More Images

What It Was

A very upscale house near the Illinois/Wisconsin border needed its lighting taken up a notch. The dramatic entry has 20 foot high ceilings, making changing bulbs a challenge. The great room had can lights which created spots of light which felt disruptive to the atmosphere of the room, as well as causing glare on the glass at night, and preventing the owners from enjoying fantastic views of the lake.

What We Did

Lightswitch used fiber optics over the stairs in the entry, minimizing the need for lamp replacement. A large piece of onyx in the entry is back lit with end emitting fibers fibers and a remote illuminator, which means the stone will never have to be moved. Dimmable fluorescents in a cove around the great room replace the downlight spots with ambient light, eliminating the glare problem. Lighting throughout the house was adjusted to be unobtrusive and complimentary to the view and natural light.

Why It Worked

Non-intrusive lighting during the day lets the house stand out. Indirect lighting allows the view of the lake to take center stage, even after dark. The tone of the lighting in this beautiful home was adjusted to be warm, soft and inviting.