LIFE AFTER INCANDESCENTS

I have a bit of a dilemma.  Our
company specializes in sustainable lighting, yet I work in Hell's Kitchen, part of the Times Square area.  According to Free Tours by Foot of NYC, "Con Ed estimated that at the peak of electrical use in the Theater District, approximately 161 Megawatts of electricity is being used at any one time.  We have read that one megawatt could power one thousand U.S. homes.  That's 161,000 U.S. homes."


Every morning I walk through this section of the town where lights are flashing constantly - in broad daylight.  In the evening, as I leave, more lamps are added making the streets feel like a sunny day all through the night!

Yet, there's a constant push to conserve energy - insulating our homes to save heating oil, improving  the mileage in our vehicles to conserve gas, and putting a few token fluorescent bulbs into our garages to save electricity.  So - what about the other areas of our homes and workplaces?

A designer recently told me how she is stocking up on incandescent bulbs because they're no longer being manufactured.  Sure you can still find incandescents left in stock - but what to do when they're all gone? As of January 1st 2013, manufacturers were no longer making 40 and 60 watt incandescent light bulbs as they do not meet new energy efficiency standards.  The 75 and 100 watt bulbs were already banned.  That leaves consumers with three basic options; Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), light emitting diode (LED), or Halogen lights.  

Personally, I don't see a need for CFL's, especially since they contain mercury and emit more heat  than LEDs.   LEDs have gone through a few different incarnations in recent years and although they generate a lot of heat (yes -they do!), they have "heat sinks" which absorb and enclose it.  This cuts down on your A/C electric load.

LED is available as an A Lamp - a medium/Edison base commonly used in decorative table lamps and overhead enclosed fixtures, par lamp - used for exterior floods and interior recessed fixtures, MR - used for track and recessed fixtures, tubes - to replace tubular fluorescents, and candelabra. Getting candelabras right, however, is still a challenge.  We use them mostly in fixtures with exposed bulbs - like chandeliers.  Since they only have an equivalent of 25-watts output, they aren't useful in every situation, and they're not very pretty since you can see the diodes (the little dotty light sources) and have a clunky heat sink.  Recently developed is an incandescent-looking LED that appears to have a "filament".

All are available in a variety of wattage and color temperatures.  It's important to check the Kelvin (K), which is the color temperature.  The right color of light can set or break the mood, or if you're working, the right color can make your task easier.  Many new LEDs are also dimmable. 

If you'd like to learn more about alternative lighting - check out our Sustainable Lighting Page - chock full of existing technology used in new, more efficient ways.  Very soon we will all see the world in a whole new light!

Oh where oh where have the Showrooms gone?!

Have you noticed how so many home furnishings buildings are practically empty - of showrooms and visitors?  This is due to three things - the Internet, the economy, and the demographics of potential clients.  Now, instead of the whoosh of fabric wings - you can hear a pin drop...

PDC, CA

 

DCOTA, FL

Growing up in the sixties, my parents hired an interior designer.  They chose a single practitioner who took them to upholsterers and cabinet-makers in Brooklyn, fabric jobbers on the Lower East Side, and small shops that represented furniture manufacturers from New England, the Mid-West and North Carolina.  

  

 
She made interesting lamps from antiques discovered at country auctions, and used family photos, memorabilia and collectibles to accessorize.  Specialty stores like Sloane, B. Altman and Bloomingdale's had wonderful furniture, and yes, fabric and lighting departments too, which are all gone, or are remnants of their former selves. They too, were her sources.

About that time, someone came up with the idea of consolidating sources into one building so designers could find everything in one place.  Then as competition grew fierce showroom owners and manufacturers spent more money in an effort to attract the trade.  This spawned a new industry where each manufacturer supported dozens of "retail-to-the-trade" showrooms across the country. Prices increased to pay rent and sales staff.  In an effort to boost sales to support these spaces they began importing everything from exotic trim to furniture and hand-made lighting.  An exploding assortment of home-furnishings attracted upper middle class and high end residential clients, corporate and hospitality buyers.

Soon, there were a dozen major showroom buildings within large metropolitan areas as well as smaller buildings in outlying cities.  The economy went up and down, but showrooms rode the waves knowing that eventually their clients would return.  And then... a triple whammy.  About the same time the economy dropped off the first cliff in 2008, a proliferation of Chinese goods hit the market.  At this same time consumers started buying home furnishings and antiques on the Internet.  They were scooped up like canned goods on Fresh Direct!  Who would have figured that someone would spend thousands on  a sofa they hadn't even sat in?

After all, a trade showroom is just a brick and mortar store in a high rise building.  Those who do survive offer merchandise and services that cannot be found elsewhere.  Two of my favorites are located in the NYDC amd are worth the trip!  They're family businesses; Korts & Knight, a jewel of a cabinet shop that can do anything, and Louis J. Solomon, whose custom upholstery can also be seen in their LI showroom.

The touchy-feely days are waning and demand for quality goods has vanished.  The expectation that everything will be delivered instantly is par for the course.  Many current end-users care not whether the bedspread coordinates with the draperies and certainly won't wait 12 weeks.  They want instant comfort, the latest electronics, and lowest price.

Film Center, Hell's Kitchen, NYC

Showrooms cannot survive without walk-in traffic.  Many have either consolidated, downsized, moved out or gone out.  Design professionals and their clients search sources on the net - and occasionally visit those that need to be seen in person.  This entails trips to Brooklyn, LIC, and other parts of the hinter land.

We've had more serious visitors to our new space in The Film Center Building in Hell's Kitchen than we did in the Design District or any design center.  We are now a hip and happy destination.  Hmm...it appears that things have come full circle. 

Watt's in a Name?

I often wonder how Designers come up with names for their styles.  In the home furnishings business we use popular names from film and TV like Sophia, Brittany or Helena.  Inspiration can also come from flowers; names like Lily or Rose. And often we capture the ambiance of locations using names like Hampton, Versailles and Buckingham.


The Janine

When I design a new lighting fixture I agonize over what to call it.  Should I give it a style number or a name that evokes the era it was designed after?  Hm mm - maybe a mid-20th Century design called The Eisenhower Chandelier?  (just kidding).  Wherever ideas flow from, they tend to be mostly feminine - like boats!  I like to name mine after women I know.  I have lighting fixtures named after a favorite aunt, Eve, granddaughter Alex, niece Gabi, and daughter-in-law Janine.  Janine's fixture captures her perfectly.  She is very strong. She does all the carpentry, painting, and yard work around the house, so the frame is stainless steel.  She is tailored, so the shape has clean lines, yet she loves feminine touches - especially jewelry - so I've topped it off with graduated Czech crystal.

Recently, my daughter, Rachel Wood, asked why I hadn't named a fixture after her.  It occurred to me that I hadn't come up with anything appropriately befitting her personality.  She is creative, has a great sense of humor, and is always on the run - experiencing new places and making new friends. Her style is harder to pin down.  However, someone else beat me to it - she has a purse named after her!  Rachel is a high fashion makeup artist who works with Louise Roe, the fashion presenter and designer from the UK who is replacing Elle Macpherson on Fashion Star.  Louise has her own line of clothing and accessories and she too uses names of women she knows for her creations.  

Louise and Rachel also have a new show of their own called "Beauty School".  I'm so proud of them!  Do you think they'd name a lipstick after me?  Who wouldn't want to wear a lustrous red named Bébé?

The New (Retail) Frontier

So - you think the economy has tanked?  Well, retail sales may not be great in the US, but take a look in the emerging countries of the world.  Wow - have the tables turned!  The appetite for American luxury goods has gone beyond autos and iphones.



Ralph Lauren - Cheng Du Store

 Luxury stores and labels such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Coach, and Tiffany & Co. are building hundreds of stores in China, Asia, India and Russia.  Compare their new middle class to ours.  Here our largest city is New York with just over eight million people.  China has ten cities, each with over ten million people and India has a middle class that's larger than the entire population of the US.  That's a lot of jeans, perfume and jewelry!



DLF Promendade, India


In the case of home furnishings,
we are looking forward to selling a lot of .... well you get the picture!  Right now, Lampworks is producing hundreds of lampshades for store fixtures for these companies and they are being shipped to Shanghai, Macau, Abu Dubai, Moscow, Kazakhstan and well, all those other places, some of which, not too long ago, were considered very remote. Now they are becoming another 57th Street.

The kicker to all this is that so much of the merchandise is actually made in China and Asia - but it is the label that is desirable.  There is a difference, however.  Companies have to rethink how they merchandise their wares as other cultures have different buying habits. They may read from top to bottom and open their wallets based upon how goods The Indian culture is more Westernized, however, the government has been slow to lower import taxes and duty so that more luxury goods can be offered in their stores.

Lampworks Branches Out!

  LAMPWORKS' NEW SHOWROOM

These days, many businesses downsize.  Lampworks recently moved into a larger space to include furniture and flooring.  After all, lighting needs display space on walls and ceilings, so we have room for our new, exclusive lines at:

 The New York Design Center
200 Lexington Ave, Suite 903, NYC 10016
212.750.1500

Visit Lampworks' Website and Showroom to learn about designing everything you need.  We'll take you through the often confusing world of sustainable lighting choices, and show you how to integrate them into your designs.

 

Continuing our tradition of providing quality, custom, sustainable designs (ours or yours), so too may you customize our seating, area rugs and case goods.  Just as with our lighting, you specify the finish or materials, size and design.  Everything has a short foot print with fast lead-times.

Our furniture is made from the finest European leathers, fabrics from design sources - or COM.  Order sofas, sectionals and modulars "by the inch" and choose the filling, legs and cushions. We also offer great dining, lounge, pull-up, and accent chairs, kitchen and bar stools.

Along with our stock design and custom area rug capabilities, Lampworks is the only source for custom, outdoor area rugs!  Yes, your size, shape and design, made with custom colors.

We offer a variety of yarns and textural effects.  Poms are shipped quickly for those demanding Clients who want to make decisions now!

So, stop in when you're in the NYDC, or make an appointment at: 212.750.1500 to get a preview of our fresh, innovative styles and service.  And...remember our lighting too...

SM-01 Surface Mount

Surface Mounts in many sizes and shapes. 
Choose the finish and lamping for your requirements.

Fiberglass Mid-20th C Shade

Custom Lampshades and

Contemporary and Classic Table and Floor Lamps 

Make an appointment to learn about designing everything you need.  We'll take you through the often confusing world of sustainable lighting sources and assist you with integrating them into your designs.  Now Lampworks is your One Source for furniture and flooring as well as lighting!

Come! Sit! Stay! at the NYDC

Usually, we write about lighting, however, Lampworks recently moved into the New York Design Center at 200 Lexington Avenue, and so our mascots want you to know how excited they are to be here!   If you've shopped at Lampworks, then you've met our Standard Poodles, Yoshi and Caniche.  Caniche is the white female princess who holds court over the showroom, and Yoshi is the the male rescue with soulful eyes who greets everyone for pets.   

On our first offical day, as we approached the entrance, there was Mike, one of the building staff, raising the flags of the US, NYDC, and 1stdibs.  We stopped to salute and entered the lobby where we were greeted by Eileen and Louis who qualify visitors and messengers.  Eileen is in big trouble ever since the Poodles found out she keeps biscuits at her station.  Now they won't continue through the lobby unless they get a treat.  While we were there we also met Jordan of Apropos, with his dog.

Next, we stopped in the Cafe to pick up coffee and were pleasantly surprised to find that the Poodles were allowed to accompany me where they were offered some treats.  How is a canine to keep a good figure around here?

As we rode up to the ninth floor, the Poodles, who always watch their elevator manners, sat quietly wagging their tails offering free shoe shines.   When we arrived, we met DIFFA's mascot, Spot.  Gosh, this is an exciting start to the day - another member of the NYDC Kennel Club! 

Ready for work, Caniche and Yoshi got into position for their nap and
waited for another chance to see Eileen on their way out for a walk.  Hmmm....maybe the guys at the Cafe will spare a little cheese they've been saving for those yummy paninis?  Next time you are in the NYDC, stop into Suite 903 and have your shoes shined while you view our new lighting.  Come! Sit! Stay!

7 Weeks to a New Showroom!

WEEK FIVE:

It's time to freak out!  ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT!  Now that each of our contractors has gotten to a running start without tripping over each other, they have all promised to take us from this...

Suite 903 (October 13, 2011)

...to a finished showroom!  Although it looks like nothing is happening, the walls are being framed and almost all the piping is run for the electric wires.  Then the entire space will be painted, the floor will be installed and we'll transport our "display fixtures".  These have to be reinstalled to show off our sconces, table lamps and lampshades.

While waiting for this to happen, I took some time out with friends to attend a book signing by Ana Tzarev in her gallery on West 57th Street.  Justin Warner, Director of the gallery, whisked us away for a glass of champagne and introduced us to Ana.  Originally from Croatia, Ana specializes in scenes of nature; especially flowers and birds.  Primary colors dominate her themes and her canvasses are of a grand scale.  Ana is one of the most exuberant painters I have ever met - and so is her art!

And speak of exuberant people, in the center is our group leader, Interior Designer, Elle, of Lebeck Design Corp., and from left to right, long-time pal Sean, Courtney of B.Berger, family friend Ram, and me!

I'm cashing in all my favors and inviting everyone in town to spend the weekend packing chandeliers.  Free beer and pizza for all.  So far we have two brave participants. When I return to work on Monday, I will have photos with more progress.  I hope.