Who knew katsa or muslin cloth,  could look this sophisticated?! The Fandango lamp (above), designed by Danny Fong for Kenneth Cobonpue’s affiliate brand for lighting and accessories Hive, has several layers of “petals” that were made from muslin cotton cloth.

We saw the lamp in Kenneth Cobonpue’s booth in CebuNext last March (below) but we thought it was made from some sophisticated organic fabric.

Fong also recently debuted a set of pendant lamps inspired by chess pieces. The Checkmate lamps (below) are finished in hand-laid salago fibers for the exterior, and gold-leafed surface for the lamps’ interior.

Visit Kenneth Cobonpue’s Hive brand for other equally interesting items.

You would always hear designers say that lighting is everything. And it’s true. Light influences how we perceive a space. In fact, the easiest way to improve a room is to improve the lighting by introducing a mix of lighting fixtures: general, directional, task, and accent lighting.

We have been accustomed to bright, white, overhead (ceiling mounted) general lighting even if it’s sometimes unnecessary. Plus, overhead general lighting is so unflattering to the space and to the people in it by making all the imperfections visible, creating ugly shadows, and highlighting blue undertones (for daylight fluorescent lamps) like blemishes and dirt marks.

To save on electricity and to make your space look and feel better, add a light where it is needed by incorporating table and floor lamps. They are much more efficient for task lighting because the light source is near the work space and would, therefore, require a bulb with a lower wattage (I prefer a 5 to 7-watt warm or cool white cfl). For aesthetic purposes, table and floor lamps are great accent lights that cast light patterns in the room that introduce depth and drama.

For those in a tight budget, here are some contemporary lamps that are super affordable:

1) Aluminum lamp (top photo, foreground), P6,000 from Chan C Bros., SM Megamall

2) Aluminum lamp with rippled shade (top photo, background) P3,000 from Chan C Bros., SM Megamall.

3) Tao Margot table lamp (above), P3,195 from Our Home

4) Tao Polaris table lamp (below) P1,995 from Our Home

Halogen and incandescent lamps are probably the most flattering to use for interior spaces. They’re also equally flattering for people because they complement most skin tones. The problem is that they consume a lot of energy (30-50W per bulb). Although there are already warm white (yellowish) CFLs, they don’t have the same kind of “light quality”. The light coming from CFLs still looks “flat”. Probably it has something to do with differences in their light spectrum and light intensity. Not sure. On top of that, halogen lamps are just too hot (because of the high wattage) and they don’t last long.

Late last year, I was so happy to find out that Luxen, one of my favorite lamp stores in Ortigas Home Depot, started to carry LED lamps (LEDO brand from Australia) that were meant to replace the conventional halogen lamps and other accent lighting fixtures.

For 3W directional lamp, it produces light equal to a 30W halogen minus the high temperature. They are also dimmable and come in different types for different applications. Plus, they are projected to last for 25 years! They just come with a hefty price tag: P3,000 per 3W LED directional. However, in the long run it will save you more money compared to the cheaper halogen lamps that consume more energy and has a shorter lifespan.

I already tried the LED directional lamps in one project, and personally, I’m pleased with the results:

Now, here’s a better news. There’s a new LED bulb from Pharox that is designed to replace our conventional CFL bulbs for general lighting. Take note, CFLs are supposed to be phased out in 10 years. Although CFLs are relatively lower in energy consumption, the mercury content in the bulbs makes them hazardous to people and to the environment especially during their disposal.

Unfortunately, the Pharox LED bulbs are only available in 110V (so it will still require a ballast), can only fit an E26 base (we typically use an E27 base) and cost $49.95 for the 6W bulb (roughly P2,300.00). Hopefully they’ll come up with bulbs that can fit our local specs.

To know more about Pharox and the advantages of LED bulbs visit www.mypharox.com.

Our photo shoot on Dr. Balisacan’s studio brought us to this fascinating lamp store in Kamuning. 

DL Design, short for its owner’s name Doy Lagos, is a small shop that’s home to interesting, one-of-a-kind lamps. Doy was the one who designed the Moses lamp, the wicker and steel droplight in Dr. Balisacan’s living area.

Doy’s designs are really interesting. Very unconventional, I must say. One thing I like about them is their sculptural form. They can make a statement in a room without looking too overpowering.

DL Design has lamps ranging from the classic contemporary Filipino pieces…

… to pieces that are rather playful and quirky.

In designing interior furnishings, it’s quite tricky to strike a balance between being sculptural and being able to blend harmoniously with the rest of the space. Probably Doy’s background as an architect gave him the kind of sensitivity for both aspects of design.

If you want to see more of Doy’s lamps, visit his website at www.dldesign.multiply.com.

His shop is located at 51 Kamuning Rd., Quezon City, but is open by appointment only. Better contact him before dropping by. He could be reached at 09205624075.

*photos are by Jerome Albrando for DL Design.

This one offers flexibility with a design suitable both for indoor and outdoor use.

I just pity the model’s dog, having “Chika” for a name. Hehe.