Bespoke lighting without breaking the budget

A commissioned light fitting is one of the surest ways to make an interior feel like nobody else’s. It is also something many designers and clients assume they cannot afford.

It does not have to be out of reach. Much of our work with designers and clients is about getting the design and the quality they want at a cost that sits within the budget, whether that is a single fitting or several hundred.

Even the grandest hotels and homes have a limit on what can be spent, and a first idea rarely matches the number. We start by finding out what matters most about the design, and then use our experience to look for savings in other places.

How it is made. A different method, or a different order of work, can shorten production. A small change to the design can use less material or remove a stage of making without altering how the fitting looks and feels. On a larger order, those savings multiply.

The light itself. Choosing the lamps carefully can reduce the number of fittings needed to reach the right level and quality of light.

The materials. A costly material can sometimes be replaced by a cheaper one, finished to give the same effect. A fitting that appears to be solid brass or copper may be lightweight aluminium, which costs less and is easier to install.

Making a fitting do more. A chandelier in a hotel lobby can look purely decorative while also housing the emergency lighting, so that a second fitting is not needed.

None of this changes the character of the piece. Whether the design is thoroughly modern or rooted in classic and heritage styles, the aim is the same: a fitting made with skill and attention to detail that belongs in its room.

So next time you are planning the lighting for a project, do not rule out bespoke. Tell us what you are hoping to achieve, and what you have to spend, and we will be glad to talk it through.