How to Use Lighting in Your Kitchen

With insight from Lorri Hicks Cazenave of HC Interior Design 

We recently walked a few doors down from our showroom to meet Lorri of Hicks Cazenave Interior Design to discuss how to use lighting in the kitchen. Her studio is filled with funky ceramics and mixed patterned textiles. 

Inside the studio at HC Interior Design
Photographed byVivian Johnson, Styled by Leila Nichols

Lorri has been designing interiors for over two decades, creating spaces that feel effortless yet deeply considered — the sort of rooms you want to live in, not just look at. Her approach blends practical function with a clear sense of mood, always with an eye for the unexpected.

At MMclay, we’re familiar with the tableware inside kitchen cabinets. Since 2009, we’ve been hand‑crafting ceramics in our San Francisco studio, always thinking about how the objects in a kitchen contribute to the dining experience. 

As we prepare to launch our new lighting collection, we want to explore how lighting affects the dining experience and kitchen. We turned to Lorri for her expertise. 

She shared a story that perfectly captures her philosophy: 

“I had a client who always kept a table lamp in the kitchen for that soft, moody glow in the evenings — something her whole family had done for generations. I loved that it wasn’t just about the light itself, but about creating a feeling everyone naturally gravitated toward.”

The most important part of lighting is about the atmosphere and how a space makes you feel. We’ll look at how to do that by varying your light sources, mixing materials, and personalizing your space. 

Vary Your Light Source 

“In design, we’re always layering - textures, patterns, colour - and lighting is part of that,” Lorri says. “It’s the finishing touch, the piece that can make a space hum or fall flat. Without good lighting, you can’t really feel at home in a room.”

Layering can mean mixing different light sources like overhead lighting or tabletop lamps. This mix gives you options. Bright light for cooking and dim, cozy light for a dinner party. A natural source of light, like a candle, is also a nice addition. 

Not every kitchen needs recessed lighting. Lorri notes that “you can make a kitchen useful without it” if you layer strategically. This might mean combining table lamps, sconces, or pendants, so you’re never stuck with one harsh overhead source. 

Mixing Textures and Patterns

Lorri loves how ceramics bring depth to a kitchen’s light. 

“Ceramics integrate a lovely style and hue of light. When you’re stocking a kitchen with beautiful ceramic vessels and things that have a sense of place, it’s lovely to also have that integrated into the lighting.” 

Mixing materials like ceramics, metals, wood, and textiles keeps the space visually interesting. Don’t overlook the lampshade! “A lampshade is an opportunity - swap it for a fabric with a bold print, or add fringe or tassels to balance the simplicity of a ceramic base.”

Personalize Your Lighting 

Lorri’s final tip for making your kitchen’s lighting and decor feel uniquely yours is to trust your gut. When it comes to mixing patterns, textures, and fixtures, there’s no single right answer. Choose what feels good to you. And if you’re not sure where to start? “That’s where a designer comes in — someone who can see the bigger picture, edit your ideas, and make sure you end up with a space that feels like yours, only better.”