Having lived, and happily, in the same apartment for four years, I was itching for change. The wallpaper was torn down, a fresh coat of Ecru rightly appointed. A new rug was thrown in for colour, but it didn’t all come together until I got rid of the chandeliers and installed new ones. Finally it was a long-lusted for Santa & Cole Tripod floor lamp that brought the home alive. Clearly, it’s the small things that matter; lighting being the most important of them all!
LED is the way forward
To say LED has been a game-changer would be an understatement. Apart from its eco benefits and recently refined light quality, the miniscule light source has freed lighting designers to design without constraints of the light source size. Lighting designers the world over are marrying the latest in LED technology with futuristic materials and shapes — would not have been possible before. Aryclic, Metal cutworks, Uneven lighting planes? The LED circa 2014 can do it all!
Celebrate technology.
Expressing one’s individuality is the biggest design movement of the decade and lighting is not alien to it. Be it through technological advances (think automated mood-changing or sensory controlled lighting programmed for every occasion and time of day) or handicraft (when applied to creating bespoke lighting ornaments to the design conscious client’s exacting taste), the consumer’s wishes will be king. You can apply this to your home or your office or even a public space to create focal points shine light on your personality.
The unexpected.
Lighting is all about mood, drama, creating focal points and amazing the onlooker. In 2014, look for lighting in the most unexpected forms and places. Built into sofas, rigged behind mirrors to light up only when you’re re-applying your lipstick or in unexpected everyday use items from the kitchen, seamless integration with other schools of design today affords lighting the luxury of having a distinct personality and even a sense of humour.
Metals glow.
If crystals were the adornments of choice for lighting in last year, for 2014 gold, silver and other metallics will remain the key tones embellishing the lighting fixture, but they will stand apart from their predecessors in their treatment. Delicate, high-gloss metal sheets cut in playful, youthful designs will surely add a touch of glam to the most modern and minimal design schemes alike.
Glass it.
A contemporary twist to traditionally mouth-blown glass has made a strong statement across design fairs this year with bohemian glass leading the way. Simplified shapes and an organic appeal lends a timeless quality to these light fixtures that will fit well with any design scheme. Riding the LED wave, designers now have a minimal light source with the focus firmly on the inherent beauty of glass!
I LOVE LIGHTING DIY
1 Long forgotten Edison bulbs have made a comeback. Connect them to the trusty old cable and suspend them randomly from the ceiling for a chic look
2 Revisit your papier-mâché skills — on a balloon, stick multiple layers of kite paper. When dry bursting the balloon, make a hole and insert a zero watt bulb.
3 Fill an empty milk bottle with LED fairy lights for instant kitsch glam.
4 On a canvas sheet, puncture holes or create a cut out of your choice. Have the canvas mounted of a thick frame and hang atop wall light source.
5 Buy a roll of LED strip lights (and its transformer), tape the strip behind your bed’s headbord, under your overhead kitchen cabinets or sofa. The soft glow will add a “designer” touch at the press of a button.
— Pratyush Sarup edits design blog designcarrot.co
