In Vogue
aplomb Foscarini.com
UTO
Tress
Foscarini.com
Foscarini.com
maki Foscarini.com
Objects of Desire
Lighting the way
with
This issue, the Home+Couture team pay homage to one of the most illuminating design houses in the industry. Foscarini, established in the early 1980s, has continued to take lighting solutions to new and exciting levels; always offering originality, high quality and timeless designs. Enjoy our hand-picked selection of some of our favourites from the epic catalogue of products at Foscarini’s disposal. Foscarini.com
doll UTO
Foscarini.com
Foscarini.com
twiggy Foscarini.com
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In Vogue
planet Foscarini.com
plass caboch
Foscarini.com
Foscarini.com
binic Foscarini.com
colibri Foscarini.com
magneto Foscarini.com
birdie Foscarini.com
Home couture magazine
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Stylish Living
24 | H o m e c o u t u r e m a g a z i n e
Stylish Living
Let there be
light ‌
A carefully planned lighting scheme will bring a room to life and turn it into an inviting and pleasurable place to be. As human beings we respond to light and its absence can affect our sense of well-being. Whether you have an interior designer map out a detailed lighting plan or you choose the do-it-yourself approach, today there are more lighting options than ever before. With an abundance of light in all the right places, even the darkest apartment can be transformed from a dreary space into a home that is envied by all. By Sarah Hughes
Before spending vast sums
Photo: foscarini.it
of money on elaborate interior design schemes, carry out your own survey by moving furniture and accessories around to see the effects the changes can make. Create new features and try different window treatments such as Venetian blinds or layers of diaphanous fabric such as fine muslin. If you decide to redecorate as opposed to refurbishing your space, then bear in mind the effects different colours and textures can have on the level of light in a room. Pale colours are reflective, while dark colours and materials absorb light. White ceilings reflect light, as do cream carpets, but dark wooden floors and dark-coloured walls absorb light and make rooms feel more claustrophobic. The mood and atmosphere that you are trying to create will determine the colours and materials you use.
Home couture magazine
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Stylish Living
Photo: foscarini.it
26 | H o m e c o u t u r e m a g a z i n e
Stylish Living
Photo: foscarini.it
Photo: foscarini.it
Even the most simple of lighting schemes will benefit from some sort of layering of light sources – no matter how beautiful your ceiling pendant may be it is impossible for it to illuminate the whole of your space. The solution is to install different light sources controlled by separate circuits that allow you to vary your mood with the flick of a switch. Let’s start with the living room – the multi-functional space where we entertain, watch TV, relax with a glass or two and even make love when the mood is right. Lighting can be described as direct and indirect. Direct gives a downward glow such as light from a central pendant and other forms of overhead lighting such as recessed mounts in the ceiling or track lights. Indirect lighting casts an upward glow. Wall lights boost overall lighting levels and can shine down or bounce light up to the ceiling. Task lighting from table and floor provides localised bright spots for all our activities, while accent lighting highlights architectural features or artwork. If you plan to layer lighting the different circuits allow each element to be controlled independently – general lighting and wall lights could be on the first circuit and task lighting such as table or desk lamps could be on a second circuit and accent lighting on a third. This layering of light allows light levels to be manipulated to produce different light effects.
Photo: foscarini.it
Home couture magazine
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Stylish Living
A good lighting scheme in the dining room can have a dramatic effect when entertaining. The main objective is to provide a hospitable atmosphere with warm, flattering light. A striking pendant that can be raised or lowered is a good choice when the dining room is used for homework or sorting out those dreaded household bills. Pendants create a powerful decorative statement when hung in multiples of two or, especially, if you have a refectory table and want to illuminate its full length. Pendants will also suit the spacious proportions of a large room and have the effect of defining the dining area in an open plan space.
Photo: foscarini.it
Photo: foscarini.it
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