Let there be light

Unless it’s a rise and fall, the overhead ceiling light offers little to no joy in my opinion although I concede it’s necessary when doing a good hoover… In contrast, soft pools of light in the evening are my idea of paradise. I love the different vignettes you get as a result of pairing standing and table lamps in a room. You get to articulate the things you love and cast the pile of laundry, post, pet food etc into darkness. Ideal.

Uplight, downlight, directional light, task lights… It’s all there to play with and like any good ‘capsule’ wardrobe (something that forever eludes me, you?) layering them up is a great strategy when planning a room.

If like me you’re working with an electrical plan from the 1930s, don’t forget to factor in an extension lead with your purchase. And you don’t need me to remind you that a warmer bulb makes all the difference

A soft little cloud light in a reading nook we designed for a client. The quilt is an antique American topper from the late 1800s

MID CENTURY

1. £36 Clip on and an excellent punch of colour in a mid century scheme

2. £200 A slinky standing lamp with two rotatable heads from 1970s Denmark, fully rewired and a lovely chocolate colour

3. £395 Really very sexy if you ask me. Sort of like you run Vogue and have a really impressive office. Giovanni Michelucci for Lariolux 1940s. Rewired and restored. Save 20% off the price if you buy before Sunday

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IKEA

1. £15 A smart high street version of French designers Jieldé

2. £25 Good flex, nice mechanical look, attach it to a shelf or onto the wall

3. £70 Unexpected red theory- the idea that most schemes can take a pop of red and be bettered for it. Good directional light options with this one too

ART WORKS

1. £395 Florentine gilt tole sconces from the 1940s. I love them with these bluey-green candles

1. £480 Jess Wheeler doing what she does best: hand crafted beauty. Add your email for her next stock update

2. £225 each. Late 19th century, clean line and casting a soft, diffused glow that Charlotte Tilbury will try and bottle

CORD FREE & CURVY

1. £25 Like a tiny, glossy autumnal mushroom

2. £39 Between writing and publishing, this burnt orange colour has gone out of stock but M&S have a good range of other colours and I like the matte finish

3. £39.99 Slightly more slim line, evocative of the mid century in shape and touch sensitive

OVERHEAD

1. £85.99 So many good options from Zara at the moment and this rattan lovely beats Neptune’s prices for an equivalent look

2. £3330.87 (trade price) Murano- I did say you be the judge! You’re buying a piece of Italian lighting design history and a perpetual feeling of glamour/ proximity to the mob

3. £380 This cream rise and fall (yup exactly as it sounds) has long been coveted by me and I’m delighted to say it made it into the kitchen of my New Malden project. It’s as good in the flesh as I had hoped and heavy. Make sure your ceiling can handle it…

SHADE SWAP

1. £85 I know some of you are crafty… so why not buy a Tess Newall kit and paint your own lampshade during one of these darker evenings?

2. £65 Loving String- I love her colour choices. I’m attempting to recreate something like this for my covered market client - wish me luck.

3. £78 Ceau Store hand make their shades and there’s something for non pattern and pattern lovers alike. Join her mailing list as she’s been on maternity leave and the next drop goes out early December…

So, there we are. “Blessed are the cracked for they shall let in the light” etc.

S