What began in 2012 as a garage woodworking studio in Long Island, New York, has now grown to become Allied Maker, an artisan lighting brand that’s gaining much clout among design lovers who appreciate fine, handcrafted details. Founded by husband and wife Ryden and Lanette Rizzo, who design and manufacture the lights themselves, Allied Maker recently opened its first store in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood in what was formerly a dentist's office.

Big fans of natural materials such as brass, glass, and hardwoods, the Rizzos have made it their mission is to create highly engineered, simple, elegant lighting solutions that celebrate fine craftsmanship and materials with integrity.

Like another famous design couple—Ray and Charles Eames—Ryden and Lanette spend most of their time together in their studio, where they take a hands-on approach, constantly experimenting with new designs and techniques.

“We don’t really have a boundary between our ‘work life’ and ‘home life’, it’s one and the same. Like the Eames, we love the work, and are in love with each other, so there’s a lot of commonality there,” says Lanette.

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Hear Lanette Rizzo talk about Allied Maker, the creative process, and the studio's material obsession in Dwell's first episode of RM-3 (Raw Materials 3 Ways):

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Allied Maker Turns a Dentist's Office Into a Luminous Showroom