We often hear the word "luxury" thrown around in interior design. It’s usually associated with a high price tag or a famous brand name. But at Astremier, we believe luxury is a physical feeling.
It’s the cool weight of a brass chain in your hand. It’s the way real crystal refracts a rainbow onto the wall, or how natural stone warms up when the bulb turns on. True luxury lighting isn't just about how a fixture looks; it’s about what it’s made of.
Great lighting is a recipe. When you combine the right ingredients, you get more than just a lamp—you get an atmosphere. Here is how we use our five core materials to create that magic.
1. Crystal: The Drama
Crystal is the showstopper. It is the diamond of the design world. Unlike standard glass, high-quality crystal has a lead or mineral content that gives it clarity and weight. But the real luxury is in the cut. Sharp, geometric facets act like prisms, taking a single beam of light and shattering it into a spectrum of color. The Effect: It brings energy and movement to a room. Even when the light is off, crystal catches the daylight and sparkles. It is unapologetic glamour.
2. Alabaster: The Soul
If crystal is the diamond, alabaster is the pearl. This natural stone is opaque until you light it up. Suddenly, it glows from within, turning creamy, smoky, and ethereal. Because it is mined from the earth, every single piece of alabaster has its own unique "fingerprint" of dark veins and iron oxides. The Effect: It creates a diffused, romantic light that softens the edges of a room. It feels organic and ancient, adding a sense of history to modern spaces.
3. Blown Glass: The Fluidity
There is a crispness to blown glass that plastic can never replicate. Whether it’s clear, seeded, or rippled, artisanal glass feels "wet"—it has a liquid quality that plays beautifully with light. The Effect: It provides clarity. Large glass shades make a room feel open and airy, allowing the bulb filament or the metal structure inside to become part of the design. It is elegant without being heavy.
4. Brass: The Jewelry
Brass is the binding agent. It is the warm, metallic thread that ties the design together. Cheap metals are plated and feel hollow; solid brass feels substantial. It ages gracefully, developing a patina over time that tells a story. Whether it’s the mirrored shine of burnished brass or the dark moodiness of antique brass, this metal adds warmth to the cool tones of glass and stone. The Effect: It anchors the eye. Brass hardware acts like the jewelry of the room—a cufflink or a necklace that adds that final touch of polish.
5. Wood: The Grounding Force
Wood might seem like the odd one out in a list of shiny materials, but it is the secret ingredient to modern luxury. A room full of metal and glass can feel cold. Adding weathered or stained wood brings texture and earthiness. It absorbs light rather than reflecting it, providing a necessary visual break. The Effect: It makes luxury livable. Wood takes the "stiffness" out of a formal chandelier, making the space feel welcoming and homey rather than like a museum.
The Perfect Mix
The most breathtaking fixtures are rarely just one thing. It’s the contrast—the rough wood beam holding a delicate glass shade, or the heavy brass chain suspending a cloud of alabaster—that creates the style.
At Astremier, we select these materials not because they are easy to work with, but because they are honest. They feel as good as they look.
Discover the difference real materials make. Shop our Material Collections today.