by Leona Gaita

Today we are joined by Leona Gaita, HomeWorkshop.com Interior Design Expert and Contributor. Leona shares with us her inspiring ideas and advice to help us enrich our homes and lives with beauty and elegance.

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I Went to the High Point Market and I Saw the Light!

For the first time ever, I made the pilgrimage to the furniture mecca of the world, High Point, North Carolina, for Market Week.

I did see a lot of terrific furniture, as well as some rather dull, repetitive furniture. However, some of what stood out for me, was not the furniture at all, but much of the beautiful lighting.

I was delighted to see in person, some pieces that I had only seen in catalogs, or online. It seems to be more true of lighting, than any other component of interior design, that there “ain’t nothing like the real thing”!!

I’ve always been a fan of the classic modern collection of George Kovacs, and I’ve had the opportunity to place some of the pieces as well.

But seeing so many of them in one place, gave me a re-appreciation of this lighting maker. Keep in mind, these fixtures are not very pricey, they just look it! Here are a few of his pieces that I love:

 
Sonneman Lighting has some qualities in common with the George Kovacs collection. Both are contemporary, with ties to Mid- Century design. What Sonneman lacks in playfulness (compared to George Kovacs), it makes up for in elegance. Some of the line concentrates on the Mid-Century look. But a good deal of it is completely new and innovative in its own right.

I’ve long looked to Fine Art Lamps for use in traditional settings, where some real drama and glamour is called for. No one does a gold or silver finish like Fine Art does! Fine Art Lamps is well represented in the New York area, where I work, but it was fun to see the pieces on parade at High Point. The line is HUGE, so have fun trolling their very well organized web site.

 
I also had the pleasure of finding something completely new and previously unknown to me: Frederick Cooper Lamps. With collections that carry the names of the likes of Larry Laslo, and Alexander Julian, you can expect a wide range of traditional to transitional. All are beautifully done. Here are some examples.

I’m so glad I made my way to High Point, so I could “see the light”…in person!

Which is your favorite of the light fixtures and lamps I saw? What style do you prefer in your lighting?
 

Leona Gaita has an infectious enthusiasm for interior design that she shares with us, with her clients and with the readers of her popular blog, Gaita Interiors.

With a lifelong involvement in the fine arts and design, Leona designs for Gaita Interiors, a staple of the local community for over 40 years, serving Larchmont, Westchester County and the New York metropolitan area.