Martin Sunday Designs
Martin Sunday Designs is a Houston-headquartered architectural lighting design firm founded around 1985, providing custom residential, commercial, and hospitality lighting design services across Texas and select U.S. and international markets via a partnership-driven, project-based professional services model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Martin Sunday Designs does
Martin Sunday Designs (operating as Martin Sunday Lighting Design) is a Houston-headquartered architectural lighting design firm founded around 1985 by Martin Sunday. The company provides custom lighting design services across three core verticals: luxury residential (new builds, remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, and specialty spaces), commercial (corporate offices, healthcare facilities, art galleries, retail, and mixed-use), and hospitality (restaurants, hotels, and guest venues). Its work combines layered lighting plans integrating ambient, task, and accent lighting with technical execution, including fiber-optic installations, color-changing light systems, Lutron control panel programming, and specialized art and architectural feature illumination.
The firm operates on a consultative, project-based professional services model with quote-based pricing tied to project scope and complexity. Go-to-market is sales-led and partnership-driven: the firm cultivates a formal three-tier referral network of custom home builders (e.g., Goodman Even, Pierce Built Homes, Citi View Homes), architecture firms (e.g., Arc Three, Newberry Architecture, Collaborative Design Group), and interior designers (e.g., Sensitori, Mann Design, Dusenbury Design), and engages clients through direct consultations and site visits. Its geographic footprint is anchored in Texas (Houston, Austin, Dallas as primary; San Antonio and Fort Worth as secondary) with selective project work in Colorado, Nevada, California, Florida, Canada, and Mexico.
The business is founder-led and privately held, with no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. The current team comprises four professionals: founder/CEO Martin Sunday (40+ years of industry experience), COO Stathis Kafoglis (joined August 2021 to lead operations and business development), Project Designer Chela Canady (Interior Architectural Design background), and Junior Lighting Designer Priyanshi Singh (Electronics and Communication Engineering background). Notable project work includes the Bentwater Residential estate (9,000 sqft with 72 individually controlled color-changing light boxes), multiple Houston restaurants including Grace's and Annabelle's, and gallery lighting for Art of the World.
Martin Sunday Designs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Martin Sunday Designs
- Legal name
- Martin Sunday Lighting Design
- Website
- https://martinsundaydesigns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Martin Sunday Designs is a Houston-headquartered architectural lighting design firm founded around 1985, providing custom residential, commercial, and hospitality lighting design services across Texas and select U.S. and international markets via a partnership-driven, project-based professional services model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Martin Sunday Designs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural Lighting Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
Keywords
Where Martin Sunday Designs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Martin Sunday Designs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Residential Lighting Design Services: Custom lighting design services for private residences including new builds, remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, closets, cabinetry, and garages
- Commercial Lighting Design Services: Lighting plans for corporate offices, healthcare facilities, art galleries, retail spaces, and mixed-use environments
- Hospitality Lighting Design Services: Expert lighting design for restaurants, hotels, and hospitality venues creating memorable guest experiences through carefully layered illumination
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Martin Sunday Designs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Martin Sunday Designs is an architectural lighting design firm that creates custom, layered lighting plans for residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces. The firm combines artistic vision with technical precision, working with clients from concept through installation and post-project adjustments to deliver fixtures selection, placement, scene-setting controls, and integration with systems such as Lutron.
Product overview
Martin Sunday Lighting Design offers architectural lighting design as a unified service practice rather than a software product platform. The company provides three core service lines—Residential Lighting Design, Commercial Lighting Design, and Hospitality Lighting Design—supplemented by Builder Collaboration and Architect & Design Partnership services. Projects span restaurants (Grace's, Annabelle's), luxury residences (River Oaks, Bentwater with 72 color-controlled light boxes), galleries (Art of the World), and retail boutiques (Crane's Dress), demonstrating specialized expertise across space types. The offerings are service-based, not modular software products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Lighting Design
- Commercial Lighting Design
- Hospitality Lighting Design
- Custom Builder Collaboration
- Architect & Design Partnership Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Four decades (40+ years) of continuous operation and expertise
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Martin Sunday Designs
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Martin Sunday Designs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
Martin Sunday Designs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Goodman EvencoreCustom home builder partnership. Goodman Even collaborates with Martin Sunday on residential lighting design projects, with Steven Goodman of Goodman Even Builders having worked on the Upscale Entertainment Home project completed in 2021.
- Pierce Built HomescoreCustom home builder partner featured on the Our Partners - Custom Builders page, collaborating on residential lighting design integration.
- Citi View HomescoreCustom home builder partner featured on the Our Partners - Custom Builders page, working on residential lighting design coordination.
- Arc ThreecoreArchitecture firm partner featured on the Our Partners - Architects page, collaborating on architectural lighting integration projects.
- Newberry ArchitecturecoreArchitecture firm partner with Kenneth A. Newberry as Founder. Multiple testimonials support successful partnership history. Featured on Our Partners - Architects page.
- Collaborative Design GroupcoreArchitecture firm partner featured on the Our Partners - Architects page, collaborating on design projects.
- SensitoricoreInterior design firm partner featured on the Our Partners - Interior Designers page, working on residential lighting design projects.
- Mann DesigncoreInterior design firm partner featured on the Our Partners - Interior Designers page, collaborating on design projects.
- Dusenbury DesigncoreInterior design firm partner featured on the Our Partners - Interior Designers page, working on residential lighting design coordination.
- C & H American Systems (Alex Cisne)minorBuilder for Bentwater Residential project - a 9,000 sqft luxury home with custom fiber-optic and color-changing lighting systems.
- Steven Goodman (Goodman Even Builders)minorBuilder for Upscale Entertainment Home project (completed 2021), collaborating on contemporary home lighting design with custom recessed fixtures.
- Eubanks ArchitectsminorArchitect and interior designer for Grace's Restaurant (2014), working on restaurant lighting design on Kirby Drive in Houston.
- Mission ConstructorsminorBuilder for Grace's Restaurant project (2014), collaborating on restaurant lighting installation.
- Mirador ArchitectsminorArchitect for Marimon Penthouse project, collaborating on contemporary lighting design with linear recessed troughs.
- Stolz PartnersminorBuilder for Marimon Penthouse project, working on innovative ceiling lighting installation.
- Lucia HarnessminorInterior designer for Marimon Penthouse project, collaborating on lighting and interior design coordination.
- Purple Sage ConstructionminorBuilder for Pirate's Cove Beach House new construction project, working on high ceiling accent lighting design.
- William StubbsminorInterior designer for Pirate's Cove Beach House project, collaborating on beach house lighting layout.
- Russell King of King ResidentialminorArchitect for Residential Art Collection project, working on art lighting design for colorful glass and artwork.
- Margie KingminorInterior designer for Residential Art Collection project, collaborating on art collection lighting adjustments.
- Lehman ConstructionminorBuilder for Holloway Residence project, working on art collection lighting and backyard accent lighting.
- Bob HerolzminorArchitect for Blocker Penthouse project, collaborating on priceless art collection illumination with innovative solutions for concrete ceilings.
- Creative Property RestorationminorBuilder for Blocker Penthouse project, working on innovative lighting installation for concrete ceiling constraints.
- Janne Williams (Ins & Outs)minorInterior designer for Upscale Entertainment Home project, providing exceptional interiors that served as palette for lighting design.
- Richard HussmanminorArchitect for Bentwater Residential project, collaborating on 9,000 sqft luxury home lighting over 4-year period.
- Caron LaMayminorInterior designer for Bentwater Residential project, collaborating on extensive custom lighting system including 72 color-controlled light boxes.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Martin Sunday Designs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Available Light: Available Light is a US-based architectural lighting design firm serving commercial, cultural, and residential projects. Comparable to Martin Sunday in service scope and project-based fee model.
- Lighting Design Alliance (LDA): LDA is a Southern California-based architectural lighting design consultancy serving commercial, hospitality, and residential projects. Comparable to Martin Sunday Designs in service breadth and project-based consulting model.
- Oculus Light Studio: Oculus Light Studio is a North American architectural lighting design firm serving residential, hospitality, and commercial clients. Direct peer to Martin Sunday in luxury segment focus and design consulting model.
- CM Kling + Associates: CM Kling is an architectural lighting design firm with offices in multiple US cities serving residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. Comparable to Martin Sunday in luxury market positioning and project types.
- George Sexton Associates: George Sexton Associates is a Washington DC-based architectural lighting design firm specializing in museums, galleries, and high-end commercial projects. Comparable to Martin Sunday in service model and design-led approach.
- Focus Lighting: Focus Lighting is a New York-based lighting design firm specializing in architectural, theatrical, and decorative lighting for commercial, hospitality, and residential clients. Comparable to Martin Sunday in luxury hospitality and high-end residential focus.
- Kaplan Gehring McCarroll (KGM): KGM is an architectural lighting design firm specializing in luxury residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. Direct peer to Martin Sunday in target customer and custom design service model.
- One Lux Studio: One Lux Studio is a New York-based architectural lighting design firm serving residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. It is a direct peer to Martin Sunday Designs in scope, service model, and luxury market positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design (HLB): HLB is a large, multi-office architectural lighting design firm serving high-end commercial, civic, and hospitality projects across the US. Comparable to Martin Sunday in core service but with broader scale, geographic footprint, and institutional project focus.
Others
- Lutron Electronics: Lutron is a leading manufacturer of lighting control systems and shading solutions. Martin Sunday Designs integrates and programs Lutron control panels as part of its design services, making Lutron a key supplier/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Martin Sunday Designs social profiles
Digital presenceMartin Sunday Designs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Martin Sunday Designs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Martin Sunday Designs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Martin Sunday Designs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Martin Sunday Designs
What does Martin Sunday Designs do?
Martin Sunday Designs is an architectural lighting design firm that creates custom, layered lighting plans for residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces. The firm combines artistic vision with technical precision, working with clients from concept through installation and post-project adjustments to deliver fixtures selection, placement, scene-setting controls, and integration with systems such as Lutron.
Is Martin Sunday Designs a public or private company?
Martin Sunday Designs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Martin Sunday Designs founded?
Martin Sunday Designs was founded in 1985. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Martin Sunday Designs based?
Martin Sunday Designs is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Martin Sunday Designs make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Residential Lighting Design Services are the primary driver. The others are commercial Lighting Design Services and hospitality Lighting Design Services.
Who are Martin Sunday Designs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Available Light, Lighting Design Alliance (LDA), Oculus Light Studio, CM Kling + Associates, George Sexton Associates, Focus Lighting, Kaplan Gehring McCarroll (KGM) and One Lux Studio. Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design (HLB) is listed as a broad incumbent. Lutron Electronics is listed as an others.
Does Martin Sunday Designs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Martin Sunday Designs.
What industry is Martin Sunday Designs in?
Martin Sunday Designs's product category is Architectural Lighting Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAJ, Lighting Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services. Its NAICS code is 54131.