Q&A WITH JOHN CULLEN’S DESIGN DIRECTOR, LUKE THOMAS

At Humphrey Munson, we have had the privilege of working with John Cullen Lighting for many years, developing a strong and collaborative relationship built on a shared commitment to exceptional design.

Our projects together have consistently pushed the boundaries of lighting innovation, seamlessly integrating architectural and decorative lighting to enhance each space.

Most recently, our Design Director, Peter Humphrey, joined Luke Thomas, Design Director at John Cullen, for a panel discussion at the Chelsea Design Quarter Springtime Sessions – an event that further cemented the synergy between our two companies.

One of the most exciting collaborations to date has been the Belgravia project, a truly special home in the heart of London where lighting played a pivotal role in shaping the atmosphere and functionality of each space. In this Q&A, Luke shares his insights on the project, the importance of considered lighting design, and the seamless integration of light and joinery to create a timeless and beautifully balanced interior.

The biggest challenge here was coordination with site to ensure the lighting points were all in the right location. i.e in the right distance of the unit and at the right height within the joinery piece to ensure its seamless installation. As the bar sits alongside the living room a control system was key to allow flexibility between different moods across the space at the touch of a button.

Our main objective as the lighting designer on any project is to bring focus to the key features withing the space and to do this in a way that is sympathetic to the nature of the property. For a historic building, it is critically important that the architectural lighting is discreet and, so far as possible, remains unseen.

The key focus should be on the architecture and interiors, not on spotlights and LED strips. Using lights which are small, extremely low glare and concealed from view is key. The concealment of lighting is something often requires close coordination with other design team members such as the cabinetmakers (in this case HM), the lead designer/architect and the construction team.  

This property features a wide variety of lighting equipment from the John Cullen range. Our R&D team have implemented a design approach that aims to deliver circularity to the manufacture and use of materials for a more sustainable solution that goes beyond using responsibly sourced and recyclable materials. The concept is: make > use > repair/upgrade > reuse > repair/upgrade > reuse……etc. The lights are designed to be repairable with component parts easily coming apart for servicing.

The lighting is fundamental to the user experience. The scene setting system allows instant and intuitive transition between preset scenes which allow for cleaning or general day use,  while in the evening offering softer more relaxing scenes for entertaining and unwinding, as well as late night romantic scenes to pair with candles and conversation. 

 As with many London properties, they share a party wall with their neighbours on each side. This means that the natural light has a limited impact in the central sections of the building. This presents a challenge for the lighting design but also an opportunity. With this absence of light, it allowed us to control the perception of this space using the lighting. The staircase covered the majority of this area and we lit it using a layered approach combining downlights, wall lights, tread lighting and uplights that really brought it to life and enhanced its best features.  

To find out more about how John Cullen Lighting work on projects click here.