Karen McCartney introduces our latest Object of Desire, the covetable Garland Light shade.

The Garland Light by Dutch designer Tord Boontje took the design world by storm when it first launched ten years ago.

It was such fresh thinking – this beautiful, delicate object that was both affordable, playful and design aware. Since then it has become something of a phenomenon, bridging the gap between high-end design and enormous popularity.



It is part of the permanent collection of over 10 international museums including MoMA in New York, and over half a million Garlands have sold over the decade. With this design icon in all those homes, restaurants, bars and workplaces, it is no wonder it has been re-launched under the banner 'High design for everyday living'.

So, what is its appeal? For a start it arrives flat-packed and you assemble it yourself, so it has that feeling that you have exercised your creativity and designed an individual shape. The delicate, etched floral strand is a continuous strip that is wrapped around a light bulb and simply held with a clip. It can be shaped into any form and creative types have been known to use multiple garlands, intertwining them or arranging them at different drop lengths for a greater, bolder effect. The celebrated milliner Philip Treacy has even created a show-stopping hat from the Garland!



The only trouble is deciding what to choose or even how many. White romantic Garlands in a cluster of three, a fashionable brass Garland entwined with its silver counterpart, or a single dramatic black?

Creating your own Garland is easy. Watch the video to see how to transform a sheet of laser cut metal into your own unique light shade, and check out our gallery to see how others have approached the creative process.