apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We had our eye on the classic Artichoke lamp, designed by Poul Henningson. But at over $7000, the price was nearly a quarter of our original budget for the entire renovation. (We'll own one of these someday -- a vintage model in the copper finish.)

But we still needed a light, and when we spotted the Norm 69, also designed by a Danish architect, at Modern in Eugene, Oregon, we knew it was the perfect stand-in. While it's made of PVC, certainly not the most green material, it's green in the way most IKEA products are: it makes efficient use of materials and it comes in a slim, flat box. Of course, this means you have to put it together yourself, and that's no easy task. Fortunately, we had the gracious help of friend who happens to be a meticulous, patient, and extremely talented graphic designer -- thank you, Mette!

Because the bulb is hidden from view, it's perfect for a compact florescent bulb and can handle quite a large one -- great for a strong, but glare-free source of light. And the price? Less than $100 for about the same size as the Artichoke lamp pictured above. If you want to buy online, Unica Home carries four sizes -- the largest is 30" in diameter. It comes in both white and cream.