Foolproof tips from a veteran lighting designer Designer Michelle Steinback was in the middle of remodeling her Eichler-style ranch in Portland in 2013 when she needed some lighting that worked with the existing architecture. "I wanted globe lights, in glass and brass, and no one made them," Steinback says.
Having spent the ten years prior in production and design for a large lighting manufacturer, it wasn?t hard for Steinback to make her vision a reality. She recalls: "I was like, ?Oh, I know how to make these. Why don?t I just design what I want and make them myself, because I can?t find what I want"?"
This became the start of her bespoke lighting company, Cedar & Moss, which now offers a range of modern and midcentury-style fixtures. As far as her own decor goes, at last count Steinback had somewhere around 58 sconces in her house.
"Of course, I love lights so I push it too far sometimes," Steinback says with a laugh. "But lighting can just be so beautiful." Here, she offers her tips for navigating the lighting market to find the perfect fixtures.
1. Function first

First and foremost, your lighting purchases will depend on the practical illumination needs of the room. A few questions to ask yourself: What tasks and activities will you be doing there" How much light do you personally prefer" Do you like it bright or more moody" How much natural light does your house already get"
A good way to ...