8th July 2024 | IN EXPERT INSIGHT | BY SBID ShareTweetPinterestLinkedIn Gemma Mouton, Director at Forbes & Lomax has given her insights into the industry. Forbes & Lomax has been producing elegant, innovative light switches and sockets for over thirty-five years. Renowned for launching The Invisible Lightswitch®, it has always approached lighting control from an aesthetic point of view. The Forbes & Lomax collection comprises nine carefully chosen finishes, which are suitable for traditional and contemporary interiors, making it the brand of choice for many top interior designers, architects and decorators. The range includes push buttons and dolly switches for integrating with intelligent lighting control and home automation systems. It also offers a bespoke engraving service. Visit the showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. 1 Gang Dolly Switch in Invisible with Brass Toggle What are the origins of the business? Founder, Serena Herbert had been working as an interior designer on a prestigious project that included specialist paint and papered walls. Around that time the elegant glass fixtures of the 1920s and 30s were no longer available and the market was dominated by bulky, plastic switch plates. As a response to this, The Invisible Lightswitch® was launched. From there, the range grew to include a variety of metal finishes suitable for both traditional and contemporary interiors. 2 Gang Rotary Dimmer in Unlacquered Brass How do your products and services enhance interior design projects? In the past, lighting hardware had been an afterthought, however we believe changing details like light switches, dimmers and sockets can transform an interior design project. Our collection of switches and sockets instantly smarten up a space. When using wallpaper, a fabric wallcovering or specialist paint effect The Invisible Lightswitch® and Painted socket blend seamlessly into the background. Double 13 amp Socket with USB A&C Charge in Invisible with Brushed Brass Rockers and White Insert What value does your specialist sector add to the industry? Increasingly, there has been a focus on the importance of lighting in interior design projects. Over the 20 plus years I have been working at Forbes & Lomax, I have witnessed how lighting controls have evolved. Our British manufactured products offer clients complete control over their lighting at home from the most basic on/off function to pre-programmed lighting scenes. We know not everybody is in favour of the more contemporary style keypads that accompany smart light systems and with our momentary range of light switches, our customers can maintain a traditional, classic look with the technology hidden behind the scenes. 1 Gang Dolly Switch in Invisible with Brass Toggle 2 Gang Dolly Dimmer Mix Architrave Switch in Nickel Silver How do you work with interior designers? We work extremely closely with interior designers. They are amongst our most cherished client relationships. Our sales managers often attend site visits and are very much part of the lighting planning stage of projects. Most recently, we have welcomed groups of KLC students to our new showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour for tutorials and an introduction to lighting control. We’re thrilled to be an SBID Accredited Industry Partner, as we very much look forward to connecting and building relationships with the new generation of interior designers. 3 Gang Rotary Dimmer in Invisible with Brass Dimmer Knobs What has been your most significant company highlight or success from the past year? Our new showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour has been our most significant venture from the past year. The 70 square metre space has given us the opportunity to show our collection in full and interact with a wide customer base from both the UK and international markets. Not only do we use the space as a showroom, we also host training events, hold talks in collaboration with lighting consultants and welcome our interior design clients to have their meetings there. 2 Gang Dolly Switch in Aged Brass What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests? Clients are increasingly requesting bespoke switch plates, whether it’s customised engraving or a made-to-order one off plate. These are services we provide as part of Forbes & Lomax Bespoke. With our bespoke engraving service, clients can customise their light switches to denote the function of each button or toggle, which is particularly popular when used in conjunction with a smart lighting system. Custom-made plates provide a solution where space is limited or where a particular socket and switch arrangement is required. In this instance, a client would work closely with a member of our sales team to create a bespoke plate to suit their needs. Forbes & Lomax How do you see the interior design industry evolving in the year ahead? We believe there will be a continuing focus on sustainability and British manufacturing. Our processes are under constant review to ensure they align with our environmental goals. We are proud to retain our long-standing British heritage. All our manufacturing is in the UK. Is there anything new you are excited to be working on? We are excited to be launching our Smart Wi-Fi Rotary Dimmer this year. With the Wi-Fi rotary control, you can operate your lights using a smartphone or app, such as Alexa or Google Home. The rotary dimmer is simple to retrofit and will replace an existing dimmer switch with ease, as there is no need for additional wiring. The Forbes & Lomax Smart Wi-Fi Rotary Dimmer offers maximum convenience as you can change the mood of your lighting from multiple locations in the home. It allows you to update your home automation system with an aesthetically pleasing light switch. 2 Gang Dolly Switch in Invisible with Stainless Steel Toggles Gemma Mouton, Director at Forbes & Lomax What does being an SBID Accredited Industry Partner mean to you? We are proud to be an SBID Accredited Industry Partner. It means a great deal to us to be part of the community promoting the interior design profession. Our values align strongly with SBID’s high standards for quality and professionalism and we look forward to connecting with SBID’s present and future interior designers. About Forbes & Lomax Forbes & Lomax has been producing elegant, innovative light switches and sockets for over thirty-five years. Renowned for launching The Invisible Lightswitch®, it has always approached lighting control from an aesthetic point of view. The Forbes & Lomax collection comprises nine carefully chosen finishes, which are suitable for traditional and contemporary interiors, making it the brand of choice for many top interior designers, architects and decorators. The range includes push buttons and dolly switches for integrating with intelligent lighting control and home automation systems. It also offers a bespoke engraving service. Visit the showroom at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. Visit Profile If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.