Forging a Custom Identity

New design studio illuminates a different side of Lexington Glassworks

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
Lexington Glassworks founders Billy Guilford, left, and Geoff Koslow have pivoted to making custom designs (including globe and pill pendants, below).
Photo by Colby Rabon

A few years ago, Lexington Glassworks, the festive public studio where drop-in visitors can witness the dramatic glassblowing process in real time, expanded its services to include custom-designed lighting fixtures. Marketing and Creative Director Ashleigh Hardes says boutique lighting “has been part of the plan from the very beginning,” though for the last seven years, founding artists Geoff Koslow and Billy Guilford have been busy molding their business around vessels and sculptural collections at various price points (accessible bestsellers include vases, tumbler glasses, and a much-anticipated seasonal pumpkin series).

Photo by Colby Rabon

This self-described “open-door culture” — the flame, the drama, the working artists as the main attraction — was the whole point of the operation, and that art-as-performance aspect was an ideal fit for Asheville. In a very short time, Lexington Glassworks was topping lists for arts destinations in the South, getting shout-outs in outlets ranging from Southern Living to HGTV to Condé Nast Traveler.

Photo by Colby Rabon

To enhance the immersive aspect of Lexington Glassworks even further, a portion of the 5,000-square-foot venue — which started life as an auto-parts store — was outfitted as a bar and event space. But since April, that space has been rebranded as LGW Design Studio, and the work that’s forged there isn’t intended for casual onlookers.

Guilford and Koslow — the two artists first met as art students at Alfred University and reconnected at local Penland School of Craft — had begun developing a core Lighting Collection around signature colors (lots of grays, blues, and harvest tones) and shapes. These offerings now include a wide variety of pendants — pill-shaped, cylindrical, wrapped spheres, nest globes, etc. — as well as floor and table lamps.  Then, says Hardes, “we expanded our partnerships with high-quality hardware manufacturers.”

The artisan glass fixtures, including chandeliers, are still forged on site.
Photo by Colby Rabon

The concept of LGW Design Studio, she emphasizes, is to create “art for the home,” using a combination of transparent and opaque elements to manipulate color and ambience to integrate pieces within commercial spaces and residences. The Lexington Glassworks crew next began collaborating with clients, architects, builders, and interior and lighting designers.

Photo by Colby Rabon

“We have worked to streamline our glassblowing processes and business workflows to allow us to grow the lighting arm of our company,” says Hardes. The staff has grown accordingly, including the addition of three lighting consultants who meet with property owners in person or by phone or videophone. “Also, we have widened our offerings to include more outdoor lighting and more custom chandelier configurations,” notes Hardes. The pivoted mission of LGW Design Studio means more large-scale custom installations, including a current project for a South Asheville residence. 

Photo by Colby Rabon

Liz Hackett, the home’s interior designer, had previously hired Lexington Glassworks to help with lighting for a home. “I have worked with [Koslow and Guilford] in the past and thought they would be a good fit for this [project],” says Hackett. “I met my clients over at [the new studio], where we discussed their custom lights and designs.” 

Photo by Colby Rabon

Hardes illuminates what goes on in the newly reconfigured space, which holds a meeting room as well as square footage for manufacturing. “We do a discovery phase where we talk about colors, styles, and get specifics on space and dimensions,” she says. “From there, we move into the designing phase, where we pitch ideas. This is when the collaborative part happens. … From there, we move into finalizing the order and production.”

Photo by Colby Rabon

For this project, LGW Design Studio created pendant lighting around the home’s kitchen island and for the primary bathroom, plus a magnificent Hubbardton Graffiti Chandelier (in cooperation with Hubbardton Forge in Vermont) to command the dining room.

The edgy “Graffiti Chandelier” is a collaboration between Lexington Glassworks and Hubbardton Forge in Vermont.
Photo by Colby Rabon

The edgy Graffiti Chandelier, with its free-form industrial vibe, is no less than a piece of modern sculpture, and indeed, Hardes remarks that the firm treats each of their custom lighting projects as though they were curating a fine-art installation. But she adds that their work fits a range of home aesthetics, “from modern to traditional.”

LGW Design Studio/Lexington Glassworks, 81 South Lexington Ave., downtown Asheville. For hours and more information, visit lexingtonglassworks.com.

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