This Maker Monday comes with a side of California sunshine. Kevin Kolanowski, founder of L.A. based Fuse Lighting, gives us a glimpse into one of the great minds of custom luxury lighting. Kolanowski’s sense of playfulness and experimentation with materials, from stingray to chainmail, make Fuse Lighting a driving force behind the 21st century’s rediscovery of lighting as art.
Acacia Pendant (Lost wax Bronze Casting) 
Avanti Table Lamp (Hand Carved Woodworking)
Andrew Joseph – How do you maintain a work/life balance?
Kevin Kolanowski – Depends on the day, but my favorite balancing practice is Sunday mornings in my garden with coffee.
Andrew – Vintage or new?
Kevin – I love both – but as a “maker,” definitely new.
Andrew – Style or design icon?
Kevin – Serge Mouille and David Hicks; both for their innovative shapes and forms.
Andrew – Most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life?
Kevin – A walking Safari in Kenya and Tanzania.
Andrew – Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
Kevin – First and foremost, “Don’t be in such a hurry” and “It gets better.”
Andrew – Favorite city to recharge?
Kevin – Paris, for recharging the creative mind and NYC, for recharging the spirit.
Andrew – Favorite place to view art?
Kevin – I have two: Berlin’s Museum Island, with its 5 world-renowned museums, and my hometown of Chicago’s Art Institute.
Andrew – You are stuck on an island, you can pick one food to eat forever without getting tired of it, what would you eat?
Kevin – Definitely Mexican – as long as margaritas are included.
Andrew – Song you can listen to on repeat?
Kevin – Mozart’s Requiem or It’s Raining Men.
Andrew – What are you most excited about at this time in your life?
Kevin – Well, being the workaholic I am, growing the business further. We have started exploring representation options in the UK and are looking forward to securing something in 2019.
London Pendant (Mouth Blown Glass)
Tokyo Table Lamp (Bench Made Metal Work)
About Fuse Lighting | Coming up on its twentieth anniversary, Fuse carries on a reputation for glamorous, modern, and distinctive illumination inspired by architecture, film, fashion, international travel, and nature. Originally using shells, minerals, and semi-precious gems, Fuse is known for incorporating the unexpected. Kevin enjoys a subtle play on exotic materials, such as hand-stitched leather and snakeskin, juxtaposed with cool blown glass, mirror, and metal.
Fuse Lighting is handcrafted entirely in California, a key element in maintaining the authenticity, integrity and unparalleled quality of designs which have made the company one of the most sought-after bespoke lighting manufacturers in the nation.
About Andrew Joseph – Andrew Joseph’s passion for design and rich journalistic history led to the launch of his boutique PR firm in 2012. Prior to enjoying the successes of Andrew Joseph PR, Andrew honed his editorial skills at Vanity Fair and Allure. This experience, as well as the strong network of contacts developed over the years in public relations, brings a valuable edge to his new role as contributing editor. Let the musing begin.
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