Interior lighting steps into comfort
Chandeliers and other centerpiece lighting fixtures are trending more toward warmth, rather than modern and stark
Proper lighting is intended to set the mood. It creates ambience within a room, brightens dark corners and starts conversation among the people standing in it.
Today, interior designers are reimagining what it means to make a statement through lighting by employing a strategic approach, taking a slight step away from using only a single chandelier and instead, placing thoughtful fixtures throughout an entire space.
Kennedy Taylor, owner of Studio K Design and Motif Home Gallery in Saratoga Springs, prioritizes lighting design in the very beginning of her projects.
“Scale, style and the mood of a room are all dependent on which lighting fixtures are chosen and how they are arranged,” Taylor said. “Professional designers are trained to understand the beauty of layered light.”
In many of Taylor’s projects, which include residential and commercial spaces in the Capital Region, she has noticed an overall trend shift that also plays a role in the lighting choices being made.
“We’re seeing a return to traditionalism and a decline in everything being so sleek and modern,” Taylor said. “I think people are craving a bit more warmth in their lives, which ultimately goes hand in hand with the death of the open floor plan.”
In Slingerlands, Taylor has spent almost two years working in a home her clients want to look and feel like an upscale art gallery. She has curated a selection of light fixtures that highlight existing art or are pieces of art themselves.
“In their two-story foyer, we utilized a striking centerpiece fixture that intentionally draws your eye upward to admire the
incredible craftsmanship in the ceiling,” Taylor said. “This allows the architectural elements of the room to perfectly sync with the choice in lighting.”
Eddy DeMartino, Taylor’s partner and a designer based in Brooklyn and Saratoga Springs, also acknowledges the departure of the super modern vibe. DeMartino has designed lighting for Alfredo Paredes Studio and Visual Comfort, as well as furniture and showrooms for Ralph Lauren Home.
“The design world seems to have gotten a lot more fun and playful as far as furniture goes, and lighting is now following suit,” DeMartino said. “Sharp and angular are out, cozy and chunky are in.”
DeMartino works to create a cohesive suite of options for the
customer. Complementary lighting pieces such as table lamps, wall sconces and floor lamps typically come after the design of a popular and high-selling statement chandelier.
“Adding lighting that corresponds with the centerpiece helps carry the same aesthetic into other parts of the home,” DeMartino said. “What I love most is how it establishes this visual poetry from room to room.”
Another way to create warmth through lighting is to offset minimalistic pieces with vintage lighting or new lighting that has a vintage feel. Taylor said people often balk at the prices of accent lamps, but selecting vintage options can be easier on the wallet and and accomplish the same look as a new one.
“Some rooms can work with a singular overhead statement light, but we are seeing more and more places where supplemental
ON THE COVER
Gold metal finishes are very popular today, in that they feel luxurious while also down-to-earth.
stores carry fixtures with brushed gold options that are more traditional, yet coordinate with popular, modern uses of gold in places like bathrooms and kitchens in functional items like faucets or cabinet pulls.
Marilyn O’Brien, Wolberg ’s assistant showroom manager and lighting specialist, said the statement foyer pieces are popular in retail locations, as is gold for all types of fixtures. She encourages customers to consider a mix of lighting from overhead to accent lighting, as well as task lighting to serve a specific purpose while cooking, working or accomplishing projects at home.
And while vintage may be in, the rise of environmentally conscious and high-tech LED lighting is rising in popularity while providing more room for function and creative execution through design.
“We used to be so limited in how we could configure the lighting, but now LED lighting strips can be used all over the place to highlight certain design features,” Taylor said . One of Taylor’s current commercial projects utilizes LED strips inset flush into a ceiling, giving off an even, bright light with no visible appearance of its placement. The bulbs have a life span up to 20 years, making them an investment that does not require ongoing maintenance or frequent replacement.
Smart home automation devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Home are often compatible with LED lighting, allowing homeowners to change the tone and brightness of the bulbs with a vocal cue. Taylor recommends utilizing a soft white feature versus a daylight option to further invite natural warmth and coziness into the home.
While the high-traffic areas of the home are the most obvious and sometimes best spots for bold or expensive looking statement lighting, Taylor recommends adding a special touch in more personal rooms.
“People get caught up in
thinking they always need to improve the resale value of their home, and then forget they need to live there, too. Make your spaces how you want, and splurge on something cool for over your bed, bathtub
or anywhere you spend your personal time.”