Archive for the 'Home Lighting' Category

Aug 01 2010

What Makes Great Outdoor Lighting Design?

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

First of all, let’s talk about what makes outdoor lighting design so critical to that outdoor space of yours. Above all else, there are two main reasons why you even need lighting: safety and aesthetics or ambiance. These are the two elements to keep in mind when making your designs or consulting with a professional landscape or lighting designer to help you.


Your particular needs regarding your lighting needs will be helpful when discussing the various lighting options and there are many. Let’s talk about the more boring of the two lighting needs first: safety. The type of lighting you choose will be important for helping you and your guest safely navigate your space. This could include things like string lights or small path lights to highlight trip hazards like gutters or steps. It could also be used to illuminate areas that have plants or branches from trees that hang over the patio or garden space.


Depending on how you look at it, there are some important things to consider with regard to the environment as well. Your lighting should not be so intense that it affects the local wildlife or adds to the light pollution in your area. These are actually real considerations to take into account. With this in mind, solar lights are a great option. Solar lighting is available in a wide variety of styles and is much more powerful and long lasting than in years past.


Finally, consider the type of ambiance you are trying to create. Not only will the right outdoor lighting help you to see your guests and food and other physical elements, but it will also help to create an emotional side benefit. Our bodies respond to lighting in a very emotional and mental way. So, outdoor lights that cast certain colors or hues can also help you and your guests to simply feel better and enhance the overall experience outdoors. Enjoy your new outdoor lighting design features and create the space of your dreams!

These ideas for outdoor lighting design can make all the difference in your outdoor space. You can even incorporate some outdoor candle lanterns into your new lighting design.

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Jul 18 2010

Install Solar Lights to Save Money

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

Would you like to have extra lighting around your home but are worried about the extra cost to your electric bill? Using solar lights instead of regular lights will save you this operating cost. They use the sun’s energy to power the light, which is a free energy source. Installation is no problem once you work out where you want to put your lights, and they are very low maintenance.


The lights use a solar panel embedded in the fixture to collect the energy of the sun during the day. This energy is converted and stored in rechargeable batteries which are used to power the light. It is all automatic so once installed there is little for you to do. They even turn on by themselves when it becomes dark, and turn off again in the morning. Most lights use an LED bulb, which use less energy and last longer than regular bulbs, so you won’t have to change them very often. They are also safe to touch because they give off very little heat.


Installation of solar lights is so easy you can do it yourself, saving you the cost of an electrician. The lights do not need to be connected to electricity so there are less wires or cables involved. In most cases you just need to push the stake into the ground and leave them to charge. Some types of lights will require further installation, for example spot lights and security lights will need to be fixed to a wall or roof. Generally though, you will be able to save costs by installing them yourself.


Positioning of your lights is of particular importance when it comes to solar powered lights. As they are dependent on the sun’s energy, they should be placed where they will be exposed to the maximum amount of sunlight. The more sun they receive during the day, the longer they will stay alight during the night. Due to their simple installation process, however, you can easily move them around until they are in the correct position.


Install some solar lights around your home today and you can save money on installation and operating costs, and feel good about helping the environment at the same time.

Learn more about solar powered lights and much more at Solar Lights Advice.

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May 20 2010

A Mini Sun in a Box?

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

How do you feel in the winter when light levels are lower? Do you get miserable, weary or even depressed? This experience is quite widely recognized and has the acronym of SADS. SADS is or can be quite serious, but there are almost certainly many many more people who simply feel a ‘bit down’ when the sunlight dims. Artificial bright light was developed to help these people.


If, after you have been in the office or wherever you work inside for a few hours, you become tired or lethargic, it is possible that you are suffering from reduced light levels, so some people say. Whether you accept as true that bright light can help sluggishness or not, SADS is a fact and so it is feasible that increased bright light levels might help.


The artificial bright light box produces very bright light, typically between 5,000 and 10,000 lux according to their advertisements. These numbers will not mean much to most people, so I have compiled a short list of comparison lux levels below.


1 lux = Full moon overhead in the tropics
50 lux = Family living room
100 lux = Very dark overcast day
320-500 lux = Office lighting
400 lux = Sunrise or sunset on a clear day.
1,000 = Overcast day
10,000-25,000 lux = Full daylight (not direct sun)
32,000-130,000 lux = Direct sunlight


It is definitely true that most people feel happier when the sun is shining and not many people prefer winter over summer, but whether you can get sunlight out of a box or not is another question. These bright light boxes cost about $200 and up, but then you have to add in the running costs. The electricity bill for running a mini sun must be fairly horrific.


If your place of work is a bit dark, it would be a good idea to augment the light levels. Sometimes it can be quite easy to increase the levels of natural light simply by removing any unnecessary net curtains and by installing longer curtain rods so that the curtains can be drawn right back out of the way of the window allowing the maximum of light to come into your room.


If this is still not sufficient, you could fit some wall sconces around areas where you work the most. Wall lights can deliver light exactly where you want it and normally use quite small, low-powered bulbs. A more direct way to light up your work is by the use of a desk lamp.


If it is a question of requiring more light to read by, you could invest in a standard floor lamp. Standard floor lamps are usually about five feet high with a shade. The shade is useful, because it directs light up onto the ceiling, if the shade is open topped, and down onto your book or shoulders. There are other types of standard floor lamp which have a glass or clear cover over the bulb. These will cast more light around the room and will boost overall visibility.


Not being able to see well can easily cause a headache and frequent headaches can be depressing, but before I rush out to buy a ‘bright light box’, I will take the actions outlined above and have my eyesight tested by an optician.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece writes on quite a few subjects, but is at present involved with researching wrought iron floor lamps. If you would like to know more or check out great offers, please go to our website at Wrought Iron Light.

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May 11 2010

Tiffany Pool Table Lights From Toltec – A Review

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

Toltec’s Tiffany-style pool table lights can be a great addition to any pool room. I took a fancy to their Popular Pearl line of lighting, so this review is focused on those.


The people of Toltec have this to say for themselves:


“Founded in the 1970’s, Toltec is a family-owned and run company dedicated to creating quality and competitively priced lighting fixtures for your home. While quality and value continue to be the hallmarks that Toltec is famous for, we take pride in having taken the lead in the field of design. we are continually introducing new concepts and ideas while maintaining a close eye on tradition. At Toltec, we bridge all possible worlds.”


Let me tell you, these Toltecs are some very finely crafted billiard lights. The stained glass is elegant and not too gaudy, giving just enough accent to your table and your pool room to really give you that ‘warm-fuzzy’ feeling.


My personal favorites are the #129 Popular Pearl Tiffany Light with Pearl and Green with Brass Channels and the #527E Popular Pearl Tiffany Light with Clear Ripple and ClearGlass with Brass Channels.The designs feature some exquisite glass finishes, and can bring some major charm and beauty to your pool table rooms.


The Pearl and Green runs about $475 with just 3 lights, but if you’re like me, and want to light up a 9′ pool table instead of those tiny little 7′ or 8′ tables, I’m guessing you’ll need a longer fixture with an extra light bulb, bumping the cost up to $585. I’m not positive yet if the extra-bulb-upgrade actually gives you a longer pool table light, but I’ve sent their customer service a query, and I’ll update this post as soon as they’ve responded (UPDATE: yes, the extra bulb extends the coverage area of the fixture). Now, I like this particular choice of pearl-and-green because the two-toned color scheme matches and compliments my favorite pool-felt color: deep green (so their other color choices, of course, would thus be ideal for tables covered in alternate, yet matching, colors).


The ClearGlass pool table lighting comes with only one choice: the 10 candelabra lights, and two lights pointing down. Asking price is $630, which is a bit hefty, but probably worth the budget-stretch considering how eye-catching it is. Brass and clear-glass candelabra lighting direct within your game rooms really adds an old-world touch. Imagine matching this with a warm dark-wood theme, one reminiscent of gas-lights and cobblestone streets. Add some 8 ball or 9 ball themed black-&-white framed posters to enhance the atmosphere, or even some old-school mafia B&W’s full of tommy-guns and antique cars, and you’ve got yourself one jiving game room! My only worry with this light is that the candelabra lights might be too bright and distracting. I Kind of wish they had included an option for smoked-glass tinting to take away a bit of the glare.


Most of these Toltec Tiffany Billiard Lights are available in 2, 3 or 4 light configurations, even single-bulb pendants with attaching chains or light-stands. All Billiard lights come with enough chain, wiring and ceiling canopy for a nine-foot high ceiling. Extra chain and wire are available upon request at the time you place an order.


overall, I’d give them 4 out 5 stars. These are some top-notch lights, but I’ll save the 5th star for something that really blows me away.

Please follow along if you’d like to learn more about selecting great pool table lights.


Come on over to The Attic where we review all sorts of nifty stuff and offer great tips and advice.

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Apr 12 2010

The Allure of Modern Condominium Lighting

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

While comparing with freestanding houses, new condominiums lack some distinctive aspects. Therefore, you may face some problem while you are trying to sell the condominium. Moreover, you cannot carry out the noticeable remodeling activities, so, better you can try to restore the inside.


It will be good, if you create the inside of condominium more attractive and comfortable. With condominium lighting, you can differentiate your condominium from others. Without doubt, upgrading the condominium will be more effective than remodeling. While comparing with remodeling it is easy too. Condominium lighting will perk up the appearance and the resale value of your condominium significantly. In addition, condominium lighting can assist to alter the feel and environment of the condominium.


When you chart your condominium lighting, some issues may arise as most condominiums are in similar fashion. Condominiums generally have big open places that are feasible. You can break up these places easily by concentrating the light on required areas, by doing so you do not need to construct an additional wall that will become an artificial one.


If you have slanted or high ceilings, you can use monorail lights or track lighting. Through accent lighting, you can convert your short hallways into longer. You can fix recessed lights to your dark hallway. To generate right mood, you may change the experience of your room with the help of dimmer and brighter lights. This is because the condominium pays only small attention to the lightings.


To solve this issue, you should watch places in the condominium that has insufficient lighting, and fix brighter lighting such as fluorescent lights. For instance, for the kitchen, you can fix cabinet lighting as such lighting decreases the shade and builds a feeling of a bigger room.


Moreover, condominium lighting with your longer walls can make huge difference. If you use sconces, then it could add an outstanding look to the empty areas. If you fix light with dimmers, you can alter it to suit your mood and the time. With small spotlights and cubicles, you can built significance and boast your favorite albums.


Storage is very essential particularly for small space. Storage condominium is the latest trend in self-storage conveniences. You may add storage in the inside of baggies and wax paper. With the cloth organizers, you can make your bedroom space bigger. Of course, one of the good answers for storage is the wall unit.


If you have multi-level condominium, for drinking water, you can consider putting the reverse osmosis. Usually, packing water will become old fast. Painting also is a very good idea; you can put your home apart from others, particularly when you are going to sell the same. Condominiums in a given area are going to be attracting the same plan so you need persons to remember specific things regarding the interior. As there are impartial in all color, you can get the color you wish, without getting any confusion about it being satisfying to the potential purchaser when you are going to sell the home.

Energy Smart Industry brings Condominium lighting program with no out of pocket expense. Energy Smart Industry’s Green Lease Management Program (GLMP) is a unique system designed for energy saving lighting for your building.

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Feb 07 2010

How Recessed Lighting is Cost Effective For Home Improvement?

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

If you’re looking out for a cost-effective method to light up your home,recessed lighting is a perfect solution. It’s the right time to replace the current lighting systems at your place with recessed lighting.

Whether it’s your forefathers built home or the newly constructed lavish home equipped with all modern amenities, recessed lighting fixtures can be installed in any ceiling of the house and covered porch. If you’re stuck in dilemma how to position them in a traditional home, all you need to do is position these lights on the front porch ceiling and highlight the front area. The illumination effect would be amazing.

These lights may be used to illuminate the desired areas of room or home to highlight ornamental objects placed there like artwork, sculptures, furniture etc. When you install recessed lights, the rooms appear better ventilated and spacious. However, you need to have a little bit of knowledge about electric wiring to get started with installing recessed lights. If you’re not comfortable with the idea of wiring etc. then it would be better to hire a certified electrician.

You can replace surface-mounted light with recessed lights calls for no electrical cabling. All you need to do is replace the wiring of old lights with recessed lighting fixtures. When you’re done with this, you need to insert the lighting systems on the ceiling. Then you can put the trim at the base of light to hide any crack made on the wall due to replacement. You can then check out if everything is working properly.

Kitchen is a place at home where recessed lights can do wonders. This is a place of most frequent activities and hence, the recessed lights when installed illuminate sinks, counter tops etc. The brightly lit up kitchen prompts the person to finish cooking faster and with great joy & vigor.

Recessed lights, if installed in living or dining rooms can also do the job miraculously by creating the right ambience or a shadowy backdrop of dim illumination. Also, these cost-effective lighting systems can spotlight certain objects placed their or specific area.

These affordable lights can be put in your study room along the perimeter of the ceiling. This may contribute in boosting your general study mood. However to avoid putting strain on your eyes, you can use high-intensity lights to light up your study table.

If you see these lighting arrangements from the point of view of restrictions, those are very few in number. These can be installed anywhere. However to get the best results, there are certain key factors to be borne in mind about your specific requirements.

Get started with lighting your home with these cost-effective lighting systems today!

I am the owner of http://www.vgklighting.com/, a well known lighting fixtures company. Best source for Commercial & Residential Lighting Fixtures at Unbeatable Prices

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Feb 06 2010

Kitchen Island Light Fixtures – Light Fixtures to Showcase Your Kitchen

Published by ShreveportDesigner under 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.

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Feb 05 2010

The Benefits of Using LED Grow Lights Versus Other Lighting Sources

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

Light emitting diode (LED) grow lighting sources assist in the growing of plants indoors because their basic electronic structure can be engineered to provide the exact lighting spectrum needed to optimize the growth and flowering of plants. This spectrum of blue, orange and red was originally developed by NASA to efficiently grow plants on the international space station. Astronauts needed to produce their own food because of some of the long stays on the ISS and for research in sustainable food production on trips to other planets. The engineers of NASA invented the LED lighting source that is super efficient (used less electricity), produces a low amount of heat and creates the exact bandwidth for plants to grow and produce food.

Most lighting industry experts are confident that LED lighting will begin to replace all other lighting sources including compact fluorescents. One of the world’s largest lighting manufacturers has stopped all research and development into any other light sources except solid state lighting which is the category LED lights fall under. This company alone is investing 5% of their current revenues into research in solid state lighting.

Here are some of the benefits of utilizing LED lights to grow plants of all types:

- LED Grow Lights are very efficient in transforming electricity into light. This means that LED’s use up to 80% of the energy used to create light. In comparison, incandescent lights efficiency is at around 5%. This efficiency produces less heat and a high watt to lumen ratio.

- LED grow lights have a lower heat signature and are less likely to burn leaves. Conventional plant lighting creates high temperature zones under the hood which will burn leaves and flowers if the plant is placed too close to the bulb.

- The minimum heat produced by LED’s and efficient use electricity allows people living in small homes, offices or apartments easier access to the indoor gardening world. In a small space, such as a closet or basement corner, they can grow large amounts of organic food affordably all year long without concerns of climate or available outdoor space.

- LED’s produce low or no UV light because of how the light is designed and manufactured. Most other legacy lighting sources produce a broad spectrum of light that a plant does not use efficiently. Legacy types of grow lights do have a more focused spectrum but produce a lighting spectrum that goes into the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum which can be harmful to plants and people.

- LED lights produce a directional cone of light that sends light in a measurable direction. A standard bulb heats a filament and or gas to create light. This type of lighting goes in all directions making the use of hoods and reflectors necessary to direct the light to the plants. The average angle of light coming from a LED grow light is 120 degrees compared to 360 degrees in conventional lighting.

Pete Bunner is a LED grow light expert and the CEO of the Smart Lighting Shop. He has been researching and testing LED plant lights for over 9 years. Please visit the online LED lighting store at http://www.smartlightingshop.com for more information on LED grow lights.

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Feb 02 2010

Solar Deck Lights

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

A lot of folks are choosing to spend more time outdoors enjoying time on there decks, and at night they’re in need of some kind of lighting. This night time light may be rendered by solar deck lights. These kind of lights comes in numerous colors and styles, such as the post light, the flush mounted lights or string lights. We’ll talk about the advantages and disadvantages from all along with a few of the out standing characteristics of each.

Solar post lights or railing lights use fixtures that are affixed on the top of the post or on the railing and furnish the primary light for your deck at night. Solar lights as a whole normally furnish a less bright or not as glaring a light as a regular light, which works out truly fine for illuminating your deck because you need adequate light to be capable of seeing just not so bright that it takes away from relishing the time spent upon your deck at night. These lights are simple to set up they just fit on the top of the post and are secured in place by a few screws.

Recessed or level mounted lights are good for outlining a footpath or guiding in a definite direction. When they’re installed they may be walked upon or even driven across therefore they work out good for running along a path or driveway. They likewise work really good for supplying a bit more light for hard to see steps making them a bit less hazardous at night. To install them you have to bore a hole for them to sit down in, but that’s nearly all that needs to be done.

Solar string lights are merely a strand of small-scale lights nearly equal to a string of Christmas lights. A lot of homeowners like to outline their decks with this type of lights bringing about a kind of twinkling aspect. You could mount them simply like you would any string of lights, either hanging by little hooks or draped about the rail. The sole deviation being that on the end of the strand rather than an electrical plug you’ll see a little box with a solar panel which must be affixed where it will get sunshine of a daytime. There is as well what is known as rope lighting which is essentially the same thing except that the entire strand of lights are sheathed in clear pliable tubing which makes them more weatherproof and harder to get tangled.

That wraps up most of the types of solar lighting that would be used to brighten your deck of a nighttime. Exactly like all solar lights they must be exposed to sunshine of a daytime, but when they’re installed there are no cables to be ran merely allow them to charge up of a daytime and enjoy the light of a nighttime.

For more information on solar deck lights or solar lights in general visit our site at http://solarlights.rgc1.net.

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Feb 01 2010

Crystal Chandeliers – Getting the Size Right is Very Important

Published by ShreveportDesigner under Home Lighting

The most obvious reason why people choose to add crystal chandeliers to their rooms is because such chandeliers help to add an extra dimension of height to the room and of course they are also very functional as well. There are no doubts that adding such chandeliers to a room helps to create a more stunning effect because the chandelier is certainly a very exquisite fixture.

That is why it pays to add these chandeliers to not only a living room but to also illuminate a small sized den and even to shed light on a garden.

If you want your lighting to provide a classic look you must be particular about picking a chandelier that is of the proper size. The good news is that such fixtures can easily be obtained in a number of sizes and so it is not difficult to pick a crystal chandelier that is of the perfect size for a room.

Before you select a crystal chandelier you need to take a close look at its width which is the most important consideration as far as finding the right size. In other words you need to look at the diameter of the chandelier and this is measured as being the outermost point on the chandelier and also the widest part of its sconce.

A simple manner by which you can deduce what the right size and width of your light fixture should be is to simply add the length and breadth of a room and then calculate a width that takes the sum of the length and width of that room. So, if your room measure ten feet by twelve feet you would add these and get the figure of twenty-two feet and then use this figure to determine the right size for you crystal chandelier.

Of course, sometimes a particular room might have many other fixtures and items of furniture and so the above-mentioned figure might not help you determine the perfect size of your crystal chandelier. In such cases you need to reduce the sum of the length and breadth of the room to find a smaller size that fits in well in the room that is filled with other fixtures and items of furniture.

Length too is an important consideration that can help you pick the right size of crystal chandelier. There is much latitude available in which size of crystal chandelier you should use and it basically will depend on your preferences as well as the height of the ceiling from the floor. However, if the chandelier is to be hung above a dining table you will need to find a size that fits in well in the distance between the table-top and the ceiling.

Chains are crucial items in every crystal chandelier though be careful that you choose a length that is suitable for the room and the size of the chandelier. Last but not least, when picking crystal chandeliers be sure to address the amount of light it can throw. This means picking adequate number of light bulbs and of course for smaller rooms you can make-do with fewer bulbs while for a larger room you will need to have more bulbs in the chandelier.

If you are looking for a crytsal chandelier, I suggest that you add an antique crystal chandelier to your home. To read more about them, please visit http://www.antiquecrystalchandelier.org.

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