Professionally specified – via the advice of an architect, interior designer or decorator – high-echelon contemporary lighting does more than merely illuminate. Correctly sited luminaires can become subtle tone setters or dramatic focal points within any living or work space. Light sources illuminate the other decorative elements within the interior shell: important pieces of furniture, art / objets d’art and accessories.

In the contemporary home, a designed lighting plan is key in coordinating the interior scheme and even during daylight hours light is an ambience-synergiser of note. Those that have experienced Eskom’s load-shedding will understand this very clearly.

So, in achieving a successful end result luminaires of various sizes, materials and colours can contribute a great deal to the overall decorative palette. In South Africa today, they are available in a wide variety of shape and form and can help impart different signatures from classical to contemporary and from rustic to restrained.

In this second Habitat FOCUS on lighting we include informed opinion on what is ‘illuminating’ architecture, interior design and décor, both locally and internationally.

‘This is a powerful and versatile design tool that can be used in many ways to enhance interiors and bring an interior to life,’ says Carla-Liza Farinha of Lumino Light. ‘In addition to being a functional necessity in providing light for practical purposes, lighting can be used to create zones and points of focus, to manipulate the dimensions of a space. It can draw attention to an architectural feature or add a decorative element – whether by creating pattern, highlighting an interesting surface – or providing a dramatic effect – through the play of light and shadow. The key to planning a contemporary space is to design the lighting to suit the different configurations of the interior.’

July/August issue

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