Blue Green Works introduces alluring new lighting collection
Inspired by iconography, American design studio Blue Green Works introduces five new lighting ranges

Manhattan-based design studio Blue Green Works presents a new series of lighting designs including lamps, sconces and pendants by studio founder Peter B Staples. The design behind the five collections – titled ‘Trophy’, ‘Candle’, ‘Wood’, ‘Banner’, and ‘Shade’ – features an eclectic mix of visual motifs, materials and textures, with angular bent metal, chunky glass and sleekly crafted wood all contributing to the aesthetic richness of the collection.
The ‘Wood’ sconce, a tribute to Staples’ passion for skateboarding
The design of the five ranges is collectively inspired by research into symbols of various kinds: for example, the ‘Trophy’ glass silhouette references chalices given to athletes; ‘Candle’ is a minimalist, spiky interpretation of a candelabra, void of any traditional decoration. Meanwhile, ‘Wood’ is reminiscent of skateboarders’ halfpipes; and ‘Banner’ is a new take on classic 1930s and 1940s military tattoos. Finally, ‘Shade’ is shaped like the cymbals in a classic rock set, completing a series of familiar references refashioned into sculptural, semi-abstract lighting pieces.
Adding colour to the offering, the stainless steel pieces are also available in the studio's signature palette of Royère Red, Bike Blue, Baby Blue and Sad Beige (with further customisation options).
The ‘Candle’ series started with Staples pondering the question: what type of lighting pairs well with contemporary art? The final design is inspired by a candelabra he once saw in a Mexico City residence, and merges antique silhouettes with a contemporary, no-frills approach
A text introducing the collection describes Staples’ approach: the designer ‘recontextualises the energy and emotion embodied in these symbols and translates them into tools of illumination that often embody a softer, more sensual vision of masculinity.’
As a teenager, Staples started researching heraldry and the symbols on medieval coats of arms while looking for iconography for his tattoos, shaping his understanding of the power and meaning of logos, from Versace’s Medusa to the Playboy Bunny. ‘A starting point for me is always how a silhouette feels like a little symbol: I think the power of symbols is how they can be personal and universal at once,’ he says.
‘Trophy’ double pendant light
To create his collection, he worked closely with American craftspeople, from a glass studio in New England to a wood workshop in Pennsylvania, while the candelabra’s stainless steel structures are made in Upstate New York, by a fabricator usually working on motorcycle parts.
‘Trophy’ single pendant
‘Banner’, a metal sconce inspired by the ribbons depicted in classic 1930s and 1940s military tattoos, and a tribute to the works of Maria Pergay
‘Shade’, inspired by the shape of cymbals in classic rock drum sets
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
-
Tuneshine is a new way of bringing back the lost art of the album cover
The compact Tuneshine screen uses LED tech to illuminate the artwork of whatever you’re currently streaming
-
Inside the new theatre at Jacob’s Pillow and its ‘magic box’, part of a pioneering complex designed for dance
Jacob’s Pillow welcomes the reborn Doris Duke Theatre by Mecanoo, a new space that has just opened in the beloved Berkshires cultural hub for the summer season
-
What to see at Rencontres d’Arles 2025, questioning power structures in the state and family
Suppressed memories resurface in sharply considered photography at Rencontres d'Arles 2025. Here are some standout photographers to see
-
The owner of this restored Spanish Colonial home turned it into a gallery – with no social media allowed
Casa Francis in LA is a private residence, but recently opened its doors to one member of the public at a time for an exhibition centred around domesticity
-
This Manhattan apartment and studio is a shrine to art
This New York artist's home is both comfortable and flexible, acting as a studio and a showcase for his work and collected pieces. We take a tour for our interiors series, The Inside Story
-
Life’s a beach at this tropical-glam Miami development
Five Park Miami Beach mixes streamlined glamour with vibrant colour, and is the focus of Wallpaper’s interiors series, The Inside Story, as the Floridian city holds its annual Grand Prix
-
A Frank Lloyd Wright lamp broke auction record at Sotheby’s – fetching $7.5 million
The architect's ‘Double-Pedestal’ lamp, which was designed for the Dana House in 1903, has become his most valuable work ever offered at auction
-
This Colorado ski chalet combines Rocky Mountains warmth with European design nous
Wood and stone meet artisanal and antique pieces in this high-spec, high-design mountain retreat
-
Hilltop hideaway: Colony creates tranquil interiors for a Catskills retreat
Perched between two mountain ranges, this Catskills retreat marries bold, angular architecture with interiors that offer warmth and texture
-
Rio Kobayashi’s new furniture bridges eras, shown alongside Fritz Rauh’s midcentury paintings at Blunk Space
Furniture designer Rio Kobayashi unveils a new series, informed by the paintings of midcentury artist Fritz Rauh, at California’s Blunk Space
-
Brooklyn furniture studio Stillmade unveils its first collaborative design series
Stillmade brings to life the designs of four New Yorkers – Pat Kim, Danny Kaplan, Michele Quan and Mignogna Studio