What do billion-dollar developers really think about design — and where does lighting fit in?

In this episode, LytePOD host Sam Koerbel sits down with the COO of a luxury real-estate developer in New York City responsible for billions of dollars in projects. Together they unpack the owner’s perspective on budgets, design ambition, and risk — and what happens when lighting becomes the most misunderstood line item on the spreadsheet.

This candid, behind-the-scenes conversation reveals how developers make decisions, where designers lose trust, and what it takes to bridge the gap between creativity and construction reality.

💬 Topics covered:
• How developers evaluate risk, cost, and design value
• Why lighting often gets “value-engineered” — and how to prevent it
• The balance between aesthetics and ROI in high-end projects
• What guardrails and responsibilities do developers have
• How a developer can guarantee success on a project (spoiler alert: belief, conviction, and a team that adapts as the market changes)

Where Jamil works: https://www.ll-holding.com/

Where we recorded this: https://terminalwarehouse.nyc/

🎧 Listen now to learn what truly drives billion-dollar development decisions — and how lighting can become the differentiator, not the casualty.

(00:00:00) Setting the Stage: What Developers Value

(00:05:15) Jamil's Path: From Construction to COO

(00:11:45) Balancing Cost, Time, and Quality

(00:19:30) Building A Business Plan For New Development

(00:27:15) The Anatomy of a Construction Budget

(00:36:00) Managing Consultants and Contractors

(00:45:30) Choosing the Right Design Partners

(00:54:00) The Lighting Conversation

(01:05:40) Q&A, Sam Answers to Jamil's Questions

(01:40:30) Reflections and Gratitude

In this episode of the LytePOD, host Sam Koerbel sits down with master lighting designer and educator Pete Romaniello live at Lightapalooza, the premier event for custom home integrators learning to adopt lighting as a new design category.

With over 30 years of experience, Pete breaks down the fundamentals of great lighting design — from placement and purpose to ethics and education. He shares why lighting should start with the walls, not the fixtures, and how to create spaces that make people say “My house is beautiful,” not “Look at that fixture.”

If you’ve ever wondered how to bridge the gap between selling lighting and designing it well, this conversation will change the way you think about every ceiling, wall, and beam of light.

Where Pete works: https://www.conceptuallighting.com/

Where we recorded this: https://lightapalooza.com/

(00:00:00) Introduction: The Problem with Bad Lighting(00:01:45) Introduction to Pete (00:06:09) The Hunger for Lighting Knowledge in the AV Industry(00:09:41) Fundamental Principles of Lighting Design(00:22:37) Understanding Construction Limitations(00:26:30) Getting Clients Excited Without a Showroom(00:30:13) Frank Lloyd Wright and Timeless Design Principles(00:32:40) Collaboration Between Lighting Designers and Integrators(00:38:52) Closing Thoughts: Respect and Collaboration

Do details still serve design, or have they taken over? In this episode, Dan and Srushti of Lam Partners trace the history of lighting details — from Versailles to tape lights — and reveal how we arrived at today’s identity crisis in design.

They cover:

• Why don’t more products mean better work

• How culture and politics shape design choices

• The rise (and overuse) of “non-details” like slots, coves, and planes

• What today’s market trends say about the future of lighting

Straightforward, sharp, and unfiltered — this is a must-listen for anyone rethinking the role of details in modern design.

What makes a space feel truly luxurious? It’s not more fixtures or bigger budgets — it’s intentional lighting design.

In this episode of the LytePOD, host Sam sits down with Garrett Neal of NEAL Lighting to unpack why good lighting doesn’t have to be expensive, how to plan with furniture and architecture first, and why integrators should think like designers to deliver better results.

You’ll learn:

• How lighting shapes atmosphere and vibe (like music in a space)

• Why contrast, shadows, and restraint create luxury experiences

• The role of a lighting consultant in high-end residential and hospitality projects

• Practical advice for custom integrators who want to elevate their work

If you’re an integrator, architect, or designer who wants to add more value to projects — this conversation is your playbook.

LEDs were supposed to last forever. But what happens when they don’t?

Host Sam Koerbel talks with Rachel Fitzgerald (Stantec) and Andrea Wilkerson (PNNL) about a growing crisis: the lack of replaceable components in LED systems. From failing fixtures in schools and offices to flickering tubular LEDs and the fluorescent phase-out, this conversation calls for real accountability from manufacturers, reps, and the supply chain.

👉 Why listen?

• Learn why warranties aren’t enough

• Hear how schools, hospitals, and offices are struggling with maintenance

• Get the truth about Type B tubular LEDs and flicker

• Understand how “right to repair” could shape lighting’s future

This is thought leadership with a challenge: the industry must act before failures pile up.

Lighting is the biggest opportunity most integrators aren’t taking full advantage of.

In this episode, Trent Mulligan shares how reps and dealers can unlock real revenue, why luxury homes are often underlit, and why education and early involvement are the keys to making lighting work.

🎧 Listen now to hear:

• How to grow without doubling staff

• Why “bad light” is still the norm in high-end homes

• The power of getting in at the start of a project

Lighting is the fastest-growing frontier in home tech—and Brian Anderson, Rocky Settacassi, and Alex Lelch share exactly how they’re making it pay off.

From building immersive showrooms to mastering LED challenges and collaborating with designers, this episode is packed with insights for integrators, dealers, and designers ready to turn lighting into a thriving part of their business.

Whether you're just curious about lighting or ready to build a profitable new division, this conversation offers a step-by-step look at the process, challenges, and opportunities.

The hardest part of buying lighting isn’t the check - it's making sure you get what you ordered.
In one of the most eye-opening conversations we’ve had, Justin Streeb, Co-Founder and CSO of 1 LUX, breaks down the behind-the-scenes chaos of actually buying lights. With over 20 years in the industry, Justin went from designing high-end homes in Aspen to founding multiple companies that now sit at the intersection of design, distribution, and strategy.

This episode dives into why lighting procurement is so complicated, how the supply chain is fundamentally misaligned with design intent, and what it takes to build a business that truly serves both the specifier and the end client. Justin shares war stories from the 2008 recession, lessons from scaling up, and what still frustrates him about how our industry buys light.

Wondering: “why is this so hard?”, This episode will shine a light on the answer.

AI is changing design—not by replacing creativity, but by clearing space for it.

In this episode, we explore how designers can use AI to save time, improve documentation, and focus more on what matters: ideas. From writing proposals to generating marketing assets, we talk through the real ways AI fits into a design workflow—and why it’s up to creatives to shape how it’s used.

Lighting is no longer just an accessory — it’s becoming a core profit center for AV integrators. In this episode, Sam Koerbel sits down with CEDIA co-founder Tom Doherty and current CEO Daryl Friedman to explore why lighting is now a strategic focus for the custom integration industry.

They discuss:

• Why lighting represents the next big opportunity for integrators

• The challenges of adding lighting to your business model

• How CEDIA plans to educate and support its members

• What does this shift mean for the future of smart home integration

Whether you're already exploring lighting or still unsure where to start, this episode offers clarity, leadership, and insight into the future of residential technology.