LOST IN TIME
Why is lighting so important?
Lighting is key for setting the right tone in your home. I like low lighting for bedrooms and living rooms with lamps that can be individually controlled. A kitchen needs task lighting plus ambient lighting for the dining area, so the room can easily lend itself to cosy dinners, family homework sessions or late-night movie watching. And it can all be achieved without costing the earth.
The big new trend
Customers have become more discerning. There’s a demand for classic, timeless designs but many people come to us because they also want statement lighting they can live with, such as our elegant and eyecatching printed ikat shades.
Personal favourite
Our range of recycled glass designs is really exciting. They’re utterly beautiful and extremely adaptable. We have pendant and wall light options and their delicate colour works with most decorative schemes.
My lighting at home
In our Victorian house in Acton, west London, which has original fireplaces and stained-glass windows, there’s a mix of old and new. My husband is Iranian so we have lots of beautiful carpets and kilims. I mix them with modern coffee tables and an array of lamps, large and small, some passed on to us by my father-in-law after he left Iran in the late 1970s.
My childhood home
I grew up in the countryside in Suffolk.
Our home was full of hand-me-downs and jumble-sale buys. I remember the wonderfully old and dusty, but nonetheless beautiful, heavy silk lampshades, and being aware of all the history that seemed to be contained within them.
Sophie’s top tips 1
Don’t forget that lighting features will spend more time off than on, so should look great all the time.
You can change a lampshade quite inexpensively, so don’t be afraid to be bold!
2