Show yourself and your home in the best possible light. Design junkie Kara O’Reilly spotlights the pick of contemporary lamp design
SHINE ON F
rench family-run design fi rm Ligne Roset is known for breaking up- and-coming designers, such as
25-year-old Avril de Pastre, whose Solveig – which means ‘path of the sun’ in Swedish – fl oor light (right) is her fi rst piece for the company. The lamp has a shade which is connected to the base by a magnet so the refl ector can be angled. A little bit futuristic, it’s also a little bit Mad Men – a clever update on the elegant, angular, standard lights of the 1950s.
Kara says: ‘What makes me shine? Watching my children play some of their bonkers make- believe, a chilled glass of fi zz sipped outside on a balmy spring evening and a great art exhibition. Or a lie-in in a comfy bed and a cup of freshly brewed, good coff ee… ’
NEW LUMINARIES OF LIGHTING DESIGN
Tom Dixon The doyen of modern British design, Tom Dixon has become particularly well known for his iconic lighting. His designs are real collectors’ pieces and make a statement wherever they are used – whether it’s in your front room or a hip restaurant revamp. Take a look at his striking spherical Copper Bronze Shade fl oor lamp, £355. tomdixon.net
Lee Broom New kid on the design block Lee Broom has already picked up a plethora of awards for his witty work. If his lights are good enough for Kate Moss to have had on her wedding list, they are good enough for you. Check out his One Light Only pendant range in matt white and polished gold. leebroom.com
Birgit Israel There’s nothing like a one-off fi nd to create a real talking point in your home. One of the best stockists of elegant, eye-catching and rare 1950s, 1960s and 1970s lighting is vintage dealer Birgit Israel, who used to be one half of lighting design duo Babylon Design – so she knows what she’s talking about. Find gems such as an Italian 1960s Waterfall polished brass pendant light, priced at £1,250. birgitisrael.com
STREET LIGHTING MANImagine a road lined not with lamppostosts, but brilliantly illuminated trees. It’s closer than you’d think, withith award-winning designer Ross Lovegrove’s revolutionary ‘Sol Tree’. It’s six metres tall and sprouts ecologically intelligent – LED lights – from its tips. Manufactured by Italian lighting br nd Artemide, it was a highlight of this year’s Clerkenwell Desiign F and will be in residence in St John’s Square, EC1, until Septem er
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nt fruits ng brand gn Fest ember.
>Keep the light on – Ocado can deliver your groceries as late as 11.30pm< tiival