Tag: lighting design

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Design Designers Interviews

Unique designer lighting created on NSW North Coast

The 'Biarritz' wall sconce
The 'Biarritz' wall sconce

Raised on her family farm near Orange in New South Wales, Jillian Middleton always had a penchant for the handmade. “Everything in my childhood home was handmade. From the beautiful clothes the children wore, to the drapes, duvet covers, slices, cakes, savouries and gifts.” She drew on that experience when pursuing a successful interior design career, that took her from Sydney to New York, before returning to Australia. Twelve years ago Jillian moved to Byron Bay and established the designer lighting brand Gia Collectione, which is now known as Gypset Cargo.

Gypset Cargo
Gypset Cargo’s standard ‘Palm Springs’ chandelier is the hero of this space | Photography: @the.palm.co | Interior design: @coteinteriors

“I was working on interior design projects both in the city and around the coast and hinterland and felt a strong desire to develop lighting pieces that were artistic, three-dimensional and original – not something from a factory line like what I was seeing in my design catalogues,” says Jillian. 

With a solid background in design, she name checks many design luminaries as influences. From Flos to Charles and Ray Eames, Marcel Bruer, Mario Bellini, Archille Castiglioni, Willy Rizzo and Patricia Urquiola, disparate design inspirations inform Jillian’s unique aesthetic.

Gypset Cargo
Gypset Cargo’s gorgeous brass ‘Gingko Leaf’ wall sconce
The 'Barcelona' pendant
The ‘Barcelona’ pendant

The Gypset Cargo range spans wall sconces, chandeliers, pendants and floor lamps, made from materials such as brass, rattan and iron, making it a unique proposition in the Australian lighting scene. “There are many different chandeliers and sconces available in countries such as the USA and UK however they are tough to get in Australia and quite expensive to bring in. I was very inspired by designers from the USA including Celerie Kemble and Kelly Wearstler. These ladies reference a mixture of styles, from gothic to art deco and antique.”

The 'Biarritz' wall sconce
The ‘Biarritz’ wall sconce
The 'Fluted shell' wall sconce
The ‘Fluted shell’ wall sconce

The business’ new name is derived from the amalgamation of the words ‘gypsy’ and ‘jetsetter’ while cargo is a nod to the small NSW village of Cargo where Jillian grew up. “In the future, I have a vision to expand into artworks and other bespoke pieces, therefore the word cargo is appropriate for that too.”

Gypset Cargo designer Jillian Middleton

As for the brand’s latest collection, there’s a fair bit of on-trend rattan within it but Jillian explains it’s a material she has always loved. “I felt the rattan movement before it became so current. In my bedroom is a rattan and timber 1970s original dressing table I have owned for 15 years. I purchased it from a Central Coast op shop and loved the authenticity. The mirror has a curve to it which is so now.”

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Lighting tips from Ikea Australia’s head of interior design

By Tiffany Buckins One area within home furnishing that people often struggle with is lighting. Most people will only use general lighting to light their bedrooms and bathrooms, which can lead…


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RENO ADDICT

Lighting with impact – planning the perfectly lit home

planning the perfectly lit home

Lighting is an important piece of the interior design puzzle, mostly because lighting functionality and design plays a very big role in how you experience a space. The number one thing to remember when it comes to lighting your home is balance. Under-lit spaces can evoke a dull and dark atmosphere, and can also be impractical when performing tasks such as cooking or reading – however in contrast, over-lit spaces can make your home feel sterile (a bit like a hospital), and can also be an unnecessary strain on the eyes.

planning the perfectly lit homeImage source: M.J. Harris Group

Planning the perfectly lit home

The three types of Lighting

A successfully-designed room needs a mix of three basic types of lighting — ambient, task and accent. Each of these forms of lighting provides benefits for different functions, and if used together can create a beautifully lit space.

Ambient lighting provides a room or area with overall illumination, best known as your general/main source of lighting. Ambient lighting emits a comfortable level of brightness, which allows you to see and walk about safely. This can be provided through ceiling fixtures, chandeliers, and recessed or track lights. Dimmers are a great option, as they allow you to alter the brightness so the atmosphere is just right.

Task lighting helps you to perform specific tasks, free from distracting glare or shadows that may cause eye strain. For example, task lighting is most commonly used in kitchens for food preparation and cooking, or studies for reading and working. The light can be provided through recessed or track lighting, under-cabinet lighting, pendant lighting, or portable desk or floor lamps. Clipsal’s LED downlights are a smart option for kitchen and work spaces, as they are higher quality, have more choices in colour (warm white, cool white, daylight), and, most importantly, are economically friendly.

planning the perfectly lit homeImage source: M.J. Harris Group

Accent lighting is used to highlight and create visual interest in a room, and is most commonly used to draw our eyes to particular objects, such as paintings, plants, and other decorative items. Wall lights, bulkheads and floodlights (ideal for outdoors) can also be used to accentuate colours and textures of architectural designs.

Planning is everything

As with all aspects of home renovation, planning is paramount and will ensure your lighting is the best it can be. Designing a lighting and electrical plan is an essential (though often overlooked) step in the renovation process, as the lighting options you choose, along with their placement, can significantly impact the look and feel of your home. Make sure you engage your electrician early in the process for a Clipspec consultation, to map out exactly what’s needed and where. There is a huge difference between good, and great lighting, and taking that extra time to select the right electrical fixtures for your home is worth the effort.

Written by Bec Sparky, qualified electrician and Clipsal ambassador

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Bathrooms RENO ADDICT Shopping

How to: Best light your bathroom

From makeup application to shaving and all-important ambience, lighting is key when it comes to bathroom design – it’s a dual-purpose space that needs to be functional yet relaxing too. We caught up with Melbourne-based lighting designers ISM Objects recently, who revealed their best lighting tips.

ISM Objects_Doherty Lynch_HD3 gold pendant
ISM Objects gold pendant lights

Light from the side
“The best way to light your face in the mirror is by having lights on either side rather than a light in the centre of the room, or one directly above you,” explainsISM Objects co-founder Celina Clarke. “If you wanted to get the lighting perfect, you’d go all out and create a Hollywood lighting effect all around the mirror for perfectly even lighting, but a light on each side of the mirror is also very effective.”

Warmth is paramount
There’s nothing less inviting than cool, frosty lights and they aren’t very flattering either. “A bathroom should be lit with a warm light using globes of 3000k. It’s warm rather than cool and will ensure you have a nice skin tone,” says Celina.

ISM Objects_HD2_Wall_Gold_01
ISM Objects wall light in gold

Separate switches
The light required to apply make-up is very different to the light that ensures a relaxing bath. Set up your lighting configuration and switches so that you can turn them off separately should the need arise. “You should be able to adjust your lighting by having more than one light source. No one wants to have a bath under a glaring bright light. Choose lighting designs that are not susceptible to mould or mildew – we wouldn’t recommend any lighting designs made from fabric,” says Celina.

ISM Objects_Loft Wall Light_[SQUARE]_with cord
ISM Objects Loft wall light
Remain flexible
Adjustable, flexible lights can be really effective in a bathroom allowing you to angle light where you need it most, and direct it away for a more relaxing feel. “Our Loft Wall lamp is designed to provide this kind of flexibility. Simple adjustments can transform your space’s utility and ambiance. This wall mount can swing into action on a clever wall mounted pivot. It’s a good choice for a bathroom because it can be swung out of the way when you don’t need it,” says Clarke.

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Designers Interviews Styling

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.

klaylife clay beaded chandelier light pink ombreHR
That ombre chandelier is heavenly!

“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.

klaylife clay beaded chandelier sphere teal

“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 clay beaded chandeliers - modern lighting - floor lamp ombre

“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.

Klaylife09

“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.

Klaylife05

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

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

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