BMAG Article featuring Luminosa: The devil’s in the detail

(Pictured: Serge Nagra)

Brisbane renovators put luxury into a budget

A frustrated renovator, found a niche and filled it writes Camilla Jones

Queenslanders love a touch of luxe, but as Serge Nagra realised while renovating his Yeronga home, design aficionados without a millionaire’s budget have their work cut out finding high quality, luxurious finishes.

Topping his list of décor pain points were the functional ‘boring’ details—like light switches and power points— and high-end ‘feature’ products like wall coverings.

Chatting to a fellow MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra) over a post-ride coffee one weekend, Serge realised he wasn’t the only one annoyed by the limited options for finishes that didn’t break the bank.

His friend, also a recent renovator, agreed that the only available options for switches and wall features he’d found were either terribly cheap looking or priced well out of the range of the average home owner.

Twelve-months and several trips to overseas manufacturers later, Serge left his corporate job and Brisbane gave birth to yet another entrepreneurial venture – the aptly named Bella Lujo (a multi-lingual mix of Italian and Spanish, meaning beautiful luxury).

Serge has developed something to satisfy both the heads and the hearts of design lovers including their range Luminosa and Renaza.

Luminosa is Australia’s first glass light switch range and is an affordable way to add a luxurious finishing touch to a room, or a whole house,” Serge says.

“While Renaza is a range of mosaic timber tiles, made from sustainably sourced, 100-year-old recycled timber, re-purposed from decommissioned boats. So we have the uber modern contrasted with a reclaimed, vintage vibe.

“Brisbane design is getting edgier all the time and we love Bella Lujo being part of that evolution.

“The feedback we’re getting from Renaza stockists and comments on the Luminosa website tells us that there’s huge opportunity in Queensland and around Australia for businesses that take a risk and offer something affordable, yet completely different. I think Australia craves the new and unusual.”

To scratch that itch, Serge says some of Bella Lujo’s new products are “pretty insane”, including wooden, stone or grass wall paper.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” he assures us, “we’re actually making the products out of wood, stone and grass!”

Serge’s top three tips for ramping up the luxe factor on a budget:

1. Isolate one or two key details – for example handles on cabinets or doors, light fittings or light switches or powerpoints and lavish extra attention on them. Your home should have a ‘well thought-out feel’ which includes caring about the finer details.

2. Research – these days you can hunt down trends and save by shopping online when renovating. If you make a decision to save on things that aren’t that important to you, you can lavish those funds on the little details most other people overlook.

3. Be daring – when you’ve chosen one or two details to focus on—be it a feature wall or cabinet handles—you can afford to be more avant garde. So while you might not want red on every wall of the house, a pop of colour in the form of a light switch can really ramp up the wow factor.

See this article on the BMAG website

 

Switched on makers of affordable luxury, launch Australia’s first glass light switch range.

For too long, ugly white plastic light switches and power points have been de rigueur for new build and renovation projects. Now, Australian company Bella Lujo, is filling the gaping hole in the market for affordably priced, luxury light switches and power points, with the launch of its exclusive glass lighting accessories range – Luminosa.

Sleek glass an Australian first

Featuring European-inspired, minimalist design and precision manufacturing, Luminosa’s glass range, Vetro, is an Australian first, imparting a high-end, prestige look to any residential or commercial project. The stunning, toughened glass faceplates feature chrome trims, an anti-fingerprint coating for effortless maintenance and are available in a range of elegant colours; white, black, silver and neutral.

Unique European sizes, plus standard Australian size

Luminosa’s Vetro line offers configurations of between one and six switches, single and double power points, data points, dimmers and fan controllers – all with glass faceplates. The range also comes in two sizes: Australian (standard size) – suited to retro fits and new builds and European (86 x 86mm) – perfect for giving new builds a unique edge.

Luminosa lights up renovation market

Managing Director Serge Nagra says that Luminosa’s arrival is long overdue, especially for renovating enthusiasts, “People spend thousands updating their home, only to be let down by a lack of high end, yet affordable finishing touches, like light switches and power points”.

“Until now, your only option was cheap-looking, white plastic plates. Or, you could run into major expense with alternatives, all of which are made from ‘glass-look’ plastic – not real glass,” Serge says. “Luminosa’s extensive range of truly affordable, yet luxurious switches, now gives consumers the choice of adding the finishing details that distinguish upscale properties from lower priced product.”

Easy to install and retrofit

All styles in the Luminosa range are Australian Standard Certified and easy for a qualified electrician to install. To update tired, cheap white switches, the old plastic switch simply needs to be removed and a stunning, new Vetro glass switch can be retrofitted to the existing bracket.

Sales are made direct to the public, via the Bella Lujo website www.luminosa.com.au , and are backed by efficient, reliable delivery nationwide. Plus, with readily available stock, there is no extended waiting time to have your order fulfilled.

Do one room or the whole house

With no minimum order, retrofits of the Australian sized range can be staged to match your renovation schedule and budget. For new builds, the European sized Vetro switches offer a more daring aesthetic – and as with standard sizes, you can update one room at a time, or the whole house.

Now every home and commercial interior can benefit from a little touch of luxury, at a realistic price.

“(Luminosa)… imparting a high-end, prestige look to any residential or commercial project”

Affordable Luxury

Leading industry publication Circuit Magazine has featured Luminosa in a recent edition. Here’s what they had to say:

For too long, unsightly white plastic light switches and power points have been used for new build and renovation projects.

Now, Australian company Bella Lujo is filling the hole in the market for affordably priced, luxury light switches and power points, with the launch of its exclusive glass lighting accessories range Luminosa. Featuring European inspired minimalist design and precision manufacturing. Luminosa’s glass range, Vetro is an Australian first, imparting a high-end, prestige look to any residential or commercial project. The stunning, toughened glass faceplates feature chrome trims, an anti-fingerprint coating for effortless maintenance and are available in a range of elegant colours white, black, silver and neutral.

circuit-magazine

Luminoas’s Vetro line offers configurations of between one and six switches, single and double power points, data points, dimmers and fan controllers – all with glass faceplates. The range also comes in two sizes: Australian (standard size) – suited to retro fits and new builds – and European (86 x 86mm) – perfect for giving new builds a unique edge.

Managing Director of Luminosa, Serge Negra says “With our Luminosa glass switch products we want to give home and business environments the chance to really benefit from affordable luxury – effectively giving them the chance to shine.”

Buy Luminosa Online: www.luminosa.com.au