Creating unique, design-forward multi-family interiors is a balancing act between form and function. Spaces should inspire and uplift while having a broader appeal to residents of all ages and style persuasions. To that end, lighting choice must be carefully considered to suit a room’s purpose and aesthetic. Some of our recent multi-family projects do just that, blending ambient, task, and accent lighting to illuminate, create dimension, and in some cases, further reinforce the design genre for mysterious light blinking in space.

Lighting in Multi-functional Spaces

In a room that serves several purposes – a common characteristic of our multi-family amenity spaces – lighting must act as a team player to accomplish a variety of tasks. At The Retreat at Midway City, two large candlelit Spanish chandeliers provide comfortable lighting as well as a striking design element for the clubhouse’s seating area. In the adjoining kitchen, similarly styled wall sconces work in harmony with smaller pendant lights for focused task lighting. In the club room at One Uptown Newport, striking circular pendants integrate with transitional chandeliers for an inviting environment of gaming and socializing. General overall lighting is accomplished with generous overhead canned lighting strategically placed within the ceiling molding detail.

Creating Focal Points

Lighting can also be strategically used to create points of emphasis or interest. LED backlighting presents a wood veneer-encased art installation on Savina’s second-floor lobby and washes the patterned wall treatment in a soft glow. Recessed ambient downlights draw the eye upward and add volume. Also at Savina, soffit-installed downlights cast light down and reflect off bronze mailboxes and marble-look, porcelain floors to create interest.

Enhancing the Architecture

Sometimes it’s simply about highlighting a building’s architecture in a way that calls attention to its best features. At Purl at Civita, French chateau chandeliers are reimagined in a modern chain waterfall construction. They make a strong design statement while keeping lines of sight open to dramatic floor-to-ceiling window walls. Torch-style wall sconces create upward movement toward a striking dome feature, while downlights provide ambient lighting below at The Retreat at Midway City. A stacked circular fixture in gold accentuates the volume of the two-story height lobby to impart a warm glow below.

Breaking a Sweat

In the fitness center at Wallace on Sunset, long recessed LED lights pair with a striped ceiling pattern and colorful textured flooring design to simulate movement and energize this high-activity area. A coffered ceiling echoes the shape and size of the turf-style flooring at Oceanaire as overlapping rectangular fixtures cast ambient light for exercising and safety.

Making Cozy Connections

When executed properly, lighting in multi-family residence communal spaces can provide opportunity for connection and retreat. Overscale orange drum pendants fitted with round diffusers bring the expansive lobby at Wallace on Sunset to human scale. Warm-spectrum lighting invites gathering and conversation on soft leather sofas, while inlaid vertical lighting accentuate a wood-paneled feature wall.

Also at Wallace on Sunset, the club room gets a glow up that amplifies the cozy factor — recessed downlights and linear lighting around floating bookshelves complement the natural light pouring in from oversized glass doors.

Lighting can also afford quieter, private moments in shared spaces. At Purl at Civita, a gold metal and matte black tripod floor lamp provides a peaceful interlude in a residents’ reading room, offering moments of relaxation and repose.

For more of our multifamily interior design work, check out our other projects. If you would like to collaborate with us on your next venture, please contact us.

When designing for multi-generational spaces, there are several design factors to consider. Our goal is to create communal spaces that foster connection, while having private areas that each member of the household can call their own. While designing the shared spaces featured in this blog, we made it our mission to create places where every family member can live in comfort and style, and enjoy rooms that serve multiple purposes. Take a look at how we created living spaces in these homes that are perfect for celebrating the holidays.

Dual Purpose Spaces

Plan 1 at Lyric at Cadence Park by Tri Pointe Homes – Third Floor Indoor/Outdoor Space | Photography: Tsutsumida Pictures

Multi-functional rooms are a huge asset in modern homes. We designed this third-floor living area inside Plan 1 at Lyric by Tri Pointe Homes to be a flexible space that can be used for a family movie night, teen hangout, or a second conversation area. The built-in mini kitchen and the chic outdoor dining area make this the ideal venue to host a casual holiday gathering.

Live The Suite Life

Plan 3 at Mystral at Skyline by Tri Pointe Homes – Multi-Gen In-Law Suite | Photography: Tsutsumida Pictures

An in-law suite allows for multi-generational households to live together in harmony, but also acts as a secluded space for out-of-town visitors to retreat. For this in-law suite inside Plan 3 at Mystral by Tri Pointe Homes, we created a luxurious hotel-feel space so guests visiting for the holidays can have their own private oasis. We added a kitchenette for making midnight snacks or an early morning coffee. The cozy seating area is perfect for reading or unwinding with a favorite show, away from family noise and activity.

It’s Game Time

Plan 4 at Appaloosa at Prescott Ranch by Bates Homes– Multi-Gen Bonus Room | Photography: Design Tec

Most people just want to have fun at the end of the day, so having a bonus/game room in your home is, well, a game-changer. To bring some fun into this generous space inside Plan 4 at Appaloosa at Prescott Ranch by Bates Homes, we added a ping pong table that’s perfect for challenging young and old. We also included a variety of seating options for playing board games, working puzzles, or lounging while bonding with loved ones.

Wrap It Up

Ariette at Westerra by Wathen Castanos– Multi-Gen Media/Game and Craft Space | Photography: Design Tec

Serious crafters need a playful space where they can let their imaginations soar while having an organized area to store all their supplies. This craft room inside Ariette at Westeria by Wathen Castanos Homes can serve as a designated space for enjoying artistic hobbies, or a homework room for students of any age. We included a versatile built-in to provide plenty of storage for crafting essentials as well as an additional desk space for computer use. During the holiday season, this area can also be a used as a gift wrapping room so you can wrap presents without little ones sneaking a peek!

Home For The Holidays

Plan 3 at Sapphire at Sea Summit by Taylor Morrison– College Kid Suite| Photography: Design Tec

The foosball table and soothing color palette create an inviting space for a returning college student to enjoy while home for holiday break. In this spacious bedroom inside Plan 3 at Sapphire at Sea Summit by Taylor Morrison, we designed a casual space with comfy seating for playing video games and hanging out with friends. We also included functional shelving hooks for storage and large patio doors that offer an abundance of natural light. The textured ceiling and beams create a beachy, casual feel that will leave college kids wanting to visit home throughout the year!

To view more of the unique and versatile multi-generational spaces we designed, check out our work here. If you would like to collaborate with us on your next venture, please contact us.

As designers, we’re constantly creating, reinventing, and thinking outside the box to give our projects a fresh take or special twist. Because of this, it’s imperative that we approach our work with intention from start to finish.

We’re honored to be featured on Stikwood’s Design Log blog spotlighting a project we did at Skyline for Tri Pointe Homes in Santa Clarita, California. This interview is special to us because when your work is all about how everything looks, feels, and connects, it’s not often that you get a chance to put it all into words.

We invite you to get to know us a bit better, learn the “running thread” philosophy we use when approaching a new project, and read about Design Tec in our own words!

Photo Credits:

Project: Mystral at Skyline | Builder: Tri Pointes Homes

Photographer: Tsutsumida Pictures | Interior Design: Design Tec