Forbes & Lomax
The Invisible Lightswitch, and the end of the ugly switch plate.
What they're known for
The transparent acrylic Invisible Lightswitch and handcrafted metal switch plates — British, since 1987.
Forbes & Lomax was founded in London in 1987 by interior designer Serena Herbert, who could not find a switch plate worthy of a well-finished wall. Her answer was the Invisible Lightswitch — a transparent acrylic plate that lets the paint or wallpaper behind it show through, with a slim metal toggle in the center — and it quietly fixed a problem the whole industry had ignored.
The range grew into a full set of metal finishes and controls, all handcrafted in a South-West London workshop and able to integrate with modern dimming and automation. Approached purely from aesthetics, Forbes & Lomax is the designer's-default switch — the British counterpart to Meljac's brass.
Notable products
We haven't catalogued their full line in the directory yet. These are the entries worth knowing.
- Catalog entry
Invisible Lightswitch
The transparent acrylic switch plate that started the brand
- Catalog entry
Unlacquered Brass Plates
Handmade metal switch and socket plates
- Catalog entry
Antiqued Bronze Range
Finish program for period and contemporary interiors
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