Modern Icons: The Translucent Fucsia Pendant
A Great Young Fixture from an Italian Mid-Century Master
In case you have not met, please allow me to introduce the Fucsia Pendant. It was designed in 1996 by Achille Castiglioni, and has quickly become a go-to lighting choice for many architects and interior designers. The glass is handblown into a conical shape, and the bottom rim has a sandblasted glass accent around it. Castiglioni designed the iconic Arco Lamp, among many other famous furnishings, so it's no wonder this more contemporary design has caught so much attention. Let's take a look at how Houzz designers are using it.
This image gives us a great close up of the Fucsia Pendant! Notice how the light source inside relates to the rest of the pendant.
Here is the same kitchen; this perspective shows how the transparency of the glass allows it to fade into the background. The sandblasted rim keeps things from becoming too transparent.
Here the kitchen island has Fucsia Pendants over it, paired with stools that are also reaching icon status below it: LEM Piston Stools. We'll get to those someday soon in an icons ideabook.
Here the pendants are part of an eclectic dining mix that includes a funky rustic farm table and Emeco Navy Chairs. The tips of the cones point up to the apex of the cathedral ceiling.
Tip: To accomplish a collected look like this, let one piece be the star. Here, the table stands out in the color and texture palette, while the other pieces relate to other pieces in the space. This keeps them from competing with one another. For example, the metal of the Navy chairs relates to the metal on the island and appliances, and the glass in the pendants plays off the windows.
Tip: To accomplish a collected look like this, let one piece be the star. Here, the table stands out in the color and texture palette, while the other pieces relate to other pieces in the space. This keeps them from competing with one another. For example, the metal of the Navy chairs relates to the metal on the island and appliances, and the glass in the pendants plays off the windows.
A cluster of Fucsia Pendants cascades down from the recess in the ceiling. They become an extension of the light and glass of the transom windows above.
This is the Fucsia 8 Pendant. Karla Rodriguez of HartmanBaldwin Design/Build explains "once it was installed we played with the lengths of the pendants to better mimic a fuller chandelier effect and also to help the eye move upwards toward the skylight."
This is the Fucsia 8 Pendant. Karla Rodriguez of HartmanBaldwin Design/Build explains "once it was installed we played with the lengths of the pendants to better mimic a fuller chandelier effect and also to help the eye move upwards toward the skylight."
This image is the one that sent me in search of the pendants; a lovely cluster is suspended over a tulip table and a set of Gehry Hat Trick Chairs. The fixture comes in several different configurations.
This lake house has a warm industrial feel, and much of the exterior is made up of large windows that emphasize the view. These pendants fit right into this material palette and keep views clear.
The sandblasted detailing on the rim relates to the fantastic translucent door.
Kitchen island pendants can be a bit tricky; they need to be scaled and spaced correctly, and sometimes you wonder if you are breaking some sacred "Rule of Three." I tried to envision three pendants here, and it seemed unbalanced. As designer Paul Anater says, "the Rule of Three takes a back seat to scale, always."
More on choosing and placing kitchen island lights.
More on choosing and placing kitchen island lights.
Don't feel like you are limited to the kitchen island with these; they make for some sexy bedroom lighting as well.
Fucsia Pendants By Achille Castiglioni For Flos
Here's the pendant, fingerprint-free and ready for its close up. You can find it at online retailers like Unicahome, Design Within Reach, Room and Board, YLighting and Lumens.
Fucsia Pendants By Achille Castiglioni For Flos
In addition to the single, the Fucsia comes in groups of three, eight and even a dozen. The single is the only version that can be hung from a sloped ceiling.
More iconic light fixtures:
The Random Light
Nelson Pendant Lights
PH Lights
More iconic light fixtures:
The Random Light
Nelson Pendant Lights
PH Lights