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The Light Fantastic: 6 Homes with Designer Lighting

Luxury Defined spotlights high-end designer lighting techniques in six luxury homes

We propose a corollary to the First Law of Real Estate’s “location, location, location!” It is “light, light, light!” For it is light, whether natural or artificial, that illuminates and defines our living spaces for work, play, and relaxation. Light can alter and enhance our moods, whether we’re hosting a lavish party under the shimmering lights of a crystal chandelier or lighting the candles for a romantic dinner. Artistic and innovative lighting techniques accentuate architectural beauty, creating, at the flick of a switch, a sense of drama or an ambience of tranquility. To showcase the brilliant effects of carefully orchestrated interior and exterior lighting, Luxury Defined presents six opulent properties where light, lighting, high design, and 21st-century technology converge in all their splendor. Let there be light, light, light!  

Pear Tree Point
Darien, Connecticut


This six-acre waterfront estate is a boater’s paradise on Long Island Sound, yet is only 55 minutes’ drive from New York City.

Framed by the picturesque backdrop of Long Island Sound, the outdoor entertaining terrace is a luminous haven with a fireplace and high-tech light installation.

Artisan light fixtures have been beautifully placed throughout the interior; this opalescent multi-light pendant adds a burst of color to the contemporary kitchen.

Pear Tree Point is an exquisite circa-1915 estate offering world-class waterfront living, less than an hour from Manhattan. A triumph of bold yet sympathetic decoration, the main house is delightful mix of formal and informal spaces, bathed in both color and light. At the heart of the house, a fabulous family room with fireplace opens to the kitchen with panoramic views of Long Island Sound. French doors open onto a pergola crowned with a one-of-a-kind sculptural light fixture, an entertaining terrace with a fireplace, and a yoga studio. 

There are seven bedrooms, including a luxurious master suite with two bathrooms, dressing rooms, a fireplace, and a waterfront balcony. The third floor houses a gym, studio, playroom, and a rooftop deck. The grounds are a haven of tranquility with a dock, tennis court, and swimming pool.

Seven-Hundred Seven South
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Seven-Hundred Seven South is perched on the top floor of The Ritz-Carlton Residences Grand Cayman, overlooking one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful stretches of sand: the world-famous Seven Mile Beach. This deluxe penthouse has been crafted with exquisite interior decor, including top-of-the-line materials and beautiful lighting design, featuring a one-of-kind bespoke light sculpture in the formal dining room. 

Residents enjoy access to the five-star amenities and hotel services of The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, including five restaurants, La Prairie spa, a fitness center, two outdoor pools, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment eco-adventure program, Bollettieri tennis center, and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.

The Kavouri Mansion
Athens, Greece

The Kavouri Mansion commands an idyllic hillside setting in Kavouri, the most exclusive seaside suburb of Athens. The property was built in 2008. Inside, nearly 6,200 square feet of living areas reveal four en suite bedrooms and grand reception rooms, including a living room with fireplace, a study, a dining room, and a gourmet kitchen. 

The home is beautifully lighted throughout. After the sun sets over the Aegean Sea, the pool and terrace light up, turning the space into a stylish entertaining venue. The 0.41 acre landscaped grounds enjoy stunning sea views throughout. A wellness center with a gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, and steam room; a staff apartment; and a three-car garage complete this lavish resort-style home.

Historic Queen Anne Mansion
London, England

This Grade I-listed Queen Anne mansion in London’s Westminster has been newly refurbished and meticulously designed to create a 21st-century family home with grand entertaining rooms, seven bedrooms, and sweeping views of St James’s Park. 

After consultation with the English Heritage Trust, the current owner prepared plans and detailed specifications for a comprehensive restoration and systems refurbishment, including electrical, air conditioning, heating, computerized and integrated home automation, security/energy management systems, and an elevator to all floors. The residence was also redesigned with a bowed extension at the rear—a fashionable feature in late 18th-century London. Adding to the luxury is a wine cellar, media room, and roof terrace.

La Maison de Verre
Princeton, New Jersey

La Maison de Verre, a striking 10,800-square-foot residence set within a series of walled gardens in Princeton, is an homage to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Prairie style. Originally designed in the 1960s by William F. Shellman, late professor of modern architecture at Princeton University, and by architect William H. Short, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Clerk of the works for the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the home has been modernized and expanded, while sensitively preserving its architectural integrity. 

Wrightian motifs can be found throughout the light-filled, open-plan interior. Four original copper-and-glass ceiling fixtures designed by the master architect himself grace the family room. These, along with Wright’s signature stained-glass panels, are juxtaposed with contemporary light installations by celebrated German designer Ingo Maurer. Other luxurious updates include a Boffi kitchen, guest apartment, expansive master wing, and a Philip Johnson-inspired glass-enclosed dining room.

Ski-in, Ski-out Mountain Home
Whitefish, Montana

This ski-in, ski-out mountain home on 1.3 acres in Whitefish Mountain Resort encompasses 14,900 interior square feet with seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. Though built for grand-scale living and entertaining, the home maintains a sense of Montana warmth and charm. Refurbished barn beams, recycled chestnut floors, century-old barnwood finishes, and artisan-crafted light fixtures are among the standout features. 

The great room, with its soaring fireplace and unique cast-iron chandelier, was designed to impress. Residents can retreat to the library or theater for a relaxing day off-piste, or enjoy apres-ski relaxation in the hot tub or sauna. A short distance away, downtown Whitefish offers boutique shopping and a variety of fine and casual dining.