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Umami Brings Depth + Harmony to Alabaster Lighting

01.27.26 | By
Umami Brings Depth + Harmony to Alabaster Lighting

Just as umami brings depth and harmony to a dish, Alain Ellouz’s new lighting collection seeks to capture that same emotional resonance in light. Created in collaboration with interior architect Ana Moussinet, Umami is shaped by the pursuit of emotion, balance, and timelessness – qualities the duo shares despite their distinct creative worlds. Together, they’ve crafted a sculptural collection inspired by Shun, the Japanese idea of nature at its fleeting peak expression.

A minimalist interior with tatami flooring, wooden beams, large windows overlooking a garden, and several modern stone lamps emitting a warm light

Inoha, Hinoso, Hinoki

A small dining area with a round table, four chairs, a teapot set, and a plant, next to a tall window showing a garden with bamboo and a tiled roof outside

Iyouha

The Umami collection features six pieces: three floor lamps and three sconces. Each one was designed to evoke depth and emotion, much like a Japanese haiku, where brevity doesn’t limit expression but sharpens it. In the same way, these sculptural forms invite a lingering gaze. The longer you sit with their presence, details, and silhouettes, the more their quiet complexity reveals itself.

Wall-mounted light fixtures with frosted glass shades are attached to wooden beams in a dimly lit room with exposed wood framing

Inoha, Iyouha

A cylindrical stone floor lamp with a beige lampshade stands in a dimly lit room with dark upholstered furniture and large windows

Hinoso

The name of each light is rooted in nature: Hinone (the root of fire), Hinoki (the tree of fire), Hinoso (white breath), Inoha (the leaf of life), Iyouha (the graceful leaf in motion), and Isouha (the resounding leaf). When illuminated, each piece glows from within, its warmth diffused through alabaster that has been strengthened with Stonelight®, a patented treatment developed by Alain Ellouz. The result is stone that’s durable, safe, and long-lasting, yet still retains the softness and purity that define its light.

A modern room with wood-paneled walls, a tall sculptural floor lamp, a beige armchair, a low table, and a light-colored rug on a hardwood floor

Hinone

A vertical, cylindrical wall sconce with rounded ends emits soft light against a wood-paneled wall

Isouha

Umami ultimately reflects a simple idea: when materials, intuition, and emotion meet, light becomes something that’s felt as much as it is seen.

A dome-shaped lamp on a dark base glows beside a woven partition, casting patterned shadows on a light-colored wall and wooden floor. A tea set sits on a tray nearby.

Hinoki

Modern dining area with wooden chairs and table beside a large window, minimalist wall sconce, and outdoor garden visible through the glass

Iyouha

Wall and floor lamps with elongated, frosted glass shades emit soft light in a minimalist, wood-beamed interior with neutral walls and tatami flooring

Inoha, Hinone

A modern lounge with two beige sofas, tall marble lamps, a wooden coffee table, and large windows displaying soft, dappled light

Hinoso

A floor lamp with a sculptural base stands in the corner of a wood-paneled room next to a tan curved sofa and a light-colored coffee table

Hinone

Minimalist hallway with light wood paneling and two wall-mounted rectangular sconces emitting a soft, warm light

Isouha

A wall-mounted oval light fixture glows softly in a minimal dining area with wooden furniture and a potted plant on the table

Iyouha

A modern wall sconce emits soft light on a narrow pillar, with a garden featuring bamboo and rocks visible through large windows on either side

Iyouha

A dome-shaped table lamp with a cloudy white glass shade, wooden base, and two horizontal metal rods on either side, placed on a wooden floor with cups and a teapot nearby

Hinoki

Minimalist living room with beige sofa, glass coffee table, wood-paneled wall, open shelving displaying small decor, sheer curtains, and two wall sconces

Inoha

A wall-mounted sconce with a frosted, rectangular shade is illuminated on a light wood-paneled wall next to built-in shelves holding books and glass containers

Inoha

A modern wall sconce with two elongated, cone-shaped glass shades mounted vertically on a wooden paneled wall

Inoha

A hallway with wooden beams and floor features three modern alabaster light fixtures, including a floor lamp and two wall sconces, softly illuminating the space

Iyouha, Hinoso, Inoha

To learn more about the Umami collection by Alain Ellouz and Ana Moussinet, visit alain-ellouz-paris.com.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She's probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.

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