Lit From Within

Wish you could improve the lighting in your home without bringing in a construction crew? Here’s your solution.

Lighting designer Caitlin Faron doesn’t deal in quick fixes. Working in collaboration with residential architects, she creates lighting schemes for new construction and major renovation projects that are carefully considered things of beauty. But when a friend with a small cottage in East Hampton appealed to Faron for help with her randomly-lit open kitchen and sitting room, the designer, whose current projects include a 12,000 square-foot modern residence and an Italianate villa, made a flying visit to the house and took a look around. Relying on the strategic selection and placement of decorative fixtures, Faron conceived of a modest redo that would leave the ceilings intact and the space aglow with layers of light. Below are her moderate to high-end picks. (For budget options, she likes Schoolhouse Electric, Dutton Brown, Walden Wood Designs, and Phototonic Studios in addition to such larger retailers as West Elm.)

For over the dining table, Faron suggested a chandelier with masses of crystals. If money were no object, she’d choose Boyd’s Icicle Eclipse I. “A glamorous fixture that enlivens any space. Lots of customization in the finish choices and even the color of the cord. LED modules are dimmable.” $23,900, boydlighting.com

A more modestly-priced option is Arterior’s Jarrod Pendant. “Love the tactile, beachy, modern Moroccan feel and the fresh matte-white finish.” $1860, arteriors.com

To unify the dining and living areas, Faron recommended mounting a pair of sconces on a wall between two glass sliders.

Bover’s Non La 02 Sconce “is a dark, sensuously-curved piece whose shape was inspired by the traditional hats worn by fieldworkers in Vietnam. Light spills out from its shade in a marvelous way.” $914, bover.es

Ayre’s Kyoto 2 Sconce. “A simple, elegant fixture whose low profile makes it ideal for tight spaces.” $459, ayrelight.com

To illuminate a kitchen countertop and take advantage of an existing light source, Faron looked for a lamp with multiple pendants suspended from a central canopy. She admires Italian lighting design firm Prandina’s Gong Mini S1 with its five barrel-shaped pendants of anodyzed aluminum. “Even when the fixture is not in use, the glass catches and refracts the light, especially in the copper finish model.” $5,895, www.prandina.it

Her second choice, Urban Electric Co’s Carlyn Double Pendant can be “rustic, modern, or industrial, depending on the finish.” $3,550, urbanelectricco.com

For sitting areas, she favored a dramatically arcing floor lamp that would cast a warm glow over seating areas and reading nooks.

Cerno’s Fons Floor Lamp. “The interplay between the scale of this outsize cantilevered structure and its sharply contrasting materials (stainless steel suspension cable; polished walnut; linen shade) give it the presence of a wonderful sculpture.” $2,600, cernogroup.com

Slv’s Soprana Bow Sl-1 Floor Lamp. “A gracefully-arched lamp, perfect for smaller rooms because it’s designed to reach into the space, not just stand off to the side.” $650, slvlighting.com

Prices are approximate. All products available through Shine Design, shine-design.net.