Washi Paper L6 Pendant Light

The most important question. The fixture is 63" tall, plus you need cord above and clearance below. Minimum: 12-ft ceiling — allows about 12" cord above + 63" fixture + 60" clearance below to the floor. Fixture reads at correct architectural proportion. Recommended: 14-16 ft — provides comfortable cord and clearance margins; fixture reads dramatically without descending into headspace territory. Ideal: 15-20 ft for double-height foyer applications where the fixture holds full architectural authority. If your ceiling is 8-10 ft residential, this fixture is not the correct specification for your room — consider our Tsuki Pendant Light (rounded lantern form, standard-height ceilings) instead. Extended cord lengths available at no extra charge for taller applications.

Match the wire color to your ceiling and design register. White Wire — for cleanest visual disappearance against light-toned ceilings (white, cream, pale gray). The wire recedes into ceiling neutrals; the paper column reads as if floating in vertical space. The safer default choice when the ceiling is white or the design register is minimalist. Black Wire — for graphic contrast against pale walls, or accent against dark/exposed ceilings (industrial loft, black-steel details, natural-stone exposed structure). The wire reads as intentional architectural mark connecting the paper column to the ceiling. Reads more contemporary and more graphic. Both wire colors have identical mechanical performance; the choice is purely aesthetic.

No. Akari is a specific brand of paper lanterns designed by the sculptor Isamu Noguchi beginning in 1951 — those pieces are officially licensed reissues manufactured under the Noguchi estate's authorization. The Washi Paper L6 is a Japanese-inspired washi-paper pendant of our own design; it uses the same washi-paper material tradition that Akari fixtures use, but it is not marketed as an Akari piece and is not authorized under the Noguchi estate. If you are seeking an authenticated Akari fixture specifically, we recommend consulting the estate's authorized retailers. If you are seeking a considered washi-paper vertical column for a double-height room, the Washi Paper L6 serves that specification.

Yes — strongly recommended, particularly in foyer and living-room applications where evening-mode ambient light is the specification. The included E26/E27 LED bulb is non-dimmable warm-white. Replace with a dimmable E26/E27 LED (widely available at any lighting retailer) and install a triac-compatible wall dimmer. At 40-60% brightness, the washi paper column reads as its most atmospheric register — the entire 63" column glows as vertical warm lantern rather than as bright fixture. The Washi Paper L6 is particularly beautiful at lower brightness settings, especially in double-height foyer applications where the vertical glow reads dramatically from both floors.

Stick with 2700K warm-white — the color temperature the fixture is calibrated to. The included LED is 2700K by default. Higher color temperatures (3000K, 4000K, 5000K) can be substituted physically but will read cooler and lose some of the washi paper's warm character — the paper's natural warm tan color reads best when paired with warm bulbs. Avoid 4000K "cool white" or higher (reads too white against the natural washi register). For evening ambient applications in double-height foyers, warm 2700K produces the register the fixture is designed for.

Washi paper is more durable than it looks but should never be wet-cleaned. For dust: gently vacuum with a fabric-brush attachment on the lowest suction setting, or use a soft dry microfibre duster on an extension pole; every 3-6 months for typical residential and 6-12 months for high-ceiling installations where dust settles more slowly. For fingerprints or spot marks: gently blot with a dry soft brush; never use water, cleaners, or damp cloths — moisture will discolor the paper permanently. Long-term care: avoid installing directly beneath ceiling ducts blowing forced-air heating or cooling onto the paper, and keep the fixture out of direct sunlight to prevent gradual color fading. For high-ceiling installations, plan cleaning access using a ladder or scaffold — the fixture cannot be lowered for cleaning without professional recabling.

No — indoor dry locations only. The Washi Paper L6 is rated IP20, which provides no protection against moisture. Washi paper is particularly vulnerable to humidity — moisture will cause the paper to warp, discolor, and eventually fail. Never install in bathrooms, above hot tubs, in covered outdoor patios, in enclosed pool areas, or in any location where humidity regularly exceeds normal residential interior levels. Correct locations: double-height foyer rotundas, open staircases, loft living rooms, statement dining rooms with 12-ft-plus ceilings, hospitality atriums, and gallery/exhibition spaces with normal residential humidity levels.

Professional installation strongly required. This is not a fixture for DIY installation. The 63" fixture height combined with typical 12-ft-plus ceiling applications means installation requires scaffold or lift equipment (extension ladder alone is often insufficient), plus a two-person licensed electrical team for safe handling of both the fixture body and the wiring. Typical professional installation time: 2-3 hours for standard 12-14-ft ceiling; 3-5 hours for double-height 15-20-ft foyer applications requiring lift equipment. Coordinate professional installation before receiving the fixture — do not open the shipping crate until your installer is on site, as the paper column requires careful handling during unboxing and mounting to avoid surface damage. Detailed professional installation instructions included; installation-video available on request.

Yes — the Washi Paper L6 is a specified fixture for boutique-hotel lobbies, hospitality atrium installations, and modern residential design projects with double-height architectural volumes. Multi-fixture installations at repeating intervals or in clustered vertical arrays produce considered composition where the vertical columns function as visual rhythm markers. Trade programs available; matched-batch paper coordination for multi-fixture installations (paper sheets pulled from the same production batch for visual consistency); extended cord lengths at no extra charge; project-management coordination for large-format hospitality installations. Production lead times run 4-6 weeks; multi-fixture orders may extend proportionally depending on washi-paper import scheduling from Japan and mounting logistics. Write to support@stuberlighting.com with your project brief — quantity, wire color mix (White/Black), ceiling heights, installation locations, and target timeline.