As the days lengthen, the weather warms up, there are newborn lambs in the fields, and daffodils pop up all over the place (how do they get there?!)—and, this year, as the success of the vaccine roll-out means that life can begin to return to normal—surely this is a time for optimism, for joy, for delight? And mayn't that encourage the first tentative use of colour, after nearly a decade of miserable, depressing, dreary grey? It is certainly happening in fashion.
There does not have to be lots of colour—just one pop can dramatically lift a grey interior, or even emphasize its greyness by providing a contrast:
But where do you find colour, particularly pop-sized? Well, in some obvious places, and also in some surprising places!
Louis Poulsen is a surprising place. But with the change to Italian ownership, Scandi reserve is being supplemented by a wonderful range of colours, including on some of the most iconic luminaires ever—e.g. Poul Henningsen's PH5...
...and Arne Jacobsen's AJ Table and Floor
in these colours:
Most outdoor lights come in a standard selection of metal finishes, plus maybe white and black. But here is my photo of a display on Roger Pradier's stand that astonished me at Euroluce in 2019:
They are lights in the Cooper collection...
...that are available in all these colours and finishes (as are others in their catalogue):
And Tekna is joining in, with the Blakes cordless table lantern...
available in all these colours...
...as well as the classic dark bronze:
The colours most luminaires come in are powder-coated onto a metal surface. But there are makers using softer, more organic materials, that are translucent, allowing the light to shine through them, to glorious effect.
In my recent email about the Code 130°, recently introduced by Aqua Creations, I mentioned that the designer, Albi Sarfaty, saw the use of colour as one of the ways he could encourage hope and optimism. This collection...
...as well as many others, are made from their classic crushed silk (that can be invisibly treated to make it robust enough to stand up to demanding environments). The range of colours allows you to choose subdued colours (that will also work in a grey interior). I've grouped them here, ranked subdued to bright. In each case, the colour of the silk is shown when the light behind it is on (left) and off (right):
Another fine brand that takes colour seriously is LZF. In this case, the material is wood, treated by their patented technique that renders it both translucent and workable without cracking. Their chart also shows how the colours change when the light is on or off:
That is not very easy to see, I know. They are clearer in my Understanding LZF post here. Besides selecting fine colours, Sandro and Marivi have taken great trouble to ensure that they also go together well:
So you can mix'n'match them with no fear of unfortunate clashes.
And the obvious place to find colour? The island of Murano, of course!
As Murano glass specialists, I am of course making this the thrilling climax to my colour email! Besides having been the only UK showrooms showing Barovier & Toso, and also the UK agents for both Venini and Carlo Moretti, we also work closely with the Murano glassworks that actually make the spectacular items for the intermediaries selling "Murano" glass. (NB Merano is not Murano....) This is made possible by our amazing colleague Tania, who is based locally.
Colour is central to Murano. For over 700 years, people have been dropping substances into glass to see what the result would be. This means that NasonMoretti can now make twenty two different greens! Most glassworks don't now mix their own colours, though, instead buying coloured glass in. But it can still be from Murano, where Effetre offer around 200 colours.
Barovier & Toso are, according to the Economist, the sixth oldest company in the World, being able to trace the Barovier line back to Jacobello in 1295. They were the first to create a completely black chandelier, the famous Taif (click here):
So, when other glassworks worked out how to do it, Barovier & Toso were like, All right then, see if you can match this, as they produced a range of new citrous colours, here shown at their launch in a mirrored space in Dolce & Gabbana's flagship Milan showrooms:
They do also do calmer colours, though, (for both chandeliers and table lights)!
A message I try to get across is that Murano chandeliers do not always have to be large statement pieces. The lights in homes on the island (not to mention the plates, soap dishes, drinking glasses....) all tend to be made there. A bathroom where I stay has a charming little delicate chandelier in it, a bit like this blue one:
Think how enchanting a chandelier like the one below, with its daffodils, would look in a young girl's room:
And what a start in life, to wake up each morning to see something so beautiful, and an example of the very finest craftmanship in any field!
For something a bit larger, for those who don't want bright colours, why not specify clear glass, maybe with some gold highlights, like the one on its way to us at the moment, custom-made for clients in central London (yes!),
But we know most people in this country would never consider such a piece. Which is why we developed our own collections, to make available the finest Murano glass in contemporary designs, by an award-winning young studio, at a reasonable price. Meet Nelly:
Perfect for a pop of colour in any space! Her details are here.
If Murano glass is the climax of this email, crystal is the coda. Because colour—amazing, beautiful colour—is also available in crystal. This is Swarovski's range:
It is used by Windfall, the finest designers of contemporary crystal installations. They can create something using a wide range of bright colours:
Or they can use just one colour:
But often a few colours are combined, as in these examples of Eden:
With so many colours to work with, the World's your lobster!
There are plenty of luminaires available in interesting colours from other makers: now you've read this, you'll start noticing them. But the brands and artists here have made colour core to their vision. Thanks to the wide range of colours they make available, you are more likely to find the shade that suits your scheme.
We can advise you on these, and on other sources of colours. We also have samples.
Because, if you are not careful, you’ll end up with joyless Stygian gloom like this…
