The founder of design firm Carta Creatives tells Style Editor Julie A. Palm why her…
Read More →
Designer Debrief: Elana Tenenbaum Cline
The founder of design firm Carta Creatives tells Style Editor Julie A. Palm why her local lighting showroom excels, shares some of her favorite small lighting vendors and explains why she adds sconces everywhere she can.
By Julie A. Palm
In her role as founder and creative director of design firm Carta Creatives, Elana Tenenbaum Cline knows it’s part of her job to show clients the value of good lighting.
“The average person underestimates the cost of lights and they don’t appreciate what a good light can do for a room until they experience it,” says Cline, who leads Carta Creatives, a four-person multidisciplinary architecture and design firm based in Southport, Connecticut.
“My lighting philosophy is that there should always be hardwired lighting somewhere in the room and then multiple types of lighting – whether that’s ceiling, wall, or table – so that clients have the ability to transition and create mood lighting in the evening,” she says. Dimmers are crucial.
“I have a client who has become a good friend and she had a Christmas party — it was a dinner party,” Cline continues. “Every single overhead light was on, and I ran around the house. I dimmed them and then turned on all the accent lighting and the whole mood changed. … People underestimate the ability of dimmers and multiple light sources to completely change room. So, giving clients these options is really critical for us in all the rooms we design.”
Cline describes herself as a classically trained architect and has built a firm of people who are formally trained in their fields, giving Carta Creatives a competitive advantage in its market. The firm specializes in major residential renovations, but about 20% of its business is updating furniture and décor.
“I think people like having the ability to work with a company that not only can help you decided your curtains and throw pillows, but can also do a full construction documents drawing set,” she says. “And I think we’re pretty fun, which doesn’t hurt, because renovations can be stressful.”
Once her firm has nailed down floorplans, “the very quick next step is layering in the lights,” Cline says, explaining that she encourages clients to prioritize their lighting budget “because it is such an important component.”
A go-to showroom
With two young children, Cline’s time for travel is limited, so she prefers sourcing close to home, which has led to a good relationship with Chloe Winston Lighting Design, a lighting showroom in nearby South Norwalk.
“We love them,” Cline says. “They’re wonderful people — super supportive. They have a lot of nice variety over in Norwalk, so we really enjoy working with them.”
“… Like with any good partner, they’re available and willing to work with us,” she continues. “We are now leaning on our trade partners more. If we have a project, we’ll say, ‘I’m looking for this type of fixture. This is my price point. This is the lead time. Go,’ and we’ll get a response. They enjoy what they do. They’ll contact us and say, ‘Hey, there’s this cool new thing. I think you might like it.’”
Cline also appreciates Chloe Winston’s boundaries. “It’s striking the right balance and not being too over the top. It’s not: ‘Let me come into your office once a month for new product shows.’ It’s them just being available and knowing when to ping us. We have some clients who will order things sight unseen. Some have to see everything in person, so it’s very valuable when that physical retail exists.”
Seeking out smaller companies
Like many designers, Cline relies on Visual Comfort & Co. as a go-to vendor and frequently buys from Hudson Valley Lighting Group. Together, she calls them “excellent starting points.”
But, she says, “I love companies like Lostine … and, then again, it depends on the project type. When we have more of a coastal project, Palecek is a lovely source. My favorite thing is finding a very small company that’s new to the scene that does a great light, like Huey Lightshop, for example. They have great fixtures. We’ve also sourced a bunch from Lightwork Design Co. — Michael Schley in Massachusetts. I love his work.”
Favorite lighting tricks
Given her background in architecture, Cline is personally drawn to “understated architectural lighting.”
“I have an appreciation for patina, natural materials and things that are a little bit more timeless, rather than trend-driven,” she adds.
She also has some favorite lighting tricks.
“For example, instead of recessed lighting in the living room, let’s do really interesting but small surface mount lights,” Cline says. “Long Made Co. makes some really terrific ones. I think they add personality.”
Or, she explains, “in my own house, we had the electrician come a couple weeks ago, and he installed half-lights meant for outside or even boats, but on our stairs. They are these beautiful brass round lights. They’re on a timer, and it’s great for the kids. We don’t need a nightlight anymore, and it just feels safer. It completely changes the way our whole house feels at night. It’s really, really lovely.”
And if Cline can find a place to put a sconce, she will.
“I get made fun of for sconces,” she says. “I always want to put a sconce everywhere. It depends on what the room is and the function, but I always think a sconce finishes the space. It might be a light over art or something more dramatic in a powder bath, but I love a sconce.”
Related articles