How to Maximize Natural Light
Chairish | January 2020
GO GLOSSY (WITH CAUTION)
Glossy finishes can help reflect natural light; most designers, however, recommend a mix of matte and gloss finishes to create a more interesting design that won’t fall flat. Michael Wolk of Michael Wolk Design Associates in Palm Beach, Florida, compares layering glossy and matte finishes to chiaroscuro, a painting technique that creates contrasting shadows and spaces of light. “Using matte and gloss finishes that absorb and reflect the existing light differently helps create the drama of chiaroscuro that Rembrandt and da Vinci used so effectively,” says Wolk.
