We work with some exceptional architects and interior designers in the LA area. The best projects happen when we're in the room — literally or figuratively — from the early design stages. The worst projects happen when we're called after framing and asked to make it work.
Lighting control is the category where this matters most.
Why Early Collaboration Matters
The location of lighting control keypads affects where outlets go in walls, which affects framing. The type of dimmers affects what fixtures the designer can specify. The scene logic — what "dinner" or "morning" or "movie" means in each room — is most effectively designed when the designer and integrator are talking at the same time, not sequentially.
We've worked on projects where the interior designer specified fixtures that weren't compatible with the Lutron system we'd designed, and we caught it before ordering. We've also worked on projects where we weren't looped in until after the fixtures were ordered. The second scenario is expensive and stressful for everyone.
What the Technology Integrator Needs to Know Early
From the architect: door and window locations (for sensors), ceiling details (for recessed fixtures), wall section details (for in-wall device depth), and mechanical room location.
From the interior designer: fixture specifications (dimmable? what dimming range?), decorative switch location preferences, aesthetic requirements for control devices, and any specific scenes or moods they're designing for.
The earlier we have this information, the better the system works and the less it costs.
Lutron's Role
We use Lutron on almost every project — RadioRA 3 for most residential builds, Homeworks QSX for larger or more complex homes. Lutron's ecosystem is mature, reliable, and has the best track record for longevity in residential installations. It also integrates cleanly with Control4 and Savant.
The keypad design conversation is one we always have with the designer. Lutron's Palladiom and Sunnata Touch series are genuinely beautiful objects — they can be specified in finishes and configurations that complement the hardware and millwork throughout the home. This isn't a compromise between technology and design; it's technology that belongs in a well-designed home.
Programming is a Design Activity
Scene programming — what the lights do when you press "entertain" or "goodnight" — is not a technical afterthought. It's a design activity. We schedule a dedicated programming walkthrough with clients after move-in to refine scenes to their actual behavior and preferences. Most clients don't know exactly what they want until they've lived in the space for a week.
For Designers: What We Need From You
A lighting fixture schedule with dimmability noted. Your preferred keypad locations (we can work around almost anything if we know early). The scenes and moods you're designing for — we'll translate those into programming. And an openness to a conversation about what's technically possible versus what the rendering shows.
The best lighting in our clients' homes is always a product of that conversation.
