My Story
I’m Michael Bamling, and I’ve spent my life thinking about light—not just in terms of fixtures and fittings, but in how it shapes the way we feel in a space. My journey into lighting design wasn’t a straight path; it was a progression of experiences that shaped my understanding of how light works on a deeper level.
With a background in construction, electrical installation, and design, I’ve worked in the industry for decades, but I always felt something was missing from the way lighting was approached. Too often, it was an afterthought—an exercise in function rather than feeling.
I knew there was a different way. Light has the power to transform a space, to create atmosphere, to guide emotions. I started to notice the way great restaurants use lighting to make a dining experience feel intimate. How galleries draw attention to art through precise illumination. How a well-lit home feels warm and inviting, while poor lighting leaves it feeling lifeless.
Over time, I realized that what I was doing wasn’t just about lighting—it was about storytelling through light. That’s how Chiaroscuro Lighting was born.
Imagining Chiaroscuro Lighting
Chiaroscuro isn’t just a name—it’s a philosophy. It’s a technique used by artists and cinematographers to create contrast, depth, and drama. But beyond that, it’s about emotion. It’s about the way light and shadow work together to shape an experience.
I founded Chiaroscuro Lighting with one goal: to design lighting that does more than just illuminate—it enhances the way people feel in a space. My work is guided by a simple principle: light should be felt, not just seen.
The Chiaroscuro Approach
Every space has a rhythm, a mood, a purpose. My role is to bring that to life through carefully considered lighting design. I don’t believe in just filling a room with brightness for the sake of it. Instead, I focus on balance—where light falls, where shadows deepen, and how that interplay creates warmth, intimacy, and drama.
When I design a lighting scheme, I think about:
The Journey Through the Space – Where do you pause? Where do you move? What should be revealed, and what should be left in mystery?
The Feeling of the Room – Does it need to feel calm? Inviting? Theatrical? Serene? Light plays a huge role in shaping that.
The Changing of Light Over Time – Spaces don’t stay the same from morning to night. I design lighting that evolves with the day, creating different moods at different times.
Whether it’s a home, a restaurant, a hotel, or an art gallery, the goal is always the same: to create an emotional connection through lighting.
Why We’re at the Forefront of Emotional Lighting Design
Lighting has always been about more than just brightness—but today, we have more tools than ever to make lighting an intuitive, evolving experience. At Chiaroscuro Lighting, we combine the art of lighting design with the science of smart control, giving our clients effortless mood-setting as standard.
We design lighting that tells a story—balancing light and shadow for maximum impact.
We curate atmospheres, not just layouts—guiding emotions through considered lighting layers.
We use scene-setting technology to ensure lighting adapts to time, activity, and mood.
This isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about how a space makes you feel. It’s about warmth, contrast, movement, and depth.
For me, lighting is an art form. It’s about shaping experiences, creating moments, and making sure that when you step into a space, you don’t just see the light—you feel it.
That’s why I started Chiaroscuro Lighting. And that’s why I love what I do.
Let’s begin your story to create something unforgettable.
