Our new chandelier collection will be published soon.

Exciting developments on this custom fixture will be shared in early 2018 ! 

Preliminary specifications are available here.

MODULIGHTOR introduces the Wagnetron, a high output lamp replacement for most of our luminaries @ 100 lumens per watt.

INTENDED USE AND APPLICATIONS:

For those in Manhattan, a stroll past our storefront window will entice you to come in to see our extensive line of lighting solutions. For those who are reading this, we welcome your visit our entire website, which showcases our most popular products. 

In the Products section, you will find an extensive collection of award-winning extrusion-based lighting. Extrusion-based lighting began with halogen line-voltage development in the 1970's. With the advent of LED technology, new dramatic lighting solutions are feasible.

Our Featured Products in the storefront window and our website are just samples of the custom solutions available for your installations.

We continue to drive towards excellence in our market. 

Located in the modernist Modulightor building, 246 East 58th Street in New
York City, MODULIGHTOR encapsulates the essence of the concept in physical space and in the shop's creations for clients. 

We welcome you to MODULIGHTOR!

For an article in last week's NY Magazine Zack McKown of TsAO & McKOWN Architects selected Paul Rudolph's living room as his favorite 'room of all time.'  The legendary Beekman Place abode is often remembered for its remarkable definition of space with planes and structural elements that seem to float in the air.

Zack says, "And though the design looks so new, it really fits into the older building" (that Paul Rudolph renovated.) Although the interior is not publicly accessible go see the exterior at 24 Beekman Place on Manhattan's east side. Take a stroll on the East 51st Street Pedestrian crossing or visit the park for a rear view of the townhouse. It's worth the walk!

New York Magazine       TsOA & McKOWN

The reason MODULIGHTOR fixtures work so well aesthetically is because Paul Rudolph didn't just make a sketch of some beautiful fixture and then figure out how to make it work. Rather, the function was determined first - how to solve a particular problem or set of problems - and the visual language of the fixture lines evolved from their necessary components. 

Because they were never intended to be a 'style statement' per se, the fixtures fit into any environment when specified thoughtfully. With finish and proportion a MODULIGHTOR fixture will look perfect in any environment.

MODULIGHTOR extrusion based fixtures (Wall Washers, Art Lights, et cetera) have socket assemblies that use a JD Dual Contact / Bayonet style base. The socket can accept lamps up to 75 Watts. Remember that lamp selection is critical to your overall lighting scheme, so defaulting to the highest wattage for maximum brightness is not always the best choice. Please consider control options when specifying wattage in larger fixtures with a lot of lamps, for instance.

Our JD Halogen lamps come in two wattages, 50 & 75, and are 130 Volt lamps. When using with 110 / 120 Volt power supply (as is typical) a 130 Volt lamp will essentially be dimmed; therefore the lamp life will be extended and it will provide a warmer light color.

Some people use the word "track" in reference to fixtures that MODULIGHTOR would call Linear Pendants (LP & WW) or Linear Sconces (LS & AL). Be clear about the intended function of the fixture when specifying. Is the goal general, ambient illumination? - An even wash of light across a surface, whether it be art or architecture?

True track fixtures use spot lights which are great for getting a lot of light from point A to B, but will not produce an even wash of light over a large surface area. If one's perspective is between those points A & B, glare or shadow may hinder the desired light quality. 

Nine times out of ten when the word 'track' is used while browsing at MODULIGHTOR, the product selected will be one of our extrusion based linear fixture types cited above.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting firm with offices in over 40 countries, has awarded its 2014 Manufacturing Leadership Award for Product Leadership to MODULIGHTOR.

Now in their 10th year, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Program honors companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. The ML Awards panel of expert judges concluded that MODULIGHTOR has demonstrated excellence for our project, a new LED Circuit Strip in Product Leadership, one of the most competitive categories.

1st Dibs has a fantastic article from last month describing the experience Peggy Edersheim Kalb had growing up in a Paul Rudolph-designed apartment here in the city. I've met the senior Edersheims and was very impressed with their sophistication and decency.  Really nice people.

Peggy's story is a great, short read and very intersting to imagine the perspective of a young person being immersed in such a special environment.  THANK YOU, Peggy !

1st Dibs - Growing Up Modern

Depending on how high or low a fixture is mounted on a wall and how the extrusion head of the fixture is rotated there is the potential for glare from the exposed lamps or LEDs on the underside of the extrusion.  To direct light where it's needed you may want to rotate the extrusion to point almost straight down.

In that instance we recommend the HRL shaped extrusion instead of the SQ or HR shapes. The 'lip' aspect of the HRL shape blocks glare from the light source until one is directly underneath the fixture looking straight up. 

If you must spec the SQ or HR shape based on aestethics a greater projection will help minimize the potential for glare as you will be less inclined to direct the light straight down.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

The seventh annual Designer Visions showhouse opened this week; featuring three apartments each designed by an individual design team and produced by a different design magazine.

Drake Design Associates crafted an apartment for House Beautiful. Inspired by a fictional descendant of the legendary Josephine Baker, Jamie Drake's fierce pad uses MODULIGHTOR spot lights in the living room. And I am so thrilled to have been given the chance to design the two custom Quadron-like chandeliers (CH07) for the master bedroom. What an honor!

All three apartments are amazing and the opening party was a true design event, sponsored by the Hearst Design Group. Go and visit the fantastically renovated 1929 Art Deco jewel of a building - the Walker Tower on West 18th Street.

Hearst Design Group       Drake Design Associates      Designer Visions

Next week our friends at Bilotta Kitchens are hosting a fabulous design event in their show room just down the street in the A&D Building. Four talented designers will be showing off their skills at creating table-scapes.

The amazing Kent Brasloff is using a vintage Galaxy chandelier (CH30) from MODULIGHTOR in one of his two spaces. And one of our favorite people, Darrin Varden, is doing his own thing now after starting his firm earlier this year.  Looks to be a really great opening night!

Art of the Table  reception October 17, 2013  5 - 8pm

150 East 58th Street, NYC

Bilotta Kitchens of New York    Kent Brasloff    Darrin Varden

It's been a great summer at MODULIGHTOR - the busiest yet. Beyond the steady stream of business, we also have some technical innovations to report.

Lamp replacement in our extrusion based products has been muchly improved with a new socket assembly design! Currently in production in our White and Polished Chrome fixtures, the new design will be introduced throughout the product line in every finish in 2014.

We are very excited to make life easier for everyone. It's a gorgeous and simple change that will improve the end-user's experience.

Happy Autumn!  We're on our way!

This year's International Comteporary Furniture Fair - ICFF 2013 - was a really great show.  Furniture, lighting, decorative objects and finishes from big-name international companies as well as many local designers were on display. New York City was well-represented with many of our peers from Brooklyn and Long Island City. (Of course we are one of the last to still manufacture from Manhattan!)

Jonathan Adler's stylish booth that looked and felt like a chic vintage store was my favorite. His representatives working the show were the nicest and friendliest of all!

Today's NY Times extolls the design virtues of  this year's Kip's Bay Decorator Show House with many of our regular clients in participation.

Jack Levy (Jack Levy Design) and Louis Garcia of Garcia Maldonado have created fantastic rooms for the fundraiser and garnered top billing in the Times article. We are thrilled Jack and Louis asked us to contribute to this great project.

Please read the article and go visit the beautiful house. It's open until June 4th.

NY Times: "House of Your (Vivid) Dreams"       Jack Levy Design

Kip's Bay Decorator Show House                       Garcia Maldonado

LAMP is a bulb; we reference a Light Fixture when speaking about a "Floor Light" or an "Art Light" - not a 'lamp.' Lamps are the bulbs that give light.

A lamp is a LUMINARY - an object that gives light. An assembly of a lamp in a glass or metal shield is a luminary. Luminaries do not have to be electrical - a candle or a candle-in-candle-holder-assembly is also called 'luminary.'

A LUMINAIRE is an electric light fixture. Luminaires may contain one or more luminaries. A non-electric chandelier is NOT a luminaire, (but it would consist of several luminaries.)

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode (explained more fully later.) Not bulbs necessarily, though there are now many LED replacement lamps. An LED is always a 'luminary' though a strip of LEDs together or a constellation of LEDs in a single bulb should all be thought of as a luminary in total.

The definitive MODULIGHTOR light fixtures are made from EXTRUSION - a linear tube. Ours are open on one side, which allows for the insertion of modular componentry: luminaries that consist of lamps and reflectors, et cetera.

The New York lighting community got together yesterday for the seventh LEDucation Conference and LED lighting show. Our friends at the DLFNY (Designer's Lighting Forum of New York - of which I'm a member) sponsor the show.

LED lighting manufacturers and New York based lighting companies exhibit their new LEDs and the lighting products they have to offer. And LED experts and lighting designers lecture about the various issues to consider when specifying LED luminaires. As you know - it's complicated!

Thankfully this conference is a great resource for designers and specifiers. One of our customers, Brooke Silber of Jan & Brooke, Luminae, gave a presentation about using LEDs for interior and exterior projects. Check out their lecture schedule.

LEDucation 7

Designer's Lighting Forum of New York

The front cover of February's Architectural Digest featured the stunning work of our friends Steven Harris and Rees Roberts, photographed by the always on-point Scott Frances. What a great team! 

How happy we are to see a series of MODULIGHTOR wall washers peeking out of the corner of the images of this amazing penthouse. We are always so honored to have our fixtures included in such top-notch design projects.

Please read the fascinating article at Architectural Digest.

Steven Harris Architects    Rees Roberts + Partners    Architectural Digest

I keep mentioning that many MODULIGHTOR employees are artists outside of our shop.  Lead fabricator Tim Clarke specializes in lighting but also paints and now has a photography exhibit opening in Brooklyn tomorrow night. 

Join us for the reception or go see the large scale works through the end of this month.

NYC : UPON REFLECTION

Friday 18 January 2012  6-9 pm

MODCA  103 North Third Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Tim Clarke

Most often one might expect Modern or Modernist design elements to be Polished Chrome. At MODULIGHTOR of course, we customize our products to designer's specs and it's just as easy to plate in Nickel or Brass.

Usually Paul Rudolph's Nebula fixture is a ceiling mounted chandelier (CH10), but here it is a beautiful table model (TB10). After seeing it only in Polished Chrome all these years what a joy is is to see it in Golden Brass.  It is gorgeous!  Come see it in person in 2013.

Happy New Year!

The holiday season is upon us.

Here in New York we celebrate everyone's traditions and are always proud to display our gorgeous Menorah. (HL10) It has the same light quality as our exposed bulb chandeliers. Beautiful and elegant.

Here's wishing you a happy month of festivities. Happy Hanukah!

This month’s Elle Décor – the “Luxury Issue” – showcases the work of architect Len Morgan. His clients are collectors of all things fabulous.

A white MODULIGHTOR Wall Washer (Minilux HRL WW03) is seen on pages 186 /187. It is a ceiling mounted fixture with custom canopies for an atypical mounting condition.

We call it a Wall Washer because it’s mounted from the ceiling but here it’s being used as an ‘Art Light’ – the art being the books and shelves themselves.

Elle Decor    Len Morgan, Architect    Elle Décor photo: Mikkel Vang

The Quadron chandelier CH07 designed by Paul Rudolph perfectly utilizes MODULIGHTOR's system to create a stunning design.  Now that form is inspiring a whole new generation of lighting solutions. In the last year several of our customers have selected fixtures that pick up where the Quadron leaves off. And now there are even more finishes available! (see previous post)

No matter where the electrical feed is or how atypical the floor plan is this approach can solve several issues in one elegant design. Come talk to us about your project's unique circumstances.

After a nice summer break - great news to blog about again: the gorgeous Ivanka Trump has been featured on the cover of Elle Décor. Of course, she has a MODULIGHTOR fixture.

The long, white Art Light AL03 fits perfectly with her incredibly stylish pad designed by the fierce Kelly Behun. What an honor to be featured there. It must be absolutely beautiful at night.

We've been having a great year here at MODULIGHTOR. Cheers for more successful design problems solved through to 2013!

Elle Decor    Kelly Behun     Elle Décor photo: Eric Piasecki

MODULIGHTOR is always pleased to assist designers with their special projects. We have worked with many designers for various show houses through the years. We were thrilled when the amazing Charles Pavarini III asked to use a couple of our Pipette table lights TB91 in the 2012 Kip's Bay Showhouse.

Atypically, this year the showhouse features two side-by-side duplex penthouse apartments in a new skyscraper - each with its own private pool!  Wow. But quite expectedly, Mr. Pavarini's work is flawless; please check it out!  He also worked on the project with another one of our favorite people, Lana Lenar of Zerolux. It's a very cool project.

Thank you for including us in your work!

Charles Pavarini III Design Associates, Inc.

Kip's Bay Decorator Showhouse 2012

Some fixtures are specified to relate to a furniture group, such as a chandelier over a dining table. Other times an architectural fixture is needed to relate to the built environment itself. Then there are unusual occasions in which you just need something ELSE.

For those who entertain often, or move or reconfigure furniture for various purposes a free-form fixture might satisfy all requirements. The example here is a Zig-Zag linear pendant, such as the LP41. It can be either all Up light, illuminating the space using the ceiling as a reflector, or Up+Down light. (The Down component is great for surfaces under the fixture, but not necessary to light up the room.)

“Z” shaped fixtures can solve other problems, too, as I’ll discuss in another post.

To get a really good wash of light down the vertical surface of a wall it's best to mount the fixture on the ceiling 18" - 30" from the wall to be illuminated. (But consider whether bulbs can be seen from other side, as from a traffic path.) An electrical box closer to the wall than recommended which cannot be moved would potentially create a very unwelcome light quality from an otherwise fantastic fixture.

An innovative use of our standard parts can get the fixture to a proper distance. We almost always have a solution to the lighting problem!

New designs often arise from our 'pieces and parts' approach to building fixtures with standardized componentry.

Stems typically used to project Art Lights from a wall or to drop pendants from the ceiling are put together around a sphere to form our Stella series chandeliers and sconces - which lots of people refer to as 'Sputniks'. The half-Stella sconce or ceiling mounted fixture was itself a later inspiration from the original full-sphere chandeliers.

Lead fabricator Tim Clarke in our shop devised a table top model, TB130 - I call it the 'Orb'. Here seen with an integral transformer in the base which, if remoted would allow for a marble base. Mounted through a bar or table top - no base at all! A long list of line-voltage lamp and socket options (including compact fluorescent) also give many choices to update this classic form.

Track fixtures can be great when a client wants to display an ever changing art collection - Sometimes many small items / sometimes one large item. Sometimes items here / other times items over there. Track fixtures can work well for that. However, track fixtures are almost always by definition using Spot luminaries.

Spot lights provide a SPOT of light. Round or elliptical - depending on the aiming angle. Galleries will shape the round patterns with lenses and elements that block off rounded edges ('barn doors' and the like.) Or sometimes you really just see overlapping round shapes of light.

We percieve light as a relationship of contrasts.

The further an Art Light or a Wall Washer projects from a wall the better the light quality will be perceived. Light will reach the floor with any projection,but a smaller projection will increase the amount of contrast between a bright band of light at the top that fades off at the bottom. To minimize the amount of contrast and thereby improve the evenness of light over the art or wall or cabinetry surface - increase projection.

For Art Lights we suggest 12" - 18" projections; Wall Washers should be installed 16" - 24" from the wall.

If a smaller projection is necessary, such as in a corridor or stairwell, specify the HRL shaped fixtures AL03 or WW03 . The HRL shape will allow the fixture to be directed straight down without too much glare from the exposed lamps on the underside of the fixture. An 8" Overall projection (using our standard 6" stems or arms) is the least we recommend.

Paul Rudolph’s Quadron chandelier is featured in the gorgeous New York City apartment of Ashley Stark. She is a fabulous style icon herself and is Creative Director for Stark Carpets. (The senior Starks also have several MODULIGHTOR fixtures in their Manhattan residences.)

Ashley’s dining room is on the cover of Elle Décor’s December issue; the Quadron is seen in her foyer on page 117 in a “Fresh Outlook”. Although we make fixtures to designers’ specs, working with one of our regular clients Philip Gorrivan, Ashley bought our showroom model. It was an older fixture that had been here for years and she loved it’s patina.

Elle Décor     Stark Carpet    Philip Gorrivan