Maker's Mark Distillery Entryway

Design One Lighting Design was brought onto the entry vestibule project at the Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, KY to oversee the architectural lighting design and controls. The goal of the the large entryway was to create a transient space that blends the natural surroundings of the estate with the heritage and craft of the distillery, guiding guests along their visit. One wall comprises floor-to-ceiling windows with stained glasswork depicting plants, butterflies, and ornamental patterns; while the opposite wall displays historic vessels and implements in custom wooden cabinets.  The end result speaks for itself, an enthralling and elegant introduction to the distillery, setting the tone for guests' visits.

The concept was to support the beautiful carpentry and stained glasswork, to create a welcoming ambience and functional illumination. Downlights softly guide the pathway through the room, while monopoint art lights draw attention to the items inside the walnut cabinetry and brightly illuminated the mantle-top portrait of co-founder Margie Mattingly Samuels. During the day, the natural light shining through the stained glass artwork casts colored shadows, giving the entire room a mosaic-like effect. At dusk and into night, the electric light works in reverse, backlighting the glass images to be seen from around the estate.

In the design process our partner Lumber and Light used the sophisticated 3D engine UnReal to make gorgeous walk throughs rendering the desired look and feel of the space, which were a fantastic tool in communication between design team members and with the client.

Casambi controls were chosen for their compact size and ability to function remotely. The constrained spaces at the distillery meant there was no room to place the lighting controls on a separate rack away from the main space, a challenge which Casambi was able to overcome thanks to the compact form of the modules.