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Saturday, December 17th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Accents Melange Encircle Floor Mirror will surely multiply the illumination provided by any floor lamp or overhead lighting fixture.
As a homeowner, you are a lot of things to your home. You could also be a lighting designer as you get to dictate the functions and qualities of lighting that you would use. You also need to set your home’s lighting goals and how you should go about in accomplishing them.
Control the Colors
Colors are one of the fundamental things that you learned in school. Red, yellow and blue, when mixed in any way, could produce a totally new color; mix all the colors together and what you achieve is black. Lighting also has its own primary colors.
The right lighting color could also enable you to perform your tasks more fully, make you feel more comfortable and safer and even allow you to enjoy your home’s full potential. Every room, however, comes with unique and specific lighting needs which you need to consider.
Light to Impress
When lighting your foyer, be sure to convey what the visitors would soon see in your home’s interiors. The hallway should at least have a modern pendant light, a classic chandelier, or a transitional lighting fixture that’s installed close to the ceiling.
Light to Decorate
Not every foyer is able to accommodate a huge chandelier, though, so be sure to get the right proportions for your lighting needs. A bigger space, likewise, needs a larger lighting fixture. Second story viewing becomes a lot more interesting if you’re going to look down on an interesting pendant or chandelier.
General Lighting for High Traffic Areas
Keep in mind that halls and stairways need general lighting for safety reasons. A well-lit hallway will prevent accidents. Be sure to illuminate from top to bottom of the stairs and check that there are switches upstairs and downstairs.
Lighting fixtures should be installed every 8-10 feet. Match the foyer chandelier to the hallway lighting fixtures. Foyer can be complemented with the right pair of wall sconces.
FFDM Villa Cascina: The side table lamps complete the classic look that’s achieved in this ensemble.
Highlight with Light
You can also use light to enhance the ambience in a room or to dramatize architectural features. So, go ahead, highlight the family room, master bedroom, playrooms and the living room. Find the type of light that doubles as a general light and an accent light.
Concealed Lighting for General Areas
General areas should have close-to-ceiling lighting fixtures, lamps or wall sconces. These provide ample lighting while being decorative at the same time.
Use recessed or track lighting to create a room that’s lively. Don’t forget to highlight artwork, grazing or wall washing.
Focal Point with Lighting
You can also make a focal point by correctly using light. An example is at the dining table where chairs are usually pushed in when the table is set. Your lighting fixture could become the centerpiece on this entire ensemble. It would automatically become the focal point of the room so be sure to express your personality on the lighting fixture that you use there. Your general lighting needs must still be met just as much as your entertaining and dining requirements are also met.
Find a lighting fixture that best describes who you are.
Lighting for Different Rooms
The use of pendant light or chandelier would surely set the dining room’s tone. Recessed wall washers are great sources of additional light while creating an illusion of a much larger space.
Chandeliers should be 6-12 inches smaller than the dining table’s narrowest side. Find one that has an integral downlight that would add more illumination to the dining area.
The kitchen is the heart of every home, hence, it is the busiest place there. It is the place where meals are prepared and where they could also be enjoyed.
Sketch a lighting placement plan for your kitchen. Decide which areas would get the accent, task, general or decorative lighting. Find higher watt lighting for task areas.
Tags: accent lighting, general lighting, interior lighting, light, lighting interiors, lights, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, task lighting
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | No Comments »
Sunday, January 31st, 2016
Did this Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Chandelier 1954-355 catch your attention? Imagine what your friends would say!
As opposed to what is being propagated, there is no need to memorize lighting fundamentals or even to spend a lot of money just to make rooms look airy and lively. There is no need to commit to memory the basics of decorative or functional lighting just to plan and be able to buy the right kind of light. Illumination can be achieved in three ways – through general lighting, accent and task lighting. Any fusion of these three is what you would call a decorative light.
Don’t think that home lighting is an unimportant subject, though. This is a crucial element of interior design because it is the very vehicle that allows homeowners to carry out tasks while providing the home with a lovely appeal.
You should consider your lighting decisions based on your chosen interior design. Pay close attention to lighting when creating new environments or when redesigning old ones. This may seem like a technical topic at first but do not be intimidated by it.
To simplify matters of lighting, let’s cut down the basics into three – the purpose of light, how man perceives color, and the three kinds of lighting.
Lighting Purposes
Lighting in homes and offices are there for people to carry out their daily work. Also, light provides a level of comfort that cannot be felt when in a dark setting. Aesthetically, light can emphasize artwork, displays and define shadows.
Lighting is also there for safety reasons.
Maitland-Smith Lamps and Lighting Pair Of Aged Regency Solid Wooden Plaque Wall Lamps 1930-112
Color Perception
The human eye responds to different kinds of colors. It is most amenable to the green and yellow spectra and less to the red and blue violet ends. When you come to think about it, this is relative to the spectrum of moods that humans feel.
A well-lit room creates happiness and a sense of well being. Dark rooms, on the other hand, elicit serious moods, even depression.
Light that falls on an object will be absorbed by the surface of that object. The colors that it reflects will be the color that will be perceived. So, in essence, purple is every other color in the universe except purple.
‘Confused already? Don’t be.
Okay, you do know that black absorbs all light while all light that is reflected is done by the color white (which is not even a color!).
Decorative lighting pieces can create serenity or cheerfulness depending on the mood that it depicts. Functional lights – like the ones found in offices – make people more alert. Decorative lighting is different because it makes you feel texture, patterns, even shapes.
Decorative lighting also comes in different levels. Dimmers are used for bedrooms while bright lights are left inside playrooms and the kitchen. Sometimes, the lighting fixture can serve as the focal point of a room. Such is the role of chandeliers and pendant lights.
Lamps and Lighting Uttermost Metauro Wood Desk Lamp 26577-1 is both decorative and task lighting.
The dining room, for instance, can look more elegant when a chandelier hangs right above it. Attention will surely be drawn towards this set up. Pendant lighting over a table can provide a more concentrated light. Chandeliers spell traditional and classy while pendants are more contemporary.
Lighting Types
You already know the three types of lighting which is spearheaded by general lighting. Also known as ambient lighting, these are up-lights that illuminate from the ceiling. Wall sconces are also general lighting fixtures as are floor lamps, table lamps, recessed lights, and track lights.
Task lighting is for areas that are in need of intense lighting. This is technically 300% brighter than general lighting. Such lights are used in offices, kitchens and other busy areas.
Accent lighting can add a level of shimmer to paintings, objects, architectural features, and sculptures. Halogen is the best known accent lighting that can provide brilliance and intensity.
Tags: accent lighting, ambient lighting, floor lamp, floor lamps, general lighting, home lighting, improving home lighting, interior lighting, light, lighting architectural features, lighting fixture, lighting interiors, lighting plan, lighting types, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, recessed light, recessed lighting, recessed lights, table lamp, table lamps, tips
Posted in Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | No Comments »
Friday, January 29th, 2016
Lamps and Lighting Uttermost Esher Twig Candelabra 19866
Have you ever wondered why most homes that hang chandeliers and decorate with candelabras are viewed as sophisticated? You may not have a family member that knows how to craft candelabra with his bare hands but there are a lot of skilled artisans who now put their works in the market.
Candelabras are candle holders which can support two or more of these lighting pieces. Most of these are now decorative in nature, with the artist carefully placing an awesome display. A single candle holder is known as a candelabrum.
The word candelabra comes from the Latin word for candlestick. People have been using candles for many, many years for lighting purposes. Even in the ancient times, people have paired these candles with candelabra.
In the beginning, candelabra were utilized to increase of the amount of light in a room. In the next centuries, however, their role when it comes to enhancing the ambience slowly became apparent. Pretty soon, churches, social gatherings and stages were already using them.
Candelabra are now equal to glamour, chic, stylish and romance. Place one in any room and in an understated manner and you will find more and more guests marveling at their beauty.
Candelabra can also be used during weddings. Just position some by the entrance hall or right on the guests’ tables. These can serve as stylish center pieces. Also, during Christmas, ornately designed candelabra can be placed atop festive tables.
The dining table can be enhanced with lovely candelabra. Nothing can be more dramatic than this central piece. Think of a special occasion that you attended wherein you noticed how the house glowed with warmth and the homeowner probably set up a number of candelabras for guests to appreciate.
Maitland-Smith Accessories Urn Candelabra 1653-754
Which Candelabra Should You Buy?
First, consider what you are going to use them for. Are they going to be added as decor? Or will they be used to light a room?
You must also consider the kind of material and the style that your candelabra will have. Of course, it is paramount that you consider your preference.
Candelabra Types
Various candelabra in high quality are now available in our shop. The most common designs that you can look for are – the fountain dropper, crystal droplets, hanging candelabra, glass tea light, standing, and cake candelabra.
The fountain dropper is decorative as it comes with pearl beads or crystals. These gems are attached to the branches with each flowing to the base.
Crystal droplets come in different sizes. There are smaller versions in sparkling dots or the bigger types with diamond-like gems. These effectively catch the light and can magnify the glimmer of candles.
The hanging type is great to use outdoors. Those who choose to bring it indoors should make sure that it is paired with exposed beams or ceilings. The glass tea light candle holder is made to hold many small tea candles also known as votives. It can offer a vintage appeal and is best used in shabby chic settings.
Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Kara, Candelabra 19395
The standing candelabra have a huge impact in any setting because of their sheer size. Often used in pairs, they offer subtle symmetry as well as balance in any environment.
Lastly, the cake candelabra are placed atop iced cakes to hold birthday candles. These are novelty items that are charming and impressive.
Candelabra Care
Just like any candle holder, you need to regularly clean the candelabra. First, never leave them unattended when the candles are already lit. Standing candelabra can be anchored to the floor but for all others, you have to find a way to make them more stable.
Find a specialist cleaning agent to remove wax. Always use protective gloves when handling hot candelabra.
Tags: accent lighting, ambient light, ambient lighting, candelabra, candelabrum, decor, dining room light, home lighting, improving home lighting, interior lighting, light, lighting fixture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, room accents, tips, types of lighting
Posted in Accents, Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Friday, January 22nd, 2016
Maitland-Smith Accessories Rock Crystal Bowl On Glass Base 2147-362 provides a classic look to any nook.
Many homes already enjoy using glass in most of their furnishings. The use of this unique material in home decor is both decorative and practical. It can come in many forms ranging from countertops, glazing, decorative walls, to fancy mirrors. Whether you want to use glass to let in the morning sun or just so you can make a cramped room look expansive, its interior design possibilities are actually limitless.
Sure there are glass tables and cabinets but have you ever wrapped your brain around having a glass home?
Glass is a recyclable and sustainable material. It is known to provide environmental benefits as well as mitigate changes in climate. Many designers have saved natural resources because of their utilization of this awesome material.
Glass is appreciated in many different applications. It is known to conserve energy which is obvious in homes with glass facades. Imagine not having to use artificial lighting till dusk.
Playing with Light
You would certainly love to catch a glimpse of your reflection every day on the mirror of this Viniterra cabinet from FFDM.
The presence of light is the best interior design trick there is. Light can make smaller rooms look large and large rooms even more unrestrained. Light can also make rooms look comfortable and natural.
The use of glass brings in natural light in your home, thus, you can enhance the garden views and even brighten up obscure rooms.
Windows with mulliions can easily take advantage of the picturesque views. Let glass create this same lovely view in your home while also reflecting light and highlighting lovely surfaces.
Studies show that natural light can improve sleep, even your overall quality of life; more and more evidence point to the benefits of light on your mood, alertness level, as well as your metabolism.
Glass is one of the most preferred materials for better aesthetics and characteristics. Picture this – glass can even preserve the natural taste of food. It can also lock the vitamins in which is no surprise why most food and medicine packages come in glass containers. So why not install glass in your kitchen where your daily meals are prepared? You can look forward to – not just having a wonderful view of nature outside – but also a higher health level.
If you are not ready to have an all glass home just yet, then just be creative in your use of this lovely material. After all, there are but a few limits when it comes to glass. Extreme cold and heat are two of the things that you need to carefully think through when using glass in your home. Thicker panes are needed for places with cold temperatures.
Glass in Smaller Quantities
Having glass furniture is the next best thing to having an all glass residence. Mirrors, glass chairs, tables and just about any furnishing can be made with glass. You can pair glass with leather, wood, especially metals.
Give your kitchen counter tops and office desks a touch of elegance by using glass. Use cleaner lines for a more industrial or urban look and ornate lines to bring out the beauty of glass in a traditional setting.
Artistica Living Room Per Se Nesting Table, Glass 407-360 spells unique in every aspect. The fusion of glass and wood in this ensemble is too perfect to ignore.
Do not limit yourself to the living room, kitchen or the dining room when designing with glass. Up the level of sophistication in your bathroom by having glass walls installed. Wet areas such as these do not need to look unexciting. In fact, since the bathroom is where you should feel relaxed, even rejuvenated, then you should take time to think of a concept that will make the room more tranquil.
Glass can also be used as a divider wall between the master bedroom and the master bathroom. Keeping the privacy is easy by using glass blocks.
Try installing glass in different areas of your home and start reaping the benefits.
Tags: designing with glass, glass, glass design, glass home, glass house, glass interior design, glass interiors, glass walls, light, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, mirror, mirrored interiors, natural, natural light, natural lighting, styling with glass, tips
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes, Interior Design Trends | No Comments »
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