Sputnik Lights & Urchin Chandeliers: The Best Of

N Studio (formerly known as Intarya) understands the power of a perfectly placed statement light. This dining room is finished off, like the proverbial cherry on the top, with a bespoke pendant made in the home of glassmaking – Murano, Venice.

“We loved the fact that using clear Murano glass would allow light to come through and wouldn’t act as a visual blocker in the open-plan room,” explains Creative Director, Holly Stone, “The sculptural quality of the sputnik light means it feels more like a sculpture than a light fitting and provided a quirkiness to counter the more classic table and chairs.”

The starburst shape draws the eye to the dining table arrangement, creating a alternative and worthy focal point to compete with the room’s captivating turquoise, teal and khaki artwork. Get the look by piling your dining table with books when not in use and contrasting pure white walls and pale flooring with colourful art and interesting sculpture.

Lilly Bunn tries the look in collaboration with a gilded ceiling and glossy teal walls to stunning effect. The light from its scattered bulbs casts a pretty glow onto the golden ceiling giving the space an ultra-opulent feel. A fret-designed mirror is placed just so to reflect the statement silhouette, doubling its impact.

To the untrained, a grey-on-grey room runs the risk of feeling cold but experts in visceral design, Lee Ledbetter & Associates, understand all the ways to sidestep any potential faux pas. In this Architectural Digest-featured French Quarter space the firm hung a celestial 1960s sputnik light pendant from a charcoal grey firmament and livened up with pure white sofa and matching ottoman and an 18th century French giltwood mirror.

One of the reasons we included Jessie D. Miller in this year’s Ones To Watch article was her intrepid design mentality. Expertly navigating the potential difficulties of a four poster bed, black walls and a zebra rug, the designer didn’t baulk at the thought of including a sputnik light in this bedroom and we’re glad she didn’t – the result is one of confident glamour.

Jean-Louis Deniot’s canvas for the upcoming Elysee Miami offers super-high ceilings and plenty of open space. The designer creates a nucleus for the impressive space whilst retaining its impressiveness by suspending two oversized sputnik-inspired light fixtures above this serene living room arrangement. The designs act much in the same way as the Met’s cascade does – as graceful, functional art installations.

Buckingham Interiors + Design adds playfulness to this library and home bar space with a spiky urchin design, proving that even the most composed spaces can be enhanced by a touch of whimsy. The combination of old with new works well and creates an unexpected aesthetic.

Bergdorf’s ground-floor jewel emporium isn’t the only place you’ll spot a sputnik or an urchin. In fact, the sputnik lights found in the store’s 7th floor BG Restaurant were there long before the glitzy jewellery hall ones. Kelly Wearstler designed the Hollywood Regency space 10 years ago and incorporated flushes which radiant from the ceiling, casting an invisible aura of magic over the space. The LA-based designer teamed the lights with a fresh powder blue palette, delicate Chinoiserie wallpaper and leather porter chairs.

Tobi Fairley – another advocate for eye-catching decor, namely in colour – matches the boldness of this penthouse bedroom’s night sky ceiling with a crystal and antique brass design. “I loved this Sputnik chandelier the minute I saw it!” enthuses the designer, “It creates that perfect dramatic point for a room, so I knew it would be fabulous in this master bedroom. It enhances the look of the night sky that I was going for, especially against the Midnight Navy paint in high gloss that I chose from Benjamin Moore.

Leaning towards the ultra-glamorous end of the spectrum, Martin Kemp Design focuses eyes on an encrusted pendant light in the informal living room of its upcoming St James project. The sparkling design’s heavenly aura is enhanced by soft cornice uplighting and a low-profile seating arrangement which allows it, and the room’s Georgian bones, to take centre-stage. Channel the look with elegant drapes, a decorative but modern rug and simple upholstery for a contrasting contemporary edge.

Dining rooms seem to be the place to be for sputnik lights, in no small part because of their dramatic impact. AB Concept incorporated a bejewelled sputnik design into this space from its 39 Conduit Road, Hong Kong project. The scattered crystal-like elements add a glamorous edge to the contemporary scheme of marble, wood and leather.