Only the extraordinary would impress Steven Gambrel , an AD100 interior designer responsible for some of today’s most aesthetically daring spaces. But wowed he was, five years ago, upon entering the Urban Electric Co. ’s expansive studio in Charleston, South Carolina. “Here were these skilled artisans hammering metal, etching glass, and crafting wonderful things,” recalls the New York–based decorator, who has since commissioned countless one-off pieces by the firm for projects around the world. Now the collaborators have pooled their talents for their most elaborate undertaking yet—a diverse collection of 12 light fixtures.
“There are certain styles that I struggle to find, so for me this opportunity was really a call to produce the pieces I’m always looking for,” Gambrel says. What he’s drawn to, the new line shows, are bold shapes with a strong industrial influence in terms of their materials, hardware, and scale. “I like the heft of pieces that were originally intended for large spaces such as factories or working kitchens,” he says. The most robust design of the bunch is the Boxbridge, a double pendant with twin octagonal cylinders of prismatic glass, which spans nearly three feet in width and weighs an incredible 125 pounds.
Each of the fixtures comes in a range of finishes. The spun-aluminum body of the Malplaquet hanging light, for instance, can be powder coated in some 1,000 colors, while the brass bands and nautical-style latch of the Grayfoy are offered in several patinas. The latter’s glass globe—handblown in two pieces—surrounds a translucent tube that conceals a bulb, making for a diffuse glow. Says Gambrel of the collection, “They’re going to let light out beautifully.”
Click to read Patricia Shackelford's interview with Gambrel and find out more about the inspirations behind the collection.
