Tag: chandeliers

Latest klaylife chandeliers combine beads with macramé

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date February 20, 2019
No Comments on Latest klaylife chandeliers combine beads with macramé

Teeming with deep, dark inky tones, the latest klaylife chandelier collection represents a moodier turn for the brand – just in time for winter. “We have introduced an ink tone that can be applied as a monotone colourway. It’s perfect for moody, deep toned spaces but it also anchors our spectacular ink, indigo and white ombré chandelier that can be styled to suit everything from beachy interiors to more sophisticated room scapes,” says klaylife’s Kerri Wallace.

The gorgeous ombre beading technique has become something of a klaylife signature and it features heavily in the new range. “My personal favourite would have to be the new ombre dome. The ombre beading technique has become synonymous with klaylife and we couldn’t wait to apply it to our best-selling style. Thousands of small beads make up each individual piece and it is a true work of art,” says Kerri.

And while on the topic of art, the range also features a collaboration with Melbourne artist Elena Martorella of Three Queens Interiors that fuses beads with macramé to fabulous effect. “Elena’s signature macramé work has been interwoven with soft grey-toned clay beads and the result is a chandelier that’s romantic and delicate. It’s ideal for bedrooms or lofty spaces where you want a softer look,” says Kerri.

“I fell in love with Elena’s artistry and unique style of wall hangings and I thought they would look cool with our clay beads. I approached her and she jumped at the chance of weaving our hand rolled beads in her macramé. Every few months we release a collection of Elena’s one-off wall hangings and they sell out in half an hour so when she asked if she could ‘have a play’ with lighting, we couldn’t wait to see what she would conjure up.”

And in great news for klaylife, demand for the brand’s wares shows no sign of abating with pieces often selling out before they leave Africa and arrive in Australia. “There is a definite demand for klaylife amongst the discerning, who appreciate the handmade nature and beauty of our pieces. Unlike the cheap wooden copies, no two klaylife pieces are identical. Sometimes, if you look closely, you might spot the finger print of the person who rolled the beads, making each one as unique as it is beautiful,” says Kerri.

“We have a small warehouse in Australia where we keep some stock, but we are also shipping all over the globe. Global expansion is a focus for us this year and we are in talks now about how we can take klaylife to the world stage,” says Kerri who could perhaps use the services of Hollywood actor Patrick Dempsey (aka McDreamy from Grey’s Anatomy) who is a devotee of the brand and owns three klaylife chandeliers.

“He posted a pic of one of the chandeliers to his Instagram account that has 3.7 million followers. He told them about the story of klaylife so he’s been a wonderful non-paid brand ambassador! Next stop, Oprah!

Kerri adds: “Our focus will always be our lighting and how we can develop new pieces which are more impressive than the last, but we are also exploring new categories. We are about to release a range of hand felted cushions, also handmade in Africa. Whatever we do and whatever we become, Africa and its amazing people will always be at the core of our business.”

Photography: Armelle Habib | Art direction & styling: Jacqui Moore

Shop online | Lighting tips from IKEA Australia’s head of interior design

Tags chandeliers, design, klaylife, lighting, pendant lights

Designers Interviews Styling

Stylist Jacqui Moore designs new range of Klaylife chandeliers

Post author By Amy Collins-Walker
Post date August 3, 2016
No Comments on Stylist Jacqui Moore designs new range of Klaylife chandeliers

We’ve covered the heart-warming story of Klaylife before but, for those not familiar with the brand, the company’s gorgeous clay bead chandeliers are made by a group of talented South African artisans affected by HIV. With no two pieces the same, due to the handmade nature of the beads, the range is truly special and it’s now looking even more amazing given the brand’s latest collaboration with stylist Jacqui Moore.

“I’ve been working with Klaylife since their launch in February 2015 and was thrilled when they asked me to design part of their next range – as a stylist it is quite rare to get that level of creative freedom,” says Jacqui of the new range that features floor and tables lamps, smaller pendants and new colours too.

“I adore the Klaylife chandeliers but not everyone lives in a home that can take something of that scale and effect. So I wanted to design something that was accessible to everyone, not just in price point, but also in size. That’s where the idea for the spheres and barrel shaped pendants came from,” says Jacqui of the new smaller pendant lights that can be hung solo or in clusters.

“Klaylife’s stunning colour palette runs through a tonal spectrum from black and charcoal to pale grey, stone and soft white and there’s a beautiful bluey-grey colour called Seaspray. It was important that any new colours worked back with that palette,” says Jacqui who has added blush and a statement teal shade into the mix.

“I think what is really magical about these lights and the women who create them, is that there is a personal and lasting connection between them. Since each bead is hand-rolled from locally sourced clay, not only is it unique, but you can see the evidence of the human interaction it took to create it. It’s like leaving a fingerprint and I think that is beautiful,” says Jacqui.

Check out this video to see how the artisans at work.

Photography: Armelle Habib | Art Direction & Styling: Jacqui Moore

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Tags chandeliers, colour, design, jacqui moore, klaylife, lighting, lighting design, styling, stylist

Homewares Interviews

The beautiful story of handmade chandaliers helping HIV affected women in South Africa

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 18, 2015
2 Comments on The beautiful story of handmade chandaliers helping HIV affected women in South Africa

12 years ago, South African artist Merewyn De Heer and her righthand lady Nozi, started making clay beaded chandeliers in a small rural community in South Africa. The chandeliers were beautiful and soon began increasing in popularity, so Merewyn approached her community centre and started training local women, turning her team of two into 65!

Hearing about Merewyn’s story, Melbourne-based South African father and daughter, Phillip Jones and Kerri Wallace immediately took an interest. A huge change of pace for Kerri, who worked as a radio producer for Hamish and Andy and Fifi and Jules, and Phillip, who ran an international food importing business, the three of them decided to form klaylife, an avenue for introducing the chandeliers to the Australian and New Zealand market.

Made entirely by hand, the chandeliers are quite obviously extraordinary, but more than that, they’re helping a whole community, with many of the local women being affected by HIV. “The majority of the women who create the chandeliers are HIV impacted,” explains Kerri. “They either have it themselves or care for family that do. But it doesn’t define them. Many of the team isn’t able to read or write but have now gained an income and have the means to help provide their children with an education.”

Not only are the effects of the business on the local community magnificent, the whole chandelier creation process is pretty special. From the initial hand drawn design by Merewyn, to the local ironmonger creating the frame (often with his bare hands!) and finally to the woman making the beads. “Merewyn works with her team (she has taught herself Zulu, the local language) to hand-roll each bead from raw clay,” says Kerri. “Instead of sitting in a cold, lifeless factory, everyone sits outside in the sun talking and singing. Once the beads are rolled and sun-dried, they go into a kiln to fire. They are then dip-dyed by hand. The final step, which is the most intricate, is each bead being masterfully hand strung onto its wire frame.”

Having successfully mastered lighting design, the team now have their eye on some new projects for 2015. “A jewellery and furniture range are currently in the works. It is also our intention to put a program in place to help this beautiful community even more. Right now, the bulk of the team’s earnings go into the schooling, clothing and feeding their children, so if we can help with these costs, 2015 will be a good year!”

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Tags chandeliers, clay bead chandaliers, design, furniture, hiv, homewares, interiors, Kerri Wallace, klaylife, Merewyn De Heer, Phillip Jones, south africa

Homewares

Beacon Lighting app takes the guesswork out of buying lights

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date August 14, 2014
1 Comment on Beacon Lighting app takes the guesswork out of buying lights

Buying anything for the home can be a challenge. Will it be too big for the space or too small? Will it match with the rest of the room or will it clash? With all those questions running through your mind, suddenly something that was supposed to be fun can become a huge chore!

Yet with the help of Beacon Lighting’s new Live Brighter App, this confusion can be a thing of the past. Now you can see how the lights you love will look in your home before you even buy them; with the free app allowing you to browse the entire Beacon Lighting product range and see how a design or colour will look in your home by uploading a picture.

Download the app at the App Store or on Google Play, then follow these five easy steps:

Press the product finder and select the product you want to try out (the picture is not a true representation of the actual product size, so make sure you check out the product specs before you buy)
Select ‘Go Live’ and take a picture of your room or select an image from your gallery
Go to the camera view and see your chosen product
Re-size and position the product in your space
Use the export function to share with friends and family.

For more information.

Tags apps, beacon lighting, chandeliers, design, interiors, iphone, lamps, lighting, live brighter app, pendant lights