Black Ink Interiors
We talked with 5 builders and designers to learn how they select the best lights for the custom homes they create and how Circa Lighting fits into their plans.
It’s all about the lighting. We know that lighting can set the tone and create a mood. Lighting can accent architecture and enhance interior design. In short, the right lighting can make everything look its best, maybe even better. And the powerful impact of good lighting doesn’t happen by accident. Carefully chosen fixtures and experienced lighting designers can take a room from Good to Great, as author Jim Collins says.
That’s why professionals from custom home builders to architects to interior designers lean on brands that can deliver the WOW factor with interior house lighting. We had “en-lightened” discussions with 5 builders to learn how they select the best lights for the custom homes they create and how Circa Lighting fits into their plans.
A Finer Touch
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A FINER TOUCH | Brad Leavitt
A Finer Touch (AFT) Construction is a firm with diverse style—building custom homes in every style from transitional to ultra-contemporary to Mediterranean. Lead by founder Brad Leavitt, the company is proud to work with different architects and between 10 to 15 different designers.
“Taking the imagination and dreams of each client and seeing the different stages of the project come to reality is the best part of my job,” says Leavitt. And he loves working with families. “I had one client say, ‘AFT is saving marriages one house at a time.’”
On this five-story, 5,500-square-foot Brownstone residence, the client wanted a lock-and-leave home close to downtown. It started out as an empty shell that AFT finished with a transitional vibe. Designer Lori Clarke from Lori Clarke Design designed the interiors and selected the best lights for the home.
A Finer Touch
The second-floor kitchen has two-tone cabinets with black hardware. The outside brick wall is seen inside, and the copper range hood added touch of color. For this design, she selected The Darlana fixture, which fit perfectly with the transitional look and the black hardware. She used it again on the top-floor game/media room with a big deck that overlooks Phoenix. The client entertains in this space, so there is a beverage center and a big television. These fixtures again brought out the copper detail with the brick wall.
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The Black Ink Interiors team felt the real star of the show (pun intended) are the three-star pendants overhead. They are not only functional but also bring a bit of whimsy into the room.
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BLACK INK INTERIORS | Jenny Slingerland
“Our favorite projects are the ones where the client allows us to push them past their comfort zone and try something out of their norm—whether it be a fun wallpaper in the entry, an unexpected tile in the powder bath, or the best lighting fixture for the home to bring the room to life,” says Jenny Slingerland, founder of Black Ink Interiors.
Slingerland and her team designed this home with their client from the ground up. “It is always so rewarding to watch a home that was once just a sketch on paper, slowly rise from the dust and become a beautiful structure for someone to call home,” she says.
Black Ink Interiors
With such high ceilings and dramatic cabinetry, Black Ink Interiors wanted something that would fit the room spatially, but not feel too heavy. These pendants by Suzanne Kasler worked perfectly as the size is generous yet doesn’t overwhelm the room. “They make a statement, without taking away from the beauty of the other elements in the space,” she says.
This fixture comes in a variety of sizes and finishes, and works well in a butler’s pantry, over a breakfast table or in an entry. “It’s such a versatile fixture that you can’t go wrong,” says Slingerland of selecting the best lighting for the home.
In a more intimate space, the design intent was different. “We wanted to create a place for our client to relax after a long day—a place where she could curl up and read a book or watch a movie. The bowed window created the perfect place for a pair of chaises and a side table,” she says.
The Black Ink Interiors team felt the real star of the show (pun intended) are the three-star pendants overhead. They are not only functional but also bring a bit of whimsy into the room. “How fun would these fixtures be in a nursery? They would be stunning in an entry or clustered over a dining table. They come in different sizes and finishes, so you can tailor them to fit your needs and aesthetic,” says Slingerland.
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LEXI GRACE DESIGN | Lexi Lundberg
Starting out in real estate, Lexi Lundberg today lives in a ranch-style home she rehabbed with her husband in Gilbert, where they live with their three children. They raise chickens, enjoy hosting friends and family, and work from their barn, which serves as a home office and design studio.
Lexi’s design team strives to create spaces that they love and that reflect what the clients want, including the best lighting for the home. This project was a remodel in a home for a classic couple, who likes a classic bathroom with modern fixtures.
Lexi Grace
“We wanted it to be a statement moment. We pushed for something unexpected for the space,” says Lundberg. “It was unexpected and a little modern and classic.”
“We love this fixture. It’s the first time we ever installed it, but we could see using this in a dining nook, playroom, entry and unexpected places like a nursery,” says Lundberg.
Two Hawks
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TWO HAWKS | Adrienne Pilchard
Adrienne Pilchard is the lead designer at Two Hawks Design and Development, and she works on both custom homes and spec homes.
“Having architecture and design in-house makes for everything run smoother at Two Hawks. Architects and designers work together and are involved from the very beginning of a project on how spaces will be used, so there are fewer questions,” says Pilchard.
“This particular home was a spec house, and it deserved the best lighting for the home. The client felt it was very special,” says Pilchard, who noted the client extended the budget, splurging on more spaces than they normally would since they were their own client.
“The inspiration for the space kept changing—the client wanted a mix of more harsh, modern fixtures with feminine traditional design details, like the square, modern, large black-slab, claw-foot tub with gold,” she says.
“We created a modern marriage without losing the warmth and cozy vibe of a traditional home,” says Pilchard, who loved using this fixture for the first time. “This fixture would be fun over a breakfast nook or in a boho glam design with bright colors like purples and pinks,” says Pilchard, who loves using the best lighting for the home.
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No matter the project, these designers and builders turn to Circa Lighting for innovation, design and a touch of whimsy when selecting the best lighting for the home.
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REGAL AMERICAN | Avi Azoulay
Avi Azoulay is one of the founding partners of Regal American Homes. The company works with many different designers always making sure the client fits with the designer. The company brings in different talent and works with different architects all over the world for its projects.
“If you can imagine it or dream it, we can build it,” she says. Regal American designs within a budget but the company doesn’t cut corners. The team wants it perfect when they hand it off to the client, including using the best lighting for the home.
Regal American
They always add a fun element to all their projects—building a shooting range, lazy river and wave pool on current project. They have also done things like hitting a keynote on a piano to get into the home or shaking a book twice to open up a door.
“We love what we do! We don’t take just any client, we want to make sure we are the right builder for the job and a good fit with the client,” says Azoulay.
No matter the project, these designers and builders turn to Circa Lighting for innovation, design and a touch of whimsy when selecting the best lighting for the home.
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