Back to the world of blogging after a brief hiatus and the reason is so deserving of it’s own special post. Someday very soon… when I can find the words to share.
So with all this “crazy” going on in my life, including a trip last week to NYC as part of the adorne by Legrand #beautifulswitch Blog Team, I feel surprisingly refreshed. Creative people + great products have a way of infusing me with passion for what I do, and the feeling that I have to stop everything and just share all the “buzz”. Honestly, I couldn’t think of another company that I would rather blog about. My trip to “the city that never sleeps” was centered around an amazing lighting extravaganza (and maybe a little shopping), beginning in the morning with an Editor’s Breakfast and a panel discussion involving A & D luminaries such as Suzan Tillotston, of Tillotson Design Associates, Phillip Presitgamo, Director of Industrial Design of Legrand NA, Thom Filicia (yes, the Thom Filicia), Travis Rotelli of Kohler, and Marc Kushner, Co-Founder and CEO of Architizer. The discussion was part of “The Intersection of Design and Innovation” + the unveiling of the entries from the adorne Collection by Legrand’s “Light Your Imagination” Wallplate Design Competition. Legrand (www.legrand.us/adorne) and its cutting edge technology is without a doubt an innovator in the world of light switches, and it’s obvious that they have caused the A & D industry to take notice. “The Blog Team” sat in the front row (no cat fighting necessary to secure the primo seating, my fellow bloggers were delightful), and we listened, intently.
Let’s face it, light switches and plates are a part of design that have historically been overlooked, and I’ll be the first to say that is a “Big Mistake. Huge!” So combine cutting edge technology with designer plates, and you have a product line that is not only beautiful but functional. Think of the adorne Collection as fashion for your home (ahh…now I have your attention). It takes a lot to get me excited about advances in light switches, but Legrand has captured my attention (P.S. I’m not even getting paid to write this post, so you know I’m a huge fan). In fact after the trip to NYC, I would feel a little guilty if I didn’t suggest this design option to my clients and/or readers. I no longer have to hide switches behind furniture and plants (my personal favorite) or hope that I can make them invisible with the right colour of paint. Center stage is where the adorne Collection belongs. To make it even more enticing, Legrand (www.legrand.us/adorne) has created cutting edge, #beautifulswitches which are user friendly (including the installation).
On a side note: After speaking with a female employee of Legrand who installed the switches without any help, I thought “Hmm…game on.” Mr. B. was skeptical, but what he doesn’t know is I just installed one yesterday. Yes, the switch even works, plus I remembered to turn off the circuit breaker (there is a story behind that), and discovered that I have some serious DIY skills in the process. I believe a trip to Home Depot is in order to celebrate. Next on my list, the masterbath. How hard would it be to learn how to tile?
The panel from the Editor’s Breakfast (L) to (R) Phil Prestigamo/ Director of Industrial Design for Legrand, Suzan Tillotson/ Founder and President of Tillotson Design Associates, Marc Kushner/ co-Founder of Architizer.com and Partner of Hollwich Kushner, Travis Rotelli/ Senior Interior Designer for Kohler, Thom Filicia/ Interior Designer-Thom Filicia, Inc.
Me & Thom. I know this is about Legrand, but could Thom be any nicer? I think not. After meeting him multiple times, this fellow Northern New Yorker is starting to feel like an old friend…
Designer Matthew Gebhardt built this sculpture to showcase all the Wallplates from the Design Competition. I have to say that all the entries were worthy of mention.
The adorne Designer Wall Plate Gallery, using customizable plates.
Another innovative display. A large switch plate mobile suspended from a metal grid system using various plates from the adorne Collection by Legrand. The adorne Collection switch plates are truly a work of art.
An Interactive Light Installation operated by Legrand switches. The light orbs were made with Belgian Crystals, and they were stunning.
Halsey Cook, President of Electrical Wiring Systems at Legrand, discussing the winning plate.
The winner of the “Light Your Imagination” Wallplate Design Competition-Lauren Rottet/ Principal of Rottet Studio.The amazing detail was created by using 3-D fused deposition modeling.
The adorne by Legrand #beautifulswitch Blog Team, (L to R) Me-The Ace of Space, Kristina Crestin/ Eat. Sleep. Breathe. Interior Design, Rayan Turner/ The Design Confidential, Jill Nystul/ One Good Thing By Jillee, Jenny Komenda/ Little Green Notebook. All decked out and ready to mingle…I couldn’t have been in better company.
P.S. A special thanks to all at Legrand for making us feel so welcome, and sharing your incredible vision, and also a huge “hats off” to all at Sharp Communications (Laura Halsch, Josh Schoenfelder, and everyone involved for putting together such an amazing event). Kudos!
So until next week….
