MANY homeowners and developers are now paying attention to lighting design and its ability to transform space. With various techniques and right fixtures, lighting can enhance sculptures, illuminate a work area or light up a work setting.

Miramar Realty tasked young interior designer Pamela Agabin to decorate and light up a 75-sq m two-bedroom condominium at One McKinley, Bonifacio Global City.

Agabin is the assistant of Japanese lighting designer Shoko Matsumoto, well-known for her theatrical lighting.

Typical of a condo-for-rent, the color scheme is neutral, with accents of khaki and olive. The furniture combines tanguile and metal accents. The fabric is textured?lots of brushed cotton upholstery, burlap drapes to block the sunlight, and for contrast, the shine of polyester to line padded cabinets.

A built-in bedframe with floating drawers, shelves and audio-visual storage is stained in oak. For the den, an accent wall is striped to disguise the fact that it is gypsum. The space is comfortably furnished with a sofa bed and an ottoman that doubles as coffee table.

The place is filled with artworks by Kiko Escora, Marcel Antonio, Fred Liongoren, Manny Garibay and Michael Cacnio. For a touch of wit, Agabin uses the cover of an Ang Kiukok book as substitute for painting display.

At night, the condo becomes more interesting as the designer uses a variety of light sources to create a comfortable glow.

Agabin conceptualizes the lighting design the way a lighting designer would light up a play or a dance. She imagines the various activities and shifting moods.

For the general area, she uses several lighting sources to welcome visitors, including accent lighting to enhance artworks. The gentle ambient illumination lends comfort and ease.

To create mood in the seating area, track lights not only draw the eye to the focal point?Egay Fernandez?s abstraction?but also draw attention to central illumination. The light from above is balanced by an uplight on the floor.

The den has layer lighting for all activities, such as a desk lamp for working and pin lights for mood.

To create drama in the bedroom, no overhead lighting is used to avoid a harsh glare. Instead, a narrow beam of downlight outlines the bedframe and creates a floating effect. A strong pendant lamp creates intimacy in a bedroom corner, while the cabinet and shelf areas are gently illuminated by pin lights.

?Space is wasted with flat lighting. I wanted to give the space some depth,? says Agabin.