HOW BEST TO DESCRIBE BRITISH DESIGNER TOM DIXON’S PIECES? BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED, EXPERTLY CRAFTED OBJECTS THAT MAKE A SERIOUS STYLE STATEMENT
You could say Tom Dixon OBE has a wonderful talent for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. The self-taught designer started out in the early 1980s, welding salvaged steel into radical pieces of furniture. He then worked with both the luxury and high-street ends of the interiors world, before becoming Creative Director of the Tom Dixon brand in 2002. Fast-forward 17 years and the brand has hubs in London, New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Tokyo, and has created more than 600 products.
Take his latest collection of Spring pendant lamps, for instance (above) – effortlessly simple in appearance, yet the design and consideration that has gone into them is immensely intriguing. Made with pliant ribbons of stainless steel arranged like a whisk around a custom-made LED, the shape can be adjusted to form a flat arrangement reminiscent of a Spirograph drawing, expanding into more of a flying saucer shape, then into a full globe.
‘The Spring pendants look amazing in multiples above a dining table,’ says Molly Woolett, Partner & Assistant Buyer, Lighting. ‘If you’re looking to add that wow factor to a room, then they will certainly have that effect.’
There’s also the fluid-looking glass Melt pendant, which is loved by everyone from chic hotel chains to style-savvy homeowners. It’s reminiscent of the interior of a melting glacier, with a mesmerising, space-age quality. A real statement piece, it’s available in smoke, gold, chrome and copper. Melt, like Spring, works well on its own or as a cluster.
‘I really love to see Tom Dixon pieces being used in a contemporary or industrial setting,’ says Molly. ‘Mix them with modern furniture against a natural wall and floor choice.’
And it’s not just statement lighting that gets the Tom Dixon touch – think scented candles, barware, vases and bowls. There have also been recent high-profile projects including the design of hotels, restaurants and bars like Sea Containers and Bronte in London, Alto in Hong Kong, Himitsi in Atlanta and Le Drugstore in Paris, along with the new Tom Dixon London HQ, The Coal Office.
“If you’re looking to add wow factor to your room, the Spring pendants certainly have that effect”
You’ll also find Tom Dixon’s designs included in the permanent collections at the world’s most prestigious museums, including London’s V&A and MoMA in New York.
But Tom Dixon is a brand that never stays still – and with plans afoot for autumn/winter 2020, there are some exclusive lighting pieces we are very excited about. Watch this space.