Umbra takes its name from the Latin word for shadow. The collection sets crystal against a black finish rather than the usual silver or gold, so what a room gains is depth and a contained glow instead of plain sparkle.

Black and crystal, in two pieces

There are two pieces. The Umbra chandelier runs 31 inches long in three sizes, stainless steel and crystal in a black finish, built to hold a dining table or an entry. The Umbra Sconce repeats the pairing at the wall in black mirror, beside a mirror in a powder room or in pairs down a hallway. Both are warm white at 3000K.

Choosing a size

Add the room's length and width in feet and read the sum as inches of chandelier, so a 13 by 15-foot dining room lands around 28 inches. Hang it 30 to 36 inches above the table, or keep 7 feet of clearance in open space, and mount the sconce at 60 to 65 inches. Both pieces work with a standard wall dimmer, and the lower settings are where the depth shows.

Where the dark finish works

Against pale walls a black fixture draws a clean graphic line; in a darker room it recedes into atmosphere. A polished dark surface also picks up reflections from everything around it, so the piece shifts through the day. Umbra sits among our other black light fixtures, and if the room already runs dark, gold light fixtures keep some warmth in the scheme.

Settle the ceiling first, then decide whether the walls should follow.