Author Archives: Administrator

Creating a focal point in the kitchen requires planning and creativity. There are not usually any larger items, such as beds or sofas, used when decorating or designing a kitchen. A great option to capture the attention of a guest entering the kitchen is unexpected or unique lighting. We have pulled together a few unexpected kitchen lighting ideas to jump start your creative juices:

Fabric Covered Light Fixtures:
Fabric covered light fixtures add a creative touch to kitchen lighting plans. One of the more commonly used fabric light fixtures if the drum pendant light. These fixtures consist of a large fabric covered shade and a simple light kit. This form of light fixture can also be very inexpensive. The drum pendant light can be created as an intermediate level DIY project.

The singular chandelier:

There are many chandelier styles available to suit a number of rooms/uses. A singular chandelier is a single tier chandelier that can be used to define space within the kitchen.
This style chandelier is functional and stylish when placed properly. In most cases, a singular chandelier works best over the kitchen island or kitchen dining room table. (more…)

A great option for conserving energy is installing light dimmers in your home.  Light dimmers offer many advantages to homeowners.  Some of the notable advantages are: lower electric bill, enhance the ambiance in a room and create a “look” or appeal in your space.

There are four types of light dimmers used in residential lighting.  They are:

• Integrated dimmers
• Touch dimmers
• Slide dimmers
• Rotary dimmers

Each style offers a number of benefits to lighting any room of the home.

Integrated Light Dimmer

If you are easily amused by gadgets and automation, an integrated light dimmer may be the dimmer of choice.  With this style dimmer, different lighting profiles “levels” are programed or preset.  You then control the lighting in the room with a small gadget or wall panel.  Any previous settings can be restored with this method. (more…)

A popular used of recessed lighting is wall washing. Wall wash lighting simply floods a wall with a large amount of light.  This style of decorative lighting is often used in hotels and art galleries.  However, if you are looking for statement lighting for your home, consider using recessed lighting to create your own wall wash lighting.

First Things First: Light Fixtures for Wall Washing

Wall washing cannot be achieved with all types of light fixtures.  Recessed light fixtures are commonly used for this style of lighting.  When placing these fixtures for this style of lighting, the fixtures should be close to the wall.  Unlike general lighting which focuses attention on the center of the room for even lighting, this style focuses on the outer walls of the room.  This creates a very dramatic effect especially if these fixtures will also serve as the main lighting of the space. (more…)

Accent lighting is often used to highlight spaces or items in a room. It is often used with other types of lighting to complete the lighting plan.  Selecting a light fixture to provide accent lighting can be challenging.  We have identified an example of ways to use accent lighting in various rooms in the house.

Accent lighting is lighting that is used to create a focal point in a room.  It is usually used to highlight the architectural features, wall art or furniture.  This style of lighting places concentrated light on the area or item in a specified area. If seeking a dramatic look, accent light fixtures should produce at least three times more lighting than the general lighting in the room.

Accent Lighting in Kitchens

There are many ways to incorporate accent lighting in a kitchen lighting plan.  Two of the more popular uses of accent lighting in kitchens are under cabinet lighting and cabinet lighting.  Under cabinet lighting are great for providing both accent lighting and task lighting.  These lights are hidden under the cabinets illuminating the kitchen countertops and backsplash.  However, cabinet lights are placed inside cabinets.  Usually, these cabinets are door less or have glass doors.  When combined with contrasting or colorful dishes. (more…)

Recessed lighting is a very popular form of home lighting. There are several ways to incorporate this style of lighting in your home. Recessed lighting is ideal for use in many rooms including kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms. Before deciding on a style of lighting, it is best to understand the type of lighting needed in a room. Let’s review some of the types of lighting provided by a recessed light fixture.

General Lighting

Whether lighting a bedroom or a laundry room, almost every room will require general lighting. This is the overall illumination in the space. This light should allow visibility when in the space during the evening or nights. General lighting may not provide enough light for special tasks such as grooming or preparing food. This type of lighting usually serves as the base of the lighting plan for any space in the home. Recessed light fixtures are great sources of general lighting. When placing the fixtures in the room, it is important to space them in a manner that provides even lighting throughout the room. (more…)

One of our favorite sites, Houzz.com, features a “Pendant Lighting 101″ article on their site. The article is all about pendant lighting and how to effectively use lighting in your home.  Check out our brief summary of the article below:

Pendant lighting hangs from the ceiling provided lighting in many rooms of the home.  These type fixtures are very verstile and work very well in several styles of home decor.  While pendant light fixtures are great for providing task lighting, these fixtures also enhance the overall decor of the room. (more…)

One of the most difficult tasks in home renovation projects is creating a lighting plan. Creating a kitchen lighting plan is especially difficult because of the several different factors involved. We have composed a quick guide to assist with creating an effective lighting plan for your kitchen.

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One of the first styles of light fixtures was wall mounted lighting. Over the years, wall mounted latterns have evolved into wall sconces. Wall sconces are great for lighting hallways or dark corners of rooms. These fixtures are not ideal for lighting an entire room.

Wall sconces are commonly seen in bathrooms, hallways and kitchens. These fixtures are a great option for adding accent lighting or enhancing your current plan for general lighting. If you are looking for versatility, consider adding dimmers to your wall sconces which would allow different amounts of light to be released based on your need. (more…)

Ceiling fans are a great option for controling the temperature in a room without increasing your energy costs.  While many are aware of the coolign effects of ceiling fans, few are aware that ceiling fans can also distribute warmer air in a room.  While ceiling fans are wonderful for decreasing electric bills by limiting the used of central air and heat, ceiling fans without lighting can present another issue.

All rooms need some form of light.  Rooms with lots of windows may not require must light from light fixtures during daylight hours, all homes require some form of lighting in the evening and night hours.  When selecting a ceiling fan for your home, keep this fact in mind.  If you are lighting a smaller room or a patio, it is possible floor lamps can provide adequate lighting to function in the space. (more…)

 
If you are in need of kitchen lighting ideas, consider installing track lighting in your kitchen. Adding new light fixtures to a room is the easiest and quickest route to give your room a new look. Depending on the type of light fixture selected, this can also save lots of money on a home renovation product.

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