> Fun fact: “Akari” means light in Japanese, both as illumination and as lightness.
Wow! I love it when two languages have matching homonyms. I always wonder "what does it mean ?". Like, in English "second" to mean the unit of time and the place after "first" feels like two distinct usages. But it's the same in Spanish ("segundo"), which points to a deeper connection (and isn't so unsurprising given the shared roots of the languages): the unit of time is called that because it's the second subdivision of an hour.
The two usages of "light" in English are so distinct I'm quite surprised it's like this in the entirely unrelated Japanese language. Is this just a big coincidence, or does anyone know any deeper reasons here?
The first example is not really a coincidence: a second is defined by being the second subvision of an hour.
So that example fails to support any reason for akari matching light in English. But for the sake of argument here is another one: じゃり (giari, read as "ja-ri") in Japanese means gravel and in my dialect almost the same sound (giarin, "ja-ri-n") also mean gravel. Go figure.
I'll note that many of the glass blocks they use are available all over, for a few dollars. I bought a few Doric glass blocks, stuck some diffused LED strips below them, and printed a stand/enclosure, all for under $15. Good gift for friends.
Remember a saying of 5 individual light sources in each room as a rule of interior design. Very wholesome read, made me smile and look at my own lamps.
Love the pics. Moved into a place in the 90's. Insurance agent told me, easiest way to liven up a cheap apt was to get good lighting. He was right, but I was too lazy to shop much. Only found one lamp that I really like.
It's an Ikea Torchère: kinda old now, just halogen, but I've always kept a spare "bulb" for it somewhere - replaced it every 10-20 years. I still like the weird pattern on the ceiling. :P
One lamp featured was a "mini Tizio". I bought the full-size one many, many years ago. (E.g. uses a Halogen bulb.) This article prompted me to think... So I just Goolged it. My vintage Tizio is now selling for about $1,200. (Cannot remember what I spent, but very likely my <$150 filter kicked in when buying.) So if you like these lights, maybe consider the cost an investment. If after a few decades you may want to sell, and you might do well. Note: My Tizio is not for sale as it is a superb desk lamp.
Alas, a good-condition Tizio usually sells for around $200-$350 used, depending on the exact model. First-generation models may go a little higher, like $500-$600. I bought mine a couple of years ago for about €250.
If you browse sites like 1stdibs or Pamono, you're going to see dramatically inflated prices, but I don't see why anyone would ever buy there. Ebay, Selency, Vntg, etc. are more likely to sell at actual market prices.
Really loved the lamps featured here. I'm jealous of the whole setup, including the Vitsoe shelving. Saving this for inspiration when I need to revamp my home setup. Thanks for sharing!
I fantasized about the possibilities of decorating a place, when said decorations do not need to be proofed against wanton destruction by young children
Had to look it up. The cable coming out of the middle section is unfortunate. I get it's supposed to be vaguely anthropomorphic so that's like a tail or something but... come on.
Unrelated aside, but:
> Fun fact: “Akari” means light in Japanese, both as illumination and as lightness.
Wow! I love it when two languages have matching homonyms. I always wonder "what does it mean ?". Like, in English "second" to mean the unit of time and the place after "first" feels like two distinct usages. But it's the same in Spanish ("segundo"), which points to a deeper connection (and isn't so unsurprising given the shared roots of the languages): the unit of time is called that because it's the second subdivision of an hour.
The two usages of "light" in English are so distinct I'm quite surprised it's like this in the entirely unrelated Japanese language. Is this just a big coincidence, or does anyone know any deeper reasons here?
The first example is not really a coincidence: a second is defined by being the second subvision of an hour.
So that example fails to support any reason for akari matching light in English. But for the sake of argument here is another one: じゃり (giari, read as "ja-ri") in Japanese means gravel and in my dialect almost the same sound (giarin, "ja-ri-n") also mean gravel. Go figure.
All I can think about is the 20m it would take to walk around the house and turn all of them off every time I wanted to leave the house.
phillips hue
Yeap! All of them are Phillips Hue bulbs and switches.
I love iconic minimal lamps too. I never saw the Lampe de Bureau nor the Kismas Lamp 01, love them! You might like the Muuto Post.
I'll note that many of the glass blocks they use are available all over, for a few dollars. I bought a few Doric glass blocks, stuck some diffused LED strips below them, and printed a stand/enclosure, all for under $15. Good gift for friends.
What a beautiful home. I love the office and desk setup specifically. The lamps are cool too.
He has a writeup about the office and desk setup too: https://arslan.io/2025/11/18/my-two-part-desk-setup/
I'd love to have enough space to have a desk facing the room rather than the wall :(
This is great. Lighting I think is the best thing to spend money on as it isn't exposed to wear and tear like furniture.
In addition to these also a huge fan of Anglepoise desk lamps, Lotte lamps and Mantis sconces.
Are we talking second hand value or re-sell potential?
Remember a saying of 5 individual light sources in each room as a rule of interior design. Very wholesome read, made me smile and look at my own lamps.
Brought me joy as Kondo would have said
Love the pics. Moved into a place in the 90's. Insurance agent told me, easiest way to liven up a cheap apt was to get good lighting. He was right, but I was too lazy to shop much. Only found one lamp that I really like.
It's an Ikea Torchère: kinda old now, just halogen, but I've always kept a spare "bulb" for it somewhere - replaced it every 10-20 years. I still like the weird pattern on the ceiling. :P
One lamp featured was a "mini Tizio". I bought the full-size one many, many years ago. (E.g. uses a Halogen bulb.) This article prompted me to think... So I just Goolged it. My vintage Tizio is now selling for about $1,200. (Cannot remember what I spent, but very likely my <$150 filter kicked in when buying.) So if you like these lights, maybe consider the cost an investment. If after a few decades you may want to sell, and you might do well. Note: My Tizio is not for sale as it is a superb desk lamp.
Alas, a good-condition Tizio usually sells for around $200-$350 used, depending on the exact model. First-generation models may go a little higher, like $500-$600. I bought mine a couple of years ago for about €250.
If you browse sites like 1stdibs or Pamono, you're going to see dramatically inflated prices, but I don't see why anyone would ever buy there. Ebay, Selency, Vntg, etc. are more likely to sell at actual market prices.
Thanks for the $$ I'm about to spend :heart: :sob:
I enjoyed the article, but I got a real kick out of how the author formats the date into the URL
Yay or nay? I can change it :)
I like it. Though I was rather hoping that /2026/10 would go to an index of posts from this month.
beautiful home and photos! makes me realize some people are just way cleaner than me :D
Really loved the lamps featured here. I'm jealous of the whole setup, including the Vitsoe shelving. Saving this for inspiration when I need to revamp my home setup. Thanks for sharing!
I couldn’t differentiate one of these designer lamps from an ikea lamp. They look almost the same.
Yes, Ikea copies iconic designer lamps often very closely. I thinks its great, but also love to have some select pieces as functional art.
beautiful pieces <3 i inherited a big Poulson and I love it
Better update that bio! It's SpaseXSI now.
Give .webp or .avif some live my friend!
Am I the only one who fantasized about the whole place more than the lamps?
I fantasized about the possibilities of decorating a place, when said decorations do not need to be proofed against wanton destruction by young children
Have two kids, 7 and 10 years old. It’s ok if they grow with it!
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For me, it's a little too 50 shades of brown. I love the warm tones and clean lines, but it's all warm tones and clean lines.
I'm in the middle of moving things around my home and dealing with cords, so the lamp cords are what I focused on.
It's a beautiful space though. He did a great job of cord management on his desk.
No because you likely do not drench yourself in hubris daily.
The arrogance of people still inventing new lamps after the Ikea KRUX lamp is astounding
This PH5 lamp was invented in the 1950s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poul_Henningsen
I'm not sure why anyone even tried to invent a new pendant light after the PH5. ;)
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Looks like a dog
Had to look it up. The cable coming out of the middle section is unfortunate. I get it's supposed to be vaguely anthropomorphic so that's like a tail or something but... come on.
LMFAO it's cute!
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Ikea+KRUX&ia=images&iax=images
lol. https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/krux-led-work-lamp-white-503254...
I deeply regret not buying another suitcase to import a Tolomeo from Germany to the USA a year ago.
I have a $2.94 USB silicone lamp shaped like a duck. To each their own.
Picture myself a room of complete darkness, the lonely duck.
My 5-year-old sleeps with a silicon dog lamp.