Rosa Chandelier

Gabby’s lead lighting designer describes our lighting categories

Lighting has quickly become one of the leading product categories for Gabby. The eclectic forms with layered and metallic finishes are eye catching and chic. Gabby incorporates both antique and modern styles to offer a dynamic range of tastes for designers to choose from. We sat down with Jill, Gabby’s lead lighting designer, to ask a few questions on what makes a successful lighting line.

Comet Table Lamp

The Design Process

Can you tell me a little about the process of designing a lamp? Where do you get your inspiration?

Usually the process starts with an idea. I love to browse furniture markets and antique dealerships for inspiration. Sometimes you just don’t know until it hits you what you’re going to like about an antique. It could be the general shape or maybe the material it’s made of. Sometimes just a tiny detail is all it takes to get a great idea for a new piece. I love Midcentury Modern design, but working for Gabby gives me a chance to explore lots of different time periods and themes, since we strive for an eclectic collection.

Nora Accent Lamp

Where do you go from there? How do you take that detail you like and bring it to life in a new piece?

It always starts with the form. First, I decide if I’m working on a floor lamp, table lamp, or something else. Then I think about the shapes I’m going to incorporate into that basic form. Sometimes the shapes are inspired by the materials we want to use; sometimes it’s the other way around. Then we’ll apply the finishes and make a prototype of the finished product.

Aurora Table Lamp

Speaking of finishes, do you have a favorite? I notice that some of my personal favorites from Gabby use gold leaf.

Yes, we do use a lot of gold leaf. It’s so timeless and has such a great reflective quality that interacts with the light source itself. It also happens to be very on-trend right now. We are adding more silver finishes in the near future though.

I also really enjoy working with unusual materials. Right now I’m really into alabaster. We’ve also made lamps with a mosaic of shells for interesting texture, and we have a line that incorporates woven sea grass. Those work well with some of our furniture because the whole team worked together.

Bonnie Table Lamp

Do you often work with the furniture designers while designing your lamps?

We don’t create specific suites that are designed to match each other, if that’s what you mean. All of our pieces are designed to stand alone so that the interior designer can be in total control of the creative result. We love to see how many ways designers can mix and match our products with their own vision to come up with something totally unique.

We do still work together as a team in a more general way. I’m the only lighting designer, but I work with many furniture designers and interns who are studying design. We bounce ideas off of each other and give suggestions and feedback to help create the best possible end result.

Arnold Chandelier

Do you design for you, or do you have an intended audience for your work?

At Gabby we’re always consulting with interior designers to find out what they’re looking for. We go to trade shows and we really love to talk to the attendees to hear what they love and what they think is coming up big for their clients. We also do an annual survey to find out where our designers want to go next, and we definitely keep that in mind during the design process.

Ruth Chandelier

How long does it take to complete that process – to design a lamp from your flash of inspiration to the final product that’s ready for sale?

We turn things around really quickly. Maintaining a fast pace is one of Gabby’s core values. From the first thought about a design to getting it to market is usually about four to eight weeks. We’ll introduce a prototype at shows and, based on how well it’s received, decide whether to start production right away. We like to introduce new products at least four times per year, but it’s really ongoing.

Clara Chandelier

Favorite Styles and Lighting Tips

Once we understood the nuts and bolts of her design process, we wanted to learn more about our designer’s sense of style so we questioned her more about some best practices for using the lighting she’s designed.

Do you have any recommendations for hanging chandeliers? How do you choose the right size for a given space?

Some of our oversized chandeliers do best in a large setting. I’m thinking in particular of the Amelia and the Arnold chandeliers, which look amazing in a room with a vaulted ceiling, something like 14 feet or more.

Mid-sized pieces, like the Adele, look wonderful over a dining table — that’s such a classic use of a chandelier. I also like to hang two to three smaller ones down the length of a hallway for something unexpected.

Adele Chandelier

Like a series of pendants?

You could create a similar look with pendants in a hallway, too, but a sparkly chandelier will add more interest. I like pendants best over a bar or a kitchen island. As long as they have a shade, you can get good results by hanging them at the eye level of the tallest person in the house.

Source: Gabby

Do you have any tips for sconces? I feel like most people pass them by these days.

They’ve been becoming big again within the past few years. We’ve got a really eclectic collection of new sconces now, and some big ones are on the way, which we’re really excited about. In general, I think sconces work well when they flank a focal point like a mantle or painting. You can also use them as bedroom reading lights to clear space on a nightstand. They’re great for a transitional style.

Blake Sconce

What do you envision when you think of transitional style?

Transitional is like traditional style with a twist. That twist is totally up to the person who’s designing the room — it lets you open up to a special color, theme, or design period. I can’t really give a definition because it’s so personal to the owner of the room, but I like that Gabby lets people add that little twist that elevates their style to the next level. It’s all in the details. I think of it as blending eclectic elements for a chic contrast.

Culver Lamp

Can you say a bit more about creating an eclectic style? What makes it work?

I think of an eclectic space as a place where different items can have a conversation with each other. Just like in life, the best parties are the ones where you have a good mix of people — it’s boring when they’re all from the same neighborhood or do the same job. To bring those different pieces together, you have to be a good host. Create a backdrop of natural materials and muted colors so that everything gets a chance to shine without fighting for attention. The goal is to communicate a collective look to the space.

What would you suggest for someone who’s looking to make that more traditional style, say a farmhouse or cottage look?

I think that’s definitely possible with some of our pieces. The Joselyn chandelier can work with a really rustic look with its chain and candle lights. That’s also true for the Adele. It’s got a whitewashed finish, and if you added a little shade to each candle, you’d have a really cute country look that would still be fresh.

What about the opposite end of the spectrum? Can you make a recommendation for that person who loves industrial design?

The Christina and Christopher pendants both have these cool, visible pulleys, and those look really cool in an industrial setting that’s all about functionality and highlighting how things work. I also like the Athena chandelier in the rusty black finish for this look. The metal is really textured and heavy, so it blends well in an industrial space.

Vincent Chandelier

What Makes Gabby So Special

We were going to close our interview with some standard questions, but then she told us something that really sums up what it’s like to work for Gabby — and just how special a company it is.

Do you have an all-time favorite piece that you’ve designed?

Oh, definitely—the Sandra chandelier. It has these really beautiful swooping semi-circles and beads… and I named it for my mom.

Sandra Chandelier

Wait, what? Do you get to name all of the pieces?

Yes, our team gets to name every item. We sit around a table with a spreadsheet of names and decide if a product looks more like a Roseanne or a Whitney. We’ll google something like “unusual baby names” or just bring a list of friends and family and see what works. We all have pieces named for people we love.

Is that the best part of working for Gabby?

Actually, the best part is that I have this amazing opportunity to do what I love with a great group of people. We get to be creative. Every product we sell starts with a hand sketch right here in house. Everything we make is a completely exclusive, original design. I feel really lucky to be a part of a company that honors the creative process and puts out some really incredible work on a regular basis.