Spring has sprung and summer is just about here. The weather is starting to warm up and the days are longer. No better time to consider giving that back garden or patio area an upgrade and turn them into outdoor living areas that can be appreciated and enjoyed long after the sun goes down.

Italy - the land of la dolce vita, gastronomic delights, stunning countryside, stylish cities, centuries old architecture and sunny days on holiday. In addition Italy is also a big player on the design scene. From the glory days of the 1950’s right through the 60’s, 70’s and to today. Italy has always had an original and super stylish contribution to make to the international design conversation.

This week marks International Dark Sky Week 2019. It highlights the effects of light pollution on our lives, environment and (funnily enough) the sky. Prior to the introduction of artificial electric lighting the night sky was filled with endless amounts of stars, inspiring everything from art to religion and philosophy over the ages.

Good lighting is critical as part of any design scheme but one that is so frequently a second thought when building and designing homes and buildings and one that so often gets it wrong. The challenge is about getting the balance right and creating a space that is a pleasure to be in.

When we think of something that triggers our emotions, there’s always the first few things that come to mind; music, art, family and a personal one for me…food. These things all attribute to our daily emotional state and how we react to them.

I’m inspired by the old principles of Chiaroscuro that dates back to the 17th century, the world of lighting and design. Lighting plays such a crucial role throughout art history as it has the ability to change the narrative of a painting, room or building. Whether it be dramatic and mysterious to relaxing and sublime.