Apartment Therapy New York | Good Questions: How to Mimic The Hudson Hotels Lighting?

Good Questions: How to Mimic The Hudson Hotels Lighting?

Hello AT,

I am wondering if you have been to the Hudson Hotel in Manhattan. I was there a few months ago and am curious if you had seen their tiny rooms. They were done so nicely. As a designer, I am wondering if you can tell me how it's possible to have a fluorescent type light box behind the bed. They had one attached to the heating/a/c unit. It was directly behind the headboard and beamed up light to read. It was great. I'm hoping you can advise me, as I'd love to create the idea at home. Hope you can help.
David B.

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Dear David,

What a great project! If you will pay to put me & SKGR up at the Hudson, we'll bring back detailed instructions. However, having not been there, we can only guess.

Installing a flourescent light fixture is super easy, particularly if you are mounting it where it won't be seen. You can simply buy it and screw it into the reverse side of a headboard or on a wall (leave space between wall and bed). The trick is figuring out how this light also becomes a reading light. We're not sure were it will reflect off of. Perhaps someone else has seen it and has a suggestion here?

Comments (3)

The reason that it works so well as a reading light is two-fold.

1. If the ceiling above is white, and the wall behind the light is dark, you will receive indirect lighting from the ceiling, as the wall will absorb the light whilst the ceiling reflects it. This is a common commercial-space trick which is often used to give a space the feeling of height.

2. The curtains are key. The sheer organza (I'm assuming) material is both reflective and diffusing, and takes the light up behind the bed. The result is light that is evenly glowing from behind the 'reader'.

Building the box or attaching the fixture is indeed simple, and a piece of Plexiglas #7332 will diffuse the light enough. Consider using some LED strip lights, they use little energy and the colors can be changed on-demand.

posted by Joey on 2005-09-13 11:29:14

Hire a lighting designer! There are a bunch out there ready and willing to help. There is no "one fits all" solution, and careful detail and knowledge can greatly improve results, as well as optimizing lighting for you're space.
Otherwise, its just a box with some diffusion material choose it carefully, it makes a BIG difference. Frosted glass, frosted plexiglass, or if you want more detailed control, a glass sandwich with a theatrical gel (216 ½ diffuse for example.)

posted by AB on 2005-09-13 19:30:50

I am the person who originally asked the question. I'm really not technical with things.

What is diffusion material?

One thing I liked about the light is that one could pull a tassle and the light switched on. Any idea how to create this?

If someone can email me, I'd appreciate it.

David

posted by David on 2005-09-16 01:54:26