LANSERRING connects innovative design with excellence in craftsmanship.
Our network of suppliers and specialists, colleagues and collaborators is paramount. As masters of our own crafts within custom joinery and furniture, we hold a deep respect for other craftspeople and artisans. Where our specialisms interact, a beautiful opportunity for collaboration is revealed.
Our celebrated installation at the LANSERRING New York Gallery created a challenging set of demands on its lighting system. We knew there was only one lighting design team who could match the subtlety and finesse of our furniture: Xavio Design.
The team at Xavio created a finely calibrated bespoke lighting system that compliments and elevates our own installation. We chatted to Xavio’s Design Director, Rebecca Richards to hear about her experiences working with LANSERRING and about the design she and her team created for us …
Please would you introduce Xavio Design – who are you and what do you do?
Xavio Design is a dedicated super-prime lighting design consultancy. We are passionate about light and see lighting design as an art and a science. Working on a wide range of ultra-exclusive properties in the residential and hospitality sectors, we continually strive to raise the bar of lighting design and to enhance our projects with inspiration, expertise and superior product sourcing. We work with clients for whom perfection is key, and we take enormous pride in delivering flawless outcomes every time.
For Xavio, what is the role of lighting in an interior space?
Light is the paintbrush with which we shape what we see. A floodlit space loses all dimension, so a considered lighting design is crucial for adding depth and soul into any interior. At Xavio we take great care in designing with both light and shadow, and in a way that minimises any attention being drawn away from the luxurious interior. By retaining a mystique as to how that is achieved, the soul of an interior can truly resonate.
What can lighting do for a kitchen? A dressing room?
Lighting can make or break your experience of any room, and in kitchens and dressing rooms it has to work on many different levels. Colour rendering is key – both for appetising catering, and for true colour tones and fabrics in a wardrobe. Scene setting is also critical to ensure a seamless shift as activities change from cooking to hosting an evening soirée, or from feeling energised for the day ahead to relaxing and winding down as day moves to night.
Please would you describe your lighting design for the LANSERRING New York Gallery?
LANSERRING commissioned Xavio to replicate the brand’s ethos and atmospheric craftsmanship of joinery into the wider space of the gallery. We worked closely within their brief to transpose the warm and luxurious feel of their joinery into an holistic design. Using concealed lighting within joinery elements and spotlight tracks suspended from the exposed industrial ceiling, we were able to create a synergy which ties together the industrial setting with these elegant light fixtures. The harmony of joinery and light working together helps to create this holistic space, one that respects the heritage and passion for excellence in craft and design so synonymous with the LANSERRING brand.
What impact does it have on the experience of the space?
The result is a home experience within an industrial showroom. Prospective clients can walk off the Manhattan street into an authentic NYC building where the atmosphere exudes quality and exclusivity. This is brought forward by LANSERRING’S design and craftmanship, their traditional artisanal techniques and respect of fine natural materials. The exposed ducting and high ceilings reinforce that authenticity, creating a perfect combination of home and industrial, a beautiful canvas for the play of light and shadow.
How does it work at different stages of natural light throughout the day and the seasons?
The gallery makes use of mostly natural light in the kitchen area, allowing that natural light to flood in and bring to life the fine woodgrain and stone detailing, immersing a prospective client in how they would experience their kitchen joinery at home. In contrast to this, the dressing room area has no natural light, making it feel cosy and private. The lighting in both areas has been designed to work harmoniously with the time of day or season. With added flexibility, the user can also enhance the space on a gloomy day by increasing the lighting levels, or set the perfect mood for an evening party or exclusive event.
How did you find working in collaboration with the LANSERRING team?
The team at LANSERRING is complemented by specialist designers, master craftspeople, project managers and technicians. They are critical thinkers, and at Xavio we never like to propose an effect that isn’t possible or is compromised in real life. This made for a strong working partnership and it was an honour to be given the opportunity to work alongside them on their first US Kitchen Gallery.
Did you encounter any particular challenges on the project?
One of the most important challenges to overcome was bringing the exquisite design experience of LANSERRING to the US market using a completely different lighting toolkit. Bringing our depth of lighting knowledge into a new market and making sure it was integrated effectively via a local team with different regulations and standards required methodical communication. Through careful coordination we have together created a showroom that emphatically embodies the established LANSERRING experience with that local NYC flavour.
What aspect of the lighting design are you most proud of?
We can’t possibly separate the lighting design from that of the fine cabinetry, so my favourite aspect has to be the Pickling Cabinet. The hand-oiled slatted oak panel mimics Manhattan’s soaring towers, thrown into silhouette by the warm vertical lighting and allowing glimpses of what lies within. Concealing light sources within these fine details and against some unforgiving surfaces such as solid marble is always difficult, so it’s always a relief to see it successfully come together.
If the New York Gallery were your own kitchen, which spot would you be in on a Sunday morning?
Having been out for a morning stroll to collect some of New York City’s finest bagels and coffee, it would be time to enjoy it relaxing in the kitchen. The natural light would be shining through, the sounds of the city a reminder of the world outside. I would be looking forward to welcoming a small group of friends for a lunch which would be laid out across the island, glowing under the linear pendant light.
For more information on Xavio Design, please visit their website: www.xavio-design.com/
