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Monday, June 26th, 2017
Deck and Base from the FFDM Cachet Collection
Have you noticed how Mid-century modernism is practically everywhere these days? When you take the time to think about the lighting from that era, you would picture sharp corners and lines and those atom-inspired pendant lighting. You would also picture – on default – the geometric and minimalist lamps that are scattered throughout. Modernism also spurred lower ceilings and bare spaces.
Commercial shops often lit their buildings with glass pendants that were stained, and some with ornate chandeliers. These hung from the tallest ceilings and often paired with Art Décor or Art Nouveau crafts.
Mid-century modernism paved the way for a different kind of lighting. Opulent lamps were soon replaced by glass bowl-like lamps that encased an incandescent bulb. Pretty soon, recessed lamps were born.
Recessed lighting allowed adequate lighting plus the ability to save space. One could observe how it efficiently aided in keeping the spaces distraction-free.
Apart from a few stylish adaptations, these recessed lamps haven’t evolved much. It wasn’t until the 1980s when the light was recessed fully in the ceiling. At that time, they saw that there was no need for the light diffuser that often encased the bulb.
With no fallen insects and distorted light color, brighter light emanated from these recessed lamps and soon they became a staple in kitchen lighting. Around this time, too, downlights were born which highlighted specific elements in a space.
Today’s Recessed Lighting
Another 20 years down the line, we all know how hot recessed lighting already is. LED lamps have also emerged, hence, smaller sizes of recessed lights were also born. These lights look great in rooms with low ceilings.
Each recessed light has three chief components namely – the housing, its trim and light bulb or the lamp. The housing is the light fixture itself. It is the one that sits right inside the ceiling which also holds the trim as well as the light bulb.
New construction housing is the one that’s used for new homes or when adding some rooms in your current home. The remodel housing is utilized in installing recessed lighting to an already existent ceiling. The IC or non-insulation contact rated housing is used so that the surrounding insulation will not be disturbed.
Airtight housing, on the other hand, is the one that decreases the airflow between the upper space – which is often the attic – and the room right below. Shallow ceiling housing is the housing that’s used on ceilings with two-inch by six-inch joists. Lastly, the slope ceiling housing allows light angling on sloped ceilings.
The trim is the part of the recessed light that fits right into the housing then extends and forms the outer ring. The baffle trim comes with a ribbed interior and is generally the most utilized kind of trim.
Another kind of trim is the eyeball trim which allows you to focus the light right where you need it. This is used for accent lighting or when you want some wall wash light. There is also a wall wash trim that comes with shield on the other half of the light. This allows for a more focused light directly highlighting a feature such as an artwork or the fireplace.
The shower trim comes with tempered glass for safety. These are wet-rated so they can be used even inside shower rooms.
Recessed lighting can also be used inside the living room, home office, the kitchen, and just about any part of a home.
The Recessed Lighting Finish
Your cue should be the kind of finishes that you already have in your home. If there are many brushed nickel door handles and hardware, then this should also be the recessed lighting finish that you should use.
Popular finishes are white, nickel, black, bronze and bronze and frosted glass.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, recessed light, recessed lighting, recessed lights
Posted in Accents, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Lighting | Comments Off on The Fascinating Development of Recessed Lighting
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 »
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