When the interior designer for a new boutique hotel development in the Scottish Highlands approached Araco Interiors, the brief was specific: handcrafted British lighting, throughout, in a palette of antique bronze and alabaster that would complement the property's stone architecture and natural materials.
The property — a converted Victorian hunting lodge with 22 guest rooms, a restaurant and bar, and several private entertaining spaces — was an extraordinary setting, and the lighting specification needed to match it.
The Brief
The designer had worked with CTO Lighting on previous hotel projects and requested the full Araco Interiors CTO Lighting range be made available at trade terms. The scope covered:
- Guest room wall lights for all 22 rooms
- Restaurant pendant lighting above dining tables
- Bar and reception pendants
- Corridor wall lights across three floors
- Statement chandelier for the main entrance hall
Guest Room Specification: CTO Gaia IP44 Wall Lights
For the 22 guest rooms, the designer specified the CTO Lighting Gaia wall light in IP44 configuration for bathroom zones, and the standard Gaia Tall plate for bedroom positions. The consistent use of a single design across all rooms created a disciplined visual language that read as intentional rather than varied.
Restaurant: CTO Artes 900 Linear Pendants
The restaurant featured long communal tables and a series of intimate booths. The CTO Artes 900 linear pendants were specified in antique bronze above each communal table, providing even, warm illumination at the correct height above the dining surface (75cm from table to pendant base). Above the booth seating, individual CTO Lucid pendants created more intimate pools of light.
Entrance Hall: CTO Nimbus Large Chandelier
The entrance hall — with its original 4.5m stone ceiling — called for a statement piece of significant scale. The CTO Nimbus Large chandelier was the unanimous choice: its cloud-like form of individually hand-made fritted glass discs created an extraordinary first impression on arrival, and its antique bronze metalwork complemented the warm tones of the original stone floors and panelling.
Project Delivery
CTO Lighting pieces are made to order with lead times of 8–12 weeks. The project was planned 14 weeks ahead of the hotel's opening date, allowing comfortable margin for production, shipping, on-site installation and snagging. Our trade team coordinated directly with the site electrician on back-box specifications and provided written installation guidance for each fitting.
The hotel opened on schedule, with the lighting specification receiving specific mention in several of the early press reviews.
If you are specifying lighting for a hotel, restaurant or hospitality project, we would welcome the conversation. Visit our Hotels & Hospitality page or contact trade@aracointeriors.com.