Whether pleated, patinaed or paper, the options for beautiful lighting in the home are endless.
Pleats Please
Whether accordion, bias or box, the traditional pleated shade has had an update of late. Think oversized and bulbous – and often garish, but in a good way.
Bathroom Break
A pair of hand-cast porcelain bowl sconces by NY-based design studio Apparatus prevent the sugary colour palette and glossy Zellige tiles of this guest bathroom from becoming too syrupy sweet. The addition of sconces, hung on both sides of a mirror, ensures a warm glow in the chilliest of bathrooms.
Bedside Manner
Ensure the space on your bedside table is used optimally by choosing a pendant bedside light or wall-mounted sconce on either side of your bed. The addition of a pendant or sconce will elevate the aesthetic in seconds, taking your bedroom from blah to beautiful.
Paper Play
The importance of lamplight in the home goes without saying. Ingo Maurer's Lampampe, a masterful fusion of form and function, redefines the role of lighting in interior design. Crafted from crinkled Japanese paper and metal, this oversized table lamp showcases how traditional lampshade shapes can evolve into contemporary art. The deliberate creases in the paper not only contribute to its unique aesthetic, but also ensure soft, glare-free illumination.
Monochromatic Magic
Monotone does not necessarily mean mundane. Use a single colour throughout a room, including the lighting (as seen in this bedroom), but make things more interesting with the use of varying textures and materials. The glass used on the mounted ceiling light adds a dollop of glamour, while the linen lampshade grounds the space.
Make an Entrance
The Talia chandelier from US-based Visual Comfort takes centre stage in this entrance hall. Designed by renowned lighting designer Julie Neill, this chandelier seamlessly intertwines the classicism of French antiques with the currency of modern elements. This perfectly fit the brief given to the interior design team at River Brook, who sought to create a warm and inviting ambiance for the homeowners and their guests.
On Display
Give your artwork the spotlight it deserves. In the kitchen and this main-en suite bathroom, hanging wall art is given serious clout with the addition of picture lighting. It draws the viewer in, and sets a more intimate tone than you’ll get from ceiling or track lighting. As a general rule, ensure LED bulbs are used, to avoid damage to the artwork; and point your lights so that they illuminate the artwork at a 30- to 45-degree angle. This will minimise glare and ensure even coverage across the surface of the picture.
Text by Catherine Mo
