In time for Diwali, architects, interior designers and editors share their choice of lighting to light up the home
Minimalism is a big draw. As is modern luxury. When it comes to lights in 2021, it’s all about clean lines and maximum impact. Some of the country’s top architects, interior designers and editors take a look at what they’ll choose for their homes and projects. As well as a website making shopping for coveted lights easy.
Rushad Shroff
“The only Indian lights that I absolutely love are those of Paul Matter. They are well groomed and have a clean aesthetic. I’m using their satellite lights in an ongoing project in Delhi, and I’ll be joining three others, including Tango Light in Mumbai. Internationally, I love Studio Drift. They have crazy price points, but I’m finally using one of their chandeliers, Dandelion, in one of my projects in Mumbai. I also love Ralph Pucci Gallery.
“I used Lian Gold’s lights in Sonam Kapoor Ahuja’s London home. But lighting can be tricky. When there are three to four really good companies that you source, almost all projects, whether Indian or global, end up finding a certain path. So, lately, I’ve also been buying lights from London’s antique markets. [like Alfies Market and Kensington Church Street] and Paris.
“For Sonam’s home we found these beautiful silver-plated Italian elephant tusk lights that I used with a custom-made hand-painted shade. [adding a bespoke element to our find] Against India-inspired wallpaper from De Gournay. It worked perfectly. “
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Manju Sara Rajni
“The biggest problem with great lighting in India is accessibility. Before, if you wanted to buy a basic light by Flos or Anglepoise, you had to source it while traveling abroad. Now, there’s a new website, lightandyou.com, which I think is interesting – because it’s giving people easy access to designer lights. You can add Ingo Maurer Light or Rushad Shroff designs to cart and buy. I have my eye on Maurer’s Lucellino table lamp. The German designer passed away in 2019. I met him at the Salon del Mobile once in Milan a few years ago, and it was this interesting, whimsical and fun designer who brought that eccentricity to his work. The Winged Bulb Light is one of his iconic designs. This is a piece I would like to buy for my kids because it shows you all the whimsy and humor you can have in a utilitarian piece. “
Ashish Shah
“I like brands that give you a peak into a specific world. The tools are extremely interesting because of what they do and how they interpret culture. They interpret the 20s with swing and flicker, and Modernists create luxurious lights that almost look like jewels. You’d think you could wear them around your neck! I’ve used their Lariat lights extensively. Roll & Hill – Various designers working together Group of – Another favorite. Their designs are modern, but art nonetheless.
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“I’ve used Lindsey Edelman’s creations [like the sculptural lights made of hand-blown glass and bound together with knotted rope, inspired by Japanese packaging, buoys, and shibari] in many projects. I also enjoy the work of young British designer Lee Broom. He works in glass, marble, steel and the like. I love their crystal bulbs.”
Esha Gupta
“With Prakash, I would say that I am automatically drawn to eccentric, eclectic, and one-of-a-kind pieces. One such piece is Shailesh Rajput’s ‘Nothing to Eternity’ and ‘The Fish to Bird’ installation which he Hemant Oberoi’s restaurant, which literally means ‘talk about me’. It’s striking and memorable. Even Pascal Liss and Isabelle Thévenet’s Atelier Loomis create beautiful fabric-based lighting All handcrafted in Pondicherry! Everything is locally sourced with a keen eye on their environmental impact.”
veenu daniels
“In my projects, I use a lot of natural light. Therefore, the lighting fixtures I use are usually quite simple. For example, in a recent project built on a hill in Peerumedu, I used omnibus Use tube lights in an interesting way. I infused it with casuarina loft to give it a night lighting effect. It’s simple yet dramatic. Among the lighting designers in Kerala, I love the work of Jaydev Keshavankutty from Kochi. It has a very clean, minimalist look using materials like wood and steel. Then there is Thought Parallels by Nikhil and Shabana. They have used repurposed ceilings, wooden poles and metal to create the suspension lights and sconces. Design very are geometric.
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