Light on the subject

When it comes to selecting lighting, we start with a conversation about the client’s lifestyle and their intended use of a space. If this is going to be a cozy room, for example, we might eliminate an overhead light and instead add sconces, table lamps, and floor lamps. If it is a work studio, we need down-facing task lighting. How they want to experience the room is how we light it.

BUILDING A MOOD

Lighting can be the superstar of the house. In my opinion, there is a hierarchy of lighting, and we like to find the leading fixtures and then build the set of supporting characters around them.

We present clients with some special lights that we think will be important to setting the tone in their home. We might go for a really beautiful chandelier, for example, or a pair of lights over the kitchen island, and then quiet things down with surface fixtures. We might choose to eliminate a fixture over a table because we want you to look past it to see another really beautiful lighting element elsewhere in the room. 

If we opt for recessed fixtures—since they serve as purposeful lighting—I like them to be switched on and off separately from a decorative fixture. We also use small surface-mount lights to get a bit of design detail. For example, we might select a little path with four small lights down a hallway, so there’s some structural beauty along with the utility coming from that element. Our plans always call for all decorative fixtures to be dimmed as it is so important for ambiance. 

A LIGHTING BLUEPRINT

We offer our clients support very early in the construction process so we can see where certain fixtures fit into the architectural plans. Sometimes, a star lighting fixture is the first thing we select in an empty house before we work on any other aspect of the interior design. 

Other times, we are reacting to the design itself. There may be an arched doorway with a gorgeous piece of hardware, or we’ll have a full-slab stone backsplash in the kitchen. We would suggest light fixtures that could be beautiful and effective in those spaces. 

This leads to a conversation with the electrician to ensure we plan ahead for what the clients need. If, for example, the only lights in the room are floor or table lamps, then they should be powered by a properly located switch, so you don’t walk into a dark room to turn on a light. 

We aim to be as thoughtful in our planning as possible, so I ask for client feedback on light fixtures as we move through the process. We want to know if this or that resonates with them. Is this the direction they would like to go in?

BATHROOM LIGHTING

I like bathroom lights to offer atmosphere, even as they provide illumination. Sometimes, in a formal powder room, you want a little bit of mood when it comes to lights. But you still want to be able to check yourself in the mirror, so we might choose a pretty little single sconce that gives you enough light to see but sets the tone nicely with some shadow. 

In primary and guest bathrooms, the light should be reflected right at the face, at eye level. Even these more practical lights can be gorgeous, so we consider both of these needs when we make decisions about bathroom fixtures. We also like to add a motion-activated toe-kick light in the bathroom. When you get up at night, a really low, quiet light comes on without flipping a switch, and when you leave the bathroom, that light dims away. 

KITCHEN LIGHTING

Lights in the kitchen set the stage for cooking and socializing. It’s important to figure out which corners get filled and which remain dark. An element of lighting that we pay a lot of attention to in kitchens is the fixtures no one actually sees, such as a toe-kick light. 

You obviously need task lighting in kitchen spaces, but in the evenings, it’s nice when the perimeter of the kitchen has just a little glow. You don’t necessarily need your bright island lights on at that point, so we plan for lovely low light in kitchens as well as statement fixtures and practical elements. 

We also take our cues from the homeowner’s appliances. Sub-Zero products have impeccably designed lighting, and in fact, we recently planned a glass-front cabinet to match a glass-front Sub-Zero Refrigerator. We intentionally matched the lighting temperature as well.  

For rooms adjoining the kitchen, such as the dining area, we might install a “splurge” fixture over the table. In an expansive open-concept plan, creating beautiful lighting takes a deft hand. You don’t want to make it feel cluttered. We often choose spare lights in the kitchen if we have a more dramatic light in the dining room, for a cohesive feel.

THE PERFECT FIXTURE

A very current conversation that we’re having is sourcing more lighting from smaller, boutique brands. We’re always looking for unique vendors, small makers, and artisan companies that are doing really interesting things.  

I encourage homeowners to explore new and innovative lighting. As designers, we will be supportive and always have plenty of fixture options. Together, we can unearth something incredible to light your home.