7 Weeks to a New Showroom!

WEEK TWO:
We made a lot of decisions about the electrical (whew!).  Now the work begins.  It involves a lot of chopping, drilling and concrete dust, so this part is done early mornings, evenings and weekends so as not to disturb the other showrooms.

This past Tuesday was the annual "What's New What's Next" event at the NYDC.  Since we were not officially open, but wanted to have a presence, we set up a "construction vignette" with chandeliers on ladders, a few pieces of our new leather line and a pile of lampshades peaking from a packing box.

We displayed a chair and ottoman from Leathercraft.  Their furniture is amazing.  It's all made from beautiful, top-quality European leather, eight-way hand-tied construction and is custom made in 3-4 weeks!

As you can see, the choice of style runs the gamut from Contemporary to Classic.  If you want to design your own styles or reinvent ours, be our guest!

We also showed our signature chandelier, the Dulce, which received a lot of attention.  

The best part of our lines is that they are Made in America!  So, quick lead-time for custom fabrication and a short footprint is included at no extra charge!

Now, we have to meet with the other contractors to figure out where everything else will go.  Oy!

7 Week Countdown to a New Showroom!

WEEK ONE:
Lampworks has begun the third incantation of it's professional life in NYC.  In 1996 we opened in the D&D Building, or "979 Third" to the locals.  Five years later, when we needed to expand into larger space, we moved to 58th Street in September of 2001 (good timing eh?).  At that time it would have made a good location for filming "Midnight Cowboy".  Just a seedy-looking street that leads to the upper roadway of the 59th Street Bridge, it has always been home to great restaurants like Felidia; but her jewel of a building was the exception, not the rule. 

As more and more home furnishings merchants gentrified the side streets surrounding the D&D, A&D and Fine Arts Buildings, we improved properties.  Since the values went up, property owners proceeded to raise rents.  It became a win/win for landlords and a lose/lose for tenants.

So, here we are, September, 2011 and we're doing our third build-out in 15 years!  We are moving into the NYDC, the New York Design Center, lovingly referred to as "200 Lex".

Our new space is a "usable" 1,677 square feet. As of today, it is a concrete box with 10'-8" ceilings, and two tall windows that look out onto Lexington Avenue and 32nd Street. Keep in mind that ceiling height is everything to a lighting showroom.  We have exactly seven weeks to complete a build-out, move in and open! 



Suite 903 (September 9, 2011)


The NYDC was built at the turn-of-the-century, so ceilings are composed of clay and cannot hold more than 25 pounds.  For most showrooms that's not a problem, but for Lampworks... well, we will have to install  steel extrusions called Kindorf that are literally bolted to the bottom of the I-beams by sawing away the concrete and plaster that surrounds them.  The Kindorf is electrified and the beams must be restored.  This brings our "ceiling height" down to  9'-8" - not a very comfortable height to hang large chandeliers.  We have a lot to do!

We're planning everything down to the inch, but where to display large chandeliers?  Yikes!  And - we're making room for a new category - furniture.  We'd also like to reuse as many of our existing display fixtures as possible, but don't want the space to appear crowded.  It's very tempting to put ten pounds into a five pound bag -exactly the look we want to avoid!  We'll let you know how this plays out when we get to Week Two.  Stay posted!

Cool Lighting Basics - 101

In our last Blog we talked about Sustainable lighting and bulbs (referred to as lamps) with which most of us are more familiar.  As promised, here are some additional, newer types of lamps.

Ah - the miracle lamp - Light Emitting Diode.   Better known as an LED, they've been around since 1927 (!) and were perfected in 1962 by GE.  LED's have been used for a while in aviation, and in street lights and electronics, but were not used for general lighting purposes until recently.  Although there are LED par-like flood lamps, Edison and candelabra based lamps for residential use, we have a long way to go in perfecting the color of the light,and being able to get the lumens we are all used to living by.  Most types cannot be dimmed, may fade and can change color.  Also, although manufacturers boast that LED's last for 50-80,000 hours, these lamps haven't been around long enough to know for sure!  Still, it's become the cold lighting of choice for under-counter and interior cabinet lighting because of the compact size and the small amount of electricity it requires.

AIRBUS LIT w/ LED

The once industrial Metal Halide lamp has morphed into a variety of shapes and sizes that can be for commercial and residential use.  The original 1960's technology has been around long enough for us to know that we can get from 50-80,000 hours from one lamp.  Take a walk down Fifth Avenue and get real close to the  windows that wrap around the front of Saks 5th Avenue.  James Ranson, Associate Director of Visual Lighting Design for Saks, uses Metal Halide lamps to get beautiful effects on posh merchandise that has to look its best!  The lamps are ideal for window display as they are cold like fluorescent.  This way, the small world of a shop window won't require more energy to keep it cool like traditional incandescent and halogen lamps.  Additionally, they last far longer, so they're saving money on staff time and replacement lamps.

BASEBALL FIELD LIT w/ METAL HALIDE

Less familiar to some is Cold Cathode, also known as CCFL.  These lamps are actually a cousin of Neon.  They are gas-filled tubes that can be bent into virtually any shape and size.  We find them especially suited for illuminating coves as they have less drop-off than LED's and they can be made any length, which means they are not interrupted by dark spots like fluorescents which come in standard sizes.  They are also colder than fluorescent and can be dimmed.  They also last up to 25,000 hours.

Cove Lit w/ Cold Cathode

Here's my favorite... Fiber Optics.  Fiber Optic Lighting does not use any "lamps" - except one for the source.  It is a lighting system that transports the light through glass fibers - sort of like Fios.  The series of glass fibers is protected by a flexible cable that makes it water-proof, fire-proof and may be installed where you can't use conduit because there's no electricity going through the cables!  Best of all, except for the source, there are no bulbs to change - it's totally permanent!  It gives off no heat at all.  Even fluorescents and some LED's do give off some heat albeit less than incandescent. 

 STAIRWELL LIT w/ FIBER OPTICS

So, how do we sort out all these new types of lamps that we're all debating about?  Sustainable lighting is still in its infancy so there's a lot to learn.  The truth is, even manufacturers don't have all the answers.  They come up with new products to sell but often don't offer coordinating sockets with dimmers.  There are no standards for labeling; often, they each label specs differently than another company, although they are exactly the same.  The answer is to be open to everything.  There isn't one type of lighting that can substitute for another any more.  Experiment a little and see what works for you.  Not everything is worth all the hype - but you may be pleasantly surprised!

It's not easy being Green!

Remember that song by Kermit the frog?  "It's not easy being green"  Well, many of our clients feel the same way!  We've done a lot of research to sort out the differences between so many types of lighting; searched the Internet, spoken with experts who lecture at our "Breakfast Club" meetings, and joined organizations such as the Designers Lighting Forum (DLF), NYC.  At these meetings, we meet with other lighting professionals with whom we can discuss types of lighting. 

So where does this leave us?  A bit overwhelmed by it all?  I don't blame you!  Here's the complaint we hear most often: "Our clients want to be more friendly toward the environment and save money, but none of us like the lighting effect of  Fluorescent lighting:"  I couldn't agree more.  The most important thing we've learned is that there is more to Sustainable life than Fluorescents!  Yes you heard it here!  Common' you ask, if we can put a man on the moon, why can't anyone make a CFL look like an incandescent?  For one thing, when Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, it was his goal to imitate gas light, the popular mode of lighting at the time, and just like gas, incandescent has a filament that burns and glows with a warm, yellow light.  That is why they don't last as long as newer kinds of lighting.  They "burn out" quickly.

Enclosed Wall Sconce -

Great with CFL's

Drum Pendant -

Perfect for CFL's

 




In an effort to create something that is reasonably priced and lasts longer, CFL's have started to dominate the market.  However, it's never going to glow like a candle.  The bulbs, or "lamps" as they are properly referred to, are filled with a gas.  It's like trying to match the color of a your chartreuse fabric to a ready-mixed chart of paint for your walls.  You'll come really close but never quite make it!  The best we can do is choose the "color temperature". 


Incandescents glow at 2700 Kelvin and you can buy CFL's at 2700K as well, however, it's only close.  So, we recommend them for enclosed fixtures such as drum pendants, flush and semi-flush mounts, where it works especially well.  And, we've also found some CFL's that can be dimmed.  Sweet!

Candelabra Base
Xenon

My favorite alternative is "Xenon".  Yes, just like the lamps they use in the headlights of your car!  They also have a gas inside, but they also have a filament that glows.  Xenon gas is whiter than Fluorescent, they are available in Edison or candelabra bases and are really small so you can get a lot of light in a small shade or fixture.  They cost more than an incandescent, however, they last at least three times as long.  They also dim.  The reason I consider them sustainable is that they give off more light using less wattage.  For instance, the 60-watt version is perceived by the human eye like a brighter, 100-watt incandescent.  So, you'll use less electricity and buy fewer bulbs in the long run.

This tiny sconce has a
shallow shade - good
choice for a Xenon bulb.

Some of the "new" lamps we're using are actually old technology.  For instance, Cold Cathode lighting, another lamp that has gas inside, is a cousin of Neon.  Fiber Optic lighting was first developed in the 1950's.  More on those, the ever-popular LED and Metal Halide next time - there is a lot to "look at!"


For more information on green lamps and lighting, visit Lampworks' Sustainable Page.




Window Dressing

As the great recession takes its toll on small business owners, we find ourselves working harder and putting in longer hours in an effort to bring in more new business.  To my delight, however, our business has picked up, thanks to our loyal clients from the past who are starting to get busier. This is how Customer Service is supposed to work!  It may not pay off immediately, but it sure pays off in the long run.  Customer Service is not just a department staffed by cheerful people who apologize for the mistakes of others, but a willingness on everyone's part to do what it takes to make everything right.

Our First Window, October 2001

Along with service, promotion is a key factor in getting your name out.  Lampworks' Designer Showcase Windows have been designed and installed by well-known interior designers since their inception in 2002. Past participants have included alumni of the Kips Bay Designer Showhouse, Holiday House and the office of Albert Hadley.  

Our current window was just completed by an interior designer with a fresh slant on things, Felicia Zwebner, of Art de Triomphe, LLC.  Each window has a theme and Felicia, in keeping with "everything French", has installed a table and chairs on a stone patio under a canopy of branches and moss.  But....the world has turned topsy-turvey!  The dining area is on a wall, our entrance stairs has morphed into a waterfall and you'll walk across the sky to enter the showroom alongside a Montgolfier!  So, stop by and see Felicia in Lampworksland. 

The benefit of these windows is plain to see (no pun intended), but for us it is the privilege of being in on the planning and installation.  My staff and I have so much fun watching and participating as the the windows come alive.  Thank you Window25, Faux Time Design, Gramercy Park Flower Shop, Kravet, Pierre Deux and Inkjet Textile Printing.   As Felicia states, "It's difficult to put together a great group of tradespeople like the ones I work with."  Our windows are a win-win effort that brings attention to the designer, our lighting, and the furniture, fabric, flooring and accessories that are loaned to us by area merchants.  Additionally, talented tradespeople get to strut their stuff where everyone can see how they use floral displays, paint clouds, and build beautiful upholstered balloons (yes balloons!).

It never ceases to amaze me how store owners neglect their best asset - their windows on the world.  Lampworks has become known for ever-changing, constantly amazing, creative windows.  Local shoppers, residents and other merchants tell us how they walk down 58th Street just to see what we've done with our window.  It keeps people looking into our showroom, and - we've proven that interior designers love doing windows!


PS: If you can't make it to NYC, you can see the window and read all about it in the Traditional Home magazine blog!










 

Insist on Good Lighting Wherever You Go!

If you ask any designer why they do what they do, most likely they will say that they want to make the world a more beautiful or perfect place.  It's not easy to go through life noticing what is right as well as what is askew.  We notice what clashes and try to make it harmonize.  We find something that isn't as it should be and try to fix it.  As a kid I'd see a frame hanging crookedly on a wall and straighten it - even if it wasn't my house!  It upsets me to see things out of balance.

This summer my husband and I spent some long weekends visiting with friends and relatives while staying in high-end hotels, budget motels and B&B's.  They all have different features, however, they have one thing in common; a lack of attention to how their guests use lighting.  As a matter of fact, even if a guest room  has been well planned, after a while it often deteriorates ...no one checks them again.  We all bemoan the fact that lighting is so important, yet we're willing to accept substandard lighting elsewhere.  Here are a few of my pet peeves....

1 - Missing finials. The lampshade falls off when reach over to turn it on.
Solution: Routinely check that they are tight or not missing.
2 - Low wattage bulbs for reading at bedside or on the desk.
Solution: Supply high-wattage bulbs with dimmers.
3 - Bedside lamps are centered on the nightstand but are too far away to be useful.
Solution: Give us slack on the cord so we can move it closer if necessary.
4 - Missing or blown-out bulbs and there are no replacements available.
Solution: Leave extra bulbs in the closet labeled with where they go.
5 - Incorrect or insufficient bulbs.  Housekeeping could care less what they've stuck in any socket.
Solution: Label or color-code replacement bulbs for the staff.
6 - A lamp is unplugged and the cord cord or receptacle is stuck behind a piece of furniture.
Solution: Check daily that everything is working!
7 - Two and three-way switches that never seem to coordinate with each other.
Solution: Label all unusual or multi-ganged switches. 
8 - Full length mirrors and mirrors over dressers that are in the dark.

Solution: Install a light above the mirror.

Lamps centered on nightstands look good but

are too far to reach and don't give adequate light.

   

 A good example of lighting above a mirror and

 cove lighting adds ambient warmth to the room.

Also, it's so tempting to leave the lights on when we don't have to foot the bill.  So where is our sense of sustainability as consumers?  US hoteliers should install the systems used by Europeans which automatically sense that you have left the room, and turn everything off.

Now that there are mandates for hotels to use CFL's, it would be great if housekeeping staffs replaced each bulb with the same kind.  It is sickening to apply makeup or read in green light, knowing that there are fluorescents available in the same color temperature as incandescents. 


It surprises me that housekeeping supervisors and hotel managers do not review  room lighting on a regular basis.  Perhaps they should spend a night in one of their own rooms. What do you think?

Where is our Catalogue?

Two weeks ago I turned on our main computer and tried to check email.  A message appeared in the bottom right hand corner of the screen telling me our (brand new) machine had lost it's internet and networking connections.  So, for the past two weeks we have been in Computer Hell.  This is where you are guaranteed to spend an inordinate amount of time if you think you know enough to outwit tech support.  Taking matters into your own hands, however, is better than getting stuck in Computer Limbo where you wait for your brother-in-law to show up to fix it for free, and hope that he doesn't make it worse.  If you're lucky, you'll go directly to Computer Heaven because you can afford a professional.  I won't bore you with the gorey details, suffice it to say that we thank our clients for bearing with us! 

While I spent my time with installation wizards ("watching paint dry"), I picked up a lot of sales calls from design firms who are reviewing their libraries.  They were inquiring about a catalogue.  We explained that our best sellers are on our site , but what we do best is create good-looking lighting the way you need it.  An example is our work with store development designers.  Years ago, when I worked for Bloomingdale's and Macy*s, I observed how important these often oversized, overscaled visual cues can be to the allure of the store and bottom line.  Sometines the most subtle design element can make a difference in the buyer's mood or perception of the product it was meant to enhance.

We love a challenge!  One of our clients, exclusive British childrens' wear designer, Marie Chantal, opted for drum shades wrapped in a special white tape with  floating linen diffusers.  We engineered them so that they would meet UL code in their US stores yet look the same as the original UK version.

Store design projects allow us to collaborate with top professionals such as the Store Development team of Polo Ralph Lauren where they design some of the most creative store fixtures in the world.  Currently, they are installing a store in Kuwait and recently completed one in Dubais.  For the Childrens' departments of these stores we created hand-sewn lampshade pendants on steriods!

Carolina Herrera commissioned a hand-blown chandelier in smokey brown crystal to match her dress satin and Bergdorf Goodman requested five original miniature chandeliers for their Celine windows on Fifth Avenue.

Sak's Fifth Avenue asked us to reproduce lamps for their Cosmetics Department that were originally made in France in the 1920's.  The assignment was to make an acryllic shade that would look like the original Lalique glass.

We enjoy seeing how beautifully everything turns out - the challenging part is the deadlines.  Yes, it's a scary world out there but no longer do you have to worry about whether your design will work.  You design it and we'll make it work.  That's our job.