Final Thoughts

LIGHTING IS ABOUT ENHANCING WHAT PEOPLE LOVE ABOUT THEIR HOMES, and yet thoughtful and intentional lighting is implemented in a small percentage of luxury residential projects. Through lighting you can either enhance or undermine the elements architects, builders and designers spend so much time to get right.

When asking a client “Who is talking to you about lighting?” the answer varies greatly. Traditional stake holders include builders, architects, electricians, lighting designers, custom integrators, interior designers, manufacturers and more. Often the answer is “Nobody has talked to me about lighting yet.”

With the widespread adoption of LED fixtures, lighting control, shades and automation, technical expertise is required to properly execute a lighting solution. I believe that through collaboration, working with lighting designers and systems integrators is a worthwhile investment that will provide the best possible experience to clients once they are living in their home.

Aesthetic considerations go beyond trim shape and finish. Having a strong understanding for placement, color and optics have a massive impact on how we interact with a space. General illumination is important so that we can navigate an area without running into something. On top of that we want to make sure that the texture of the cabinetry, the colors in the artwork, and even shadows on people’s faces as they sit in the lounge are taken into consideration. Task spaces in the kitchen will be lit differently than the master bedroom.

Technical implementation is important. A successful lighting deployment must work properly. If it is complicated for the homeowner to use, they will never get the full benefit of the detail previously described. Lighting control with scene selection allows different uses in the same space. Is the space lit for entertaining, cleaning or is it time for sleep? Make sure that natural light is considered and the shading that controls it. Create a space that promotes emotions in line with the time of day with warm dim and tunable color fixtures.

Every home has lighting and will benefit from thoughtful and intentional design. The fact that it is limited today means there is a huge opportunity to benefit all stakeholders going forward. Together we can create the best possible experience for clients through collaboration and working with lighting designers and custom integrators that have the knowledge and expertise to use lighting to build better homes.