a weighted floor switch or ceiling canopy and several hooks with which to string the pendant. Each String Pendant Light can be used individually or grouped with other lights in the series to create a robust lighting display.

Northern Lights Bar (Iceland) designed by Minarc, nominated in Café/Bar category.

SPINNING LIGHT BH2 Sleek, sexy, and understated, Hubert's very grown-up pendant lighting is actually inspired by a children's spinning top toy.

The Conic Section LED Pendant Light from Castor is light that is inspired by mathematics. A conic section is a curve that is obtained at the intersection of a cone and a plane, which is reflected in the design of the pendant light. The Conic Section Pendant is available in four different iterations—a hyperbola, ellipse, parabola, and circle—which are created by cutting the cone at different angles. The cages of each pendant are plated in black chrome, which helps to reflect the light emitted from the interior LED lamp. Adjusting the direction of light is easy, as the overlaying shields can be moved.

Their new Tokyo lights (from $245) are made of recycled steel and come in two sizes, eight inches and 18 inches, each topped with an oatmeal-colored rolled-edge shade. "When designing the Tokyo Lamp, our goal was to create something with personality," says Paul. "The ability to tweak the neck angle and pivot the shade entices users to interact with and adjust Tokyo’s stance."

A small sconce lights the entry.

“Creative people like to be challenged. We’re often surprised by an approach we didn’t expect.” —Jean-Baptiste Souletier

Outdoor string lights help to bathe the adjacent courtyard in a soft glow.

The Viking range and Bosch refrigerator in the kitchen are paired with Ikea lights and cabinets.

Angular windows and Edison string lights create warm and inviting living and working spaces.

The lower level has a reinforced concrete frame. The timber and concrete surfaces are left exposed throughout the home. Tolomeo lights from Artemide hang above one of the beds.

In Chicago’s Buena Park, dSPACE Studio transformed a disorganized 1978 home into a bright retreat that revolves around an expanded atrium. SoCo pendant lights by Tech Lighting draw the eye up to the double-height light well.

Entirely off the grid, the house is powered by four photovoltaic panels that supply electricity to lights, small appliances, and water pumps.