Object of Desire: The Up Down Sconce from a Brooklyn Design Studio

If you’ve ever stared at a blank stretch of wall and thought, “This corner needs… something,” the Up Down Sconce from Brooklyn design studio In Common With is probably that something. Compact, sculptural, and quietly dramatic, this double-ended wall light turns a bare wall into a small piece of theater, casting light both upward and downward in a soft, flattering glow.

Originally spotlighted by Remodelista as an “Object of Desire,” the Up Down Sconce has since become a favorite among interior designers and design-obsessed homeowners. It sits at the intersection of handcrafted artistry and thoughtful engineering: hand-assembled in a Brooklyn studio, with shades hand-blown or hand-spun by specialized partners across the United States.

Meet the Makers: A Brooklyn Design Studio with a Global Rolodex

The Up Down Sconce is designed by In Common With, a Brooklyn-based lighting studio founded by Nick Ozemba and Felicia Hung in 2018. Their approach is surprisingly old-school in an era of mass production: every fixture is assembled, finished, and inspected in their Brooklyn workshop, even though the materials themselves come from expert fabricators scattered across different regions.

Rather than designing for a single “look,” In Common With works like a modular system. Their collectionsespecially the Up Down seriesare built around a core silhouette that can be endlessly customized through different materials, finishes, and colors. Brass, ceramic, chromatic glass, and glass in airy opaline finishes are all fair game, and each material brings a slightly different personality to the same basic shape.

This philosophy feels very Brooklyn: creative, flexible, and collaborative. Instead of pretending that everything happens in one romantic loft, the studio openly embraces a network of craftspeople, from metalworkers to glassblowers in the Midwest, who contribute their expertise to each fixture.

Design Details: Why the Up Down Sconce Is So Appealing

A simple U-shape with serious impact

The Up Down Sconce’s form is deceptively simple: two cylindrical shades stacked vertically on a compact backplate. The shape reads as a clean, geometric “U” or exclamation pointminimal, but expressive. It’s the kind of design that doesn’t shout for attention, but once you notice it, you keep noticing it.

In its brass version, the shades are hand-spun from solid unlacquered brass that will develop a natural patina over time, giving the fixture character and depth. In the chromatic glass series, those same shades become jewel-like capsules of color, rendered in tones like sandblasted amber, pistachio, opaline, and tobacco.

Up light, down light, and everything in between

Functionally, the up-down configuration is a small lighting superpower. The sconce throws light toward the ceiling and toward the floor (or adjacent surface), which helps soften shadows and create a more even, flattering light in the room. Designers often use this type of fixture to:

• Wash a textured wall with light for subtle drama.
• Frame doorways, fireplaces, or art pieces without overwhelming them.
• Add ambient lighting to narrow spaces, such as hallways or stairwells, where table lamps don’t fit.

Because the bulbs are housed within the shades, you get a cozy, diffuse glow instead of a harsh spotlight. That makes the Up Down Sconce especially nice in bedrooms, living rooms, or anywhere you want atmosphere rather than interrogation-room brightness. Glass and brass versions are typically damp-rated as well, which makes them suitable for use in bathrooms, provided they’re placed in an appropriate zone.

Compact but not shy

Size-wise, the Up Down Sconce is pleasantly modest: roughly 10 inches high, with a projection of under 5 inches, depending on the style. That means it won’t hog space in a narrow hallway or next to a door casing. But visually, the color and material options keep it from feeling timid. A pair of chromatic glass sconces in a rich amber or pistachio finish can become a focal point even in an otherwise neutral room.

Customization: The Choose-Your-Own-Adventure of Wall Lights

One of the reasons the Up Down Sconce stands out in a crowded lighting market is its customization. On many retail sites that carry the line, including design-forward showrooms and online lighting retailers, you can specify:

• Shade material: brass, chromatic glass, simple glass, or ceramic.
• Shade color: options like opaline, pistachio, tobacco, sandblasted white, or sandblasted amber in the chromatic glass version.
• Backplate finish: brass, patina brass, blackened brass, pewter, and more.
• Mount type: hardwired versions for a clean, permanent install, or plug-in versions with an inline dimmer for renters and commitment-phobes.
• Switch style: on-cord switch, in-line dimmer, or canopy-mounted dimmer controls, depending on the model.

Because the series is modular, you can return to it again and again across different projects. A designer might choose warm brass versions for a traditional brownstone, chromatic glass for a playful modern loft, and ceramic shades in earth tones for a quiet, Japandi-inspired retreatall while maintaining a consistent visual “language” across spaces.

How the Up Down Sconce Fits into the Remodelista Aesthetic

Remodelista’s editors have a well-honed radar for pieces that feel both timeless and of-the-moment. Their “Object of Desire” column regularly highlights products that combine craftsmanship, flexibility, and a certain understated cool. The Up Down Sconce checks all of those boxes.

In the context of Remodelista’s broader coverageminimal kitchens, thoughtful storage solutions, quiet design for modern livingthe Up Down Sconce reads as a natural companion piece. It’s not a showy chandelier that requires a double-height ceiling or a massive budget. Instead, it’s a small, considered object that can slip into almost any interior and elevate it just enough.

The fixture works beautifully in spaces that lean Scandinavian, Mediterranean, or contemporary rustic. Picture it alongside limewash walls, pale oak floors, linen upholstery, and a handful of carefully chosen vintage pieces. It’s the kind of light that looks just as good in a Brooklyn rental as it does in a carefully renovated farmhouse.

Where You’ll See It: Real-World Applications

1. Flanking a bathroom mirror

Because the Up Down Sconce offers both up and down light, it can provide gentle illumination at face level when placed on either side of a mirror. Designers often mix metal finishessay, patina brass sconces with unlacquered brass faucetsto create a layered, lived-in look.

2. Punctuating a hallway or stair

In a long hall, repeating the same fixture creates rhythm and guides the eye down the space. The slim profile of the Up Down Sconce means it won’t get in the way of passing shoulders, while the bi-directional light helps brighten what can otherwise be a gloomy corridor.

3. Creating a reading nook

Paired with a comfortable chair and a small side table, a plug-in Up Down Sconce with a dimmer is a renter-friendly way to carve out a cozy corner. The upper shade softly brightens the wall and ceiling, while the lower shade sends just enough light toward your book or magazine.

4. Adding a warm glow to the dining room

In dining rooms, sconces like this one help balance the overhead light from a pendant or chandelier. Choosing a colored glass shadesuch as amber or pistachioadds a subtle tint that can make evening meals feel particularly inviting.

Quality and Performance: More Than Just a Pretty Face

The Up Down Sconce doesn’t merely rely on its looks. Many versions use efficient LED-compatible bulbs or include warm-on-dim bulbs that shift from a brighter 3000K to a candle-like 2200K as you lower the brightness. That’s a small detail with a big impact: you can switch from “getting ready for the day” to “movie night” with a turn of the dimmer.

Fixtures in the series are typically UL or ETL listed and damp-rated, meaning they’ve been tested for safety and are suitable for use in bathrooms or other slightly humid environments when installed correctly. The constructionsolid brass or carefully finished steel and glassfeels weighty in the hand, aligning with the fixture’s higher-end price point.

Speaking of price: depending on the configuration and retailer, the Up Down Sconce can range roughly from the mid-hundreds to around the $800 mark for more specialized chromatic glass versions. It’s an investment piece, but one that earns its keep through longevity, flexibility, and sheer visual charm.

How to Style the Up Down Sconce at Home

Play with color contrast

If your walls are light and neutral, consider a darker backplate or deeper glass shade to create a focal point. A sandblasted amber shade on a dark backplate, for example, reads like a glowing gemstone against a plaster-like wall.

Lean into tone-on-tone minimalism

Prefer a quieter look? Choose opaline or sandblasted white glass with a brass or bone-colored backplate. The result is almost monochrome, emphasizing the sconce’s silhouette rather than its color. This can be especially beautiful in bedrooms or calm, spa-like bathrooms.

Mix finishes thoughtfully

Because the Up Down Sconce has a relatively small footprint, it’s a great way to introduce a new metal or color into a room without overwhelming the palette. If your space is dominated by black hardware, a patina brass sconce can add warmth and prevent the room from feeling too cold or industrial.

of Lived-In Light: Experiences with the Up Down Sconce

Design objects can look perfect in professional photos, but the real test is how they behave in everyday life. The Up Down Sconce passes that test in a quietly delightful way.

Imagine coming home after a long day, dropping your bag in the entry, and flipping on a switchnot to a blinding ceiling light, but to a pair of sconces casting pools of light up and down the wall. The effect feels more like a boutique hotel lobby than a standard hallway. The glass shades glow like small lanterns, and the wall behind them suddenly seems more architectural. You notice textures you previously ignored: the subtle grain of the plaster, the soft shadows of trim and molding.

In a small apartment, this matters. Space is limited, but atmosphere is not. A compact, wall-mounted fixture that adds both function and mood is worth its weight in brass. The Up Down Sconce is particularly good at this because the light is gentle and directional without being fussy. There’s no exposed bulb glaring directly at your eyes; the shades handle the diffusion for you.

For renters, the plug-in versions can be something of a game-changer. Instead of living with the one lonely ceiling fixture that came with the apartment, you can add layers of light exactly where you need them. An Up Down Sconce next to the sofa creates a reading spot. Another near the dining table brings intimate restaurant vibes to Tuesday-night takeout. And when you move, you take the sconce with youit’s more personal than a floor lamp, but just as portable.

In family homes, the Up Down Sconce shines (literally) in hallways and stairwells. The up-and-down beams help children feel more secure at night, avoiding the stark contrast between darkness and a single bright overhead light. With a warm-on-dim bulb, you can dial the brightness down to a soft night glow that’s still strong enough for late-night trips to the kitchen.

Designers often talk about “punctuation” in interiors: visual moments that break up long walls or repetitive lines. The Up Down Sconce functions like a comma or semicolon. It doesn’t take over the sentenceyour art, furniture, and architecture still carry the storybut it adds pauses and emphasis in all the right places.

There’s also something undeniably charming about the way the fixture ages. In brass versions, the unlacquered finish slowly deepens, especially around edges and touch points, echoing the patina of well-loved door hardware or vintage picture frames. In glass versions, the shades remain crisp and luminous, but the context around themwall color, art, furnituremay change over time. The sconce adapts easily; switch out a rug, repaint the walls, or rehang the gallery wall, and it still looks perfectly at home.

Ultimately, calling this an “object of desire” isn’t just marketing. It captures that slightly irrational pull that well-designed objects exert: you don’t strictly need them, but once you’ve seen what they can do to a room, you find yourself mentally placing them in your own home. In the case of the Up Down Sconce, that desire is backed by practical advantagesgood light, flexible installation options, and durable materialsmaking it a temptation that’s unusually easy to justify.

In other words: if you’ve been quietly collecting inspiration images of softly lit walls and sculptural fixtures, this Brooklyn-made sconce might be the piece that turns your Pinterest board into reality.

SEO JSON