These washing machine drum lights are the latest invention of Helsinki based, Dutch designer Willem Heeffer. These lamps are made from used washing machine drums and powder coated in 1 of 6 retro chic candy colours. We love their cool industrial look.

This isn’t the first time we are featuring designs by Willem Heeffer. He is also the designer behind the Heinz Benz can lights recently featured. Willem especially enjoys creating unique designs from old materials. By taking them out of context, he is able to transform and reinvent discarded items into something new. In doing so what might have otherwise been considered waste emerges as a focal design piece.

As with Willem’s other designs we think that these washing machine drum lights would look incredible in a commercial space. Something about the retro industrial vibe makes us think they would look fantastic in a modern hair studio or restaurant.

In order to make these washing machine drum lights Willem salvages washing machine drums from recycling centres. The recycling centres perform the labour intensive task of removing the drums from the washing machines. Willem then cleans the drums, powder coats them, and suspends them by 3, 1mm thick cables. In order to add the light fixture he places the drive wheel from the back of the washing machine inside the drum to house the T5 circular tube light. Acrylic sheets diffuse the light and a colour-matched braided electrical cable completes the look.

Willem calls these washing machine drum lights ‘clean conscious’ lamps as they are sourced locally, handmade and use 90% upcycled materials. We think the salt white one is our favourite of the lot, which colour of the 6 washing machine lights is your favourite?

Source: Willem Heeffer