Vendor in Focus: Robert Abbey Fine Lighting
Shining a light on Michael Berman’s designs for Robert Abbey
How do you design for different aesthetics?
“By changing finishes, you can go from being really contemporary in black nickel to something you’d put in a Mediterranean-style home in antique bronze, or a dark oil-rubbed bronze for a Craftsman.”
Tell us about the design process.
“It can take 12 months or more to see a collection from start to finish. We start with sketches and ideas, looking at the overall lifestyle of the end user, the niche we’re designing for. Then we move to renderings, prototyping, any necessary revisions, then production.”
Featured Products: Berkeley Stacked Lamp, Bond Table Lamp, Berkeley Table Lamp
“By changing finishes, you can go from being really contemporary in black nickel to something you’d put in a Mediterranean-style home in antique bronze, or a dark oil-rubbed bronze for a Craftsman.”
Tell us about the design process.
“It can take 12 months or more to see a collection from start to finish. We start with sketches and ideas, looking at the overall lifestyle of the end user, the niche we’re designing for. Then we move to renderings, prototyping, any necessary revisions, then production.”
Featured Products: Berkeley Stacked Lamp, Bond Table Lamp, Berkeley Table Lamp
What role does lighting play within design?
“It’s jewelry or ornamentation in a space. My Berkeley collection features overscaled, bulbous table lamps in simplified forms evocative of the ’60s in gray stained walnut with mushroom-toned ceramic and gorgeous textured linen shades. They make a huge statement.”
What are some of your favorites?
“I love the Alberto table lamps, layered art sculptures reminiscent of Jeff Koons and Alberto Giacometti; they’re resin with mirrored finishes on them. It’s an example of how Robert Abbey has the capability to do almost anything you can come up with as a designer.”
Any new products on the horizon?
“I finished a new collection that will debut at High Point in October. It’s inspired by Brutalist architecture and also by the luxury glam of the ’70s with its nightclub designs, Halston and Lincoln Continentals. It’s all sleek modern forms, handblown glass and geometric shapes. It’s really cool.”
More Featured Products: Alberto Brass Lamp, Bond Chandelier, Bond Wall Sconce
“It’s jewelry or ornamentation in a space. My Berkeley collection features overscaled, bulbous table lamps in simplified forms evocative of the ’60s in gray stained walnut with mushroom-toned ceramic and gorgeous textured linen shades. They make a huge statement.”
What are some of your favorites?
“I love the Alberto table lamps, layered art sculptures reminiscent of Jeff Koons and Alberto Giacometti; they’re resin with mirrored finishes on them. It’s an example of how Robert Abbey has the capability to do almost anything you can come up with as a designer.”
Any new products on the horizon?
“I finished a new collection that will debut at High Point in October. It’s inspired by Brutalist architecture and also by the luxury glam of the ’70s with its nightclub designs, Halston and Lincoln Continentals. It’s all sleek modern forms, handblown glass and geometric shapes. It’s really cool.”
More Featured Products: Alberto Brass Lamp, Bond Chandelier, Bond Wall Sconce
Brass encircles matte black bases, lamp edges curve up in charming smiles and warm woods slide to the floor in designer Michael Berman’s collections for lighting company Robert Abbey. Founded in 1948 in Hickory, North Carolina, Robert Abbey has a history of infusing its products with renowned designers’ imaginations. We talked with Berman about working with such a storied brand — and the sources of inspiration that illuminate his designs.
How did you approach your collaboration?
“I wanted to design something that lives up to the standards and reputation Robert Abbey have built for themselves, while also bringing to the table my own inspirations and aesthetic.”
Such as?
“Traveling in Japan, everything I bought was beautifully wrapped with raffia or ribbon in a way that was random and almost unintentional. Even if it was a humble wooden vase, the way it was packaged made it feel very special. That inspired the Bond collection.