Denver’s New Lighting Design Studio
After one dozen years in the industry, Jennifer Kirkpatrick knows what the builder and interior design communities want when it comes to lighting. Her new design business pairs strategic illumination with aesthetics to deliver an elevated lighting experience.
For more than one decade, Jennifer Kirkpatrick has kept pace with emerging technology and evolving customer demand in commercial lighting design as well as the high-end residential side of the industry through her career with Denver-based manufacturer American Lighting.
Kirkpatrick says that she has always had the desire to run her own business and had reached a point in her career where – after earning her LC in January 2025 from the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions Inc. (NCQLP) along with other accreditations – she felt ready to put her plan of establishing her own lighting design studio into action.
Before she became lighting savvy, Kirkpatrick was introduced to the world of upscale home furnishings through her nearly five years in sales working for Bosie, Idaho-based manufacturer Scandinavian Designs/Dania Furniture after graduating from the University of Colorado.
That introduction to the higher-end market gave her an appreciation, passion and comfort level with product design and the needs and wants of affluent clientele. What followed was close to 13 years of expansive and technical product knowledge in the lighting arena through her various roles at American Lighting, where she collaborated with sales reps, designers, and builders on both the commercial and residential side of the industry.
Through her work with custom integrators, architects and specifiers on commercial projects, Kirkpatrick witnessed the pain points that design professionals experience who are not as well-versed in lighting technology. She also developed an understanding of the types of lighting effects that interior designers and their residential clients were looking for and considered to be a worthy enhancement to their living environment.
Kirkpatrick has spent almost one full year since leaving the corporate world last October immersed in the challenges and rewards of launching her own business. The result is the opening of Light and Design Studio this month in Castle Rock, Colorado, part of the greater Denver metropolitan area.
As the principal designer and owner of the boutique lighting design studio, Kirkpatrick works with interior designers and architects primarily on residential projects — although decorative hospitality work is also well within her purview.
Light and Design Studio is open by appointment in order to provide a thorough project evaluation without the distractions of walk-in business. Through one-on-one consultations, Kirkpatrick develops lighting plans and suggests lighting solutions for the projects professionals bring to her. Most of her appointments thus far have been with interior designers whom homeowners have hired to handle their renovations or new construction. All of the products that Kirkpatrick recommends for a job are then purchased through her business.
Because of Kirkpatrick’s strong connections in the lighting industry, she is able to offer a quick-ship program for certain core architectural fixtures, decorative pieces and system design components — a feat that not many fledgling companies can pull off right out of the gate. American Lighting is one of the trusted vendor partners that she relies on.
While her studio may not be as large as typical showrooms, Kirkpatrick said that her goal is not to show a wide assortment of products, but instead to demonstrate the multitude of lighting effects that can be achieved. To that end, having a large space is not necessary.
In describing her business, Kirkpatrick said, “The vision was to create a place where people could see what thoughtful lighting design and placement can do, and experience how different techniques and even the smallest details can make a difference.” As a full-service design business, Light and Design Studio handles all aspects of the task, beginning with the design, providing the specs and offering on-site support.
During her lighting consultations, Kirkpatrick gets a feel for the clients’ aesthetic sensibilities, what their daily activities and lifestyles are like, and any needs (i.e. aging eye, working from home, emphasis on health and wellness) they would like addressed. After gathering that information, she creates a custom solution specifically for each client.
“We manage each project from concept to completion, ensuring every system is thoughtfully designed, seamlessly sourced, and beautifully implemented,” according to the Light and Design Studio website.
While Kirkpatrick is the principal of the company and works full-time at the business, she does have design and office admin assistance. As explained on the website, “Our team partners with homeowners and design-build partners to ensure every project is thoughtfully specified, seamlessly sourced, and confidently installed. And when extra support is needed, we provide clear installer documentation, job-site coordination, and even pre-built solutions to simplify the process.”
Kirkpatrick noted that health and wellness are attributes her clients are increasingly interested in. Through her training in photometrics and the technical aspects of lighting, she can provide multi-zone lighting layouts that meet all applicable codes and can be enhanced with fixture schedules and smart lighting controls as well as circadian lighting benefits.
“I’ve always known I wanted to create something of my own and spent years climbing the corporate ladder, where I was learning, growing, and preparing for the right moment to take the leap. Now I’m here, and it feels surreal,” she commented in a LinkedIn post announcing her new company. “Each morning as I drive to my studio downtown Castle Rock, it makes me smile. I get to do what I love; design, connect with people, and help create spaces that feel as good as they look. I am grateful for this new chapter and everyone who’s been part of it.”
