Working with focalglow

What happens when you appoint us on a project?

Starting the project

First of all we meet you either in person or via zoom! We discuss your project and what you hope to achieve with the lighting design. We will look at the building, how you plan to use the spaces and find out as much as possible about your interior design tastes and everything from floor and wall finishes to proposed furniture placement. Most clients find this really helpful as it starts to focus their minds on how they will enjoy their homes and identifies the decisions they need to make and the timescale.

Developing the Ideas

We then either have a look around the building if there is something to see or look at the architect’s drawings which initiates the design process from which lighting ideas develop. This is usually a very collaborative process and we will show you mood images and pictures of other projects for your feedback and to demonstrate the lighting effects planned.

First Drawings

A lighting concept plan is prepared and drawn onto  a CAD underlay from the architect, interior designer or landscape designer.  This is supported with pictures of the proposed lighting effects, types of light fittings and photographs of other projects to convey the look and feel. We will meet with the client to present the ideas and take on board feedback.

Developing the Lighting Design

As the project progresses more information will become available including kitchen design, bathroom design, interior finishes and fixtures, where pictures are going, special features and joinery. This all  informs the lighting design and the lighting scheme develops.  Changes to the architecture and further interior details will be taken on board.

Detailed Design

Once the design is pretty much fixed more detailed information is produced. Final drawings showing setting out dimensions and dimming / switching groups will be provided. Control schedules are necessary for wiring and will show how lighting is dimmed or switched in groups. If a lighting control system and/or home automation is proposed then detailed lighting control information and drawings need to be sent to the specialist suppliers/installers so they can quote for and design the system. Where light fittings have remote drivers the electrical contractor will need to consider where these are located and how they are accessed. Lighting details for example coves, coffers, lighting slots and joinery details will be sketched up to ensure the lighting design is fully co-ordinated by others.

Decorative Lighting

Decorative lighting which is typically light fittings that self illuminate should be selected at this stage by the client and interior designer if appointed. Usually decorative fittings do not provide much functional light and therefore necessary supplementary architectural light fittings i.e downlights/spotlights are added if necessary to meet functional lighting requirements. . Decorative light should glow beautifully and softly and should never be so bright that they become uncomfortable to look at.

Specification

At detail design stage, final decisions with regards to the quality, quantity, colour appearance, dimming characteristic and glare control have to be made. The final specification of lighting products is made and will take into account any site constraints, ceiling and recess depths, appropriate fire rating and IP rating in wet areas. The available budget will to a large extent inform the selection. A balance has to be struck between quality and budget. The specification is a fundamental part of the lighting design and will have been considered at every stage of the project.  

On Site

On some smaller projects our involvement finishes at the end of Detail Design. However we are always available to help answer any questions that the electrical contractor may have with regards to the design and specification. We can visit site to check on progress say for example before first and second fix electrical and make changes if necessary due to on site constraints. If the lighting has a control system we will usually spend time (usually late at night in the summer!)  with the control system programmer setting up lighting scenes.

Why hire a Lighting Designer

When embarking on your refurbishment, renovation or new build considerable time is spent on the getting the architecture, internal layout, kitchen design and internal fixtures, fittings and finishes right. However often the lighting design gets missed out or left until the very last minute when the electrical contractor is on site asking questions and decisions have to be made on the spot! A grid of downlights may solve the immediate problem but just won’t do justice to your space and to all those details that you and your architect have carefully designed and agonised over. Downlights definitely have a role in lighting design however they should always light a surface, wall or feature specifically and not just free space!

Good lighting design can bring your home to life. It can dramatically transform the look and feel of your home and the way that you enjoy it. It will make the most of your architectural and interior features, create comfortable attractive spaces for you to relax in and provide the right quality and quantity of light for you to cook, eat and read by whatever the time of day or night.

On a project, considerable time can be spent sourcing just the right decorative light fitting. Whilst these are important to the overall look of a space they are usually as the word implies just decorative and need to be combined with architectural lighting such as carefully placed downlighting, uplighting, LED strips and floorwashers in order to create the right quality of light which will then allow the decorative lighting to be fully appreciated. Often the magic in lighting comes when it is concealed within architecture or joinery. The look no hands approach. Hidden lighting will create depth, texture, and focus. This combination of decorative, architectural and hidden lighting will create layers of light which can controlled separately to allow different scenes or moods. It need not be complicated and can be achieved using pre-set scenes on a key-pad or more simply dimmer switches.

Why do I need a lighting designer?

The expertise is in getting the balance of lighting right, making it both atmospheric and functional. Vaulted ceilings will need special consideration, low spaces will employ lighting tricks to make them feel higher and hard and soft landscaping lighting lit beautifully without creating glare or light nuisance to your neighbours. Different lighting treatments are used to graze light across a beautifully textured feature wall, highlight an object or artwork or to provide glare free higher levels of lighting for food preparation. This is where the experience and skill of a good lighting designer comes in who will combine creative design with sound technical knowledge. A good lighting designer should be able to work to a budget, guide you through the decisions that have to be made and ensure that you get as much lighting value as you can out of your spend.

When should I call the Lighting Designer?

It is really good to start thinking about lighting design as early as you can. The best results are achieved when you involve your lighting designer as soon as you have a floor plan with positions of furniture on it.  Integrating lighting into the architecture is generally more successful if the lighting designer works with the architect, interior designer or closely with the construction or project manager. However don’t worry if lighting has escaped your radar and it is much later on in the project. A good lighting designer can still make a valuable contribution and design a creative and achievable lighting scheme that takes into account construction and time limitations. At focalglow I am used to being appointed at the very last minute and turning around lighting designs in record time however it’s a lot less stressful for everyone if you have the benefit of more time!

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— Hope K.