This article was provided by the Modern Fan Company, THE company for contemporary fans.

HOW CEILING FANS WORK

First, a confession: Fans don’t cool air; they just move it around.

When it’s warm, the blades of a counterclockwise-turning ceiling fan push air downward. Like a breeze on a summer day, this moving air makes you feel cooler by evaporating the moisture on your skin. This wind-chill effect can cause an 80-degree room to feel more like it’s 72 degrees. For this reason, there is no need to run a ceiling fan when no one is in the room.

Something else: Most people don’t think to turn on a ceiling fan when it’s cold inside, but this can actually warm up a room. Modern Fans have reversible motors, which means blades can easily change direction (clockwise) and push air up toward the ceiling. This redistributes the warm air that would otherwise be trapped near the ceiling and evens out the temperature in the room. Circulating the warm air also reduces condensation on windows.

Bottom line: Our fans use very little electricity to increase the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.

SELECTING THE RIGHT CEILING FAN

Now that you know what a ceiling fan can do for you, it’s time to narrow your choices based on your taste, room size, lighting needs and quest for an energy-efficient, reliable product. Here are some considerations in choosing a ceiling fan:

Style: The Modern Fan Co.’s ceiling fans are sleek metal sculptures that work well with modern, traditional or transitional architecture and decor. They are more streamlined than other ceiling fans because of designer Ron Rezek’s inventive way of using geometric forms and attaching the blades without brackets or clamps.

Size: In most rooms, our 52-inch blade span is the most appropriate selection. The 42-inch blade span should be reserved for smaller rooms or narrow spaces (10-foot-by-10-foot and smaller) or when airflow to the area above the blades is blocked or restricted by architectural elements (beams, walls, cabinetry, etc.). Occasionally, two 42-inch fans may be a desirable alternative to one 52-inch fan. Our Altus and Cirrus models are available with a 36-inch blade span for exceptionally small or narrow spaces.

Ceiling height also plays a factor in selecting a fan. The more space between the blades and the ceiling, the more effectively your fan will circulate and distribute air. However, building codes require that the blades of a ceiling fan be at least 7 feet above the floor. Generally, we recommend hanging the fan as far down from the ceiling as is visually appropriate, while maintaining the 7-foot blade clearance above the floor. With higher ceilings, a good guideline is to hang it one-third of the distance between the ceiling and the floor. Keep in mind that optional light kits may add several inches to the overall length of the fan.

Attachment to the ceiling can be accomplished either with a down rod or a hugger. The Modern Fan Co. offers standard down rods, which are vertical poles that range from 3 inches to 72 inches. Down rods work best in rooms with high or sloped ceilings. For ceilings that are 8 feet high, Modern Fan designer Ron Rezek recommends using the hugger versions of our fans, which are short sculptural pieces he designed to continue the style of the fans.

The blades on some models (Nimbus, Pharos, Halo and Cloud) are positioned at the top of the fan body. When hung with the shortest down rods, the blades on these models are very close to the ceiling, reducing the volume of air movement, as explained above. Consequently, these models are best suited for ceiling heights that can accommodate a slightly longer down rod.

Lighting: All Modern Fans have lighting solutions either integrated into the design or as options. Ron Rezek has been a successful lighting designer since the 1970s. When he designed the first contemporary-styled ceiling fans in 1986 and then launched The Modern Fan Co., he sought to not only create attractive ceiling fans, but ones that efficiently incorporated lighting solutions. He was the first to introduce indirect light, direct down light and fluorescent options in ceiling fans.

In addition to conventional ambient light, we offer application specific solutions. For example, the Cirrus provides either general ambient light or directional down lights. The Pensi has a directional down light.

Most Modern Fans are available with a choice of standard incandescent or energy-saving compact fluorescent lamping. Our CFLs provide 75% energy savings and lamp life up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. While dependable for well-balanced, warm light, keep in mind our CFLs are not dimmable.

Our fanlights generally function well as a primary light source for a space, but may not be satisfactory as the only light source in a room. This will depend on factors such as room size, wall/ceiling color and intended use of the space. Be sure to evaluate the wattage listed for each fan light and the amount of light your space requires.

Quality: The Modern Fan Co.’s line has earned worldwide recognition for its distinctive design, smooth action and reliability. The fans are produced on company-owned tooling in the world’s leading ceiling fan manufacturing facility. There is quality control at every stage.

The company’s fans incorporate Ron Rezek’s single-piece, die-cast rotors that are dynamically balanced. The fans’ high-powered motors work efficiently without overheating and have maintenance-free sealed bearings, which can provide a lifetime of use.

Air distribution: Motor speed, blade angle and blade surface area affect the amount of air a ceiling fan puts into motion. Modern Fans have three or four speeds and reversible motors, which provide year-round benefits across all climactic conditions, as explained above.

Modern Fans’ blades are pitched to circulate the greatest amount of air without overworking the motor. Wood blades are constructed of plywood and matched within one gram, helping to insure a wobble-free operation. The Pensi, Velo and Velo Hugger have contoured blades molded in a high-impact ABS plastic to move the maximum volume of air.

Noise: There is no need to endure a ceiling fan with an annoying electrical hum or ticking blades. Modern Fans are engineered to be stable and as quiet as possible. Every fan motor is tested at least twice for electrical conductivity, quiet operation and smooth running. Our fans also have precision ball bearings and noise-reducing components between metal parts.

Energy savings: Ron Rezek was an early supporter of the EPA’s Energy Star program. Modern Fans draw between .6 amps and 1.0 amp on high speed, about the same as a 100-watt bulb, and approximately .4 amps on medium and .25 amps on low. Modern Fans cost just pennies a day to run and because of their efficient way of circulating air, they allow users to reset their thermostat to cut down on cooling and heating costs, and still remain comfortable.

In hot weather, you can save up to 3% on cooling costs for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees, according to the California Energy Commission.

Modern Fans can save up to 10% on heating costs by reclaiming warm air trapped at the ceiling. The opportunity for savings increases in commercial environments with high, open ceiling construction. The stratified air close to the ceiling can be 15 degrees warmer than the air at ground level.

Speed and dimming controls: Why get up and tug on a pull chain when you can change fan speed and lighting with a wall switch or handheld unit? The Modern Fan Co. offers the choice of wall-mounted or wireless handheld units that control speeds and offer full-range dimming.

Cost: Before you buy, know that a “bargain” fan costs you a lot over time. Modern Fans move greater amounts of air more efficiently without irritating noises, breakdowns or required maintenance. They have stronger motors and engineered blades that reduce cooling and heating bills. Our fans are made from the highest quality materials and components and have attractive, durable finishes. After all, if a fan doesn’t look good in your home, why put it there?

Warranty: The Modern Fan Co.’s ceiling fans carry a limited lifetime warranty.

INSTALLATION

It’s no more difficult to install a Modern Fan than to put in a light fixture (please see detailed instructions enclosed in each ceiling fan box or click on the pliers icon at www.modernfan.com).

The basics: First, the junction box should be as close as possible to the middle of the room. Blade tips should be a minimum of 18 inches from a wall or cabinet.

Turn off the electricity at the breaker before starting the installation.

Use a UL-listed metal box that is approved for ceiling fan installation. The box should be anchored to a ceiling joist if possible or secured to a brace between two joists. Attach the fan-mounting bracket to the outlet box and route the wires through it. Hang the fan and connect the wires.

Attach the blades and light kit.

Turn on the fan and enjoy the comfort.

And the lucky winner of this week’s drawing for an 8 GB IPod Nano is: John Koutrouba, Pittsburgh, PA. John has been contacted and asked for his color choice.

You, too, can win!!  Just place any order with us and you are part of our weekly drawing.  Can’t beat the odds, we have a weekly drawing!!!

Add Some Color to Your Life – and Some Music!

Place your order today and enter our drawing for a FREE 8 GB IPod Nano.
Can’t beat the odds, we have a weekly drawing!!

Any order is eligible: Sale items, Non-Sale items.

All you need to do is place your order. We will announce the weekly winner here AND contact you to ask which color you’d like.

My son just moved to Madison, WI, and is sitting among unopened boxes, trying to find the most important things to get started making his new digs a home. Whenever he makes a whimper about how hard it is to move everything you have accumulated over 10 years I sigh and say Tell me all about it!
At this very moment we are looking at the logistics nightmare of moving an entire warehouse into smaller quarters.
Why are we doing this insane thing?

Well, after ten years in a huge drafty space that was really not designed as a showroom, our lease was up and we had found the most wonderful smaller space around the corner: Pacheco Park, a contemporary design center kind of off the beaten path, but  surrounded by a bunch of other great, well-established design-related businesses.

Our warehouse stayed put for a while, since there are no new tenants in the old space, but now we are moving!
I don’t know what it is, but these times give me the urge to take a step back and reevaluate the situation.Do we need all this stuff to operate efficiently? The reality is that we have stocked up and stocked up, just because it felt good, kind of like having a full pantry before the Holidays.
But with our vendors being extremely efficient and shipping practically the same day it seems like excess what we have been doing.

After having cleaned, sorted and hauled tons of stuff to Habitat for Humanity and Open Hands we thought the sprawl was under control and started our move.
Well, we’re halfways done and and are realizing that it’s time for a BIG warehouse clearance sale to get us to the efficient level we want to operate from in the future.
Paul (above)  who many of you probably have spoken to on the phone is our Man for Every Challenge. Without him there would be no move!

So, how do you go about selling literally tons of light fixtures that are really great in quality, design, form and function? We’re not talking a bunch of junk, but designer lighting that there are people out there looking for?

Well, for starters we added all our stock still left in the old warehouse to our SALE page on our site. Do check it out. There are some real bargains on designer lighting . We just need to get the word out.

HELP US!!!  We’re ready to offer a lot of stuff at incredible prices just to get this over with and done!

Fan season has started again and we are consulting clients on purchases, printing out tips to distribute, completing and refreshing our showroom displays with new ceiling fan models.
Today we added a few fans by Period Arts Fan Co,  sister company of  The Modern Fan Co. I just love both lines: same quality, sense of style and unfussy lines and yet spanning styles from cutting-edge contemporary to rustic Craftsman Style.

Ron Rezek was THE pioneer in designing  ceiling fans that fit modern surroundings. He developed a patented single-piece rotor for his fans that made installation easier and diminished the  wobble, previously taken for granted.  Instead of fitting this rotor into the traditional embellished fan with a pull-chain he cut away all frills and gave us – the Stratos Ceiling Fan. Many models later, the Stratos still going strong, The Modern Fan Co. has established that there is indeed a ceiling fan for all of us.

I just had to stop and think about how fortunate I am to get to know so many great people through my work, Ron Rezek, way up there on my list. After 25 years in the lighting (ceiling fan) business I have gained a deep appreciation for the enduring quality of good design and craftsmanship and even before I met Ron in person I knew I’d like him a lot.
Since day one of Form + Function I was a fan of the work of Ron Rezek and was fortunate enough that nobody knew how tiny our showroom downtown Santa Fe actually was when we placed our first order. We got it and proudly displayed it in our showroom during the heydays of pure “Santa Fe Style”,  surrounded as we were by stores with turquoise howling coyotes, hand-hewn log furniture and colorful Western boots.
Ron joined Artemide, founded The Modern Fan Co, we grew a bit (but on quite a more modest scale), moved to larger digs  and are still just as thrilled to display as many Ron Rezek designs as we possibly can.
What I personally love about every single fan by The Modern Fan Co. is its beauty.
I LOVE simplicity and literally get goosebumps over finding creative designs that are simple without being boring. This of course goes hand-in-hand with quality and intregity and the fans by The Modern Fan Co. for sure have everything going for them.

I for my part experience pure joy over being around these beautiful designs and  all Form + Function team members will second me wholeheartedly, but for their own very selfish reasons: We just never get a fan back! None, Nada!  No hassle, no extra paperwork, no upset clients to deal with. What more can I say?

Sweet!

Chandeliers come in many shapes and sizes, and even though I usually prefer  contemporary design there is just something about a decorative chandelier laden with glass droplets or crystals that is so festive and romantic that it’s irresistible.

Not to say that chandeliers by nature have to be traditional. Many contemporary designers like Phillippe Starck and Ingo Maurer have created their own exuberant interpretations of the traditional chandelier.

Just look at the Zettelz by Ingo Maurer: Slips  of Japanese paper- some printed, some blank – attached by paper clips to thin wires entice you to participate and add your own thoughts.

We have one hanging in our showroom that our customers have added to. They just felt like it, had to.

Notes in Spanish, Danish, German…..

Love it!!

I always enjoy the practical, down-to-earth articles by the American Lighting Association. This article below about Lighting your Dining Room has a lot of useful tips .

In our showroom we so often get  questions like how large a chandelier to choose for the dining area or how high to hang it over the table. (Answers: Diameter 12″ less than the width of table.  The bottom of chandelier should be 30″ above table.)

Sadly enough I have had a really hard time  finding a photo for this post  where the chandelier follows these rules. In most cases the chandelier is hung way too high, probably with the thought in mind that it could then help illuminate the entire room. Wrong!

With a chandelier hung too high  and no additional lighting the overall ambiance of the dining room  is more of a diner or fast food restaurant, less conducive to lingering.

Thinking back to meals I have thoroughly enjoyed over the last months, there were cozy gatherings at friends’, a few nice restaurants (fewer these days, but I still firmly believe in supporting local businesses, since they need me as much as I need them), several business lunches and dinners. I ALWAYS look at lighting, when I am in a room (No, It’s not a crick in my neck!)  because it amazes me, how lighting affects the mood and general well-being. Without an exception, the places with the best lighting had the best food!

I don’t think that you neccessarily have to have a chandelier over your dining table. I don’t, as a matter of fact. Colorful pendants, multi-light pendants or flickering candles are just a few examples of how you can add sparkle and intimacy to your dining table. The main thing is to make the dining table itself  get it’s own “pool of light”, so it becomes a focal point, the stage for a great meal where everyone wants to hang out for a long time.

Last words: Dimmers are almost a must in your dining room! You need different levels of light for a romantic dinner than for clean-up or homework at the dining table.

Trends in Dining Room Lighting
(Courtesy of American Lighting Association)

Today’s dining rooms reflect consumer’s changing lifestyles. Once used solely for daily dining, this room has become more multipurpose.
“During the week, we use the dining room as a work zone, for homework, crafts, church work, organizational meetings,” says Dan Blitzer, continuing educator for the American Lighting Association. “On the weekends and special occasions, it becomes a gathering place for parties and meals.”

The result? Dining rooms must boast multiple lighting options that can go from functional to fashionable in the flick of a switch.

To get the best balance of illumination in the dining room, opt for layers of light. “The most important thing a homeowner should recognize is that a dining room does not look well-lighted if the only light source is a chandelier,” says Blitzer. “A chandelier that is bright enough to illuminate a room will be too bright for comfort when dining. Likewise, if the chandelier’s light is comfortable on the eyes, it will be too dim and look flat.”

When choosing dining room lighting, start with a chandelier in the middle of the room, then work out with accent lights. The chandelier will determine the room’s feeling. Use your imagination. In today’s more eclectic decor, even
casual homes can have elegant dining rooms.

“You might find casual wrought iron or brushed steel metal fixtures in the home’s adjacent “great room” and wrought iron with crystal drops or pendants in the dining room, creating a more romantic, softer setting,” Greg Vandia, Vice President Sales and Marketing for New York manufacturer Murray Feiss.” That’s perfectly acceptable.”

When selecting a chandelier, don’t worry about the fixture’s quality of light as much as its beauty and scale. Chandelier choices include everything from those with exposed bulbs to those with large alabaster diffusing bowls. Trends range from simple Mission-inspired models with mica glass to ornate
brass filigree with crystal pendants.

“Finish is the most important factor today and it should compliment surrounding furnishings and accessories; not match or contrast,” says Rick Wiedemer, CLC, President of Hinkley Lighting, Inc., a manufacturer in Cleveland, OH. “The finish selected will then determine the material.”

Popular materials include brass, aluminum, wrought iron, other metal combinations, or composite materials.

Crystal chandeliers are one of the most traditional way to compliment a dining room setting. “Crystal chandeliers work to create an ethereal, magical look — even if they are not turned on,” says Eileen Schonbek Beers of Schonbek Worldwide Lighting, one of the country’s top chandelier manufacturers.

According to Beers, candlepower chandeliers — those without electricity — rate as one of the latest trends in dining room decor. “We have been selling a lot of chandeliers to be used simply as decorative accessories,” says Beers, who saw the trend begin in 2000. “It’s a phenomena driven by people who want recessed lighting or candles on their table as their light source. Antique chandeliers were not wired for electricity originally, but were used for the way other light played off the crystal.”

Whether you opt to illuminate your chandelier or not, make sure you choose the right size chandelier for your environment. To find the right size chandelier, choose one with a diameter 12″ less than width of table, suggests Wiedemer. This assumes the table is sized appropriate for room. The bottom of chandelier should be 30″ above table. For ceilings nine feet or higher, consider a two-tier style chandelier to fill the space from the fixture’s top to the ceiling.

“It is better to go bigger than to end up with a chandelier that is too small,” says Beers. “If you are making the investment, you want to make a statement.”

Accent lights, either recessed or tract-mounted, on either side of the chandelier and between the end of the table add a festive sparkle to china, crystal, fruit arrangements. Space them so they are not over the head of diners, but not so close to the chandelier to create shadows. Angle them toward the chandelier to add sparkle to the chandelier and provide down lighting.

The final layer of light should fill in the shadows around the room’s perimeter. Consider recessed lights located in the ceiling toward the corners of the room. Wall washers, recessed or mounted on tracts, can illuminate drapes or paintings. Torchieres and sconces point light toward the ceiling.

Don’t forget to light furniture around the edge of the dining room. “Buffets, hutches or breakfronts can be illuminated internally with low voltage lights on the underside of shelves to light up collections and china,” says Blitzer.

Portable lighting, or table lamps, also plays an important role in the dining room area. “Accent lamps on breakfronts or etageres or two great buffet lamps with unique shades can help create just the right mood for that special meal or occasion when the dining room is being utilized,” says Vandia.

Other options include recessed or tract lighting above buffets or
breakfronts. Miniature low voltage pendants suspended three feet above the buffet offer a more contemporary look, while tall, thin candlestick lamps on either end are more traditional.

SIDE BAR #1

Top Tips for Lighting Dining Rooms

The American Lighting Association offers the following tips for lighting a delightful dining room.

FIRST STEP: A chandelier in the middle of the room defines the space. Choose that fixture first, then work out with accent lights.

HANGING AROUND: Choose a chandelier with a diameter 12″ less than width of table. The bottom of chandelier should be 30″ above table.

TALL ORDERS: For ceilings nine feet or higher, consider a two-tier style chandelier to fill the space from the fixture’s top to the ceiling.

DIMMER SHIMMER: Always use a dimmer on dining room lights. “Light becomes warmer as it is dimmed,” says Dan Blitzer, American Lighting Association Continuing Educator.

HOME WORK: For those who use the dining room as a study area, consider bringing in a portable study lamp to brighten up the workspace. “Overhead lighting may work well for general studies, but in depth or close work demands more light,” says Blitzer.

GET SMART: So-called “smart” dimmers, driven by microprocessors offer convenience. “When you have several layers of light, smart dimmers can be set to various ambiances. Press one button for dining, another for lighting up homework, another for party-time.

THE LAYERED LOOK: Use multiple layers of light in the dining room. Chandeliers provide the central focus. Accent lights on either side of the chandelier and at the room’s perimeter brighten things up. Accessory lights on and/or over other furniture pieces fill in the background.

TABLE THIS: Table lamps add a soft, humanizing touch to a dining room. Display them on a buffet or breakfront.

Photos:

1. Candles do the trick. Ambience, romance, the desire for  lingering. But of course this solution might of course prove impractical for everyday use.

2. The Birdie Chandelier by Ingo Maurer for sure makes its own cheerful statement. You just can’t help smiling when you see it – and the special winged lightbulbs dim to a warm glow. We have enjoyed having it in our showroom for years and it gets a lot of attention.

3. Hubbardton Forge 13-1234 Chandelier. Drum shaded pendants have become immensely popular over the last years and it is easy to see why: Because of their sizes the shades provide ample light, but the material diffuses the light to a soft glow unlike the exposed bulbs of many chandeliers.

These days more and more of us are working from home, either in a dedicated home office or at a desk somewhere in the house.

Why not make this area into a place we enjoy spending time?

The type of lighting we use can change our mood in addition to just enabling us to see.

OK, for you who are shaking your head over the concept of enjoying spending time at the desk,  it’s a fact that the correct lighting of your work area can reduce eye strain and fatigue and increase productivity. This could in theory make you get through the work load faster and get away from the desk!

So what’s the secret to good lighting of a work space?

Layering of Light: Don’t use only one light source, but no matter how small the space, always try to mix the task lighting with accent and ambient light.

Accent lights, like track lighting and spotlights, highlight certain objects away from the desk area and create visual interest. Might seem like an unnecessary luxury, but keep in mind that there are lots of inexpensive spotlight solutions out there and that this added layer of light makes a dramatic difference to the surroundings.

Tip: If you have recessed downlights, replace a couple of trims closest to a wall with directional spotlight trims and focus them on artwork on the wall instead of just downwards. Same amount of light, just put to a different use.

Ambient Light fills the dark areas and takes away from too great contrasts while making the space appear larger and more airy. Wall sconces, indirect bowl shaped pendant lights  or uplight torchieres that bounce light off the ceiling are excellent choices for ambient light sources.

Tasks Lights are most often portable desk lamps that offer a flexible solution to the need for directional light for the work surface. Ideally positioned to the left (if you are right handed) and between your head and the work surface. If this is not possible for logistical reasons, many desk lamps offer a lot of flexibility with long, movable arms and heads that rotate to cast the light just where you need it.

You obviously want to look out for glare on your computer monitor when you design your task lighting. Again, a flexible desk lamp allows you to direct the light so that this will not become an issue, yet leaves the possibility to add direct task light for reading printed material.

Track lights are not great task lights. On my home consultations I keep running into situations where clients are unhappy with the lighting over the work station and in 9 out of 10 times it’s because they tried to use track lights and now wonder why they can’t see.

Track lighting is a wonderful solution for illuminating artwork on the wall. Illuminating people or work surfaces with harsh cones of light can, however, be very unpleasant. It casts the light from a wrong angle and easily creates glare and shadows onto the work surface.

The top photo shows the Tolomeo desk lamp by Artemide, a modern classic with form as well as function.

The small  shade is shaped like a flower pot. It  has a hole in the narrow end of the shade, allowing ambient light to shine out the back.

Read why we love the Tolomeo.

Other great desk lamps:

The Tizio from Artemide

With its minimal yet dramatic design it has stayed the star among desk lamps.

Designed by Richard Sapper in 1972 for Artemide it has become a bestseller in addition to winning numerous design awards. It’s a true modern classic.

What we like about the Tizio: It lasts, and lasts, and lasts.

AND we can get practically all parts for it if needed.

The Fortebraccio from Luceplan

Thanks to its innovative central joint, the two arms rotate independently, horizontally and vertically. It is therefore guaranteed to bring the light where you need it.

The distinctive handle of the Fortebraccio  easily  moves the task light around.

What I like about the Fortebraccio: It is sturdy! With two rambunctious dogs sharing the office with me it is good to know that my desk lamp can hold its own if needed.

The Kelvin from FLOS

The Kelvin desk lamp from Flos is part of a series of table, floor and wall fixtures, suitable for both office and home.

The Kelvin can be articulated into any desired position with the touch of finger.

The shade is what makes this desk lamp stand out: Available in either smoked  or injection-molded transparent polycarbonate it has a translucent quality. The interior is white to ensure superb light quality.

This striking desk lamp was designed by Antonio Citterio & Toan Nguyen for Flos in 2003.

I do realize that all these desk lamps are more expensive than most desk lamps you’ll find at big box stores. But I still recommend them wholeheartedly. They are designed to do a task and do it well. They are durable and are the kind of things you move with again and again and don’t have to throw out after a year or so because a switch is bad and a part can’t be found for it.

Six winged lightbulbs take the Little Prince on a flight through the new Ingo Maurer showroom in Munich. Just one of so many creative lighting objects that made me smile when I was there recently.

Ok, so there are people, who take photos of castles and wildlife on their trips, I get carried away with – light fixtures. I walk into a store or a restaurant and just have to take pictures! Munich was a paradise for me. Great lighting EVERYWHERE.

This cafe in Munich had a row of one of my favorite pendant lights over the counter: The Brera pendant light.

Shaped like an Ostrich egg  the Brera pendant light from Flos takes its name from an altar piece by Piero della Francesca from the Pinoteca di Brera in Milan. The egg hanging over the virgin Mary’s head is probably the most famous egg in the entire European art history.

Achille Castiglione designed the Brera family of lights that includes a pendant, a wall light, and three floor lamps  in 1992 when he was 74 and still fully active in his  creative career.

The Brera does not just stand out for its name. It is a beautiful classic piece with a strong presence. It has an  acid-etched opaline glass diffuser that distributes the light in a very even manner.

The top diffuser support  has its own unique profile that lends a graceful quality to the overall design.  The casually draped cord adds its own charm to the Brera Suspension.

This design masterpiece was designed by Achille Castiglione in 1992 and has found its home in many residences, offices , restaurants – and cafes all over the world.