I’ve always loved the romance of heritage architecture, though when it comes to my own home’s interiors, I prefer a slightly fresher look. So when my family moved into a beautiful, Victorian-era terrace in Sydney, I celebrated its architecture while immediately plotting to replace the dingy, turn-of-the-century lights (and we’re not talking this century).
While wandering through Winnings in Alexandria, my husband and I spotted our old favourites, DCW Editions ‘Here Comes The Sun’ pendants, a range designed by French architect Bertrand Balas in 1970, and the glow they cast was as beautiful as ever. Shortly after, we surprised ourselves by becoming the proud owners of a 250-centimetre pendant in Black and Copper for our hallway, and a 450-centimetre pendant in White and Copper for the living area – the exact lights we had used and loved in a previous home makeover.
DCW Editions ‘Here Comes The Sun’ pendant review verdict
- Our rating: (9/10)
- Why we rated it a (9/10): The clean lines complement – rather than compete with – heritage architecture and work beautifully with ornate plaster ceiling roses. The matte colours suit any palette and the internal Copper finish adds a polished, metallic pop.
Pros
- The stunning, sculptural silhouette of these pendants make this a classic collection that suits nearly every style of interior, from traditional architecture and abodes to more minimalist and contemporary homes. And being metal, they’re robust enough to withstand family life.
- This collection of pendants comes in six sizes, ranging from 10 to 55 centimetres in diameter, so there’s a size for every space.
- Available in Black or White, with a choice of White or Copper for the internal finish, you can mix and match colours, which we did with an elegant effect.
Cons
- With an output of 380 lumens for the 45-centimetre pendant and 300 lumens for the 25-centimetre size, these pendants are designed for ambient mood lighting, not task lighting, so you’ll need an additional light source for pursuits like reading.
- These pendants are best viewed from below, because the internal screws are visible when seen from the side (if you hang them beside a staircase, for instance) or from above (if you look down on them from a double-storey void).
- The Copper internal finish can cast a subtle, orangey tint when the lights are on, so white and light-coloured surfaces may appear warmer than intended.
What’s so special about DCW Editions ‘Here Comes The Sun’ pendants?
Balas’ design was inspired by the rising sun and these pendants add a magical, atmospheric quality to interiors that’s evocative of sunrises and sunsets – the Copper finish in particular. Designed one year after The Beatles’ song by the same name, they are a soft take on iconic ’60s and ’70s lighting design.
- Each pendant comes with a white ceiling rose and black cord
- Cables are adjustable and come in three- or five-metre lengths
- IP (ingress protection) rating is 20, so suitable for indoor use only
DCW Editions ‘Here Comes The Sun’ materials and size
- Pendants made from: aluminium
- Cable made from: fabric-wrapped wire
- Dimensions: from 10- to 55-centimetres in diameter
- Weight: from 0.5kg for the 10-centimetre pendant to 8kg for the 55-centimetre pendant
How to use DCW Editions ‘Here Comes The Sun’ pendant
You’ll need a licensed electrician to hang these pendants, folks.
- Ask your electrician to hold the pendant in place while showing you different height options (the cables are adjustable), and remember to stand back so you can take in your room as a whole. We had a few minutes of “a little higher, please; a little lower, thanks” before I settled on the perfect cable length. For us, that’s about 40 centimetres above head height in the hallway (our main thoroughfare, so I hung the smaller pendant a tad higher to keep it out of harm’s way) and 30 centimetres above head height in the living room (with our coffee table positioned directly below the larger pendant, not even our tallest friends can bump their head on it).
- Ensure your electrician hides some extra cable length inside your ceiling cavity, just in case you wish to lower your pendant in the future.
- Add a frosted E27 LED/ESL light bulb to your shopping list (the non-frosted bulbs don’t cast an even glow), twist it in and you’re done.
Results from our test
Even before I flicked the switch and turned these beauties on, they looked stunning. When not in use, the Copper internal finish is a soft pink metallic tone and the lines are architectural and sculptural; when switched on, the pendants bathe our hall and living room with a warm, gilded glow.
As they’re designed for ambient lighting rather than task lighting, I don’t find them bright enough for reading, but additional dimmable downlights give us the option. After a couple of months the pendants visibly needed a good dusting, but a soft cloth and a couple of minutes later, they were looking as good as new.
Overall, are DCW Editions ‘Here Comes The Sun’ pendants worth it?
Starting at $330 for a mini 10-centimetre pendant this range represents an investment, though considering the timeless style, quality and how rarely we change our lighting, they’re worth it if your budget permits.
I normally relish the opportunity to experiment with different aesthetics, materials and products in home makeovers to ensure they suit each individual site, so I rarely purchase the same fittings or fixtures twice. However, these pendants are the exception and, given the chance, I’d happily use them again in a future home revamp.
Where to buy DCW Editions ‘Here Comes The Sun’ lights
- Winnings, 25-centimetre pendant in Black and White, $840.
- Winnings, 45-centimetre pendant in White and Copper, $1950.
