The Importance of Good Lighting

Fratantoni Design • October 11, 2023

The Importance of Good Lighting

Here at Fratantoni Design, we understand the importance of good lighting and the role lighting plays in creating an aesthetic experience for your new custom home. From table and floor lamps to wall sconces and chandeliers, lighting fixtures serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. As Arizona custom luxury home architects, we see multiple different variations of lighting from the interior of the home to the exterior. 

Functionality:

While you are designing your custom home, as mentioned in “Step Four of Designing a Custom Luxury Home” , planning lighting fixtures and outlets is one of the most crucial steps. Lighting is used to enhance or soften the look of a room depending on the color temperature. It is important to note, the temperature is the lightbulb itself and not the fixture! 

Color temperature is important to understand! Functionality goes hand in hand with color temperature. One common practice is for spaces such as a kitchen, office, bathrooms, hallway, etc. to have cool lighting. Cool lighting promotes energy and awareness and is high in blue light. Most often, cool lighting is used for spaces with high activity and productivity such as the spaces above. For example, a kitchen with cool lighting will mimic natural light and brighten the space to make visibility easier. Or in an office, cool lighting will keep you awake and aware of the tasks you are working on!

Below is The Royal Chateau primary suite. Often, for vanities where you will be applying makeup, it is common to have cool lighting that mimics natural light!

 

A bathroom with a vanity , stool , mirror and fireplace.

 

Furthermore, warm lighting is usually used for bedrooms, living rooms, and outdoor living spaces. Warm lighting is soft and inviting and enhances comfort. For an outdoor living space, warm light ensures you have a gentle glow without heavy light pollution and brightness from a cool light.

Below this gorgeous great room has warm lighting, promoting calm and comfort, and a relaxing place to unwind after a long day.

A living room with a fireplace and a flat screen tv

 

Aesthetic:

In all cases, the aesthetic of the room depends on the color of the room or the materials that are in use. There are circumstances where the color temperature of a room may not be following common practices as we describe in the functionality section. After all, one great thing about your custom home is; that it is yours to design! You can adjust lighting to any style of home. 

Lastly, depending on the fixture, you are adding more design elements to your home. With intricate decorative lighting, you have both a light source and a focal piece! Below is the Royal Chateau formal living room. When you walk into a room, one of the first things you do is look up. Here, detailed millwork and a large glowing chandelier meet your eye. The design elements and gold color of the chandelier, complement the gold accents of the furniture. Overall, lighting can assist you in your design goals, and the next time you want to spruce up a room, think about your lighting first!

 

The Royal Chateau Lighting

The post The Importance of Good Lighting appeared first on Fratantoni Design.

By Sam Fratantoni October 9, 2025
Luxury architecture has entered an age of expression. For decades, right angles and linear geometry defined modern design, emphasizing precision and control. Today, a new philosophy is emerging that embraces curves, arcs, and flowing forms. These sculptural shapes create movement and harmony, allowing spaces to feel more natural and emotionally engaging.  At Fratantoni Design , we believe that great architecture should be as graceful as it is functional. Curved forms represent a return to organic design, reconnecting homes to the natural world and the human experience. They soften the hard edges of modernism and bring rhythm to the geometry of living. This architectural shift is not only visual but emotional, reminding us that structure can be both powerful and poetic.
By Sam Fratantoni October 2, 2025
In luxury residential design, art has long been viewed as something to display. Yet today, it has evolved into something far more integral, it has become part of the architecture itself. The walls, ceilings, staircases, and even the light that fills a home can function as sculptural elements that define its character. At Fratantoni Design , we believe the most memorable homes are not simply designed but composed, like works of art. Each line, curve, and surface contributes to an aesthetic experience that transcends function. Architecture, when conceived with artistic intent, becomes a medium through which form and emotion coexist in perfect balance. This approach has led to a new era of residential architecture, one where structure and art merge seamlessly. Homes are no longer static enclosures but dynamic spaces that engage the senses and elevate the spirit.
By Sam Fratantoni September 23, 2025
In the world of luxury architecture, ceilings are often called the “fifth wall” , and for good reason. While floors, walls, and furnishings tend to draw the eye first, the ceiling holds extraordinary potential to define a home’s character and atmosphere. When thoughtfully designed, it becomes a central architectural feature that ties the entire space together, influencing proportion, mood, and harmony. At Fratantoni Design , we view every ceiling as an architectural opportunity. Whether soaring and vaulted or intimate and coffered, ceilings frame the experience of a room from the moment one steps inside. They embody the artistry, geometry, and craftsmanship that distinguish a well-designed estate from an ordinary home.
By Sam Fratantoni September 16, 2025
 Some of the most breathtaking homes in the world are not built on flat land but rather on hillsides and cliffsides where nature creates both beauty and challenge. Hillside architecture is a unique art form that requires precision, creativity, and a mastery of engineering. At Fratantoni Design , we specialize in transforming difficult terrains into extraordinary estates, turning steep slopes into opportunities for innovation and luxury. For affluent homeowners, a hillside property offers panoramic views, privacy, and prestige. However, building on a slope demands careful planning and expert design to overcome challenges such as soil stability, access, and drainage. Our team has spent decades perfecting the craft of hillside architecture, ensuring that every estate is both structurally sound and visually remarkable.
By Sam Fratantoni September 8, 2025
Modern architecture has evolved into more than a style, it’s a lifestyle. Clean lines, open floor plans, and seamless indoor-outdoor living have made modern homes a symbol of sophistication and comfort. For affluent homeowners, modern design isn’t about minimalism for its own sake; it’s about creating spaces that are functional, emotionally engaging, and timeless. At Fratantoni Design, we have spent over 40 years designing custom estates that balance innovation with elegance. From sleek desert retreats in Arizona to expansive modern villas nationwide, our modern homes embo dy luxury, precision, and individuality.
By Sam Fratantoni September 3, 2025
Luxury estates are defined not just by their size, but by their proportion and feeling. A home with soaring ceilings and expansive square footage can inspire awe, but without thoughtful design, grandeur can quickly turn into coldness. The true art of luxury architecture lies in mastering scale: cra fting spaces that are undeniably grand yet still warm, inviting, and livable. At Fratantoni Design, we’ve spent over 40 years designing estates that embody this balance. Whether it’s a Mediterranean villa in Scottsdale or a French château in New Jersey, our architecture ensures that every grand moment is counterbalanced with intimate comfort. In this blog, we’ll explore how the art of scale shapes luxury living in 2025 and beyond.
By Sam Fratantoni August 28, 2025
Luxury architecture has always been about more than just creating a home, it’s about crafting a legacy. In 2025, discerning homeowners are increasingly drawn to designs that honor history while embracing the future. This desire has sparked one of the most captivating movements in contemporary design: adaptive reuse in luxury architecture. At Fratantoni Design, we’ve witnessed how adaptive reuse elevates homes beyond beautiful structures, transforming them into stories etched in stone, wood, and light. By reimagining historic inspiration, incorporating reclaimed materials, and blending traditional motifs with modern conveniences, we create estates that are as timeless as they are innovative.
By Sam Fratantoni August 20, 2025
In today’s luxury architecture, beauty isn’t defined solely by form or scale, it’s about depth, richness, and detail. As homeowners seek spaces that are both visually captivating and emotionally resonant, architects are embracing a bold new tr end: layered architectural materials. From stone paired with glass to metal accents against warm wood, this approach elevates façades and interiors into multi-sensory experiences. At Fratantoni Design, we believe texture is more than a design element, it’s the essence of timeless luxury. For over 40 years, our team has crafted custom homes across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and nationwide, integrating bespoke material palettes that enhance both aesthetics and lifestyle. In 2025, the rise of layered materials is redefining what it means to create a one-of-a-kind estate.
By Sam Fratantoni August 14, 2025
Every extraordinary home begins with an idea, sometimes just a sketch on paper, sometimes a clear vision formed over years of dreaming. At Fratantoni Design, a nationally recognized luxury home plan design firm, we specialize in turning those initial ideas into meticulously crafted home plans that lead to remarkable residences. With decades of experience designing estates across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, and nationwide, our process is both a science and an art: blending creativity, technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to detail. 
By Sam Fratantoni August 6, 2025
In luxury home design, first impressions aren’t made when you step through the front door, they’re made the moment your property comes into view. The driveway, often overlooked as purely functional, is actually one of the most powerful design statements a home can make. At Fratantoni Design , we understand that a driveway is more than a path for vehicles, it’s an introduction to the home’s personality, architectural style, and level of craftsmanship. Our award-winning team designs and oversees custom driveways that are as intentional and elegant as the estates they serve, blending beauty, durability, and function into a single stunning feature. From sweeping circular drives lined with lush landscaping to modern geometric patterns in high-end materials, our designs enhance the property’s grandeur and set the tone for what lies beyond.