DAY ONE AT EUROLUCE!

Boyd Lighting’s Schuyler Sweet reports on his findings on day one of the year’s largest lighting show, Euroluce at Milan’s Salone.

Over 360,000 people have descended on Milan for the annual pilgrimage to the international furniture exhibition Salone del Mobile.

Every other year Salone hosts Euroluce, the largest lighting show of the year showcasing many European and international brands.

Every time I come to one of the European shows I am energized. The time, money, and effort these companies put into their booths is on another level than what we see in the U.S. Whether the brands are highlighting new products, like DCW éditions Paris, creating unique vignettes like Vibia, or providing artistic installations like Lasvit’s, the scale of these booths allows the fixtures to breathe, and us the opportunity to walk around and see them as we would in a home or hotel.

Overall theme this year:

Thin wires. It seems like everyone in Europe is using small cables to power their LED fixtures.

A few favorites within this theme: 

Davide Groppi continues to push the boundaries of slim. It’s amazing to see what he is able to create with these fixtures that are no more than 3mm thick. Unlike the approach in the U.S., Europeans don’t worry about the tiger striping or visual imaging of individual LEDs. We Americans also have UL to contend with, which doesn’t allow for one to physically touch an LED. In Europe, they avoid diffusers altogether, creating the most minimal fixtures possible.

Luce Plan makes lighting that is phenomenally simple, unique, and systemizable. They have created large pendants that can be endlessly modified with smaller wire and acrylic “flowers” that can be systemized purely by coiling the individual pendants to the low-voltage wires hanging from the canopy.

Favorite new find:

Formagenda, founded by Benjamin Hopf in 2008, has created some really neat architectural glass pendants with a 45-degree bevel, available in multiple colorways. They do not have UL yet, so Americans will have to wait, but Hopf designs for big brands with a focus on the form of the fixture first—which I think we can all appreciate.

Fun and playful:

I met the team of DCW éditions Paris at LEDucation in March, and they brought their A-game to Euroluce. They have some fun and unique Parisian-inspired plaster sconces playfully adorned with little figurines. Their other designs utilize brass and glass, but still feel a little quirky and very true to themselves. I really appreciated the large system on the front of their booth. It drew me in.

Michael Anastassiades has his own booth this year, with beautiful warm wood and polished brass. It feels like an homage to his designs over the years, and while it is not an installation of epic proportions, like what Flos did with dozens of his designs several years ago, it is a great timeline of who he is and how he has evolved as a lighting designer.

The Big Two: Flos and Vibia

Honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by Flos this year. They had repeatable lighting elements programmed to create some nice installations and offered some fun colors on the portables, but overall the theme felt extremely architectural and the booth felt very corporate.

While Flos’s booth was completely enclosed, Vibia utilized openings in the booth to allow for sneak peeks into the space, creating a desire to enter. They went for a natural color and softer texture on the walls, making the booth warm and inviting. Inside were really nice vignettes featuring some products we know, and some very cool new products. In my humble opinion, they absolutely nailed it.

Overall a great day one!

Visit Boyd Lighting



Explore the fundamentals of architectural indoor lighting

Lighting contributes to a successful space design as any other given architecture components such as furniture or floor treatments for example. With this in mind, you will want to light your spaces with purpose, comfort, and a sense of longevity in mind.

Let us consider a few architectural indoor lighting fundamentals

First, we must recognize that light truly brings light to architecture. Therefore, we should consider the choice of light as equally important. Just as you choose furniture with care and an eye for design and style, quality, and durability – you want to apply those attributes to your choices of lights and light sources as well.

Light delivers the added dimension that it creates an emotional reference to a space perceived or seen, and perhaps even relates back to a past experience. How? 

Just think of candlelight for example. Notions of a warmly lit space with a festive atmosphere surrounded by family and friends pop to mind right away.

Setting a light mood

Today’s integrated LED light engines and effortless control schemes allow you to adjust and set any desired light output; whether it is candlelight or daylight. A light mood that can create a morning experience, or remind us of times sitting by the window at dusk enjoying a glass of wine. 

Of course, spaces, such as an office, your bathroom, kitchen, or public space, require an output appropriate for a specific task. Here though as well one should layer in the light on a functional as well on a visual, perhaps even a visceral level. The correct lighting can create surfaces that are rich and beautiful.

Function of architectural indoor lighting

By function, one must refer to the quality of delivered light – correct brightness and color temperature that delivers the “right” light. When done well, this creates a beautiful dance of the various intensities of light that engage with your space by either high lighting, or bathing the components of your architecture in the right amount of light – or by discretely injecting dark spaces as equal participants to that dance; a layered scheme aimed to please.

Creating cohesive architectural indoor lighting

Certainly, there are guiding formulas for the amount of light, position and quantity of fittings in a given space – great guidelines by any measure. In the end, this is a personal choice that requires a little introspection to determine what works best for you.

Ultimately when one thinks about architecture, furniture or lighting, for any given space, consider visualizing how these elements patina and age. Just as we desire to age with grace, so should our spaces and their components. Equally, our effortless interactions to direct the light to our needs and moods create experiences of belonging and purpose.

To realize this vision requires a holistic view of a space that values all its components as equal contributors creating lasting and harmonious environments of comfort. Contact Boyd Lighting to learn more about our artisan lighting products and allow us to help you realize your ideal architectural indoor lighting design plan.

Delve into Artisan Light Fixture Design



Delve into Artisan Light Fixture Design

“Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works.” Steve Jobs

This quote delivers on a very essential level. One can debate styles of design all day, but in the end a style is a very intimate preference. However, design has to deliver on that visual, tactile and functional level.

Components of light fixture design

One can also talk about design as a service, such as lighting design for example where an entire space is designed and coordinated to optimize a room’s performance in a specific way. In the end the fixture design, as well as the lighting design scope have to work hand in hand to deliver a successful result – a space that works to the user’s expectation.

According to its use the light fixture delivers the right quality and quantity of light, and a lighting design scheme delivers a coordinated performance result of all the lighting components used in a room.

How does that thinking apply to a light fixture design?

There are differences of form and performance requirements pending if you design a residential or a commercial project for example. The spaces within these project categories themselves require a unique set of design criteria. Light fixtures and light components have to be chosen for their correct value of contribution to a specific task.

Specific light fixture purposes

Aside from the form factor design criteria, a wall sconce’s primary purpose in a commercial corridor application is to light sufficiently to guarantee safe movement of its occupants, whereas a residential corridor wall sconce’s primary function may be to create a specific ambiance. 

Looking at pendants in an office environment, a lighting professional examines the spacing of a fixture in relationship to its function as a direct, indirect or both direct and indirect light source – with the one purpose – to provide the exact amount of light needed. 

Whereas a ring chandelier used in a living room application is chosen for its visible materiality and function to softly uplight only.

Complexity of light fixture design

Light fixture design in all of its variations that are required for all of its different uses can get complex fast. Sometimes it is challenging to determine if a fixture design is right for your space. The technical performance information can be overwhelming for the end user to understand. For example:

  • What implications in a fixture design does a constant current vs. a constant voltage light engine have? 
  • Are 120L/W enough? 
  • Do I dim the color or the intensity?
  • If I cannot dim, what color temperature do I choose?

This questionnaire could go on. It is best to consult with your local trades or lighting designer to assess qualification and best use. Lighting manufacturers will also provide you with expert guidance as it is in their best interest to inform you with accuracy to their products’ performance and suitable applications.

Finding a light fixture design company

Most companies manufacture and deliver a quality-built light. Their track record and reputation often speak for themselves. That thinking and attitude applies as well to how these companies deal with potentially unforeseeable job site challenges. They get the job done.

It helps to do a little research to investigate the light fixture manufacturers whose products you plan on using. Call the company, and experience their sales and service staff. Are they prompt, friendly, helpful, and informative?

Short of a fixture sample to figure out how an actual fixture works, one should look at the information provided by a company’s website. Look for clear imagery with regard to the overall product design, its details, and installation environments. You may also ask for finish samples to be sent to you. 

This trifecta of reputation, clear communication of a product’s intent, plus actual finish samples helps greatly to determine if that product can work to satisfaction in your boardroom or living room design scheme. Boyd Lighting has experienced light fixture design professionals to assist you in your next design project.

Wall sconces for hotels, luxury guest rooms, and modern living

Wall sconces for hotels, luxury guest rooms, and modern living (H1)

Wall sconce lighting has been in use for centuries as a source of both indoor and outdoor lighting. Wall sconces today incorporate modern, elegant designs to provide energy-efficient lighting while achieving unique design goals.

Tips on how to effectively use luxury wall sconces in your design plan (H2)

Wall sconces can provide visual comfort to any room; their adaptability is what makes them so versatile. Wall sconces are also different from the norm as they are wall-mounted and therefore take up less space on the floor than traditional floor lamps and less visual space than pendants or chandeliers on the ceiling.

Here are a few tips to help you decide how to incorporate wall sconces into your design:

  • Wall sconces help control the mood

We constantly speak about layering light. This is to say that one lighting fixture does not light an entire space. Wall sconces are part of the layering of light. They can provide a decorative glow only, or they can provide enough up-light, so the space is lit evenly with soft, indirect, ambient light.  Wall sconces can also provide downlight or some of both. A wall sconce might even be a task light. Other times, it may be recessed in a wall to provide a mysterious way-light, or in the case of the Boyd Elements Water In-Wall light, it provides a brief art piece; a place to dally and reflect.

  • Use wall sconces to provide ambient illumination 

Wall sconces can be used to provide general, ambient illumination often by casting light upwards onto light-colored walls or ceilings, and then let the effective light rain down into the space. It is efficient to use this technique in white or lighter colored spaces but is not efficient in a darker room, because the dark color will absorb light. See: Sciencing Which Colors Reflect More Light? for more information on this concept.

  • Wall sconces save valuable space

Lighting residential and commercial spaces requires thoughtful design. Often wall sconces, wall brackets and in-wall (recessed) lighting supports this professional, thoughtful design. This can also be true for modern office buildings, hotels, clubs, as well as residences. Floor-based lamps take up space that could be used for other purposes – wall sconces optimize the usage of space because they are placed higher up on walls freeing up space around and below it. Boyd Lighting’s low-profile wall sconces make an impactful design statement while providing high-quality lighting and making efficient use of space. This is particularly valuable in narrow hallways and passageways. In addition, Boyd has larger profile wall sconces for use in commercial or residential spaces including condominiums. It’s important for apartments and condos with views to keep the ceiling free from large, bulky fixtures to preserve that view. Wall sconces can help layer the light to preserve the desirable views. 

  • Wall sconces as accent lighting

Wall sconces can provide the perfect lighting for focal features that you want to highlight. It is important to consider the number and placement of accent lights so that your design meets your symmetrical or asymmetrical approach.

  • Wall sconces are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and finishes

Wall sconces come in a wide variety of designs from modern to traditional. For aesthetic and lighting purposes, the right wall sconce needs to be proportional to the space you are wanting to incorporate it into.

Benefits of designing with wall sconces (H2)

  • Wall sconces help to set the mood in a room. This type of lighting can be used to enhance a feeling of relaxation in a bedroom, to illuminate feature pieces, or to revive the energy of a room through the use of brightness, color temperature, and stylish fixtures.
  • Energy-efficient LED wall sconces are a great choice to save on electricity costs.
  • Uplighting wall sconces are an excellent choice for ambient lighting in large rooms, while downlighting wall sconces provide elegant task lighting features, semi-direct wall sconces can provide a soft, ambient glow.
  • Wall sconces are available in a wide variety of styles and finishes to suit many themes and designs. 

Where walls sconces work best in hotels (H2)

With the wide variety of rooms that make up a hotel setting, the lighting design should also include an interesting variety of fixtures. From lobbies to hallways and bathrooms, conference rooms to offices, wall sconces can be placed in these areas as the perfect light source to suit the applicable theme.  Unique designs, altering scale of fixtures, adding rich materials like brass or bronze and placement of fixtures or even the incorporation of architectural lighting, differentiates one hotel flag, or brand from another, from a Four Star to a Five Star hotel and beyond.

Favorite styles to choose from (H2)

Boyd Lighting has a large selection of wall sconces to choose from:

The Branch Sconce

The Branch Sconce – sleekly designed and inspired by nature, the Branch Sconce can illuminate any space with its multi-directional arm movement, ideal for task lighting for a bedroom or reading area. This design is particularly valuable in a bedroom when space is at a premium or end tables are not used. Designed by Doyle Crosby.

The Pueblo Sconce

The Pueblo Sconce – a non-dimming wall sconce designed to provide a soft-glow of 2700K LED light emanating through the playful folds of the hand-finished bronze. Designed by Dierdre Jordan, forming part of a trio of sconces: The Folded Series.

The Taos Sconce

The Taos Sconce – a wall sconce with similar ambiance enhancing features as the Pueblo Sconce, is also part of The Folded Series. With its white finish, it lends beautiful simplicity to the space surrounding it and reflects slightly more lumens than the bronze.

The Scorpio Sconce Interior or Exterior

The Scorpio Sconce Interior or Exterior – featured in Roger Thomas’ final hotel project in Boston, this wall sconce was custom-designed for this project. The LED’s are encased in the sleek, square arm and casts a beautiful puddle of light onto the curved hand-cast brass backplate yielding a brilliantly rendered version of a mysterious, light sculpture.

The Obi Sconce

The Obi Sconce light provides the ultimate focal point for any room. A cylindrical cased white glass diffuser with an edgy, criss-cross design element gives this lighting feature a contemporary feel for larger spaces.

The Plateau Square Sconce Exterior

The Plateau Square Sconce Exterior – appears to be a three dimensional metallic fold of metal and light conjoining on a wall to provide glare-free way-lighting.

Icicle Drop Sconce – Triple

From Chicago architect Tom Nahabedian, the Icicle Triple Sconce is a natural progression from the original Icicle Drop Sconce, while providing more volume and lumen output. Available in six metal finish options, seven cord color options, and either clear or etched glass drops, it is abundantly flexible.

Icicle Drop Sconce – Single

From Chicago architect Tom Nahabedian, the Icicle Drop Sconce makes a subtle yet sexy statement providing a glowing, ambient light. Available in six metal finish options, seven cord color options, and either clear or etched glass drop to match a multitude of interior schemes. 

Wall lighting ideas for luxury homes and guest rooms (H2)

  • Clean design lines – wall sconces are a great addition to guest rooms to make them feel more warm and cozy. Better than floor lamps with loose cords that may make the room look unkempt, wall sconces situated next to a couch or fireplace can create that cozy feel without adding unnecessary clutter to the room.
  • Cohesive design theme – by coordinating the lighting design with the furniture and the decor, you can create a seamless look that is aesthetically appealing.
  • That luxurious touch – wall sconces with a bronze or gold finish can make a room feel more elegant. By contrast, wall sconces with a black finish can give a room a more formal appearance.
  • Create a more modern look – wall sconces that have uplighting and downlighting features and geometric, asymmetrical patterns can modernize a room.
  • Decorative lights – decorative wall sconces add character to a room and can be used as an accent feature to complement the theme of a room.
  • Create a look that flows – when designing a space with wall sconces and other lighting fixtures it is a good idea to select fixtures from within the same collection or in the same design style for cohesiveness and consistency.

Wall sconce materials and finishes (H2)

The materials and finishes of a wall sconce are very important. They are meant to be consistent with other metals and finishes within the given space. Boyd Lighting has a multitude of wall sconce finishes available that are designed to suit many different design plans.

Depending on the style of the wall sconce you decide to choose, Boyd wall sconces are available in different variations of brass such as antiqued Boyd brass and blackened brass as well as a variety of stylish colors such as matte and gloss white, coffee bean, satin stainless steel and silver fog.

For the Icicle Drop Sconce that features a hanging cord from which the icicle drop is suspended, there are a variety of cord color options available such as charcoal, dark olive, black, silver, navy and tan. 

Other metal finishes include satin brass and satin nickel as well as more opulent finishes such as 12k White Gold leaf, 22k Yellow Gold leaf and black granite depending on the lighting fixture.

How to choose the best wall sconces (H2)

  • Consider the existing décor when choosing the appropriate wall sconce for a space. The right design should flow with and enhance the colors, style, and textures of the décor.
  • Consider its functionality – wall sconces are typically used for ambient, direct, semi-direct, indirect, or accent lighting and can sometimes serve as task lighting. When choosing sconce lights, first consider the functionality, and then select the styling.

Why Boyd Lighting for artisan wall sconces? (H2)

We design and manufacture unique wall sconces by Boyd and other professional designers to suit many spaces and design themes. We have an extensive range of artisanal-made wall sconces which are unique, energy-efficient, flexible, beautiful and easy to incorporate into many design styles. Contact your architectural design representative or us today for more information. You will be glad you did!

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Wall sconces incorporate modern, elegant designs to provide energy-efficient lighting while achieving unique design goals.

If you want to brighten up a space and create ambiance in your design plan, the elegant wall sconce could be the lighting fixture you have been searching for. 

Unique designer lighting that will wow your clients

Unique designer lighting that will wow your clients

Installing the correct lighting in any setting is important if you aim to implement a unique atmosphere or mood in a space. Making use of layered lighting is critical to creating a beautiful and functional lighting plan.  When choosing the right lighting products to support this layered-look, please consider including made-to-order, professionally-designed lighting fixtures into your overall design plan. This will complement and enhance the look and function you are aiming to achieve as an interior or architectural designer. 

To make certain your lighting plan works, don’t forget about the lighting controls, particularly dimming. This is of utmost importance. Dimming has become more complicated with LED’s and different wiring configurations that can be found in newer versus older construction.

The art of designer lighting in luxury homes

Many luxury homes have more rooms, higher ceilings, and sometimes detailed molding which may be a work of art in and of itself. Well-positioned wall and pendant fixtures, together with some direct accent lighting and decorative fixtures will enhance the visual and visceral enjoyment of these rooms, corridors, entries and other spaces.  

Success in designer lighting means delivering what the client wants

If you want your design to wow your client, you must do your research to ensure that you deliver unique concepts. Exceed your client’s expectations by incorporating Boyd Lighting products into your thoughtful interior or exterior lighting design. Clients value their lighting designers for bringing original, modern ideas to their design plan.   Boyd’s products are designed by creative, professional designers for use in sophisticated lighting and interior design projects and programs. These designs are typically unique, often patented, and made to be inheritable.  This is a term Boyd uses to mean the design is classic, in the sense it is not trendy, and will not go out of style quickly. Our products are made of robust, often, non-ferrous materials in a manner that will challenge the tests of time. This is what we mean by inheritable.

When creating a lighting design for your client, be sure to address each of these aspects: level of lighting, type of lighting, color of the light, color of the reflected light, and the distribution of light. Each of these must be coordinated to develop a proper lighting design.

Top brand and styles

Boyd Lighting offers an abundance of designer lighting to choose from.

  • Our classic range of lighting provides over one hundred and fifty different elegant designs customized into 4,000 combinations from which to choose.
  • Our ceiling light category consists of eye-catching pendant pieces as well exquisite light chandeliers.
  • Our wall fixtures feature wall sconces that provide practical lighting functionality and fit snugly to most any wall. Our in-wall fixtures give a very clean architectural appearance to any space.
  • We have a modest collection of outdoor lighting that ranges from transitional to modern pieces using different color temperatures and finishes which you may find appropriate.
  • We are always investigating new design trends to provide outstanding and unique lighting fixtures that will complement any design vision.

Mastering ambiance with lighting

Ambient lighting is described as general lighting providing the overall illumination for a given space. At a minimum, it should offer safe, comfortable, and pleasant movement throughout the space. Lower Kelvin temperature lighting (2700K) that has more yellow, orange, or red hues sets a warm, relaxed and romantic atmosphere, while high-temperature kelvin LED and bright lighting will usually be reserved for a space that is designed to energize and invigorate. Boyd Lighting frequently has different LED’s, with different color temperatures, available to create the look and mood you desire.

Lighting can further be categorized into task lighting and accent lighting. Each style of lighting is designed for a specific purpose and each will contribute to setting the tone for the overall atmosphere you wish to achieve.

  • Task lighting is meant to provide enough effective illumination for specific tasks or duties, to light your way for everything from reading a book, to make-up, or to perform detail-work like knitting, rendering, or needlework.  Examples of where task lighting can be placed are in home office spaces, living rooms, hotel lobbies, kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere a task is being performed. Don’t forget, there should be a good layering of overhead lighting and smaller lower level lighting in addition to the task lighting.
  • Accent lighting directs lighting to highlight particular features of a space in which you may want to place emphasis. It is meant to complement the functional design of the space by highlighting architectural features, decorative elements, or artwork. 

Designer lighting for any design project

Using designer lighting in luxury homes, hotels, private clubs, and restaurants provides that unique and exclusive touch your client expects and deserves. Hand-crafted artisan lighting fixtures will elevate the design with a distinctive look and aesthetic to each space. Contact your local Boyd Lighting Representative about using, or customizing it’s lighting fixtures to make them contextural for your client’s specific needs.

Designer lighting trends for 2021

Trends in lighting can sometimes be a bit more difficult to define as everyone has their own unique style and preferences. However, there are a few lighting trends that are set to appear on the scene in 2021. 

Some of these lighting trends include:

  • Modern and minimal lighting – The newest trend is elegant, modern, LED  lighting fixtures without visible hardware. The style points here are in the scale, the finish, and the purpose of the handcrafted lighting fixtures and how they are integrated by the designer or architect into the space. These fixtures may be overscale or they may be minimal to let the architecture better speak and not distract from the elegance of the space.
  • Art Deco and Mid-century Lighting – Art Moderne, or Deco is characterized by geometrical details and symmetrical patterns. Mid-century on the other hand encompasses design from around 1952-1971 with LED updates for today’s lighting needs.
  • Retro or industrial lighting – These lighting features are designed to be more of a statement piece incorporating looks for old factories from 1900-1940 with sometimes a modern update. Boyd Lighting was known for this between 1970-1990.   
  • The vintage trend is here to stay in 2021. Vintage style lighting gives character and classic appeal to a space. Since Boyd has been in business since 1921, perhaps you might look for a vintage Boyd Lighting or Kentfield Collection fixture, possibly available on Etsy, First Dibs, or eBay.
  • While not specifically a lighting trend, color trends are important to know.  For example, lower K temperature lamps (2000-2700K) work better with warmer colors, and higher K temperatures (3500-5000K) work better with cooler colors. According to Benjamin Moore, colors that are trending in the New Year 2021 include: rosy peach, camel, gray cashmere, and aegean teal.

Timeless pendant lights

Most trends will ebb and flow, but pendant lights are here to stay. Pendant lights add elegance and function to a luxury home as well as other design projects. With a vast array of styles and materials available, Boyd Lighting offers unique and striking pendant lights for your lighting design plan from our Game of Thrones-like Comet, to the sleek and mysterious Ghost.

Finding a lighting design company

The artisans at Boyd Lighting are more than just suppliers. We design and handcraft each piece specifically for your professional design plan. Our lighting fixtures are created to reflect your client’s individuality and allow your design vision to come to life. At Boyd Lighting we offer a wide range of designer lighting fixtures that are sure to suit the look you envision for your client. Contact your local Boyd Lighting Representative for more information about our comprehensive lighting range.