The Studio
Help Guides
Short, practical notes from our studio to help you make confident lighting decisions, whether you are planning a single room or a whole building.
Knowledge
Light is simpler than it seems
Most lighting questions come down to a handful of principles. We have gathered the ones we are asked about most often, written in plain language and grounded in the way we actually design. Use them to brief us with confidence, or simply to light your own space well.
Choosing pendant heights
How far above an island, table or stairwell a pendant should hang, and how ceiling height, fitting size and sightlines change the answer.
Read GuideUnderstanding colour temperature
What the numbers on a lamp actually mean, why we favour warmer tones at home, and how to keep a whole room feeling consistent.
Read GuideLayering light
The difference between ambient, task and accent light, and why the best rooms are built from three or four quiet layers rather than one bright one.
Read GuideDimming & drivers
Why some LEDs flicker or buzz on a dimmer, how to match a driver to a control system, and what to specify for smooth, flicker-free dimming.
Read GuideIP ratings explained
A plain-language guide to the two-digit code that tells you whether a fitting belongs in a bathroom, on a façade or beside a pool.
Read GuideLighting a stairwell void
Approaches to the tall, awkward void above a staircase, from sculptural cascades to concealed runs that wash the wall with light.
Read GuideStill Have Questions?
Talk it through with our studio
If a guide does not quite cover your situation, our team is happy to advise. Bring us your plans, your space or simply a photograph and we will point you in the right direction.