Lighting trend – coming soon to a kitchen near you?
What do you think about this kitchen lighting trend? I’ve been seeing balance-arm style lamps, especially Artemide’s Tolomeo, on kitchen walls everywhere.
This London kitchen is one of my favorites, and the single Tolomeo lamp on the pillar seems a practical and stylish way to light the island. I give this one a thumbs up:
photo Daniel Farmer
But in this cottage kitchen featured in a previous post, I’m not so happy. Surely this row of mini Tolomeos would be, well, right in your face? And why clutter up your backsplash tile with all those cords?
Cotswold Cottage, Light Locations via Remodelista
A different style of lamp in this Swedish kitchen, via Skona Hem. Practical, I’m sure – they do look as if they are ready to lend a hand with the cooking, don’t they?
photo Skona Hem via Desire to Inspire
This trend is not limited to Europe – here is a shiny balance-arm lamp in Brooklyn. Hmm, again, too close to face-height for my liking:
As our kitchens here in the US tend to have shelves or cabinets above the counters, it’s usually easy and practical to hide some task lighting underneath them. For me, this a trend that makes sense with open walls and a high ceiling – as in this kitchen in the Lebanon (via) - an efficient way to put light where you want it. and make a statement with your choice of fixture at the same time.
Lighting in Lebanon
I can’t help anthropomorphizing (oh, yes, definitely the longest word I have ever used in a blog post) them though, and I blame Pixar for that:
It's all about the materials
More on the microwave
Yellow kitchen, with apples
Paul Anater
January 26th, 2010 at 6:00 am #
Love the Tolemeo though I do, it seems to me that the light from one of these lamps in a kitchen would be a little shadow-y. Know what I mean?
Clarity
January 26th, 2010 at 11:21 am #
Hi Paul – yes, shadowy. Light on your immediate task area and the rest in darkness – very dramatic, if not so very practical.
Kelly
January 26th, 2010 at 12:15 pm #
Yes, I’m guilty of thinking Pixar too. In addition to the shadows, they seem a bit utilitarian to me. Are there no softer curved shades or fancier designs? Hmmm. Interesting.
Clarity
January 26th, 2010 at 10:50 pm #
Kelly – “hmmm” – you took the words right out of my mouth!
cheryl kees clendenon
January 27th, 2010 at 7:43 pm #
oh I love the tolemeo!!! I have not seen it used in kitchen so thanks for posting the pix! Clever…but obviously has to be the right plan!
Clarity
January 27th, 2010 at 10:41 pm #
Cheryl – And maybe not too many of them at one time?