Samantha Leigh Interiors is a Brisbane-based design studio specialising in hospitality, both residential and commercial projects. With a portfolio that includes hospitality spaces at Howard Smith Wharves—such as Stan’s, Stanley, and Mr Percival’s—the studio creates spaces that shape how people connect, dine, and enjoy their surroundings.
Led by the principal and director, Samantha Leigh, the team takes a thoughtful and collaborative approach to design, revealing a unique story with each space through charismatic details, sophisticated styling, and creative vision.
Lighting plays a key role in this process, and Samantha has incorporated NEOZ cordless table lamps, including the Victoria, into her designs to achieve a balance of ambience and functionality.
What role does lighting play in a space?
The right lighting choices can completely transform the feel of a room, especially in hospitality settings where venues transition from day to night. This is a fundamental aspect of design and, in my opinion, can truly make or break a space.
At what stage in your design process do you start considering lighting, and how does it guide your overall vision?
Whether for a residential or hospitality project, lighting is one of the first elements we consider. We start by assessing natural light, as it often directly influences the spatial layout and helps guide placement. Once we establish the layout, we start to put together the concept and mood boards, which always include the lighting direction and the mood we want to create.
What key factors guide your choice of lighting — both in terms of practicality and aesthetics?
I believe that practicality and aesthetics should work hand in hand. From a practical standpoint, all lights must be dimmable and provide warm light in all patron-facing areas. No matter how beautiful a fixture is, if it doesn’t meet those two basic principles, it’s out.
In hospitality projects, ease of use for staff and durability are also key factors, particularly for lights positioned within reach of guests.
From an aesthetic perspective, I always start by considering the mood and the story I want to create. This naturally guides the selection of appropriate lighting for the design. I also love designing custom lighting, and we’re fortunate to collaborate closely with a talented lighting designer to create bespoke fixtures for many of our projects.
Are there certain qualities you look for that tell you space has ‘got it right’?
For me, it all comes back to the overall feeling. The right lighting isn’t always something you can identify immediately, but you feel it from the moment you walk into a venue. It’s warm, inviting, and layered with multiple light sources at different levels. It creates an atmosphere and enhances the overall experience, making you feel great.
What drew you to the Victoria Cordless Lamp in particular?
NEOZ is always our go-to for portable table lamps due to their dimming capability and ease of charging. I’m often drawn to soft-shade light fixtures, especially for table lamps in dining areas, as the warm glow they create is much more flattering.
The ability to customise the shade on the Victoria lamp was a major drawcard, allowing us to add our touch. The base of the Victoria lamp strikes a balance between classic and modern, and as a lover of detail, the leather-stitched sleeve adds an extra layer of refinement that works beautifully.
You can see more of Samantha’s work on her website.
