Page 58 - Lighting Magazine May 2018

designer spotlight
When Timothy Oulton graduated from Ampleforth College in England, a boarding school run by Benedictine monks, he gured he’d end up work- ing in banking as a career. The nance world’s loss is home décor’s gain, however, as Oulton decided to follow a di erent path. His passion for antiques – cultivated from working in his father’s antiques shop – and his appreciation for traditional English cra smanship led him to create his own line of fur- niture and lighting that pays homage to the past while o ering a modern perspective.
Hong Kong – named Gough’s on Gough – which is a modern take on a British restaurant that exudes style, cra smanship, hospitality, and charm.
Known for creating distinctive handcra ed leather furniture plus unique lighting and home accessories, Oulton has just unveiled his 2018 Col- lection in March.
“The cornerstone of this collection is the ma- terials — some of which are incredibly di cult to collect and even more di cult to work with,” Oulton explains. “It takes an enormous amount of skill and e ort to cut marble thin enough to use in cabinetry, or to use rock crystal to make furniture and lighting. But I’m not interested in anything that’s easy. The unique materials and the complexity in the hand- nishing is what makes this collection so special.”
According to Oulton, the materials were the starting point for forming his latest collection. “We’ve taken pure, natural materials like marble, leather, and reclaimed wood and used them in new, innovative ways. We’ve launched a new hand- nished leather that feels like velvet when you touch it, and a cabinetry collection handcra ed in marble — it’s incredibly technical and di cult to do. We spend countless hours on our hand- nishing, but that’s what sets us apart,” he explains. “With everything we do, we always think about the experience. It’s not just what you see or hear, it’s how you feel that makes a space truly great.”
In addition to the furniture, the lighting is equally stunning. Of particular note is the Rock Crystal Rain chandelier. “It’s pre y special,” Oulton enthuses. “Each crystal is individually lit, so the whole piece casts these dramatic shapes and shadows on the wall. Rock crystal is my latest fascination, it’s millions
lEft: Timothy Oulton recently unveiled his 2018 Collection that he
His rst mentor was his father’s employee Eddie Gibson, a woodworking expert. The two worked together when Oulton took over the operation of his father’s shop, Halo Antiques, and still collabo- rate today. In time, Oulton seized upon the idea of reinventing antiques for the wholesale market. By partnering with Diego, an Argentinian leather master, Oulton was able to incorporate those skills into his designs as well.
His creative vision and hard work paid o . In 2008, Oulton opened his rst retail gallery under his name at HD Bu ercup in Los Angeles. Over the ensuing years, he established agships in Hong Kong, Amsterdam, and established a gallery in London’s iconic Harrods department store.
hopes pushes bound- More recently, he launched Timothy Oulton
aries and showcases cra smanship.
Studio as his own boutique interiors and construc- tion design studio targeting the hospitality sector. Completed projects include 1880 members’ club
right: Cultivated
by hand, the 2018 in Singapore, the Blue Room at the Los Angeles
Collection features
Athletic Club, and Glazebrook House hotel in Devon, England.
pieces cra ed over countless hours using simple tools and
Last year, Oulton applied his design sensibili- beautiful materials. ties to the culinary world, opening a restaurant in
54 enLIGHTenment Magazine | May 2018
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