LIGHTING - What to expect from the process:

Light is something that most of us take for granted in our environment. Nearly all of the public spaces that we visit will have lighting that has been thoughtfully considered and implemented by a lighting designer. We certainly know when we're in a space where the lighting is not comfortable; sometimes this is the result of glare but more often we notice when there is insufficient light to comfortably perform the task at hand.

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ABOUT LIGHTING DESIGN
Lighting design is often just one of many interconnected aspects of a remodel. It is important to give it appropriate attention and I always discuss my client's lighting needs.

There are many things we can achieve with careful lighting design. We can set a particular mood, be it subdued and cozy or light and bright and open (ambient lighting). We can direct and concentrate attention on an object such as wall art or sculpture or an area of the room, to generate variety and to create a lively and interesting space (accent lighting). We can also use light to modify spacial perceptions, such as lighting a ceiling to make it float upwards. And we can make sure we allow for enough of it to light task areas of the home (task lighting).

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1.
MEET WITH MY CLIENT(S)
You will almost certainly have been thinking about your project for quite a while. But for me, this is where every project begins.

I have two roles as your designer: one is to bring my technical and organizational expertise to your project. But of equal importance is my role as a designer who will convert your ideas, your needs and your dreams into the best possible finished product: visually, aesthetically and functionally. At this early stage, I listen to my clients and ask them questions. I need to know how you live your lives and what your personal preferences are.

2.
THE CONCEPT SKETCHES
On some projects it is appropriate to sketch out the lighting concept. I love working through the process visually in this way, but the sketches can also be an invaluable tool for conveying my thoughts to my clients.

The drawings above illustrate the beam spreads and locations of kitchen and dining room lighting for the Novato residence, colour categorized by incandescent and fluorescent. They also contain notations regarding the light intensity on task surfaces, reading levels and floor level where necessary.

3.
THE TECHNICAL RESEARCH
Not every lighting project is as technically demanding as the Novato residence. That project demanded particular attention as a result of the steeply sloped ceilings and the need for a consistency of illumination and beam spreads from light sources at varying ceiling elevations. The pyrometric data relating to specific fixtures and bulbs, along with careful planning, was used to achieve this uniformity.

The drawing above is one of many diagrams that were involved in determining requirements for each light source.

4.
THE FINISHES
There are more light fixtures on the market than you could ever look at. But understanding the very specific qualities I'm requiring from the light exiting that fixture, in addition to aesthetic and style considerations, is a vital step in the final choices. The example above is a fixture I specified for the Twin Peaks living room. Not only does it fit aesthetically with the style of the room, it also radiates the very specific type of ambient lighting I was looking for.

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