Designer Focus: Violaine d’Harcourt
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Time to read 4 min
With her background in sculpture and interior design, Parisian-born Violaine d'Harcourt creates artisanal lighting solutions using a variety of materials, ever guided by her belief in thoughtful, soulful design.
The result is lighting that combines fine craftsmanship with modern production techniques, offering designs that fill spaces with warmth, character, and unique artisanal charm.
The history of Violaine d'Harcourt
Born in Paris, in 1987, Violaine d'Harcourt developed an early interest in art and design through drawing, sculpture, and modelling.
This passion for design led her to pursue education in design and interior design at Camondo in Paris and Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan.
With an academic background in sculpture and a deep understanding of space, Violaine d'Harcourt weaves this knowledge into her design work, shaping her approach to light as an art form.
Drawing inspiration from art, architecture, and the interplay of light and space, she studiously crafts each of her pieces to create lights that transform not only an atmosphere but make an emotional impact.
Evolution of the brand
After gaining experience working in design studios such as Jacopo Foggini Studio (Milan), Federico Churba (Buenos Aires), and Galerie Kreo (Paris), Violaine d'Harcourt launched her eponymous lighting brand.
Deeply driven by a desire to create unique, handcrafted lighting solutions that blend artisanal craftsmanship with modern production techniques, she has seen her brand steadily gain recognition in Europe, particularly in France and Portugal, where she works and lives.
Her designs have also found popularity in other key design hubs such as Italy, the UK, and parts of Scandinavia.
Discover Violaine d'Harcourt art
Influences & design philosophy
With Violaine d'Harcourt’s background in sculpture, she treats each piece both as a functional object and a sculptural element.
In the Tiles Wall Light — Door , this is reflected in its geometric arrangement of ceramic and metal tiles, where the material textures and shapes create a striking visual composition, playing with light and shadow to transform the space.
Violaine draws from contemporary art and minimalist sculpture, using clean lines, abstraction and spatial balance to inform her pieces. And too, her pieces reflect principles of modernist architecture where an appreciation for structure and form is found in The Alcove Wall Light.
Here, the light’s rectangular shape and symmetrical composition create a sense of balance and order, while the carefully considered proportions highlight the piece’s architectural quality.
The subtle edges and soft glow of the light allow it to seamlessly integrate into a space, echoing the minimalist principles of modernist design.
And too, Violaine’s design process is deeply informed by how light interacts with its environment. She aims to create lighting that enhances the surrounding space, adjusting how it may be perceived in terms of reading both shadow and illumination.
An example of this is Tiles Wall Light – Moon, whereby a play between the spatial dynamics of a room shifts depending on the viewer’s perspective and the ambient light conditions.
There is no doubt that Violaine's designs are built on the premise that lighting can define a space’s atmosphere and play a strong influence on its emotional tone.
Her soft-edged, glowing fixtures help create calm, inviting spaces, while pieces with sharper geometric shapes evoke concentration and structure.
At the core and true heart of her philosophy lies the belief that lighting can infuse the soul into a room, creating a sense of personality and depth. In her designs this can be found through her materials and form choices evoke warmth, personality, and unmistakable originality.
The result is lighting that suits many interior styles, from minimalist spaces that appreciate clean lines to mid-century modern interiors that embrace organic forms and warm textures.
From dining rooms to hallways, offices and beyond, Violaine's designs prevail.
Violaine d'Harcourt Alcove Wall Light
The making of her designs
With a focus on quality and innovation, Violaine selects materials that breathe life into the design while maintaining a commitment to tradition.
Materials
She uses ceramics for its tactile qualities, and metal for structural integrity and aesthetic contrast. The use of glass for transparency and light-reflective properties and wood for an organic quality, grounding the more industrial elements with natural warmth.
In some of her designs, she uses paper for its delicate appearance and its ability to diffuse light to create a soft, atmospheric glow. On occasion, she uses marble for its durability and refined finish.
The design process
Violaine’s designs combine traditional artisanal techniques with modern industrial processes, keeping a balance of quality and innovation.
From sketch or sculptural model to prototype, she tests for functionality and aesthetics throughout. Once the materials are selected, and often working with local artisans for production she collaborates with manufacturers in France and Portugal to bring her designs to life.
Where to buy Violaine d'Harcourt lighting
You can choose from a range of Violaine d'Harcourt lighting at high-end retailers like Holloways of Ludlow who offer award-winning, carefully curated pieces.
Written by Kieran Martin
Kieran is the Holloways of Ludlow Brand Manager and the face behind our social media. Outside of work he is an influencer in his own right running documenting the renovation of his home on Instagram @no.3renovation