A lamp for lean times

Sometimes, stress begets success. Take the genesis of the Manana floor lamp by Marie-Louise Gustafsson. While doodling to relax, she drew an armless stick figure that later became the basis for this kicked-back light for Design House Stockholm. The lamp leans against a wall, secured by a nail that fits into a hole in the tubular upright. Five and a half feet tall and equipped with an adjustable shade and dimmer switch, it’s ideal for reading or ambient light. In an hommage to its evolution from pencil doodle to product, Manana is powder-coated in a matte graphite finish. It’s $220 at L.A. store Show, 1722 N. Vermont Ave., (323) 644-1960, www.showlife style.com.

-- David A. Keeps