RIGHT: A Lucite-stemmed Jacques Sconce by Jonathan Adler illuminates with swanky brass accents. FAR RIGHT: In Park City, an acrylic base lightens the visual weight of a chic dining table. Custom design by Beth Ann Shepherd. BELOW: Lucite removes the visual bulk and stuffy style from the traditional game table. Modern table from Jonathan Adler.
“I typically incorporate Lucite into a design when I want to add something surprising to the space or when I need a piece to fulfill a specific functional requirement, but don’t want the weight, bulk or distraction that another material would provide,” says designer Jenny Samuelson, who recently paired an iconic Ghost Chair with an antique desk in a Park City project. “The combination personalizes the décor,” she explains. Design pros also add acrylic furnishings to rid rooms of predictability and stuffiness. “Due to its transparent nature, Lucite works in virtually any setting, from modern to traditional,” Samuelson explains. “It can be dressed up or down and adds interest in a way that other materials cannot.” More
and more, opaque furnishings including those made of brass, leather, wood or chrome are being accented with Lucite, adding a shot of modernity without clashing. It can also add clarity to a room’s design. “Stylistically, it’s the perfect option when one more stylized foot or tapered leg is too much,” says designer Cody Beal, citing the use of Lucitebased benches and stools, for example. “Their legs just disappear.” Lucite has a place in most any space and works well when doubling down on an existing material would be overkill. For example, a piece of acrylic is ideal in rooms in which adding one more wood piece would simply be too much, designer Michele Dunker explains. “It offsets the weight of wood
TAKE CARE Don’t use glass cleaner on Lucite as it can cloud the finish and possibly crack over time. Instead choose an acrylic cleaner and apply it with a nonabrasive, soft cloth or rag. Small scratches can be eliminated with an acrylic polishing cloth. More substantial scratches may require professional buffing.
FALL 2 0 1 6
57