Glass Block Lamp: Top 5 Specifications and Constraints

For my main project, I plan to make a mid-century modern furniture inspired floor lamp. I will glass blocks and diffused LED strips as the primary lighting element, and the frame will be manufactured using finished wood. The overall height of the lamp will be ~3.5 feet tall, and be powered by a wall plug. The LED strip has adjustable colors built in, including warm white and full spectrum RGB, and I can adjust the lighting from my phone. My hope is to create statement piece for my living room, that can change depending on the colors or mood of the space that it is in.

Below are my top 5 specifications and constraints for my project.

Top 5 Specifications:

1. Be a statement piece: I want my project to be something unique and stylish in my living space. I would like it to clearly define the aesthetic of whatever room it is in, without looking out of place. This means that I will need to make sure takes proper design cues from my target aesthetic of Mid-Century Modern.
2. Look professionally done: While I do not have a lot of experience in woodworking or building furniture, I would like the finished product to look cleanly made and professionally finished. For me this involves details like even staining and precise cuts.
3. Correctly sized: As of now, my project is about 3.5 feet tall. Depending on the placement, I would like the lamp to be able to fill a corner of a room with light and material, so that it looks good in the space it is in.
4. Not too costly: I am willing to spend a decent amount of money on materials, and since I will be buying hardwood and glass blocks for the construction, it will not be cheap to make. That being said, I have to be strategic about how much material I buy.
5. Customizable: Like I had described, I want the project to be able to be easily adjusted to fit the mood/space it is in. I have designed the project so that the glass blocks can be swapped out or combined for different designs, and so that the color/brightness of the lights can be adjusted from my phone.

Top 5 Constraints:

1. Cost: My aim is to keep the total cost of this project under 150 dollars. The glass blocks and hardwood boards cost about 125, so that leaves little room for additional materials if I need them.
2. Manufacturing time: I have designed the wooden frame of my project to be able to cleanly fit together without needing many fasteners. Unfortunately this means it will be more difficult to manufacture, since I need to cut more slots. I will need to manage my time wisely here.
3. Difficult of manufacturing wooden parts: The slots on the wooden frame could encounter tolerance stack up if not properly cut to size.
4. Finishing: I do not have experience in finishing wood, and still do not know which stain/coating I will be using on the wood. This step is important because it will dictate the final color of the frame.
5. Glass blocks: The sizing and look of glass blocks are hard to precisely account for without having them in hand, I still do not have the ones I plan on buying yet, so I will not be able to manufacture until they arrive.

Despite the constraints, I am confident I will be able to complete my project while meeting all of the specifications. I look forward to seeing how it turns out!

Glass blocks: https://www.qualityglassblock.com/sales-and-specials/

Cad screenshots: Made by me