Lighting

Shortly after venturing into the world of lighting, you’ll probably realise that it’s a bit more complex than you might have thought. Tiffany, rustic, oriental, – it’s easy to get lost out there. Our glossary of lighting styles will aid your search for the perfect light. If you can’t find the lighting style here, call us with any questions you may have. We have a trained staff of lighting experts who can help you find any style from traditional or modern lighting.

Antique: Whether you wish to bring back the days of Queen Victoria or want to evoke scenes from “Brideshead Revisted”, antique fixtures send you back to days gone past. They will bring a warming touch to your home. Usually characterised by burnished or brushed metal, this style often overlaps with traditional fixtures.

Art Deco: The period termed "art deco" manifested itself roughly between the two world wars. As with many other art movements, styles of today are still being influenced by its history. This period of design and style did not just affect architecture, but all of the fine and applied arts as well. Art Deco was a modernisation of many artistic styles of the past. You can easily detect in many examples of Art Deco the influence of Far and Middle Eastern design, Greek and Roman themes, and even Egyptian and Mayan influence. Art Deco style is characterised by geometric and angular shapes, chrome, glass, shiny fabrics, mirrors and mirror tiles and theatrical contrasts.

Casual: Casual lighting is comfortable, warm, inviting, and homely. Simple details, textured elements, and restful horizontal lines characterise this lighting style. Rectangular and softly curved elements contribute to a casual feel.

Contemporary/Modern: Contemporary and modern pieces feature neutral elements and bold colour. Clean lines, industrial elements and bold colour are characteristic. This lighting style is known for its underlying simplicity of line, shape, form, and attention to practical functions. Contemporary fixtures often incorporate classic and traditional features in subtle, understated ways. Its simplicity and clean lines combine with strong geometric shapes and symmetry, incorporating classic and traditional features in sleek and understated ways. The inspiration for these fixtures is drawn from manufacturing/architecture and organic forms.

Country: This lighting is casual and unpretentious. Almost exclusively light and warm coloured woods and metals, this can be thought of having a certain “rustic class”. Often containing a period flavour, this lighting style is both rustic and romantic with graceful curves.

Nautical: Based on life by the sea, nautical styles range from a lighthouse lamp to cabin mirror lighting. Nautical décor reflects the seaside beauty by using clean, simple lines. Most often used for cottages by the sea or to decorate outdoor settings, nautical styled lighting brings the spirit of water to your home.

Novelty: When looking for a piece to dress up an otherwise ordinary setting, a novelty style fixture will meet your needs. These fixtures are sure to be a conversation piece or add pizzazz to an otherwise mild decor.

Oriental: Influenced by the people and culture of the East/Orient, oriental fixtures will add a look of exoticism and intrigue to your home. Oriental furnishings are most often characterised by porcelain lamp bases, paper lanterns, shoji screens, sleek lines, ornate details of flowers or animals, and metallic finishes. Often finished in the browns and golds that are influenced by historic empires, this style can blend with either traditional or modern décor.

Rustic: The rustic style is cosy and welcoming. Rustic fixtures offer the charming comforts of an alpine cabin. They draw on the intimate cosiness of a ski lodge in the mountains or a log cabin in the woods. Characterised by natural finishes with emphasis on grains, these fixtures invite hibernation – minus the bears. The Rustic look is often exemplified by antler chandeliers or ceiling fan light kits.

Tiffany: This lighting style loosely refers to glass-shaded lamps, windows and other decor made from a mosaic of opalescent coloured glass panels. Invented by Louis Comfort Tiffany, this look applies the Art Nouveau stylised designs from the early 20th century. Tiffany presents a cornucopia of themes. Stained glass Art Deco lighting and retro lamps are popular today and come alive in vibrant colours and styles.

Traditional: Based on historic design models, this style is characteristically ornate, orderly, and bold. Straight lines are often contrasted with curved details, and brass, iron, and hand-painted wood often appears. More grand than casual, these lights have ornate or showy details and have often old-world flair.

Transitional: Transitional style bridges the gap between very ornate and very sleek. While the materials used are more similar to traditional lighting (lots of metals and woods), the lines are more open and clean without being too sleek and sterile. Transitional fixtures are versatile, blending seamlessly into almost any setting. Transitional fixtures combine both contemporary and traditional lighting styles by joining austere lines with fancy curves with sleek, brushed metals. It easily adapts and blends in with a wide range of styles. The versatility of transitional fixtures make it a good choice if you’re not sure which of the less flexible styles suits your taste or your home – transitional fixtures work in pretty much any setting.