Plaster light coves (aka light troughs) are ideal for hiding a light source in an elegant way, creating a beautiful visual effect with soft, emanating light. With a wide range of possible designs and artisan finishes, the options are endless. As for potential finishes for these light coves, consider silver leaf gilding for a cooler tone and appearance that resembles moonlight—or, going in the opposite direction—what about an earth tone limewash over knock-down Marmorino plaster to get that feel of being in a desert with warm, radiating sunlight.
Concealing a light source behind a surface can be difficult to do seamlessly. It might not be the designer's intention to have the light source visible, and without a thoughtful design, hotspots and reflections might show. Jonas collaborated with Alex P White in a Beverly Hills home to design a solution for those issues, therefore creating a lighting effect that emanates in a balanced way to highlight the room's two-story cast plaster fireplace.
1. Details of cast plaster light coves by SuperStrata for Alex P White in Beverly Hills. Photo by Chris Mottalini.
2. Illuminated cast plaster light coves by SuperStrata for Alex P White in Beverly Hills.
It was important to give some depth to the fireplace wall as well, so having a succession of step-like light troughs vertically set against it added just that. An element of the design solution for the light troughs was the scale of those steps. Jonas incorporated the back wall as the first step, and used a matching dimension from the balcony as the other steps, helping to integrate it into the space. These light troughs were finished in an earth tone limewash over knock-down Marmorino plaster to mimic the Southern California desert where the home resides.
The next part of the design involved bouncing the light off a curved surface, which created soft glow behind the two-story light troughs. Jonas thought to have the light source placed behind the knife edge of the troughs with a radius added to the back corner, which was covered in the same plaster finish so that there would be a diffused reflection of light. If someone were to look directly into the troughs, they would not see a sharp corner, the light source, or anything that would give away the effect.
In a Baccarat Hotel residence we collaborated with designer Alexander M Reid to design and install custom plaster light coves along the perimeter of the main room's ceiling, which brought in a lot of ambient light. Our artisan Patrick Shoemaker then finished the ceiling coves with a high polish plaster, reflecting that warmth even more. He also finished the walls with a matte Tadelakt plaster, drawing the eye straight to where the two finishes meet at the lighting coves.
To create a tranquil glow in a Park Avenue apartment's master bedroom, we worked with designer Paris Forino to design architectural plaster light troughs in the ceiling. Jonas helped to form an idea for how the elongated quadrilateral light coves would play out, with rounded corners that add a softer touch. Having the ceiling finished in high polish plaster by Patrick creates a contrast against the matte appearance of the recessed area inside the coves themselves, and the striated plaster walls he applied in the same room sets it off further by incorporating some subtle texture.
1. Ceiling light coves by SuperStrata and finished in high polish plaster by Patrick Shoemaker.
2. Cast plaster light trough. Silver leaf gilding by Patrick Shoemaker. Photo by Evan Joseph.
In an adjacent room, a circular cast plaster light cove overhead has been gilded in silver leaf by Patrick, giving off a subtly glamorous vibe. This atmosphere is echoed in the powder room, with another cast plaster element that he gilded in silver which extends from the sink to the ceiling and emanates soft light from behind it.
Cast plaster light coves remain a captivating architectural element and elegant lighting solution for any interior or exterior. Whether you opt for a vertical light trough with tiered "steps" for added depth, a gilded circular ceiling cove, or one with a contrasting artisan finish, they are sure to transform the mood of a room.