DESIGNER Q+A
Lighting Design Insights Celebrated designer Vanessa Deleon offers design inspiration for interior projects
Famed interior designer and owner of the leading New York company Vanessa Deleon Associates, Vanessa Deleon brings a prestigious educational background and an extensive professional portfolio to the sphere of interior design. After working for influential powerhouses such as Ralph Lauren, Vanessa launched her own brand, attracting notable clients spanning from Sherwin Williams to Rizzy Homes. With increased prominence came Vanessa’s series of media appearances, which include broadcast features on NBC-TV and HGTV and highlights in Time and New York Spaces. With her established presence in design, her distinctive signature style and her unmistakable eye for lighting, Vanessa offers readers expert insight and advice for lighting projects. You’ve been featured on a number of impressive programs, such as NBC’s “American Dream Builders”, “HGTV’s Design Star”, and The Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible”. What have you learned from your experience serving as a designer on these visible, high-profile projects? What I have learned from my experience as a designer on these projects is that you have limited control over how you are perceived and what is taking place. In general, that is what life is like in the design world. You can have a client who wants certain objects or colors in a room, and no matter how much you try to convince them that it won’t work they still insist on having their way. My experience on these projects is similar to my life experience as a designer. Therefore, I have chosen to take the path of least resistance and work with it or around it. That object or color becomes part of the design, and it is my job as a designer to make it work. That’s what I had to do on these projects: I had to make things work around the things I had no control over.
You’ve featured pieces from Corbett Lighting collections in several of your projects. What about this brand appeals to you? Corbett Lighting is on my top list, and I have used them in several of my projects. They have lighting collections that appeal to me – they are classic and timeless.
You’re frequently regarded as a top design influencer. How do you balance being both a creative force and a go-to resource? It is a balancing act for sure; I have my eyes and hands on every part of the business. I have a great support team and staff that help make my life a bit smoother.
What effects have these fixtures had on the room you place them in? One that stands out is the Graffiti pendant by Corbett Lighting, which I placed on the ceiling directly above the kitchen island in one client’s home. The shimmering ribbons make a bold statement; my client loves to cook, and Graffiti is edgy like a kitchen knife – what better reminder when you are chopping and dicing. The smoky crystal diffuser adds a touch of elegance to the piece.
How would you describe your aesthetic? Glamalistic, glam meets minimal aesthetic – eclectic at times and I love pop of colors now and then. With cultural roots in Cuba and a design headquarters in New York, how do you feel these two places have influenced your design? Both have been a great influence and part of my design life. Both Cuba and New York are rich in history and culture. The ornamentation of Art Deco used to create the different colors and the way the bricks are laid in patterns are spectacular structural gems both in Cuba and New York. What is the biggest lighting challenge you have encountered? How did you overcome it? My biggest challenge is concealed walls and ceilings. I get the best electrician on my team out to the venue so he/she can carve out the lighting design we are implementing. L AR GER T H AN LIGHT | SUMME R
Why have you selected Littman Brands (Corbett Lighting, Troy Lighting or Hudson Valley Lighting) fixtures for your interiors? They have a great assortment of unique and beautiful lighting.
How do your clients respond to Littman Brands (Corbett Lighting, Troy Lighting or Hudson Valley Lighting) fixtures? The majority of the time there is a positive response. Other times there may be slight variations in the final lighting selections. For instance, in one client’s walk-in master bedroom closet, I realized the client did not want another drop crystal chandelier, so we decided on a different look. We selected the Hudson Valley Lighting semi-flush mount chandelier. The look was different, yet magnificent. For more information visit: www.vanessadeleon.com
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