Into Lighting - Crafting Brilliant Spaces Since 1979

For anyone looking to bring a bit of brightness, a touch of thoughtful illumination to their building projects, there is a company that has been doing just that for a very long time. They work closely with those who draw up building plans, and those who shape inside spaces, as well as the people who will actually use these places. It’s about making sure the lights truly fit what is needed, creating solutions that work well and also look good. This way, every space feels just right, you know, for the people who spend time there.

This business, operating as Into Lighting, has its home base in Bordon, Hampshire. Their official name is M.i.g ltd, with a company number of 01413018, but most folks know them by the name they trade under. They are, in a way, quite dedicated to helping others see their ideas come to life through the careful placement and selection of light sources. They really do try to help clients get the kind of creative lighting setup they want, making sure it stays within what was agreed for cost and time, too it's almost a given.

The story of Into Lighting began quite a while ago, back in February of 1979, as a shop selling light fixtures in Wimbledon. Their initial aim was to introduce people in Britain to some really interesting items from manufacturers across Europe. From those early days of selling beautiful lamps and fixtures, they have grown into a group of people who advise on how light should be used in all sorts of different places, which is quite a change.

What Makes a Good Lighting Design Consultant?
- How Into Lighting Helps Your Vision Take Shape
A Look Back - The Beginnings of Into Lighting
- Into Lighting - From Retailer to Design Advisor
Bringing Light to Luxury - The Glebe Project
Spreading Brightness - The Leon Restaurant Story
Illuminating Flavors - Into Lighting and Turtle Bay
Working Together - A Collaborative Approach

What Makes a Good Lighting Design Consultant?

When it comes to making spaces feel just right, a lot of it has to do with how the light falls. The people at Into Lighting, you know, really put a lot of thought into this. They work very closely with those who draw up building plans, the architects, to make sure the way a building is shaped can truly welcome light. It’s a bit like a dance, actually, where everyone moves together to get the best result. They also team up with interior designers, the folks who pick out the colors and furniture, so the lighting fits perfectly with the overall feel of a room. This kind of joint effort means that from the very start, the light is considered a central part of the whole picture, which is pretty important.

And it's not just about working with the professionals, either. Into Lighting also spends time with the actual clients, the people who will live in or use these places. This is, in a way, perhaps the most important part. They want to hear what the client hopes for, what kind of mood they want to create, or what tasks need to be done in a particular space. It’s about truly listening to someone’s wishes and then figuring out how light can help make those wishes come true. This direct conversation helps them get a real sense of what’s needed, so the solutions they come up with are truly for that specific person or group, you see.

The goal, ultimately, is to come up with lighting setups that are both fresh and truly work. This means finding new ways to use light, perhaps with different fixtures or placement, to create something special. But it also means the solutions have to be practical and do what they are supposed to do. A light isn't just there to look nice; it needs to help people see, feel comfortable, or even feel inspired. So, the team at Into Lighting aims for ideas that are a bit different but also very useful, which is, you know, a good combination.

Every project, too it's almost, has its own particular set of needs. A home will need different lighting than a restaurant, and a shop will be different from an office. Into Lighting takes all these unique requirements into account. They don’t just offer a one-size-fits-all kind of answer. Instead, they shape their lighting plans to fit exactly what each different project needs. This means the light in a fancy home will be just right for that home, and the light in a busy restaurant will be just right for that restaurant, which makes a lot of sense, really.

How Into Lighting Helps Your Vision Take Shape

As people who advise on how light should be used, Into Lighting offers a whole range of helpful services. They are very keen on helping their clients see their ideas come to life. This means taking a client's early thoughts, perhaps a feeling or a general idea, and turning it into a real, physical light design. It's about making sure that the creative ideas for lighting don't just stay as thoughts but become something you can actually see and experience. They really do try to get this right, you know, every time.

A big part of what they do is making sure that these creative lighting plans fit within what the client has set aside for money. Nobody wants surprises when it comes to costs, so Into Lighting works to keep things clear and within the agreed spending limits. This attention to financial details means clients can feel confident that their project will stay on track without unexpected expenses. It’s about being responsible with resources, which is, honestly, a very important part of any project.

Another thing they really focus on is getting things done when they said they would. Time is precious for everyone involved in a building project, and delays can cause all sorts of problems. So, Into Lighting makes it a point to deliver their lighting designs and plans on schedule. This reliability helps keep the whole project moving smoothly, allowing other parts of the work to happen as planned. It’s about respecting everyone's time and making sure the lighting aspect contributes positively to the overall timeline, you see.

So, in essence, they provide expert guidance and support to make sure that the light in a space is not just bright but also thoughtful, creative, and practical. They aim to make sure that what the client dreams of for their space, in terms of light, actually becomes real. This includes finding ways to make the light look good, work well, and fit both the budget and the schedule. It's a comprehensive approach, really, to bringing light into people's lives and places.

A Look Back - The Beginnings of Into Lighting

The story of Into Lighting started quite some time ago, back in February of 1979. It began not as a design consultancy, but as a shop. This shop was located on the Broadway in Wimbledon, and it was a place where people could go to buy light fixtures. This is, in a way, quite different from what they do today, but it shows where their roots are. The focus back then was very much on the products themselves, on what was available to help light up a home or a business. They were, you know, a retail spot for illumination.

Their main idea at that time was to bring something new and interesting to the people of Britain. They wanted to introduce them to light fixtures from manufacturers in Europe. This meant sourcing items that might have been a bit different from what was commonly found in shops in the UK. It was about offering variety and perhaps a touch of something special, something that had a European flair. This initial focus on exciting and perhaps unusual products set a certain tone for the business from the very start, which is pretty cool.

So, they were, in essence, curators of light. They picked out pieces that they felt would appeal to a British audience, bringing in new styles and ways of thinking about how lights could look and function. This early work helped to shape their understanding of different lighting products and what makes a good light fixture. It was a time of discovery, both for the company and for their customers, who were getting to see a wider range of options for their homes and places of work, too it's almost a given.

This history as a retailer, selling directly to the public, gave them a deep appreciation for the physical side of lighting – the actual fixtures, their quality, and how they fit into a space. It also meant they had direct contact with people looking for lighting solutions, even if it was just for a single room. This background, you know, probably helped them understand customer needs from a very practical viewpoint, which is quite valuable for what they do now.

Into Lighting - From Retailer to Design Advisor

From those early days of selling individual lamps and light fittings, Into Lighting has changed quite a bit. They have grown and evolved into a company that now offers advice and plans for lighting, rather than just selling the items themselves. This shift means they now work more closely with the overall design of a building or space, thinking about how light will be used in a much bigger picture. It's a big change, really, from a shop to a consultancy.

This change shows a movement towards providing a more complete service. Instead of just helping someone pick out a lamp, they now help shape the entire lighting scheme for a building, inside and out. This requires a different kind of skill set, one that involves understanding how light affects mood, how it can highlight features, and how it can be used to guide people through a space. It's a more involved and, in some respects, more creative role, you know.

The experience gained from being a retailer, understanding different products and what customers wanted, likely gave them a good foundation for this new direction. They would have seen firsthand what people liked, what worked well, and what was perhaps missing from the market. This practical knowledge, then, could be applied to their new role as advisors, helping them to suggest solutions that were not only well-designed but also practical and appealing to the people who would use them. It’s a natural progression, you could say.

So, while the way they operate has changed, the core idea of bringing good light to people remains. They simply do it now by offering their expertise and planning abilities, working with others to create the best possible light for a given situation. This means they are now part of the very first steps of a project, helping to shape how a space will feel and function through its illumination. It’s a pretty important job, actually, when you think about it.

Bringing Light to Luxury - The Glebe Project

Into Lighting is very pleased to have been involved in a special project known as The Glebe in Chelsea. This project was about creating a unique collection of very nice homes, and Into Lighting was brought in to design the lighting for all the areas, both inside and outside these residences. It was a big undertaking, you know, to make sure the light fit the high quality of these living spaces.

For a collection of luxury homes like The Glebe, the lighting needs to be just right. It's not just about making things bright; it's about creating a certain feeling, a sense of comfort and elegance. So, Into Lighting would have considered how natural light comes in during the day and how artificial light should work at night. They would have thought about how light makes materials look, how it makes rooms feel spacious or cozy, and how it helps people move through the different parts of the property. This level of detail is very important for such places.

Designing for both the inside and outside means thinking about different challenges. Inside, it's about making living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms feel welcoming and functional. Outside, it's about lighting pathways, garden features, and the building itself to create a safe and attractive appearance after dark. Into Lighting had to make sure the light transitions smoothly from one area to another, creating a consistent and pleasant experience for those who live there. It's quite a task, really, to get all that right.

Separately, Into Lighting was also asked to design the lighting for all the "front of house" areas. These are the spaces that visitors first see and experience, like lobbies, reception areas, or shared lounges. In these places, the lighting plays a crucial role in making a good first impression and setting the tone for the entire property. It needs to be inviting, perhaps a little grand, and certainly very well thought out. They put a lot of effort into making these first impressions shine, you know.

It’s worth noting that another company, Middlesex Sound & Lighting, was involved in providing audiovisual and special effects lighting for some aspects of the project. While Into Lighting focused on the general lighting design for the residences and front of house areas, the overall project had different specialists for different needs. This shows how complex large building projects can be, with many different experts working together to achieve the final look and feel, which is pretty common, actually.

Spreading Brightness - The Leon Restaurant Story

Into Lighting worked closely with the Leon restaurant chain, helping to shape how their spaces looked and felt through light. They took on the job of creating the main lighting idea for these restaurants and then putting that idea into action across many different locations. This wasn't just for one or two places, but for a large number of them, which is, you know, a big undertaking.

They developed the lighting concept, which means they came up with the core idea for how Leon restaurants should be lit. This would have included decisions about the type of fixtures, where they would be placed, and what kind of atmosphere the light should create. Once this concept was ready, Into Lighting then helped to make it happen in 71 different Leon outlets. That’s a lot of restaurants to light, really, and it shows a strong working relationship.

Out of these 71 locations, 42 of them were run directly by Leon itself. For these, Into Lighting would have worked very closely with the Leon team to ensure the lighting was consistent with their brand and vision. It’s about making sure that every customer who walks into a directly operated Leon restaurant gets the same kind of lighting experience, which helps build a recognizable brand feel. This consistency is, you know, quite important for a restaurant chain.

The other 29 restaurants were franchises. These were located in transport hubs across the UK and in five other countries in Europe. This meant Into Lighting’s concept had to be adaptable. Franchises often have slightly different setups or local rules, so the lighting plan needed to be flexible enough to work in various environments while still keeping the core Leon look. It’s quite a challenge to make a design work well in so many different places, in a way, but they did it.

Working across different countries, even within Europe, means dealing with different building standards, different types of spaces, and perhaps even different cultural expectations for how a restaurant should feel. Into Lighting had to ensure their concept could be applied effectively whether a Leon was in a busy train station in the UK or a city center in another European country. This shows their ability to work on a large scale and adapt their ideas to various situations, which is pretty impressive.

Illuminating Flavors - Into Lighting and Turtle Bay

Into Lighting has been a key partner for Turtle Bay restaurants, providing advice on lighting design and also helping with the supply of the actual light fixtures. Their work with Turtle Bay began way back in 2010, when the very first Turtle Bay restaurant was being planned. They helped to create the initial lighting idea for that first location, which set the tone for all the restaurants that came after. This long-standing relationship is, you know, quite a positive sign.

Since that first site, Into Lighting has continued to develop the lighting idea for Turtle Bay. This means they haven't just stuck to the original plan but have allowed it to grow and change as the restaurant chain itself has grown. As new restaurants open, they refine and adjust the lighting concept to fit each new space, making sure it still feels like a Turtle Bay but also works well for the specific building. It’s an ongoing process, really, of making things better.

They have put this evolving lighting concept into practice in over 50 Turtle Bay restaurants across the UK up to