lighting up

by Faerl Marie Torres

foyer lighting makes a big first impression

OPULENT FOYERS are often seen in luxury hotels, historic mansions and other prestigious settings, where attention to detail and aesthetics is of utmost importance. These spaces are designed to leave a lasting impression and set the tone for the interior of the building. The same can be true for your home. The foyer can be its calling card. From starkly cool and modern to richly warm and traditional, whatever your interior’s signature style, the foyer is a preview of what’s to come, and lighting sets the mood. “It’s a pivotal part of the house,” says Shawn Lease of Turn on Lighting. “You don’t want the light fixture to dominate, but it should make a statement.”

To achieve that statement, interior designer Heather Van Luchene of HVL Interiors advises clients first to consider the proportions of the foyer. Whether your home has a dedicated entry or opens directly into the living space, you can create a space to pause and take a moment with lighting. “If it opens into a big floor plan, there’s an opportunity to create a place of welcome through furnishing arrangement, like a round table or bench with an entry fixture above,” Van Luchene says. This arrangement can create the feeling of a purposeful entryway that may not be there in its own right.

Statement-making fixtures and pendant clusters reign supreme for homes with a dedicated foyer. For grand entrances with high ceilings, there are a lot of options. “Grouped pendants and interesting arrangements with multiple fixtures that become sculptural create a great focal point,” Van Luchene says.

Lower ceilings aren’t banished from high design. For more traditional heights—eight to ten feet—Lease recommends semi-flush-mount fixtures that spread out across the ceiling to create impact without height. “Wall sconces framing a picture or mirror can also make a statement in entryways with lower ceilings,” he says.

“When you’re sizing the fixture, keep in mind the door height,” says Arielle Cofer of Bright Ideas, Inc. There are no hard and fast rules, but be sure to have plenty of clearance between the door and the fixture, and the ideal diameter is no more than half the total square feet of the foyer. General arrangement guidelines include fixtures hung no lower than seven and a half feet. If it hangs above furniture, there should be 34 to 36 inches between the fixture and a tabletop. Another consideration is how the fixture looks when it’s turned off. “With built-in LEDs, you can have large, airy pieces that cast cool light patterns on the ceiling,” Cofer says. When LEDs are off, the glass and bulbs all but disappear, maintaining a minimalist look that focuses on the style instead of the function.

Material influences the impact and aesthetic of the fixture statement. “Softer elements are coming back,” says Cofer. “We’re seeing a throwback to natural materials—wood, rattan, bamboo, natural jute rope.” Warm woods alongside brown and gold tones that enhance the style of many Southwestern homes are great options. Mixed-metal finishes are on trend throughout the home, and the foyer is no exception. Black metal and warm brass marry contemporary sophistication with timeless elegance to create a striking contrast that highlights the character of both. Van Luchene likes glass and paper or parchment—translucent materials that create nice light for entries, as well as patinaed metals with softer finishes like bronze, pewter and aged brass. “It depends on the space and aesthetic,” she says, advising clients never to select an unwelcoming fixture with anything sharp at the bottom. “You also have to consider the view from below since that’s mainly what you see when you walk in.”

Smart technology has become an integral part of luxury lighting design, providing homeowners with unrivaled control and convenience. Van Luchene and Cofer use 2700K bulbs for entry lighting and alter the output based on the desired mood. “Homes should be soft, warm and inviting. It’s important to control the color temperature and light level in an entry by putting the fixture on a dimmer,” Van Luchene says. The best way to achieve an elegant invitation is to set the tone at the front door, making bold statements and incorporating natural elements through purposeful lighting design.

resources

Bright Ideas, Inc.
lightingfordesign.com

HVL Interiors

Turn On Lighting