Spotlight on LIGHTS
SAM WYLIE-HARRIS switches natural light for artificial, and reveals the best in statement lighting
IN THE height of summer, lighting doesn’t have much opportunity to play a starring role. It’s more about window dressing to control the brightness. But come early autumn, with dappled sunlight streaming through and a low sun casting shadows in our living space, a flick of a switch has the power to transform our interiors.
In many ways, luxe lighting offers the tools to illuminate, highlight and shine a spotlight on the things that make a difference in our lives, while setting the stage for a little bit of theatre.
Currently, sculptural forms and statement pieces are very on-trend, but neutrals and polished chrome are not forgotten. Here’s how to plug into the latest schemes...
1RIBBON
LED CEILING LIGHT
by Heal’s, pictured above “Sculptural lighting can be a quick and easy way to create a focal point within a room, and is increasingly being used for decorative purposes,” says Claire Anstey, lighting buyer at Heal’s, “to the point where they can offer the same effect as a piece of art.”
As the evenings grow darker and we spend more time indoors, Claire says lighting can be a great way to create drama in a space. Take their Ribbon pendant collection, “with its looping curves mimicking the movement of ribbons sweeping through the air.
“Suspended from a slim wire, the piece appears to be floating through the room and offers a touch of refined luxury – perfect for large living areas or poised above a dining table,” says Claire. 2SABER LED MULTI ARM CHANDELIER
Gold, £399, Heal’s, above
In more contemporary schemes, linear designs work particularly well and can still offer the same level of impact with a crisp, clean glow. New for this season at Heal’s is the Saber multi-arm chandelier – a modern interpretation of the classic chandelier design. “Integrated LEDs offer an energy-saving alternative to traditional bulbs, and eight adjustable arms offer the flexibility to focus light within different areas of the room,” says Claire.
3FIN PENDANT GROUPING OF 7
Natural White, £1,249, other items part of room set, Original BTC, pictured top right Depending on the height of your ceilings, pendant lighting lends itself to spectacular dining settings, especially with the trend for tablescaping and entertaining at home.
As Peter Bowles, founder of Original BTC puts it: “When it comes to scale, dramatically proportioned lights are the most obvious way to create impact. A generously sized pendant will create a talking point, whether lit or not.”
While scale is one way to make a statement, it’s not always feasible to fit a grandly proportioned pendant in lower ceilinged rooms, so it’s worth exploring alternative approaches. “Often referred to as jewellery for the home, the right light fittings can complete or transform your interior scheme.” says Peter. “Just like jewellery, a flash of brass, copper or gold can lift your room, bringing a touch of opulence.”
4CRANTON
HEXAGONAL PENDANT
Pictured right
Another scene stealer, if you’re looking for a central lighting source, this Instaworthy investment piece can be hung from a ceiling rose to contrast with traditional plasterwork.
5WALTER
PENDANT SIZE 2
Anthracite Glass & Brass, £459 each, Original BTC
When it comes to multiple light fittings, Peter says three is the magic number. “Over a kitchen island or dining table, a row of three pendants will always create a strong visual impact and do all the hard work for you.”
6KARTELL
LIMITED EDITION SPACE LAMP
£183, Amara, right
Sam Hood, creative director and head of buying at Amara, says there’s a general move towards the use of lighting as a statement piece in a room – and we love this fabulously futuristic new arrival from Kartell. Depending on your budget, a pair would look stunning styled either side of a black leather sofa.
7HUMBLE ONE TABLE LIGHT
White Marble, £129, Amara, right Perhaps linked to increased environmental awareness, Sam says raw and natural looking colourways are also making an impact in decorative lighting. “Marble and wood patterns, seen in Humble’s new lighting range, add earthy accents to a room, particularly when placed next to indoor plants and other raw material features,” says Sam. 8BRIGANTIA
LIGHTING Grey, £695 (£715 with bulb), other items from a selection, OKA, pictured top right Elsewhere, basket style hanging lanterns have the power to please. “Lighting should be the star of the show in every space,” says Sue Jones, creative director for OKA. “If your ceiling height will allow it, dial up the drama with a hanging lamp that will act as a bold focal point. A style like the Brigantia is perfect to hang over a dining table as it will diffuse light and cast a soft glow.”
9PERISPHERE
TABLE LAMP Natural, £175 (base only), Lamp & Black Drum Cotton Shade, £225, other items from a selection, OKA, above
Sue points out: “Remember lamps don’t have to be purely functional. A sculptural base like our new Perisphere table lamp will display just as much character when the lights are off, and can be paired with a patterned shade for an extra dash of colour.”
10GROSVENOR
FLOOR LAMP
£115, Grosvenor Table Lamp, £50, Richmond Table Lamp, £90, pictured right
For a polished pool of light, this new Grosvenor collection from Next ticks all the right (light) boxes, with its chrome base complemented by a glamorous velvet shade with geometric design.
11JONATHAN
ADLER CONSTANTINE TABLE LAMP
£595, Jonathan Adler, right
This designer lamp is super stylish and chic. With its antiqued brass pyramid framework and lustrous piano black finish, it’s a fabulous addition to any side table.
THIS year has been an introduction for many to gardening. Times have been hard and during periods like this we begin to appreciate simple things and understand why it’s important we look after the planet.
With an astonishing lack of leadership on climate change coming from America it’s up to us small folk to do our part. So, combining this need to look after ourselves as well as caring for our planet, many of us are appreciating the work of pollinators. One great way to attract these important creatures is to turn a piece of your garden, even just a couple of square feet, into a wildflower meadow.
From late spring right through to now they can be beautiful to look at. There are many different types of meadows and virtually all of them do a lot of good. September is a good time of year to undertake this project – some perennial seeds need a cold spell over winter to activate them and hardy annuals sown now will have a head start on spring-sown annuals.
So what do you need to do? Prepare your soil first and remove anything you don’t want, for example, vigorous weeds like bindweed which will choke everything else. If you’re converting a lawn, you can either remove the top layer of turf but if that’s too big a job, your aim is to make the grass less vigorous to give your wildflowers a chance. So no more feeding it and sow yellow rattle this autumn. This is a semiparasitic plant which will weaken the domination of your grass.
If you’re converting a border, it may be too fertile from all that good gardening work you have been doing over the years, mulching and feeding. If this is the case you could plant some annual seeds that enjoy richer soil, such as corncockles and cornflowers.
Wildflower seed suppliers have lots of different mixes and these will include grasses, perennials and annual native flowers. Your choice will depend on soil type and situation as well.
Next rake and shake – rake the soil to a fine tilth and then shake or scatter seed evenly across the plot. Where seed is very fine, you can mix with silver sand which makes it easier to distribute more evenly.
Gently firm in by walking over the soil as you go and water in if no rain is forecast. Then leave nature to take its course. If you do see any obvious weeds that you don’t want emerging, pull these out. Another option is to plant plugs of wildflowers in the spring and these can be inserted into your lawn or borders. These are available to buy in springtime, or alternatively you could plant up trays of wildflowers now and leave in the cold frame for the winter. Good options include ragged-robin, oxeye daisy, scabious, cowslip and red campion.
Meadows will take time to establish and become more diverse over the years with good management.
You don’t just leave them to their own devices – they need to be cut down at the end of the season with a scythe or strimmer but leave it as late as possible. This allows seed to ripen and land on the ground to germinate.
Leave the clippings to dry out for maximum seed ripening and then put them on the compost heap – don’t leave clippings in situ as these will act as a fertiliser as they rot down.
So whether you are new to gardening or reinventing your plot in the light of environmental concerns, consider the possibilities a meadow could bring to your plot. Good luck!