When you think of design, you probably picture paint colors, countertops, and comfy chairs. But what about lighting? In the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse, ABLAZE Design Group had the distinct honor of demonstrating just how lighting is the secret ingredient that sets the mood, transforms a room, and even changes how you feel in your own home. Curious? Come see the magic Wednesday, September 17, 5–7 PM at ABLAZE Design Group’s Mini Movie Premiere during Highwood Design Week, featuring the dramatic reveal of the Lake Forest Showhouse kitchen transformation.
Read on to learn more, and RSVP here to enjoy the vibes: Open bar, light bites, swag bags, raffle prizes and exclusive shopping with proceeds benefiting the Infant Welfare Society.
Lake Forest Showhouse Kitchen design by ABLAZE Design Group. Photo credit: Ryan McDonald Photography
Words by By Ava Markoutsas of ABLAZE Design Group.
When most people think about design, they picture colors, finishes, and furniture. But one element often gets overlooked—even though it has the power to completely change how your home feels: lighting.
At ABLAZE Design Group, we like to call lighting the “mood setter” of a space. Yes, the right fixture can be beautiful, but more importantly, lighting affects how you live in your home every single day. Think about how natural sunlight guides you: bright mornings help us wake up, afternoon light keeps us energized, and warm, soft light in the evening signals our bodies to slow down. That rhythm – our circadian rhythm – can be supported (or thrown off) by the lighting inside our homes.
That’s why we approach lighting with intention. In every project, whether it’s a single-room refresh or a full renovation, we layer in different types of light: Task, ambient, and accent. Spaces aren’t just pretty, they actually work for the people living in them. We often add advanced lighting controls too, so homeowners can shift the light throughout the day to match how they want to feel: focused, energized, or relaxed.
Lake Forest Showhouse pantry design by ABLAZE Design Group. Photo credit: Ryan McDonald Photography
This is a piece of what sets ABLAZE apart. Our team doesn’t just design for looks, we design for how a home makes you feel. By blending architecture, interiors, and technology, we create spaces that look stunning and support wellness and comfort.
One of our favorite recent examples is the kitchen we designed for the Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens. We used lighting to bring out the warmth of natural materials while giving the homeowners flexibility to change the atmosphere at the touch of a button.
Lake Forest Showhouse Kitchen design by ABLAZE Design Group. Photo credit: Ryan McDonald Photography
And now, we’d love to share that story with you. Join us on September 17, 2025, 5-7pm at ABLAZE Design Group in Highwood for our “mini movie premiere” during Highwood Design Week. It will be a behind-the-scenes look at how light can completely transform a space.
Reserve your spot: ABLAZEPremiereParty.eventbrite.com
