Warm Welcome Magazine

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Introducing Gong, the Luxury Lighting Brand

Launched in the late nineties as a decoration boutique on London’s Portobello Road, Gong swiftly became the go-to lighting brand for interior designers, architects, hotels and restaurants all around the world. Now you can bring its luxurious lighting into your own home with a stunning selection of floor, table and wall lamps, ceiling lights and dedicated collections in everything from brass and silk to glass and linen.

Timeless Design

Gong’s founder Jo Plismy is passionate about timeless design combined with the finest quality materials and expert artisan craftsmanship. “Our focus is on style with atmosphere,” explains Jo. “It all started when I visited London in my mid-twenties. I grew up in Belgium in a home full of 20th century furniture, surrounded by Asian and African art dealers. This is where my passion for eclectic and timeless objects began and I would often be found browsing for hours in markets at the weekends. Opening my interiors boutique on Portobello Road in 1999 seemed like a natural progression and when a second Gong boutique opened on Fulham Road a few years later, I began to design my own lighting. The popularity of those creations inspired me to do more and so I turned my attention exclusively to lighting design.”

Gong is a true family business and has grown substantially to become a high-end supplier to domestic and residential projects as well as wholesale; supplying shops, interior designers, architects and specifiers alike.

Inspired Thinking

Jo’s inspiration comes from many sources and whether it’s vintage mid-century piece of furniture or a Victorian trinket, she specialises in reinvention, dreaming up wonderfully exciting lighting designs that not only illuminate a space but also give it a focal point and statement centrepiece. “The Gong collections are unique,” adds Jo. “And their eclectic nature is what sets them apart from traditional high street finds. I believe that lighting can instantly change the entire atmosphere of any room, thanks to its decorative nature, the shape, material, texture and the light itself.” Jo goes on to say that it’s also the warmth of the light and how this is diffused throughout the room that can make all the difference. “Some of our designs have a shade with a golden interior to provide this warm hue,” she explains, “while others allow for a beautiful reflection on the walls and some use transparent fabric that changes colour once the light is switched on. This is what I love the most about lighting, the combination of shapes and materials to create different atmospheres and emotions.”

Ceiling Lights

Gong has a wonderful array of lights for all rooms and all occasions. Its stunning ceiling light selection includes chandeliers, pendants and suspended styles in metallic and colourful materials. The Peggy Teal Six Shade Chandelier above is crafted from metal and brass and also comes in black, white and biscuit. Ideal as a centrepiece for living areas, dining rooms and open-plan spaces, it provides excellent task and ambient lighting in one. For something sculptural, the Kelopak Pendant is a unique design made of zippers, which is available in three sizes and appears like a cloud floating elegantly above, while the Tarya Ceiling Rectangle in metal and brass is available in black, as shown, or white, and looks stunning in a kitchen or open-plan area. Adding a futuristic touch, the Ant Ceiling Shade also comes in white or black and is perfect for a Scandi look.

Wall Lights

Ambient lighting is a must for any room, especially living areas and bedrooms. Teamed with table lamps for task lighting and an overhead pendant shade for an all-round glow, wall lights can contribute to a layered lighting effect, which suits all seasons and all times of the day. The Eclipse Wall Light above opens and closes to reveal a luxurious black and gold design that oozes Art Deco styling. The Tarya Teal design meanwhile blends an on-trend teal and metallic body for contrasting colour and is also available in black, white or full brass. Adding a burst of vibrancy is the Murano Pill Wall Light, which is made from glass blown in Murano with colours to complement or contrast with your décor. The Matahari in linen and teak meanwhile, is available as a wall or ceiling lamp for a versatile design inspired by the art of origami.

Table and Floor Lamps

A beautiful collection of table and floor lamps is also available, with designs, styles and sizes to suit every space. The Tree range above comes in antique brass and metal with black, grey and white shades. Jo is particularly fond of using this mix within living areas and bedrooms for a versatile look. “Living rooms and bedrooms often need to be bright in the morning and relaxing and cosy at night,” she says. “Layering different types of lighting such as table or floor lamps with wall or ceiling lighting will allow you to achieve this effortlessly. Not only will layering light sources add depth and texture, but it will also ensure you can adjust the lighting throughout the day to alter the ambience. Task lighting for reading is also essential and often this can be achieved by placing a lamp on a side table in a living room, or using two lamps or wall lights either side of the bed in a bedroom setting. My advice is to add drama with large lamps or statement designs and if possible, have lights on dimmers that can also be controlled independently from each other.”

To follow Gong's Instagram, please follow this link:

www.instagram.com/gong_design