private residence

TK Theaters | Corona Del Mar, CA | 2013

Lightswitch was part of an elite team of consultants, led by legendary home theater and interior designer Theo Kalomirakis of TK Theaters, which brought the owner’s Italian fantasy to life. Each of the four spaces was fitted with an array of custom lighting systems.

What It Was

The owner of this 6,000-square foot California compound doesn’t have far to travel when he’s looking for an escape. That’s because the home includes a full-scale Italian piazza right on the property. Inspired by the central square in Siena, Italy, the village boasts a pizzeria, nightclub, arcade and—the pièce de résistance—an elaborate, Classical-style theater for movies and performances.

What We Did

Lightswitch was part of an elite team of consultants, led by legendary home theater and interior designer Theo Kalomirakis of TK Theaters, which brought the owner’s Italian fantasy to life. Each of the four spaces was fitted with an array of custom lighting systems. In the piazza, Lightswitch used façade lighting to create an authentic Italian experience. The ambience continues in the pizzeria, where hanging pendants emit a warm-white glow that brightens up the informal dining area. After dinner, guests can get down at the nightclub, which features a kinetic, programmable LED dance floor, moving lights and color-changing LED architectural lighting, all of which changes in concert with the music. Another entertainment option, the arcade, is stocked with the owner’s collection of vintage pinball machines and arcade games. Rounding out the entertainment areas is a home theater unlike any other. Designed to resemble a classic, Gilded Age theater, the space features an ornate acoustic ceiling dome, 150 concealed speakers and moving seats.

Why It Worked

By combining our talents in entertainment, event and architectural lighting, we met the needs of this multifaceted project to create one-of-a-kind spaces. The design was so unique that it was featured on HGTV’s hit show, Million Dollar Rooms. Accolades aside, the home’s biggest achievement is what it has given the homeowner—a place to unwind, entertain and experience "la dolce vita." Photos by Andrew Miner