Montauk-based, Lumi Design is a prominent player in the high-end audiovisual industry in the Hamptons. As an authorized Lutron dealer, they specialize in integrating lighting control, shades, sound systems, home theaters, and more. The company is known for its professionalism, sophisticated aesthetic, and attention to detail. Founder Mike Lumi, an expert in audiovisual technology and lighting and an artist and surfer, brings over 25 years of experience in luxury audiovisual systems. In his earlier career, Lumi worked as a fine art printer for renowned artists such as Tom Wesselmann, Damien Hirst, and Keith Haring. His sharp eye for color and light seamlessly translated into creating elegant home atmospheres. Lumi’s interest in Montauk’s waves led him to establish Lumi Design in the early 1990s, fusing artistic vision with technical expertise to enhance the upscale local market.
What inspired you to transition from fine art printing to the AV and lighting industry, and how did your background influence Lumi Design’s approach to lighting?
I happened to be out to dinner with my older brother and one of his friends who owned an AV company up close to the city. At the time, I was spending every spare moment I had chasing surf and was concerned about the exposure to all the chemicals in the business and their long-term effects. During the dinner conversation, I explained the details of the business and that it may not be the right career path for me, but it was very exciting to be a part of it.
My brother’s friend offered me a job on the spot and introduced me to the AV business. That was over 25 years ago, and we are still in touch to this day. In those early days, we were just getting into lighting control, and Lutron had recently released their line of automated shades, so most of the work was about delivering high-end audio and video solutions and coming up with creative ways to control those systems. LED lighting and being able to control those systems from your phone were faint blips on the horizon but were approaching quickly.
It wasn’t really until the 2010s, when we started seeing some reliable, high-quality LEDs that I was able to draw on my past experiences in the art world. At that time, our industry was tasked with controlling the light, which was very challenging as the LEDs had yet to reach acceptable dimming performance. In my opinion, that involvement opened the door to being a part of the process at an earlier stage than in the past.
How did your experience as a fine art printer for master artists like Tom Wesselmann, Damien Hirst, and Keith Haring shape your design aesthetic and eye for detail in lighting projects?
As a fine art printer, our job was to replicate the work of the artist and create a piece that would do justice to the original maquette. My father was a master printer, and he taught me how to work with color and light to create the most valuable outcomes. It is a craft that can be honed, and as I worked on the art of some of the greatest artists of that time, I was able to understand the subtlety of working with light and color.
Even the smallest shift can create a huge change. I learned how to focus on detail and perfection, which are all necessary skills when working on visual projects. When you think about it, creating the environment for the interior or outdoor areas of your home has some of the same visual demands as creating the colors of a screen print or painting. It is all about color and light, just in a different format.
The first time it clicked for me was when we brought a proof into Tom’s studio in Cooper Square, and he tacked it on the wall and was disappointed with the colors. They quickly realized Tom had changed the lights in the studio, so we had to match those in our studio. Tom trusted my dad to make the adjustment and run the edition, and he signed it B.A.T. After that, I started noticing how museums and galleries were lighting their pieces, so when I became involved in the lighting control process, those experiences became helpful in certain situations.
What a fascinating journey! How does Lumi Design ensure seamless integration of lighting control, sound systems, and home-theatre solutions in luxury homes?
Let me say that integrating AV systems with automation systems is never 100 percent seamless. There are some very stable systems out there that work very well, and I think the key to that is choosing equipment that delivers on every level — reliable and not in an alpha stage of software development. Companies like Lutron make this part of the business easy because they offer elegant solutions that always work and have excellent support. Integrating everything into a touchscreen on the wall never impressed me.
At the tradeshows where dealers were fawning over the latest software or a new remote for your TV, I found myself disinterested in those presentations. The craftsmanship of high-end speakers and lighting always got my attention ahead of the automation companies. The priority should always be on the quality of the speakers and lighting in my world, with the control end being designed as simply as possible using the most reliable platform at the time of design.
The physical end of it is interesting to me — what a keypad looks like, how the button feels when I turn on the lights, and the material that it is made of deserves attention. Something I am going to touch and see every day is something that I think is important, and the industry has come a long way in that area. There are some beautiful options out there.
What aspects of Lumi Design’s services do clients appreciate the most, and how do you maintain such a high level of responsiveness?
I think my clients appreciate that they always get my honest opinion. I like to think I have a good sense of style and approach every project as if it were my own home. I work hard to develop a personal relationship with my clients so that I can guide them to create an environment that suits their unique style and taste levels.
The architecture on display in the Hamptons is impressive, and being able to appreciate that craft and having enthusiasm for being able to contribute to the end product is noticed and appreciated.
I’m also a bit of an audiophile, and people say I have an amazing ear. So, when it comes to music and sound, I have great insight on how to place the audio to create the best acoustics to work with the unique experience of each interior and outdoor space.
I also try to keep the user experience as simple as possible. The biggest concern I hear from people is that their AV is too complicated. In my perfect world, I prefer simple, elegant, and easy-to-use product lines.
Being based in Montauk gives us an advantage since many of the other AV firms are based further west or even in NYC. I live locally in Montauk year-round. This allows me to service the Hamptons market more efficiently since my travel time is minimal and my crew can be available in case of client emergencies, which often occur outside of the 9-to-5 working day.
As Lutron dealers, how do you leverage their technology to enhance both interior and landscape lighting for your clients?
As I said before, Lutron makes it easy for us. The craftsmanship of their products and level of support are the best in the business, so it’s the only lighting control company I deal with. One impressive thing about the company is that they keep improving their products. Not only are they excellent, but they consistently find a way to get better. I can rest easy when I know that level of support is behind me and our clients are happy.
Can you share an example of a particularly challenging or unique project in the Hamptons that showcased Lumi Design’s expertise in AV integration?
Well, the latest challenge was delivering the sound for Olie Benz’s Disco Caviar Party, hosted by Alix Earle, a TikTok influencer, on a boat where John Summit was a special guest DJ, and they played a really special set together. We use K-Array systems, so while working on a boat can be challenging, it’s easy when you have the best-sounding speakers in the world in your pocket. Made in Italy, the K-Array gear is not only beautiful but also delivers a clear, full sound that I have yet to experience from another manufacturer. It’s mind-blowing stuff, almost like a Wizard of Oz moment when the world turns to color for Dorothy when you hear them for the first time. I can’t wait for the next one!
How has your love for surfing and the Montauk lifestyle influenced your approach to designing and installing lighting systems?
Surfing has always been the driving factor. To live and work in a place that offers both a fulfilling career and living with good people around you who all have a common lifestyle geared toward the ocean. The Hamptons has always been hailed for its amazing beauty and natural light. Artists have flocked here to work with that light. Being a surfer and living in Montauk, I have the gift of spending time year-round, either in the ocean or bay, or gazing at the sunrise, the sunset reflecting off the water, the ever-changing skies, and all of the natural beauty that surrounds me at all times. It is so inspirational.
I take the natural palette of the outdoors and try to help my clients replicate that within their homes so their homes can blend with the beauty of the environment and also complement it to enhance both their inner and outdoor living spaces. In February, my wife, daughter, and I take a break to Costa Rica, a remote part of the country that offers no electrical infrastructure or town but has some homes to rent by the ocean where one can surf, do yoga, and just be immersed in the jungle. Occasionally, we have been able to stay for a month, and that’s the real connection to the whole thing. After a month of living in the jungle, not driving a car, and walking a dirt path to surf every day, I realized how out of whack my body was coming from New York. Down there, the sun sets at 6 PM and rises at 6 AM, and the jungle acts accordingly. After a week in that environment, you start to shed New York and become just another jungle creature. After a month, you are in tune with the earth and its movement, and that’s the correlation.
Ketra is a lighting system that can mimic the color temperature of the sun throughout the day. Your body notices this and adjusts accordingly. The Swedes have been up to this for a long time. Up by the Arctic Circle, they go to work and come home in the dark for a good portion of the year. Many of the workplaces are filled with lighting that matches the color temperature of the noonday sun. When home, many people move to a candlelight situation with white, clean walls that have high reflectivity and create a simulated lighting rhythm closer to lower latitude. To be able to highlight art with the same system and deliver the highest quality light was a bonus.
What recent innovations or trends in the AV and lighting industry have you integrated into your projects to meet the needs of upscale Hamptons clients?
Ketra Lighting, as I said, is one of the newest innovations in a lighting system that can mimic the color temperature of the sun throughout the day. Your body notices this and adjusts accordingly.
Following the trend from film to television, there has been an increased demand for in-home theatre projection. My philosophy, which is becoming more mainstream as people pay more attention to wellness, is that televisions are not necessary in the bedroom or living room. A trend is starting where people are installing high-quality sound in their bedrooms and living rooms to listen to music, and they are either drawing on projection screens for when they want to watch a program, or they are building dedicated media rooms designed to be comfortable for viewing their favorite movies and shows.
And, we have the Ferrari of sound available with K-Array at our side. The latest development in marine-grade speakers lets us give our clients best-in-class fidelity while ensuring the investment won’t wither away in the harsh oceanfront elements. We can bring that fidelity inside as well with custom-fit, finish speakers to tailor any venue or residence to have the highest quality sound available.
How does Lumi Design incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into its lighting solutions and overall business operations?
This speaks to having the Lutron conversation and how the latest innovations can cut costs in infrastructure, energy use, etc. The movement toward a zero-footprint residence is an indicator that we are moving in the right direction.
What are Lumi Design’s plans for expanding or enhancing its services in the Hamptons area and beyond?
We have recently begun working with more commercial venues, providing professional-grade sound for both DJs and live music. And the best lighting to create the perfect ambiance for their indoor and outdoor spaces. We plan to ensure that every restaurant and club on the East End has the best lighting and acoustics, to impress their clientele, and to help them succeed in meeting their business goals.
We plan to stay local and focus on the East End. We will continue to work with luxury brands to provide the best-in-class service to our ideal residential clients. We prefer to work with kind, caring people, who are invested in our local communities.
To learn more, visit lumidesignmtk.com.
