Category — Home Lighting

One of the attractions inside your home is planning for your kitchen island light fixtures is one great way to have the perfect decorating feature in your kitchen. Although this is an extra work space that you can have in your kitchen, the island can also be used to showcase your kitchen and to make it look good, the light fixtures will help you present your kitchen island with beauty and usefulness. Here are some ideas on how you can have a cost effective and perfect lighting for your island.

Work with your budget

If you already have the budget for this project, stick with it and see how far you can bring the illumination and the style that you would want to have when purchasing your island light fixtures. This is the fist step that you need to make so that you can have the plan on what fixtures to buy and include the labor that might come on the installation process. Be sure that you have extra budget in case the prices of the fixtures do not fall into the original budget price.

Designs

This is another aspect that you need to look into because the elegance of your kitchen would depend on the designs of the island fixtures you may use. They do not have to be expensive, but as long as they meet the requirements and they can be placed in your kitchen island, a skilled and artful technician can do the design for you. Just make sure that the design and the color of the fixture matches or compliments the color and the design of the rest of the kitchen.

Create a Drama with the Use of Your Lighting Fixtures

There are a lot of lighting designs that you can make use of in creating a drama for your island. For one, you can choose the recessed can lighting to give your kitchen island a low level of illumination or you an also choose a track lighting which can be used as a spotlight for your island. You also need to remember that although fluorescent lamps are a cost effective choice, this is a fixture that may not suit most of the architectural design that would not contribute to the beauty that you would want in your kitchen.

The beauty of your kitchen would not depend on the lighting that you choose for your island. However, choosing the right fixture would greatly help in improving the looks of your kitchen. Just be sure that the function that you planned to have for the island is not sacrificed with the choice of lighting. You have a wide variety of kitchen island light fixtures that would give you both the functionality and the aesthetics that you need from it. It is just a matter of your choice on what you think suits the design that you have in your kitchen island.

Make your kitchen the focal point of your home, make the right Kitchen Island Light Fixtures selection to enhance your most used room.

For more kitchen lighting ideas, please visit http://www.kitchenlightingfixtures.org.

Security is on the mind of the homeowner more and more, with break-ins occurring more frequently. A smart burglar will observe a homeowner’s habits, particularly when the lights go out at night. The proper outdoor lighting can assist in deterring a potential threat, but needs to be well thought out. Outdoor lighting combined with sensitive motion sensors provides a sense of security, especially with a home that has numerous dark corners.

Creating a plan for exterior security lighting is not difficult, but should be thoughtfully considered to avoid blind spots. Motion sensor spots can be mounted anywhere on the house, on posts, in trees, or other structures surrounding the home. They can also be incorporated into landscaping lights to look more natural. It is important to position these lights so that they are not easily reached by an intruder, who will destroy or disable them in an instant. The professional installer will also assist in the correct settings to prevent an over sensitive system that is activated by birds and squirrels.

Smaller homes do not need a vast number of lights to create deterrence, and can benefit from those in the obvious areas – front door, garage, and back door or deck. A larger home with more architectural features often creates blind spots, and should use exterior security lighting near these areas. New construction provides the ability to add breaker switches for hard wired lighting, but there are plenty of options that work off of simple battery packs. The benefits of motion sensor lighting are that they conserve energy by not being on all of the time and that they will surprise and scare away most intruders.

A well designed lighting plan for the exterior of a home will not only consider security, but maintain an aesthetic quality. The home should be accentuated by light that washes its features in a warm tone, without creating a glare inside the house or into the neighbors’ windows. The exterior lighting plan can be wired in conjunction with a home security system for additional protection.

Doorways and windows should be the first areas consider for illumination. A prowler will seek out these areas as easy targets. Lighting these areas will be the first on the list.

A lighting professional can assist in recommending the right product for the exterior of a home. Installing flood lights on a dimmer system allows the homeowner greater control to change the light for different situations. The entire backyard plan should consider the lot’s perimeter in order to create a greater piece of mind. Various types of bulbs are considered based upon their intensity, with the most popular being halogen or incandescent.

Outdoor lighting for security reasons is also a great excuse to provide lighting that shows off landscaping features. Fire pits, water features, and lush plantings can be highlighted with controllable lights that highlight an entire area. This provides extra protection for the homeowner who is outside using these areas at night. In essence, the best of both worlds occur, because the homeowner is given reassurance, and the home and surrounding grounds will be lit in a beautiful way.

Whether you’re seeking the ultimate chandelier, new fixtures for a kitchen remodel, stunning nighttime landscape effects or a complete lighting package to showcase your new home, you will find great tips in our Lighten Up Blog and Videos.

Eric Lebersfeld is an expert at assisting Homeowners, Builders, and Interior designers in selecting the perfect lighting for their homes and projects. We have over 3000 lights on display in our showrooms and over 500,000 on our website http://1800lighting.com. Capitol Lighting provides the most rewarding shopping experience possible allowing our customers to shop on-line or in-store. We have the same guaranteed low internet pricing everyday. We are proud of our 85 year reputation as trustworthy and ethical business partners with both customers and suppliers.

Many people do not like bright overhead lights and will claim that they cause severe headaches. However, fluorescent lighting is known to have a kind of flickering which often brings on migraines. The easy way to get out of this problem in interior lighting design is to use diffuser panels in front of the lights.

Of course, everyone is different and the way their home or office is lit is purely a personal choice. Some will like the halogen lamps while others will want the normal and traditional style lamps. However, remembering that this part of the decorations for a room can set the mood just with the flick of a switch.

Some sororities use these diffuser panels to show off the emblem that represents the house. Not only is the place lit in a soft and subdued tone, the logo for the sorority is also highlighted for anyone who visits the house to see. This also gives the house a chance to bring nature inside since some of these panels have different aspects of the sky, trees or other parts of nature imprinted on them. This brings a wonderful calming effect to a room or house and is loved by many.

The great thing about using these diffuser panels, with nature imprinted on, is the wonderful effect it can have on people in general. We all know how good we feel when we are outside with nature all around us. Would it not be great to bring this feel good factor indoors to look at any time we like? Well, with special diffusers this is possible.

Some people are affected by lack of sunlight and it gives them a condition known as ‘sadd’. This is where the body is not getting enough sunlight (including vitamin D) and they are enveloped by severe depression. Light-boxes are used to allow them to get a daily dose of light even in winter. With the diffuser panels, it may be possible that they will not feel the effects of this light deficiency so much.

It is very clear then that the style of lamp or light that is to be used is very important. Desks need bright spots so that whoever is working there can see their paperwork clearly but without over straining the eyes. On the other hand, bedrooms and places where relaxation is supposed to take place must use something less strong. Even candle light brings on a notion of romance so this proves how important it is to get the effect just right.

Kitchens too should be well lit to avoid any kind of accident. Many people these days go for the kind that emanates from beneath the cabinets. In this way the food being worked on is well lit but the rest of the room has an ambient light which is great for the shared dining experience. Whichever lights are chosen, do not forget that these can also be controlled by dimmer switches which add yet another look to already perfectly areas.

Connor R. Sullivan recently searched the internet for a Fluorescent lighting for a home remodeling job he and his wife are completing in an order to become environmentally sound. He had installed an interior lighting design in his office.

Recessed lighting has become quite popular during the past few years. Its modern design and a subtle way to light an area has made it an appealing choice for discriminating homeowners and those remodeling their current home. There are no wires to conceal or exposed surfaces to dust. Besides changing the bulbs, recessed lighting is virtually maintenance free. This type of lighting is also called can or pot lighting because it is embedded in the ceiling (or sometimes in the wall) and is contained in a cylindrical container.

Depending on the desired effect, this type of lighting can provide diffused lighting or a focused effect. In other words, recessed lighting can be used to accent or to provide general, broad lighting to a fairly large area.

There are several appealing reasons to consider the purchase of this type of lighting. Recessed lights provide focused illumination and give you an uncluttered look. Unlike other types of lighting, recessed lights are virtually invisible until they are turned on. They can be used in a variety of places in your home including over the dining room table and to highlight some particular special features such as artwork. Reflectors are frequently used to increase light production and baffles can also be installed and will minimize the glare factor and moderate brightness.

When recessed fixtures are the sole source of lighting for a particular room, you should position one fixture for each 25 to 30 square feet of floor space. When considering ambient lighting, floodlight reflector bulbs are a good choice while spotlight reflector bulbs should be used when focused, accent lighting is desired.

For economy, you should consider halogen or incandescent fixtures. Fluorescent fixtures are best for high ceilings and also provide the added benefit of energy efficiency. Focused, accent lighting can be obtained by using low voltage housings.

Installation is the major issue to consider when looking at installing recessed lighting.
Installing this type of lighting in a new house is reasonably easy and straightforward. Before the drywall is installed on the ceiling, a bracket is fixed to the ceiling joists using nails or screws. The actual metal housing containing the lights are then attached to the bracket. The housing is positioned so that it will be flush with the drywall.

In many new homes, the recessed fixture must be heatproof because of ceiling insulation. If you are remodeling and your ceilings are insulated, be sure to buy what is called IC or insulation contact rated housings. To increase energy efficiency, shop for housings that are airtight.

If you are considering a non-IC housing, keep in mind that you must maintain at least a ½ inch distance from any combustible material and a 3-inch distance from thermal insulation.

When remodeling a ceiling to install recessed lighting it’s necessary to remove the drywall from the area to allow the housing to be attached to the joists. Many manufacturers are making units designed as retrofit kits. These retrofit units make the job much easier (and less messy). A template is typically provided and allows you to pencil in an outline of the correct size of the required opening. Simply cut out the drywall to create the opening and install the housing. Another important consideration in installing recessed lighting is the wiring required. Unless you are skilled in doing electrical work, it’s best to hire a licensed professional for this part of the job.

You may have a home with older recessed lighting that you want to convert to low-voltage lighting. Fortunately, nearly all manufacturers make retrofit kits that include transformers that will convert standard house current to the required 12-volt power used by low-voltage units. Expect to pay between $50 and $100 per fixture for these retrofit kits but remember that in the long run, the cost savings will compensate for this initial expense.

Most major home centers have a wide variety of recessed lighting units as well as retrofit kits. You can also surf the Internet for additional information or to buy on-line.

All gardens depend on light to allow them to flourish; but many gardeners plan their gardens not only so that the plants get enough light to allow them to grow, but so that each plant will b shown off to its best advantage. Well planned light and shadow can add mystery and enchantment to a garden, and the sense of mystery can be continued even after the sun has gone down with thoughtfully situated garden lights. Nothing can match the romance of a stroll along a subtly lit garden pathway beneath a summer moon.

The Difficulties Of Garden Lighting

But keeping a garden path lit in the dark of night can be can expensive proposition, if the lighting must be powered by standard electricity. And if your garden is any distance from your home, powering electric garden lights in the normal manner can pose its own set of challenges. So you’ll not only have to figure out a way to get wiring to your garden lights; you’ll have to pay for the electricity which runs through it to keep you garden illuminated after dark.

There is, however, an alternative to lighting your nighttime garden. A solar garden light system will both eliminate the need for you to supply wiring to your garden, and once installed will produce its own light free of charge. There is no limit to the number of individual lamps you can have in your solar garden light system.

How Solar Garden Light Systems Work

The lights will be powered from by the heat from sunlight collected by an array of solar panels which, during the day, convert the light to usable energy and store it until it is needed to run the solar garden lights after sundown.

While the initial outlay for installing the solar garden light system, with its solar panels, can be as much as $3000, there will be no further expenses involved with illuminating your garden at night. You will see absolutely no impact on your monthly electricity bill as a result of having a romantically lit garden.

While the amount of heat which the solar garden light panels will capture and store is directly proportional to the amount of sun they receive each day, they will continue to collect heat al long as they get some light. In the shorter days of winter, they may not store enough heat to power the solar garden lights for a full night, but they will store some.

We will begin our discussion of lighting fixtures with trends and ideas related to the primary types of indoor lighting used today in most contemporary settings. Please keep in mind that these are just the authors’ opinions and there are a wide variety of other considerations when selecting lighting fixtures for your home or for your office.

Ceiling Fixtures

Remember that when we speak of Wattage we are talking about a measure of the amount of energy a bulb actually uses. This should not be confused with the brightness that the fixture generates. If increased brightness were a prime consideration it would be best to choose a bulb with higher lumens. If you do this, you will satisfy your need for adequate brightness for the area being considered.

Among the most popular areas for ceiling fixtures is in the bathroom.

Wall Fixtures

Wall fixtures are frequently used as accent pieces and to illuminate areas that aren’t brightened enough by larger fixtures such as chandeliers, etc. A wall fixture in a foyer or hallway or even on a stairway can add just the right amount of illumination to promote safety as well as a nice decorating touch. One of the things to consider is the wide variety and styles available today in these fixtures. The goal is to not draw attention to the wall fixture but rather to make it fit in to the overall decorating scheme. In other words, you want it to look like it belongs there.

If you have a fairly small area that is used primarily as a living room and if this area has lighter walls, to make the space look more spacious, less ambient light will be needed in contrast to a living area that is fairly large or which has darker wall covering or wood. Wall fixtures strategically placed in various sizes and styles offer the discriminating homeowner the perfect way to create tasteful ambient lighting.

If a bathroom area is large enough, tasteful, understated wall fixtures will go a long way to increase the attractiveness of the area.

Hanging Fixtures

It is important to give considerable thought to the style and type of hanging fixtures, such as chandeliers and pendants, to use and particularly where to use them. Hanging fixtures can easily overpower a room, which may leave the impression that you are trying hard to impress your guest. This should be avoided at all costs. One of the most common areas that a chandelier or pendant is used for general lighting is in the dining room or large foyer. A guideline to consider is to make sure that the fixture is 7” to 13” smaller than the narrowest side of the table. The bottom of the fixture should be at least 32” above the table. Be sure that the lamps used in the ceiling fixture fully illuminate the eating area without making it too bright. Eating should be an intimate activity and the illumination
should accent the both the food and the guests.
Hanging fixtures are sometimes very attractive when hung in transitional areas and can often become a conversation piece if tastefully done. The goal in these areas is to create more decorative appeal than illumination. Therefore, understatement is more desirable. A pendant fixture will often serve this purpose particularly if it is simply designed with a great deal of eye appeal.

If your home has a foyer or entryway, it will clearly present a first impression that will carry through the rest of the home. Of all the locations, a carefully selected hanging fixture is of critical importance. Remember, besides providing basic illumination, you want the fixture to be a welcoming beacon for your guests. It is important that the chandelier or pendant fits the size requirements of the foyer or entryway. I’m suggesting that you take pains not to either under or over size the fixture. In some cases, you may have a stairway to the second level that overlooks the area where the chandelier or pendant is hung. Make sure that the fixture has good eye appeal from the second story perspective.

If your hanging fixture is being hung from an 8-foot ceiling, it should be positioned at least 6 ½’ to 7’ above the floor. When hanging your fixture from cathedral ceilings it should be suspended 3 inches higher for every additional foot over the standard 8-foot ceiling height.

An important decorating tip is to consider accent lighting such as wall sconces to complement the hanging fixtures particularly in large areas. Make sure that the styles match and that the wall sconce is mounted above eye level which will typically be 66” to 70”. It is important that the lamp is not visible when walking through the area.

Floor and Table Lamps

Strategic positioning of floor and table lamps is essential. While you want every part of your home adequately illuminated, less is better than more when it comes to floor and table lamps. The use of these fixtures should generally be reserved to areas used for visiting, reading and general socializing. Most of these fixtures are relatively inexpensive and good taste should prevail when buying these fixtures.

Floor and table lamps should be placed to create a triangle of light that does away with undesirable, shadowy nooks in sitting areas. Remember to keep lampshades just below eye level to avoid glare.

In future articles I’ll talk about recessed lighting, fluorescents, and novelty lighting

One last word: A fixture’s glass significantly affects the overall feel. For example, hammered glass lends a weathered, old-fashioned feel to a fixture while alabaster evokes modern, high-end fashion.