Lightovation Report: Organic Appeal Stays Strong

Natural elements – whether real materials or design inspiration – remained a top trend at June Lightovation.

Consumers shopping at every price point continue to be interested in styles that evoke nature by either shape (i.e. flowers, leaves, and shells) or material (travertine, woven rattan, marble, and alabaster). The impetus behind the trend, manufacturers say, has to do with the desire to create a calming environment at home where homeowners can destress and shut out the chaos of the world outside.

Here are some of the designs that were getting attention at Lightovation.

The Caviar series, from Modern Forms, boasts a stone shade – in a choice of basalt rock or travertine (in the limestone family) — that encircles an etched opal blown glass diffuser. The fixtures are 4CCT-selectable and have a field-replaceable LED module.

The Tane flush-mount, from Modern Forms, pairs the organic texture of basalt and travertine with the soft, diffused glow of blown opal glass. The fixtures are 4CCT-selectable. In addition, the company’s Saturno series blends the beauty of basalt and travertine with a blown opal glass diffuser. It is compatible with WAC Home system for tunable white as well as dim-to-warm lighting (1800K – 4000K).

Savoy House’s Shawnee 8-light chandelier has a drum-shaped shade of woven rattan that is accented by radiating rattan details. A wall sconce in a complementary design rounds out the collection.

The Eleanor table lamp (left) from Coco & Dash for Savoy House has a woven wicker body complemented by a nubby linen shade that softly diffuses the light. At right, the Josephine table lamp with rattan trim from the same collection.

This market, Savoy House introduced two looks to address the trend for alabaster and natural stone. One series is made with real natural alabaster cut into more traditional shapes (such as squares or rectangles). The faux alabaster series is a more affordable option for achieving the natural stone look, plus it can be bent to form curves (which natural stone cannot do easily) for a more contemporary aesthetic.

Eurofase’s Cambre series of linear chandeliers and pendants are made of travertine that has been shaped into slim cylinders. A crystal element directs light downward for a modern feel.

Kalco’s popular Samal series featuring natural capiz shells – which gives a fresh twist to a contemporary Scandinavian artichoke silhouette – was introduced in larger (and smaller) sizes for more variety.

Sparkling Firenze crystal strands comingle with bone china fragments inspired by butterfly wings on the linear Farfalle fixture from Allegri Crystal by Kalco.  It is shown here in a 9-light, 60-inch version.

At left, the Paris outdoor wall bracket, from Alteck, featuring black and gold marble is designed for versatile mounting – up or down – and can be installed alone or in pairs. At right, Alteck’s Abby wall sconce combines saw-cut travertine with a painted antique brass accent.

At left, Hubbardton Forge’s Blossom Mini table lamp brings together an organic shape – blossom – with natural black or lilac marble. Designed by David Martin, the base cupping the light is made of hand-forged and textured steel atop a marble pedestal.

At right, The Zen table lamp, from Hubbardton Forge, is inspired by the concept of Yin Yang, promoting the idea of balance. It can be ordered in either black marble or uniquely veined lilac marble.

Related articles

Simple, Not Easy: New Designs at Lightovation