“Design is defined by light and shade, and appropriate lighting is enormously important.” – Albert Hadley

The lighting phase of the interior design process is more than simply choosing the right fixtures. It’s an intricate undertaking that requires juggling and balancing several design elements to get it just right. Lighting fixtures, color palettes, natural light provided by windows and sky lights, and even the finishes throughout the space all have to work together to create the perfect combination of task and ambiance lighting. When lit right, spaces not only look fantastic but feel fantastic, too.

For this sleek city condo, I took advantage of natural light by opting for sheer window treatments and a soft neutral palette that I then anchored with a few dark accents.

Lighting in the bedroom can be tricky as clients are often particular about lighting as it relates to their sleep schedules. Since this city condo has space limitations, I knew that I had to keep it airy and light. White bedding helps to amplify natural light while the area rug and window treatments provide the perfect amount of color.

A ceiling dome fixture and track lighting supply the task lighting in this elegant urban kitchen while cabinet lighting and warm marble lower lighting to make the space inviting.

My design team and I achieved the layers of lighting in this sophisticated dining room using a stunning modern chandelier and contemporary lamps. Display lights illuminating pieces of art add the finishing touch.

 

One of my favorite parts about creating custom home designs is personalizing living spaces to reflect my clients’ lifestyle, passions and hobbies. Whether I’m working with a fine art collector to design a chic Honolulu high-rise condo or an avid hunter and outdoorsman to design a beautiful backwoods mountain home, there is always a way to gracefully incorporate personality.

For this home design project, I had a custom media center designed to hold my client’s collection of sculptures. The custom art cases are even complete with display lights. As Vicente Wolf says, when it comes to incorporating art, “Good lighting is crucial.

Another custom media center I had designed for a home design project created the perfect platform to display my client’s colorful glass art collection. I love the energetic color accents it adds to the space.

For this client, I was challenged to come up with a design that incorporates a multitude of fine art from glass sculptures to large-scale paintings. The key was to create a design that focused on textures while a serene, neutral palette allowed the colors of the artwork to really shine.

Who ever thought a canoe could look so good? This decoration was no easy feat to install, but it was definitely worth the final results. The client loved the rugged touch it added to their rustic mountain home.

 

Whether it’s majestic mountain views, sparkling shorelines or serene desert scenes, you can’t go long without being reminded of the phenomenal beauty and wonder of nature here in the Western half of the United States. Mother Nature inherently becomes the ultimate source of inspiration when it comes to design.

And what better way to complement interiors with organic forms, materials and colors inspired by nature than with Mother Nature herself? Whether with a single potted plant or a mosaic of foliage, I love adding life to interiors by incorporating plants into décor.

Paula Berg Design Associates

In this dining room, a modest-sized yet still distinct cactus on the sideboard table adds a welcomed pop of color. It also adds sculptural interest that bodes well amidst the other works of art.

An eye-catching cactus became the architectural centerpiece and focal point of this desert-inspired home my team and I custom designed for a client. I just love the dramatic scale and shape it adds to the space.

Paula Berg Design Associates

For this gorgeous great room, I strategically chose plants to incorporate throughout the entire space. The energetic bursts of green add vibrant life while breaking up and enlivening the rich colors and textures.

Paula Berg Design Associates

Now this flashy master bedroom design may not be for everyone, but I love how my design team and I enlisted the help of a stunning large-scale fern to add contrasting colors and lines not only with the plant itself but with the shadows it casts on the walls.

Paula Berg Design Associates

Once again, a combination of plants became the best way to create harmony in this space. The greenery adds contrast and interest while also beautifully balancing the visual weight of elaborate textures and elegant furnishings.

Paula Berg Design Associates

Plants make for the perfect finishing touch in many spaces, but you first have to start with a fabulous design. Whether you are looking to design a new home or remodel an existing home, let me and my award-winning team help you design custom living spaces that will comfort and inspire. Contact Paul Berg Design Associates in Park City or Scottsdale to schedule a design consultation.