Alex Papachristidis, Amy Lau, Beata Heuman, and other top talents share their pick for a go-to pendant light fixture
By Benjamin Reynaert and Mel Studach | November 6, 2019
Flush mounts and recessed lighting have important roles to play when working with restrictive ceiling heights, but when given the perfect opportunity, nothing beats a pendant fixture—or three. In such cases, the use of a pendant is not only a want, but a need, confirms interior designer Alex Papachristidis. “With the height of the ceiling, particularly in tall hallways or large rooms, you need something that hangs down to make the proportion of the room feel more intimate and human,” he says.
In addition to creating a sense of space by drawing the eye upward, a pendant light can help define the interior’s function. That’s why when determining the best fixture, designer Beata Heuman considers light quality, first and foremost: “It’s crucial that they emit the kind of light that is appropriate to the room—softer, gentler lights for living spaces help create a homey glow, while downward light for over kitchen tables or countertops is needed for working underneath.”
Next up? Selecting a fixture design that captures the essence of the interior. “Depending on the space it is used in, I really like to use pendants as an exciting statement piece in a room, almost as though you are looking at a unique piece of art or sculpture,” says Amy Lau. “I like to choose something that pays homage to the room's motifs, but will uniquely stand out in the space,” she says. “I try to have [the pieces] in a room have a fascinating dialogue with one another so the space captures you even more over time.”
The selection is a balancing act, agrees Heuman. “I think successful pendants offer something visually intriguing, but also blend seamlessly into the landscape of the room, not drawing too much attention, but adding something exciting.”
For an even more in-depth guide to sourcing the perfect pendant, Papachristidis, Heuman, Lau, and 11 other top interior designers and architects kindly offer their go-to picks.
Ike Kligerman Barkley
The Smokebell by Urban Electric Co. features antiqued mirror or clear glass and is reminiscent of American Colonial bell jar pendants. urbanelectric.com
Bestor Architecture
Affordable and useful, the Unfold pendant by Muuto is made of soft silicon rubber. It's as durable as it is quirky. muuto.com
Carrier and Company
The Benit medium sculpted chandelier by AERIN is a useful piece that can make a statement in a library or bedroom. circalighting.com
Alex Papachristidis Interiors
The Marlowe lantern in Brass is a classic go-to for Papachristidis. The lamp features jewelry-cast corner finishing details, and the glass and metal elements can be customized. remains.com
Deborah Berke Partners
Designed by Danish architect and designer Vilhelm Wohlert in 1959, this pendant has become known for its functionality and remains a classic today. louispoulsen.com
Amy Lau Design
One of Giopato & Coombes’s first designs, based on the lightness of soap bubbles, the Bolle collection has long been favored by Lau for the reflective light quality created from the handblown spheres as well as its customization options. suiteny.com
Beata Heuman Limited
The Dodo Egg, as its name suggests, is a direct reference to the exotic dodo bird's egg, in this case topped with an extravagant painted brass plume. beataheuman.com
ASH NYC
Featuring an iconic red ring, Japanese paper shade, and exposed wire, the Maru by Ingo Maurer is also height-adjustable, making this piece a timeless choice. ingo-maurer.com
Markham Roberts Inc.
The Owl pendant by Soane Britain casts beautiful dappled light above and directed light below. soane.co.uk
Billy Cotton
The Akari 120A is a classic pendant option designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951 and handmade in Gifu, Japan, today. noguchi.org
Cafiero Select
In the Hicks pendant by Thomas O'Brien for Circa Lighting, the exposed rivets and hard-edged metal chain add subtle industrial charm. circalighting.com
Ken Fulk Inc.
The Small Lattice Globe by Jamb features 12 individual panes of frosted glass set within bronze moldings and gilt brass lattice. A handsome and versatile piece. jamb.co.uk
Peter Pennoyer Architects
Completely handcrafted at Woka’s Wiener Werkstatte, the Knize Symmetric-35 is the original Adolf Loos design also known as a "Pentagondodekaeder"—a ball made from 12 flat pentagons, originally manufactured for Knize, the renowned men's outfitter and tailor in Vienna. woka.com
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Design
Intended to evoke the mood of 1940s Parisian cafes, Bullard's own Melrose for Corbett Lighting eschews convention with modern vintage brass details. corbettlighting.com
