IDEA 2021 has a new sponsor with Australian owned lighting supplier Bloomingdales Lighting.

The luxury lighting and occasional furniture provider will be sponsoring the Residential (Interior Curation) award, formally known as Residential Decoration. 

Bloomingdales crafts bespoke lighting for both high-level residential and commercial hospitality projects, ranging from bespoke light fixtures and pendants, to hand crafted lampshades, and everything in between. 

It concentrates on classical through to contemporary, dynamic designs, with an objective to create quality pieces that stand the test of time. 

 Founded in NSW over two decades ago, the company has continued to adapt and refine, developing a line of timeless pieces. With its head office in Sydney, Bloomingdales has a showroom presence in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. 

Bloomingdales made a name for itself with its lighting collection, that explores texture and finish to enhance any living space. These collections incorporate pieces that are classical and sculptural in style, but also feature leading-edge designs, from acclaimed international interior and lighting designers. 

Since its original collection, Bloomingdales has created close, collaborative relationships with leading international brands and manufacturers in both lighting and occasional furniture. These relationships include globally recognised manufacturers Visual Comfort & Co. and Theodore Alexander, who are now close supply partners of the brand. 

“As a wholesaler, we are fully committed to the interior design and professional interior specifier market,” Bloomingdales director Joel Kaufman tells ADR.

“IDEA is a great opportunity for us to give back to the industry that has supported our business for so long.

“It’s also a powerful forum for us to show our support for young designers in Australia. As a company we’re focusing on this emerging space. “

And while Bloomingdales includes global collaborations in its collections, the brand still maintains a strong element of individuality, continuing to design and produce carefully curated lamp shades in its Rosebery, NSW factory.

Here, artisan craftsmen are involved in every phase of shade creation, from pattern-making and the binding of fabric to gluing and finishing. 

Last year’s winner of the IDEA Residential Decoration award was Flack Studio’s Middle Park. An Edwardian home, the space combines family history with meta-modernism.

It features contemporary pieces with an ancient aesthetic to create an atmosphere of elegance for those blessed to walk into the space.  

Bloomingdales co-director Robyn Kaufman says this year, she’s hoping to see designers really embrace their own aesthetic.

“A paucity of design, simplicity and space that is dotted with considered objects chosen because of what they mean to the client is what we love.

“Often, it’s about de-cluttering – but not without mood and warmth. This is often achieved by clever use of recessed lighting. And yes, a beautiful standing lamp adds to this!” 

This year’s IDEA jury features Flack, alongside Chelsea Hing, Brahman Perera, Domino Risch, Jean-Paul Ghouhassian, Meryl Hare and Ryan Genesin. The 2021 awards will also include an inaugural sustainability judge – Bonnie Herring. 

Entries for IDEA 2021 are now closed. Stay tuned for the shortlist reveal in September.

Images courtesy of Bloomingdales.