Design Dispatch:

Lighting is one of the few things that can make a beautifully designed room still feel slightly off, but when thoughtfully planned, it becomes one of the defining elements of a well-crafted space.

But most of the time, people assume the issue is the fixture itself.

Usually, it is not.

One of the biggest misconceptions around lighting is that the solution is simply adding more. More recessed cans. More brightness. More fixtures layered in after the fact.

Then homeowners become frustrated when the room still does not feel right.

Because well-designed spaces do not rely on sheer brightness alone.

Instead, it hinges on hierarchy, restraint, contrast, and understanding how the space is meant to function throughout the day.

This is also why hospitality spaces often feel so different from residential ones. Well designed restaurants and boutique hotels understand how to shape atmosphere through reflection, dimming, shadow, and calibration rather than simply flooding every surface with light.

But when they don't hit the mark, people notice.

I can think of one high-end restaurant locally that leaned so aggressively into “ambiance” that half the tables require the use of phone flashlights to read the menu. Creating atmosphere is one thing. Needing a headlamp to locate your entrée is another.

I am seeing more high-end homes moving in that direction as well.

One of the biggest shifts happening right now is the move away from static lighting toward adaptable environments:

• dimmers instead of basic switches
• zoning instead of one circuit
• pre-set scenes instead of constant adjustment

Morning should not feel the same as evening.

Cooking dinner should not feel the same as entertaining afterward.

And there is nothing quite like undercabinet lighting blasting at full brightness while making coffee at 6am. But when it is calibrated correctly, especially before coffee has fully kicked in, it creates an entirely different experience.

The good news is that this level of control has become far more accessible than it used to be.

I broke down the most common lighting mistakes I see, how layered lighting actually works, why undercabinet lighting matters more than people realize, and how higher-end lighting systems are changing the way homes function over on the blog this week.

​Read the full post →​

In the Mix:

Salone del Mobile (held each year in Milan) showcases new products in the industry, but more than that- it signals where the industry is heading. And this year, a few themes felt hard to ignore. Not just in what was being shown, but in how things are being designed.

1. Lighting That Adapts:

Track systems, once reserved for retail or gallery spaces, are being reimagined for residential use. Brands like Lodes, Flos, and Delta Light are designing systems that allow multiple fixture types (spots, pendants, directional lighting) to live on a single track.

The result is something far more flexible than a traditional layout. Lighting that can evolve with the space: adjusted as furniture moves rebalanced over time expanded or simplified without rewiring It’s a shift away from fixed design and toward something more adaptable.

2. Materials Becoming More Responsible:

One of the more important developments isn’t visual at all. Quartzforms introduced a low-silica surface collection (Ecotone Madreterra), addressing a growing concern in the industry around silica exposure during fabrication. This matters. Because material selection isn’t just about aesthetics anymore, it’s about how it’s made, how it’s handled, and who it impacts along the way. It’s a meaningful shift, and we will be seeing more and more of those options.

3. Bathrooms Moving Toward Modular Design:

​Duravit’s Balcoon series leans into something else we’re seeing more of: modular, architectural systems. Clean lines, Industrial influence, and strong geometrical forms. Components that feel designed to work together rather than as standalone pieces.

It’s less about a single “statement” item and more about creating a cohesive, scalable system within the space. It’s unique and bold and not for everyone. Thoughts? It definitely feels more European, but can it find it's place here in America?

The Common Thread:

All of these products point to the same shift:

• lighting that can change over time
• materials that respond to real-world impact
• products designed as systems, not one-offs

In other words:

Design is continuing to become more intentional- both in how it functions and how it evolves, and I for one appreciate it.

Off the Clock:

I was visiting San Diego last week and, in my ever-constant pursuit of finding new places worth visiting and historical buildings before heading back to Sacramento, I stopped by the recently restored Lafayette Hotel in North Park.

It is worth going for the atmosphere alone.

Originally opened in 1946, the hotel was part old Hollywood hideaway, part roadside destination back when El Cajon Boulevard was still the main route through San Diego. Over the years, it hosted everyone from Bob Hope to Ava Gardner, with longstanding rumors that both Marilyn Monroe and JFK spent time there as well. Johnny Weissmuller, former Olympic swimmer and best known for playing Tarzan, even designed the pool.

Like a lot of historic properties, it has lived a few different lives. For a time it served as the San Diego Chargers headquarters, later an office complex, along with a few other less-than-glamorous chapters in between.

Sitting right along El Cajon Boulevard, it is also slightly unexpected. The surrounding area still feels a bit rough around the edges in places, which somehow makes the restoration even more interesting. It feels less like a polished resort bubble and more like stumbling into another era in the middle of a city still actively evolving around it.

The 2023 renovation reportedly involved more than $30 million and brought it back with a level of detail that is difficult to pull off. I would frame it as maximalist, embracing elements from the 1920s through the 1940s without tipping too far into kitsch, which can be a fine line.

The property is fully immersive, with an amalgam of influences. Mostly old Hollywood glamour, but with touches of Spanish influence, Palm Springs energy, art deco detailing, and a little theatricality layered throughout.

Some standouts for me were the details. Many of the door handles are custom animal forms. There is a strong art deco influence throughout, especially in the lighting and hardware, which somehow still works surprisingly well. Leopard print carpet, layered textiles, color-drenched hallways, and their signature “L” subtly worked into sconces, tables, and architectural details all reinforce the identity of the place without pushing it too far.

Their onsite Mexican restaurant, Quixote, uses a tiled ceiling that reflects ambient light and candlelight back into the room, creating warmth and dimension without making the space feel overlit. Large wax-laden candelabras, reflective surfaces, layered fixtures, and controlled contrast all work together to create atmosphere rather than simply illuminate the room.

There is also enough restraint to let the architecture and materials do their part. Not every surface is screaming for attention, which allows certain moments to stand out even more.

The Swim Club shifts gears completely.

It is louder, more playful, somewhere between Palm Springs nostalgia and a movie set, while still being self-aware enough not to take itself too seriously.

The bowling alley downstairs, Beginner’s Diner, Lou Lou’s jazz club complete with the original shell stage, and the collection of bars and gathering spaces all contribute to the sense that the hotel was designed less as a place to sleep and more as a fully immersive experience.

Part of why I seek out places like this is not only to feed my design brain, but to reinforce how much atmosphere and experience still matter when someone is willing to fully commit to a point of view.

It would be a great place to park for a weekend and disappear into a book or a little self-care without ever really needing to leave the property.

I am thinking a girls weekend may need to happen in the near future.

Want more information? Travel & Leisure did a great write-up on the restoration.

Bonus: I also found out their new property, Baby Grand, recently opened in Coronado near Hotel Del. That may need to be next on the list.

Until next time,

🤍

Lisa

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