Final collection • In 9 active carts right now • 412 left
Desmond's Light Painting
Desmond's Light Painting
Dispatched within 1–2 business days
90-day money-back guarantee
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Desmond's Light Painting
Hand-drawn in Fremantle, WA · Final collection
Desmond’s Light Painting
Around 412 left · then the studio closes
“People don’t fall in love with a house.
They fall in love with the light in it.” – Desmond
40
years as an architect in Perth
1,100
houses drawn by hand
3
rooms, 3 kinds of sunlight
Made by hand under a house in Fremantle, WA
For forty years, Desmond Quayle drew houses for families all over Perth. Before he drew a single wall, he always drew one thing first: where the four o’clock sun would fall across the living room floor.
When he retired in 2017, he kept drawing rooms, just for himself. One June evening he put a small light behind one of the drawings, and the sun came in. Since then he has drawn, framed and wired more than 2,000 of these little rooms in the studio under his house, one at a time.
Now his drawing hand trembles, and nobody is taking over. What is on his shelves is the last of them.
– Jaz, Desmond’s granddaughter
What arrives at your door
- One light painting in a light natural wood frame, 23 × 17 cm, in the room you choose
- The USB cable with its own switch, already attached: on/off, brighter, dimmer and the light mode
- Ready to use: plug it into any USB charger, power board or laptop
- No batteries, no bulbs, no app, nothing to assemble
The three rooms of the final collection
Room 1
Beach Room
A living room with tall windows onto palm trees and a turquoise sea. Desmond drew it after forty summers at Cottesloe. The sun falls across the rug and the low coffee table.
Room 2
Reading Corner
The quiet corner of his own studio: an armchair, a floor lamp and a glass door onto the trees. Switched on, the shadow of a tree appears on the wall.
Room 3
Living Room with Dog
A family room with a big sofa, a ceiling fan and a little dog asleep on the rug, right where a long band of afternoon sun falls.
Six things that make it Desmond’s
NO. 01
Drawn like a house plan
Fine black ink, true perspective, every line where an architect would put it. In daylight it is a drawing you can look at for a long time.
NO. 02
The sun comes in
Switched on, the light falls only where the sun would: through the windows, across the floorboards, over a chair. The rest of the room stays cool and blue-grey.
NO. 03
Three kinds of light
A cool morning, a bright afternoon and a warm golden sunset. One button changes the time of day.
NO. 04
Nine brightness levels
From a soft glow for the bedside table to a bright little room for a dark hallway or a winter afternoon.
NO. 05
No flame, no heat, no batteries
It runs on USB and stays cool to the touch, so it can stay on all evening next to a curtain, a cat or a stack of books.
NO. 06
The very last of them
Around 412 are left from Desmond’s final collection. When they are gone, the studio stays closed.
Morning, afternoon or sunset
Morning
Cool white, fresh and clear
Afternoon
Neutral, bright and sunny
Sunset
Warm golden evening light
How to use it:
- Stand it on a shelf or a bedside table, or hang it on the wall.
- Plug the USB end into a charger, a power board or a laptop.
- Press the power button, then the arrow button to choose the light and plus or minus for the brightness.
How people use theirs
Many customers switch it on when the lamps go off in the evening and let the little room glow while they read or wind down. Others leave it on the windowsill of a room that never gets real sun. And quite a few buy a second one for a parent or grandparent who can’t get outside much anymore.
Desmond’s light painting vs. the light-up frames online
| Desmond’s | Mass-produced | |
|---|---|---|
| The drawing | Drawn by hand by an architect | Printed in bulk |
| Where the light falls | Placed like real sunlight | Even glow behind everything |
| Who checks it | Desmond, one at a time | Nobody you will ever meet |
| Guarantee | 90 days, money back | Often none |
| Availability | Around 412, then never again | Unlimited |
Questions people ask Jaz
Does it need batteries?
No. It runs on the USB cable. Plug it into any USB wall charger, a power board with a USB port, a computer or a power bank.
Is a power adapter included?
The cable ends in a standard USB plug. Most people use a phone charger they already have. A power adapter is not part of the package.
Can I hang it on the wall?
Yes. It stands on its own on a shelf or bedside table, and it can hang on a wall. The cable runs down from the lower edge, so a spot near a power point is easiest.
Does it get warm?
No. The LEDs stay cool, even after a whole evening. That’s why so many people use it in a bedroom or a nursing home room.
Which room should I give as a present?
For someone who misses the beach, the Beach Room. For a reader, the Reading Corner. For dog lovers and families, the Living Room with Dog. Desmond says you can’t go wrong: “They all have the same sun.”
Will there be more later?
No. Desmond’s studio closes before Christmas. We ship for as long as pictures are left on his shelves, until 31 December at the latest.
Desmond’s 90-day money-back guarantee
Put it on your bedside table, switch it on in the dark and live with it for a while. If it doesn’t make your room feel sunnier, send it back within 90 days and get your money back. No questions asked.
Dispatched within 1–2 business days.
Care & use
Dust the frame and the front with a soft, dry cloth. Keep it away from water and don’t use it outdoors or in the bathroom. Unplug it if you go away for a longer time. Don’t open the frame; there is nothing inside that needs changing.
Product details
| Size | 23 × 17 cm (9.1 × 6.7 inches) |
| Frame | Light natural wood |
| Rooms | Beach Room, Reading Corner, Living Room with Dog |
| Light | LED, 3 colour modes (Morning, Afternoon, Sunset), 9 brightness levels |
| Power | USB cable with inline switch (power adapter not included) |
| Display | Stands on its own or hangs on the wall |
| Made by | Desmond Quayle, Fremantle, WA |
| Shipping | Dispatched within 1–2 business days |
| Guarantee | 90 days, money back |
The Final Series
The Final Series
Some things are made by one pair of hands, for decades, and then never again.
The Final Series is the last work of craftspeople who are putting down their tools. No factory, no successor, no second batch.
Just the final pieces from their workshops, each one shaped by a lifetime of getting it right.
When they're gone, they're gone.
Free Shipping Australia-wide
Free Shipping Australia-wide
Free shipping Australia-wide
- Dispatched within 1–2 business days, with tracking
- Every light painting is packed by hand by Desmond’s grandkids Jaz and Lachie
- Each light painting: 23 × 17 cm, light natural timber frame, USB cable with inline switch (power adapter not included)
- 3 light modes, 9 brightness levels, stands or hangs
- 90-day money-back guarantee — just email info@backroad-goods.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Email us anytime at info@backroad-goods.com. We answer Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 10am–3pm (AEST) — whether it’s about your order, a present, or just to say g’day to Desmond.
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. 90-day money-back guarantee. Put it on your bedside table and live with it for a while, and if it simply isn’t right for you, email info@backroad-goods.com within 90 days for a full refund. No questions asked.