Lighting Goes Bespoke at Luminaire Authentik’s New Onyx Bar
Customers can choose their own slab of stone at the brand’s stylish Cowansville workshop.
In the decade since its inception, Quebec lighting designer Luminaire Authentik has become renowned for its elegant fixtures made from locally sourced materials in its Cowansville workshop. Now, following the launch of its Onyx Collection, Luminaire Authentik has debuted a new way to shop at its workshop with the Onyx Bar, a counter service where customers can handpick different elements for a custom lighting fixture.
“The Onyx Bar was born out of a desire to offer a truly personalized lighting experience,” company founder and president Maude Rondeau says. “At Luminaire Authentik, we believe that lighting should not only illuminate a space but also reflect the unique personality and style of its owner. By creating the Onyx Bar, we wanted to give our customers a space where they could hand pick their own stone slabs, ensuring that every piece they choose has its own unique character and story.”
The long U-shaped bar, clad in pearly tiles with a cheery neon sign, is tucked to one side of the workshop, with shelves of stones in all shapes, sizes, and colours for customers to peruse by appointment only. They can choose from around 20 different models in the Onyx Collection, including pendants, sconces, and table lamps, then select a slab of onyx from which to make it.
When choosing a piece of stone, Rondeau advises customers to consider colour, veining, and how it would fit into the overall design. “Most importantly, they should trust their instincts and look for that love at first sight—a piece that immediately draws them in.” She notes that translucency is also a key feature in onyx and why the designer used the stone, which is sourced from Mexico, as the centrepiece of a whole collection. “When backlit, it can create a beautiful, glowing effect that enhances the ambiance of any space.”
Each of the biophilic pieces in the collection puts the nuances of the individual stone on full display. In the Mini Moon, a domed stone shade tops a thick cylindrical base for a compact and retro table lamp. The pendant Nomad Opal is a round bulb with a cylindrical stone cap, while the Nopal Nube affixes a similar bulb to an amorphous onyx base. Others in the collection feature stone as bases on sconces, as the base of a ceiling light, or in various shapes of pendants.
In each, light filters through or reflects off the stone for a warm glow and a grounding organic element. “Customers can see the exact slab they will use, allowing them to select the one that resonates most with their aesthetic preferences,” Rondeau says. “They can appreciate the subtle nuances of colour, pattern, and texture that might not be visible in photographs.” For those who can’t visit in person, Luminaire Authentik also offers video appointments so they can see the stone in real time from various angles.
After a larger slab has been selected, it is cut into blocks using a diamond saw, then carved into the desired shape using a diamond grinder. Finally, it is buffed to a sheen using a polishing machine.
Rondeau says the feedback to the Onyx Bar has been overwhelmingly positive so far and has reinforced the brand’s commitment to offering a personalized, meaningful approach to lighting design. “This hands-on experience fosters a deeper connection to the material, making it more meaningful when the piece is finally integrated into their home or workspace.”
