Local designer's chandeliers add a touch of sparkle to the world

The chandelier—a glamorous, shiny collection of glass that delicately hangs from the ceiling—can definitely add a beautiful touch to any dwelling. But for lighting designer Helen Gifford, a chandelier is more than just a sparkly detail, it is a reflection of her experiences in life and a dedication to her clients to share in her vision.

Growing up in exotic places, including the foggy countryside in England, tropical Southeast Asia and the wintry greens of Canada, Ms. Gifford discovered a unique inspiration in each of these distinctly different parts of the world: light.

And here on the East End, Ms. Gifford said that she still also uses her surroundings for inspiration.

“I go for a run every morning on the beach and pick up beach glass and oyster shells for color tones and see if they work with the designs,” she said during a recent interview.

Ms. Gifford began her East Hampton-based company HelenBilt in 2000 after showcasing her work at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in Manhattan and “got picked up immediately by two exclusive stores in New York and Los Angeles,” she said, adding that the two stores were Comerford Collection in Bridgehampton and Plug in Los Angeles.

Media attention followed quickly thereafter. Ms. Gifford and her designs were featured in Interior Design magazine that spring.

Inspired by artists from the Dadaist movement, including Marcel Duchamp, as well as precisionist painter Charles Demuth and abstract painter Georgia O’Keeffe, Ms. Gifford’s conceptual pieces are ideas that she uses as a foundation for her lighting design.

Ms. Gifford said that she can

design a beautiful and unique chandelier in the wink of an eye for any homeowner. First, she visits the site where she will be designing and discusses her client’s wants and needs. Together, they establish a game plan and draw a picture. She then sketches a more detailed design and works with her welding partner Gary Anderson from Anderson Tooling to carve the piece.

With architects and electricians, Ms. Gifford pinpoints any conflicts that the chandelier might come across, such as a misfit in the type of electrical conductivity in the ceiling. Lastly, she works with the elements and produces a piece of work that fits the home. Ms. Gifford’s designs are hand-built to order and cost anywhere from $1,800 and up.

Notable clients include Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz, and Darren Starr.

“I love working with Helen, her flexibility, her ability to please her clients,” said New York-based interior designer Betty Wasserman during a recent telephone interview. “I like how she is willing to work with her team. It’s a nice balance so that everybody gets what they want.”

The HelenBilt collection of chandeliers, which includes the Urchin series and the Concord series, are all eco-friendly, as Ms. Gifford said that the environment is definitely one of her main priorities. She utilizes energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights, recycled stainless steel and reuses incandescent lightbulbs in her designs.

Ms. Gifford also receives recycled glass from West Virginia, courtesy of Andrew Stenerson, her business partner, to incorporate into her green designs. She stressed that not only is the glass itself green, but also that the collection process is sustainable.

“The proximity of my business partners means less traveling and therefore less gas and carbon emission,” Ms. Gifford said.

The designer also has strong roots in the East End design scene: she was a featured exhibiting sculptor and silent auction donor at LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton in 2006 and was also a featured lighting artist and silent auction donor at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton in 2007.

But Ms. Gifford and her talents are in demand all across the globe, said architect Nick Martin of Martin Architects in Sagaponack.

“It’s a joy to work with Helen. She’s able to clearly define elegant designs with sustainable and practical knowledge, making an integrated approach easy,” he said.

For right now, Ms. Gifford’s focus is directed on her Hamptons clients, particularly on those who want the utmost in sparkly glamour at home.

“I absolutely believe that chandeliers are the ultimate jewelry for the home,” she said, adding that she is busy creating new pieces which will be on display during the Hampton Classic, alongside the high-end jewelry designs of Michelle Farmer.

View HelenBilt designs, which will be on display along with Michelle Farmer Fine Jewelry, on Snake Hollow Road across the street from the Hampton Classic in Bridgehampton from Thursday, September 2, through Sunday September 5, from noon to 4 p.m. Or visit her website at www.helenbilt.com.