Sally Storey, Lighting Up The Luxury World
LIGHTING UP THE LUXURY WORLD
Illuminating countless castles, private country estates, villas, prestigious hotels, spas and royal palaces, Sally Storey is at the forefront of high-end lighting design and development and the “go-to” name for some of the most famous names and brands around the world.
The multi-award-winning Design Director of Lighting Design International (LDI) and Creative Director of John Cullen Lighting (JCL) talks to Angela Sara West about her prestigious projects and superyacht triumphs, and gives her tips on how to create a luxury lifestyle through lighting to give your home, garden or yacht the wow factor!
On discovering more about the power of light as an architecture student, Sally Storey became more-and-more passionate about lighting up the world. Now one of the UK’s leading lighting experts, her illuminating dream has come true... She’s made prestigious spaces come to life everywhere from France and South Africa to the US and the Middle East.
From boutique chic to classic opulence, Sally’s stamp graces some of the most famous buildings on earth. She’s lit up luxury London hotels The Berkeley and Claridge’s, the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris, Monaco’s Hotel Hermitage, along with Coral Reef Club Barbados and The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, while her retail clients include Jaguar Land Rover and DKNY Madison Avenue. She’s even irradiated the VIP Lounge at London’s Heathrow airport.
With over 35 years’ experience in lighting and product design, working at the cutting-edge of lighting technology, Sally and her team design for ultra-high-net-worth clients and famous faces with the utmost discretion. Their bespoke lighting design service offers second-to-none design, product supply and control solutions. The company carefully creates a unique and unexpected ambience, transforming everything from furniture and fabrics to artwork and architecture via unobtrusive lighting, producing maximum impact with exceptional results.
“It’s wonderful that we’ve been lucky to work with so many different styles of places, from the very traditional to the most funky, trendy hotels and beach resorts. I’d highly recommend you visit such gems as the luxurious Cap Farrat resort on the French Riviera, Sandy Lane in Barbados and The Alpina in Gstaad, hidden away in the Alps.”
ILLUMINATING INSPIRATION IN SALLY’S TOOLBOX
Inspired by the architect Sir John Soane who, early on, discovered the power of light, played with reflections and the effect mirrors had on candlelights placed on tables, Sally says she’s always been attracted to light. “I equally love the art installation of James Turell and am strongly influenced by interior designers like Jonathan Reed, who always challenges and pushes me to come up with new ideas.”
Her big break came at college, when modern lighting pioneer, John Cullen, asked her to design his showroom. “John Cullen’s philosophy was that the product should disappear whilst the effect was key, but to achieve this, one should never see the light source,” Sally explains. “With the latest technology, this glare control is fundamental to the JCL brand.”
Sally took over the company’s reins after John Cullen died in 1986 and launched JCL’s sister company, LDI as an independent consultancy service. “The quality of the service we provide at LDI is paramount. We all came together and almost grew together so, as a company, we have established a very unique style.”
Sally’s architectural background, along with her design flair and vision, keeps the late John Cullen’s legacy alive. “I feel I’ve lived through two lighting revolutions; the Halogen, which was brand new in the 80’s and started the concept of miniaturization of lighting fixtures, and the LED revolution. At first, to achieve the effect of lighting quality was a problem, but now true miniaturization is possible and has given lighting designers an entirely new toolbox.”
Travelling the world to design lighting schemes for individual and corporate clients, she feels very aware of, and influenced by, her