LIGHTING - THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
Lighting has the potential to be the most dynamic and dramatic element in any interior. But it is too often used to only a fraction of it's potential. Lighting is my favourite part of interior design and I always try to use it in unique ways to create drama and personality. I like to include at least three different types of lighting in each space: Indirect lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. The combination of these different types of lighting divides a space into light zones and gives an interior depth and character. A single light source in a room creates a flat washed out space. The following images are some really good illustrations.
The pendant lights above the bedside tables add sparkle and glamour to the Master Bedroom as well as providing reading light. The backlit fabric panel behind the bed glows with a soft light, providing dramatic indirect lighting. The LED lamps above the wardrobe wall wash the doors with light when they are closed and illuminate the interior when the doors are open. This is a great illustration of layering light sources.
Several sources of light in this living space create light zones. Some of the walls are built out to provide a recess at the base for indirect lighting and a light cove at the top of the wall. This gives the room a lot of depth, making the walls appear to float. Accent lighting is provided by recessed swivel spot lights in the ceiling. These lights can be directed to focus on any item in the room and allow the client to change the patterns of light in the space easily. The floor lamp provides both a light source and a sculptural element in the centre of the room.
This corridor shows how spaces can be illuminated by thinking outside the box. The recessed floor lights are very bright LED lights with a narrow light beam. The light washes up the textured wall and bounces down off the white ceiling. This "bounce" of light down from the ceiling is what illuminates the space in the same way a ceiling mounted light would...without the glare. Wall panels are by Modularts.
Three of my favourite light fixtures.......
These Pendants by Foscarini are stunning, creating subtle light patterns on walls and a soft down light perfect for dining or bedside.
Manta Rhei from Art Com and Selux. The light "tiles" can be choreographed to move in various, beautiful ways. The design is based on OLED technology, a lighting technology that allows for very thin, very light-weight panels.
The Organza fixture by Charles Loomis is made of layers of sculpted etched glass and available in Diameters up to 60". Spectacular in a stairwell!