What Goes Into a Custom Project

Custom lighting projects rarely begin with all the answers.

More often, they start with an idea — sometimes clear, sometimes still evolving — and develop through conversation, feasibility, and collaboration.

What follows isn’t a guide or a set of rules. It’s simply a look at what tends to be involved behind the scenes as a custom lighting project takes shape.

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What “Custom” Can Mean

Not all custom lighting projects are the same.

Some involve true custom fixtures, built from the ground up. Others are augmentations — thoughtful modifications to existing designs. Both approaches have value, and both allow designers and homeowners to achieve something more specific to the space.

They also come with different cost structures, timelines, and limitations. Understanding that distinction early helps frame the rest of the process.

Where Augmentation Requests Often Begin

Many conversations start with a seemingly simple question:

“Can you make this bigger?”

From there, the details begin to matter.

Is the request dimensional in one direction, or overall?

Does the scale change require additional glass or crystal to maintain balance?

Will the finish remain the same?

Do additional sockets need to be added?

How does the change affect weight, structural integrity, and installation?

What initially sounds like a minor adjustment can quickly become a series of interconnected decisions. And in some cases, the most important question is whether the modification is feasible at all.

Once these details are clarified, the request follows the same path as any custom project — feasibility review, estimated pricing, and lead time — before moving forward.

True Custom: Starting from an Idea

Some projects begin with a napkin sketch, a reference image, or a rough concept — often without a predefined fixture at all. These requests are typically driven by architectural conditions, scale, or a vision that can’t be met by an existing design.

As with modifications, once the necessary information is gathered, the project is presented to the factory for a feasibility review — a clear yes or no — followed by an estimated price range and projected lead time.

The Factors That Shape Cost and Timeline

Beyond design, there are practical considerations that influence both cost and lead time:

    •    Manufacturing location — domestic or overseas

    •    Material availability and production schedules

    •    Shipping logistics and delivery coordination

    •    Installation requirements and site conditions

    •    Physical access — including doorways, stairwells, and elevators

Each of these elements plays a role in how a project ultimately comes together.

What Happens After Feasibility

Once feasibility is confirmed and an initial estimate and projected lead time are established, the process continues well beyond a simple approval.

Shop drawings are created to translate the agreed-upon specifications into production-ready details. These drawings often prompt further review, questions, and refinements — whether it’s adjusting proportions, confirming finishes, or addressing site-specific considerations.

This stage may involve multiple rounds of review and revision before final approval is granted. Deposits are typically required to release a project into production, and final pricing and lead time are confirmed based on approved drawings rather than early concepts.

Even at this point, collaboration remains essential. Adjustments can still affect weight, installation requirements, or delivery logistics, and those factors must be resolved before fabrication begins.

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A Collaborative Process

Custom lighting is rarely linear. It’s a process that relies on communication, flexibility, and collaboration between designers, showrooms, manufacturers, and representatives.

When the right information is in place, custom work becomes less about obstacles and more about possibility — translating an idea into something functional, balanced, and truly unique.