3 Inspiring Lighting Designers Every LEED Interior Designer Should Know

While once used purely for illumination, much of today’s most creative interior lighting has been catapulted to become the center of conversation, pushing the limits of our imagination. But when it comes to outfitting your LEED design with the trendiest of lights, there’s no single directory for environmentally-inclined, progressive creatives. So, I’m setting you sail in the right direction with this short list. In each case, the lighting is as impressive as the story you can tell about it:

Trevor O’Neil: If you’re looking for something truly custom and with an eye toward eco-friendliness, Mr. O’Neil just may be your man. His woodland installation for an Arbor Lux balcony that overlooks the Chicago River made me fall head over heels for his innovation in lighting design. In it, he utilized tree branches that would have otherwise gone to waste to create a stunning half-lighting/half-architectural concept. The coolest part? The shades at the end of each branch were actually molded from the trees themselves using an environmentally friendly sap resin!

Studio Oryx: These nifty designs make the most of existing material, repurposing the groovy yet thrown-away aspects of the ’60’s and ’70’s into exquisite sources of light. The designs incorporate industrial aspects and beautiful concepts from what could be considered found objects. When you're browsing their site, be sure to get a chuckle out of the pet-adoption-like details of each piece. The Yooper reads: “He is seeking a loving kitchen to host him. He promises to put a smile on everyone’s face - once they see him.”

Tat Chao: This Montreal native knows how to create stunning, stylish lighting from otherwise abandoned glass and crystalware. In fact, his luminary artwork can be found in boutiques around the globe, from Toronto to Milan. Sadly, his website is under construction, which means you’ll have to head to one of the metropolitan shops or galleries to get a great view of his masterpieces, but I’m pretty confident that you won’t be disappointed. (See link above to Trendhunter for more info).

Even if these specific artists aren’t in your budget or just don’t quite fit with your design, they unquestionably serve as a great leaping-off point for incorporating truly unique, inspiring lighting concepts into your design. Assuming you're using the right bulbs, LEDs or CFLs, etc., acquiring LEED certification in regard to lighting does not mean having to compromise on aesthetic appeal.