MainBuilt designers chose wicker lights to give this kitchen a breezy lift. Lights: Arturesthome Black and White Wicker Pendant Light ($240 from Walmart). Photo: Brooke Pavel Photography
Writer: Hailey Evans
Not so long ago, most new and remodeled homes featured recessed lighting that almost disappeared into the ceilings. But in a new era of maximalism and a backlash against “Millennial Gray,” designers are refilling homes with color, style and personality.
Lighting is a quick way to add all three, especially with sculptural chandeliers and fixtures. They can be literal highlights, even while they illuminate the rooms around them.
Laura West, a designer with Dynasty Homes, likened a bold lighting fixture to “a stunning piece of jewelry for your home. It serves as a conversation piece, a functional work of art and an instant expression of your design sensibility without you having to say a word.”
We noticed several glowing examples in the submissions for this year’s dsm Home Design Awards. Take a look …
Palecek Seychelles Coco Chandelier
($4,988 from Lighting Reimagined)
Photo: Brooke Pavel Photography
“The clients wanted this to be a fun space and were open to using funky wallcoverings, tiles and colors,” said Kelsey Schwager, a designer with MainBuilt.
Her colleague Kari Wolder said personality has been a big trend in recent projects. Homeowners want to incorporate personal touches and style, and lighting is an easy way to do so.
“A few trends we’re seeing more of are layering multiple lights over a kitchen table versus doing just one fixture,” she said. “Over islands, we’re seeing fewer small fixtures and are gearing toward more large-scale options.”
The MainBuilt team’s project included the kitchen pictured at the top of the page:
Arturesthome Black and White Wicker Pendant Light
($240 from Walmart)
Made Goods Alondra Chandelier in Natural Rattan
($2,240 from Clayton Gray Home)
Photo: Brooke Pavel Photography
Crystorama Addis 16 Light Waterfall Chandelier with Amber Glass Shades
($3,198 from Spectrum Lighting)
Photo: Jason Crocker Photography
Laura West with Dynasty Homes said selecting the best lighting fixture starts with considering the room’s overall aesthetic. “To determine how bold I want the fixture to be, I ask myself: ‘Do I want the lighting to whisper, speak or shout?’”
The answer can help you narrow down textures, colors and silhouettes. “For example, if I wanted this bedroom chandelier to whisper, I would have chosen a clear glass version of the fixture shown,” she said. “However, I wanted it to shout, so I chose the waterfall amber glass option to make a bolder statement and complement the tri-colored stone.”
Crystorama Jayna Eight Light Chandelier
($1,398 from Spectrum Lighting)
Serpentine LED Pendant in Black
($748 from Spectrum Lighting)
Fredrick Ramond Simone LED Semi-Flush Mount
($1,623 from Spectrum Lighting)
Rachel Grapentine, showroom manager and American Lighting Association specialist with Spectrum Lighting, shared a few tips for selecting statement lighting:
1. Consider the dimensions of the room, ceiling height and functionality of the space to help determine size and scale of the fixture.
2. Placement matters. Install statement fixtures where they make sense. Most people tend to choose eye-catching pieces for the entry, over a kitchen island or in the dining space.
3. Small details, like other finishes, paint colors, countertops and tile, can help guide the selection process to find the right fixture.
