Monday 27 February 2012

Trends In Indoor Lighting For The Kitchen

When it comes to fitting out your house with indoor lighting, no room is as important as the kitchen. This is because the kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the house – and the most prone to accidents – so it needs to be bright. You can forget the standard globe suspended in the middle of the ceiling, however, with these emerging trends:

Up Lights
These are generally installed in the tops of cabinets and are used to highlight an exceptionally raised ceiling. It also helps to illuminate otherwise dark corners, warding off those nasty critters that like to live there.

Under Counter
These forms of indoor lighting are used to brighten counter tops in your kitchen, making it much easier to see what you are doing.

Halogen Lights
These indoor lighting solutions are commonly installed inside a cabinet and are used to showcase collections and breakables, such as your fine china.

Task Lighting
Generally installed over an island bench or counter, these forms of indoor lighting are designed to illuminate most of the kitchen area. Installing a hood that has built-in lights is also great for times you’re cooking at the stove.

Shatterproof and fluorescent globes are also becoming increasingly popular for installation in kitchen areas. In the case of fluorescent globes, this is because they are ideal for creating the perfect level of brightness in your kitchen without a harsh glare. They are also environmentally friendly.

When it comes to choosing indoor lighting for your kitchen area, you want to ensure you are choosing lights that will not only illuminate the space for all to see, but that will also help your kitchen to become as safe as possible.

Friday 24 February 2012

What Is Modern Pendant Lighting?

When it comes to choosing lighting for your home, a lot of people tend to opt for some of the latest trends in design to ensure that their property is up to date and looks fantastic. For this reason, the popularity of modern pendant lighting is on the rise – but, if you’re in the market for lighting solutions, do you have any idea of what this refers to?

Essentially, pendant fixtures refer to any fixture that is suspended from the ceiling with a cord, chain or metal rod. The cord can be adjusted so that your light hangs at an appropriate level for your space. Pendant lighting can be used as a single globe or they can be grouped together and hung at varying lengths (an odd number of fixtures tends to be more aesthetically pleasing than an even number).

Modern pendant lighting tends to be very focused on saving energy and being environmentally friendly. This is why you will now find low voltage models and some that use halogen or fluorescent bulbs. Pendants are often used for ambience, but excel in the role of task lighting, as it throws light downwards with little to no shadow.

If you are looking for modern pendant lighting for your home or business you are in luck – there are plenty of different styles and materials on offer, meaning you are sure to find one to match your décor. Some of the popular pendant fixture materials include: metal, glass, plastic, acrylic, crystal, fabric and even paper. A designer lighting specialist will be able to help you choose which pendant option is best for your needs.

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Trends In Exterior Lighting

Gone are the days when the only feature in our backyard was that lawn setting or the birdbath we bought twenty years ago. Today, exterior lighting features hugely in turning our yards into oases of entertainment and play areas, helping to increase the amount of time that we can use our outdoor space.



Pathways

Also known as area lights, this form of exterior lighting is used to light walkways, as well as to highlight nearby flowerbeds and shrubs. It illuminates in a soft, circular pattern.


Deck

These forms of outdoor lighting are generally mounted to the outside wall of the home, or even on the railing around the deck or patio. Like path lights, they illuminate in a soft, horizontal direction and reduce the glare that other types are known to give off.

Spotlights

Also known as accent lights, this form of exterior lighting is commonly used to highlight trees, statues and other clever or creative architectural features. They use beams of illumination that can be directed wherever you please.

Step

These forms of outdoor lighting are generally found in masonry or wood constructions, and are used to add a sense of safety and security to people using their decks or steps at night.

Ultimately, the purpose of exterior lighting is to tie together the relationship between our homes and our surrounding landscape. This is why the emerging trends are focused on bringing the indoors outdoors, without neglecting that security is also important. If you want to increase the amount of time your family uses your outdoor spaces, check out some of the above illumination solutions.

Monday 20 February 2012

Why You Should Choose Designer Lighting


If you are currently building or renovating your home, you may not have yet thought about the light fixtures you would like to include. A lot of people feel that there is nothing wrong with their current fixtures or with basic ones, so neglect to think what designer lighting could do for their home:

     • Each design has been created by someone who is highly passionate about their job. This makes designer lighting more of a piece of art than a necessary fixture for your home.
     • Choosing designer lighting solutions, such as chandeliers, can add a sense of class and elegance to any room.
     • As they are not mass produced pieces, they are of a far better quality and will last a life time – in designer lighting, as with anything, you get what you pay for.
    • It is much easier to fit designer fixtures into your décor, as there is a huge range of styles, materials, sizes and colours on the market.
    • You will have a talking point – guests and visitors to your home will always be wondering where you bought your lights and what made you decide on them.
    • They can help set the mood of the room that you have placed them in, for example: a chandelier over your dining table suggests sophistication and high-class, whilst some quirky wall lights suggest a playful and fun atmosphere (like a children’s bedroom).

There are plenty of ways that designer lighting could enhance your home – all you have to do is visit a showroom and see the endless opportunities for yourself. Don’t discount your lighting as being unimportant or of little consequence to your décor – by doing it right, your lighting can become an integral part of your home.


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