The interior-and-lighting designer, Sheryl Leysner, discusses her approach to upcycled materials and reuse in her East Amsterdam studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is Monocle on Design Extra.
It's a short show to accompany our weekly program where we discuss everything from architecture and craft to furniture and fashion.
I'm Ailey Evans.
Transforming existing objects into new items or upcycling is becoming more popular in the design world.
One creative well versed in the challenges and joys in producing, producing work this way is Cheryl Leisner.
The interior furniture and lighting designer has produced statement art lamps for hospitality, retail and office spaces for over a decade with her atelier Rui Bolster.
I recently caught up with Cheryl at a studio in East Amsterdam to find out more about her approach to reuse and upcycling.
Lighting has always been my first priority in any interior design.
It can make or break any design.
I asked my boyfriend back then, he was an electrician.
Can you make lamps for me?
I have a lot of ideas.
The budget is always so small.
We can just create something beautiful.
And it started with one lamp, and then two, and then more.
And now it's sort of a company within my company.
I still design most lamps for my own projects, but now other designers discover it as well, and also owners of buildings who maybe have a big void in the building and they need an art light, something spectacular.
Then we design custom lamps also for other projects.
And what is the key to having an extravagant art lamp?
What needs to be at the start for it to be an amazing piece?