For Maggy Cheung, art director of Grande Development Limited, lighting does more than just general illumination.
“Lighting is the soul in interior design,” she argues. “It plays a dominant role in setting the tone for an interior space. Having a high-quality lighting system at home makes all the difference.”
With a predominate focus on sizeable residential projects, Cheung finds that the consistency of light fixtures between different living areas is key to maintaining a coherent look throughout a home – a vision that lies at the core of Italian lighting manufacturer FLOS.
Founded in 1962 in Merano, FLOS (which refers to “flower” in Latin) has been delivering integrated lighting solutions designed to illuminate every part of the home in a coherent fashion.
“Most collections by FLOS come in variants that fall under three subdivision areas, namely decorative, architectural and outdoor; each with its own character. This is just one of the many reasons we turn to FLOS time and again,” the designer says.
Distributed by lighting specialist Zodiac, the only retailer in Hong Kong that offers all three subdivision areas of FLOS, the IC Lights family, for instance, is made up of floor lamps, ceiling suspensions, wall sconces and table lamps: each flaunts a distinctive silhouette while maintaining visual consistency across all areas.
Conceived by London-based designer Michael Anastassiades, IC Lights comprises at least one luminous blown-glass sphere joined by a sleek frame made of steel. Together, they make for an intriguing balancing act that adds visual interest to any room.
Also an Anastassiades work, the rechargeable Last Order table lamp defuses a soft gentle glow through a crystal base. It comes with a dimmer switch on the fringe that allows the lamp to function as both an ambient and task light, perfect for the study or outdoor lounge.
Another iconic luminaire by FLOS, the Skygarden collection, designed by Marcel Wanders studio, has an even bigger surprise up its sleeve. On the inside of the minimalist, glossy hemispherical exterior which comes in five colourways, a burst of sculpted floral motifs serves up an artistically play of light and shadow that adds panache to any room. It can be appointed as a ceiling suspension over the dining table or as a recessed ceiling lamp in a meeting room. Either way, it steals the limelight in any room as a statement-making piece.
“High-quality lighting solutions that meld form and function allow for the furniture and décor of a home to live up to its own charms,” Cheung concludes. “In this regard, works by FLOS never disappoint.”
