Although official numbers are not out yet, the consensus regarding last week’s Lightovation show in Dallas was that traffic was slow, hampered by the World Cup matches taking place in the city at the same time. Nobody seemed surprised. At least one vendor said it decided to hold its introductions until January because of the expected softness, but others launched collections or extensions or headlined new design partnerships.
Our Editor’s Picks, which we call HAT tags, highlight some of the pieces that caught our attention. You can check those out here.
Some of the more pronounced design themes were florals (they were everywhere), a reinterpretation of classic schoolhouse-style fixtures and several new pendants in green glass. Opaque white bulbs and shades wrapped tightly in natural-toned string remain popular. Finishes leaned toward natural brass and burnished bronze.
Manufacturers continue to expand their outdoor lighting assortments. Some of them have Dark Sky collections, some point out their damp, wet or coastal-rated options, but there was a rating from Z-Lite that I’ve never heard of before: turtle-rated. These are designed for coastal areas and are outfitted with downward-facing amber or red LED lights designed to prevent turtles from getting disoriented and gravitating toward the light instead of the water.
Visual Comfort introduced a collection with new design partner Richard June, a Portland, Ore.-based furniture designer who brings a Pacific Northwest sensibility to his lighting collections. Several new pieces called Liora are anchored by raw stoneware in earthen tones. Many of his simple, familiar forms are defined by their attention to detail, such as the inclusion of shade covers that magnetically attach to the fixture.
Chapman & Meyers, another design brand in Visual Comfort’s Studio Collection, introduced Fiona, a wooden beaded fixture in several configurations, while Tatum, adorable button flush mounts in a range of glass colors, debuted in the Drew & Jonathan line.
Lib. & Co. introduced a collection with interior designer Brian Gluckstein, bringing a stunning crystal floral and vine creation called Fiori, and a second collection, Nuvola, a flowing, sculptural form made of solid brass with intertwined, ribbon-like loops suspended from a long rectangular canopy, to the market.
Designer Corey Damen Jenkins, whose inaugural lighting collection with Eichholtz debuted earlier this year, was on hand in Dallas for a meet and greet with visitors and to sign copies of his latest book, Design Reimagined: A Fresh and Colorful Take on Timeless Rooms.
Coco & Dash designers Courtney Garrigan and Teddie Garrigan unveiled a new collection of corded and rechargeable lamps with Savoy House under a “milk and honey” design theme, introducing stitched leather and earth-toned ceramic hues into the line.
Mitzi, a division of Hudson Valley Lighting Group, launched an interchangeable shade program comprised of three silhouettes and three signature prints that can be mixed and matched with Mitzi lamp bases. They are currently offered for its top-selling lamp SKUs, with the potential for expansion.
Quroum introduced two new collections from design partner Tamara Day, and several new pieces: Privet, a candelabra-style lighting pendant shaped like an upside-down umbrella covered in a thicket of round leaves in natural brass; Genevieve, a metal hood pendant with a cut-glass globe shade; expansions to its Favo and Virtue collections; and Dorado, a gold-leafed freestanding floor mirror.
Lamps from sister brand Cyan Design will be pulled into the Quroum brand going forward, part of a move to transition Cyan back into its roots as a curated decorative accessories brand, according to David Patton, director of design.
And ceiling fan maker Fanimation is using new criteria and terminology to define how its fans’ airflow is not just measured, but experienced. It emphasizes velocity (how effectively air is delivered) over volume (how much air is moved). Product assets describe how different velocity levels feel in plain language, ranging from “still air” and “stuffy” at low levels to “windy indoors, too much for sleeping” at higher levels. A clearly labeled remote is equally user-friendly.
