How do you choose between recessed and surface-mounted downlights? Option 1: You don’t.
Hey, what? Well, you see, we sort of designed a new downlight that does both. It has a recessed install and can sit flush with the ceiling and/or it pops out like a game of whack-a-mole to gimbal about.
Here to explain the light with the identity crisis is lead product designer, Nathan.
Starting off with the basics, Nate, how the heck does this thing work? It’s surface mounted and recessed?
Well I gotta come clean, technically it’s a recessed light. So, it requires a hole cut in the ceiling for it to be installed. The light though can come out of the ceiling and enter the room, the form and function of this is exactly like our surface-mounted lights. So yes, it can function both as a recessed light or a surface light, but it has the installation method of a recessed light. Which, if you are dealing with a plaster ceiling, is a much faster way of installing a light.
How difficult is it to switch from recessed to surface? And how often can you do so? Could this be the new pastime if we go into lockdown again?
Super easy. You just need to grab the center of the light and pull it down and out. Can be done day after day if you want, would be a great way of burning those lockdown calories.
The directionality, once pulled out and angled, makes these lights great to focus on points of interest such as artwork. So if you have an ever-changing collection or style, this should be no problem to adapt. And if you change your mind and go all Marie Kondo on your place, you can just push them back in to be downlights again out of view.
Okay, but really, what’s with the identity struggle? Why design a light that’s both? Wouldn’t you typically want one or the other?
It’s all about giving you more options in how you can use a space whilst maintaining the same aesthetic. Either in or out, the lights can continue a form throughout the entire home. Some areas require a minimal visual impact of recessed downlights, whereas other areas require the added directionality and/or visual interest.
I’m sure 15 months ago we didn’t expect to be working so much on laptops at our dining room tables, but life forces us to change. Having the option to properly direct a light (more than the 20° gimbal of a standard downlight) gives us many more options with how to illuminate our homes.
So where are you seeing these lights being used? What kind of applications are available here?
Everywhere! Haha, but as mentioned above, especially areas where you may have different requirements for the space in the future. Hallways – where different artwork placements may happen, and living areas – where furniture might move, would be the main two places I expect to see them. The great thing is you can just install the whole place with them as they look great as downlights, then, throughout living in the space, you can slowly bring them out of the ceiling to really pinpoint and direct the light where you want it.
There are three lights in the collection, right? What’s the variation there? And colours?
So we have a super tiny one called the D200.RSX-CR. This light looks closest to our existing range of surface-mounted lights and comes in four narrow to medium beam angles, including an asymmetrical beam angle. For colours, this light comes in white and black, with the ability to also change the inner baffle colour.
Then we have the two larger lights, the D1000.RSX-CR and the D2800.RSX-CR. I can really see the D1000.RSX being the workhorse of the range with a happy medium of brightness to size.The larger D2800.RSX-CR will be great for any areas with super high ceilings or spaces that require a bit of extra brightness due to the activity. Both of these ones come in three different beam angles and an all white housing. We have found that being all white really helps it disappear as an object and just look like part of the ceiling/architecture.
Anything else we should know about this collection?
Just that you should head to the webpage and request a quote ASAP.
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