Archive for the 'Lighting' Category

Jun 11 2010

Simple Tips For Outdoor Lighting in Your Home

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Lighting

Are you looking to add outdoor lighting to your home? There are so many lighting reproductions available today that are not just style-friendly but style-specific in ways that add architectural richness and detail to your home. Lighting reproductions have been around for a while. Early American fixtures, for instance, have been popular since the 1920s. But as authentic period examples become increasingly rare, today’s best reproductions often replicate those pieces’ quirky imperfections. Yet any of these designs can be rated for use outdoors on the porch, by an entry or alongside a walkway in your yard. Is your home Early or Colonial Revival? You can choose from rectangular lanterns with or without guards, and onion and globe lamps with decorative carry straps for wall, ceiling or post mount. Best of all, these replications are made with authentic materials: tin, terne, iron and copper.

Gaslight Fixtures
If you’re looking for fixtures for a mid to late 19th century home and would like to install real gaslight fixtures, many options are available closely modeled after the flared, multi-paned, lantern, globe and acorn shades popular in that period. If you’re considering both gas and electric options, Charleston Gaslight offers both in a variety of 19th century and Early American styles.

Mission-style Lighting
Arts and Crafts and Mission-era lighting has never been so readily available. If you’re looking for a traditional reproduction, at least a dozen manufacturers base their pieces on true period examples. But for those who are ready to ride the next wave of Arts and Crafts design, others offer sophisticated interpretations of classic pieces in materials like copper and bronze. Many modern versions of reproductions are tailored for specific uses beyond the traditional entry light and lamp post. For example, you can find Mission-inspired bronze footlights at Coe Studios. Brass Light Gallery offers versatile designs that easily morph from entries and porches to column mounts and garden path lights.

Electric-Era Lights
Almost every style made after the 19th century revolves around electronic-era lighting. These styles include everything from Colonial Revival facsimiles and reproductions of “medieval” designs originally found on Tudor and Spanish Colonial Revival homes, to those bare-bulb over-the-garage industrial lights and Atomic Age fixtures re-created from the grooviest lights that ever graced a sixties porch. Clearly, “electronic-era lighting” refers to electric fixtures, but most will accept GU24 bulbs as well. These designs are available in a variety of metals, from cast iron to aluminum to bronze, and boast inventive finishes from black enamel to unlacquered bronze that often capture the look of period pieces.

About the Author…
For the past 25 years Avo Barsoumian has helped home owners with their home flooring and interior decorating needs. He is the owner of Carpet Wagon, a family owned flooring company in Southern California. They have a huge selection of elegant hardwood flooring, beautiful laminate flooring and plush carpeting. Searching for discount laminate flooring for your new town house or a large selection of discount carpet to makeover your older house? Then Carpet Wagon carries everything you need.

No responses yet

Mar 01 2010

Small Kitchen Design – Implementing Track Lighting Fixtures

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Lighting

A small kitchen used to be a design nightmare. With new design trends and utilizing every inch of space, a great kitchen can be developed without looking cramped or overstuffed. Many smaller homes did not leave much space for the kitchen, so to make it functional and roomy, designs have been developed to increase the usage area.

There are several ways to design a small kitchen. You need to decide what you need to fit in the space and how to do it. You will definitely need to have great lighting, ample storage and of course appliances.

When purchasing appliances for a small kitchen, you will want to get slightly smaller space saving items. Refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers are available in small sizes to accommodate small spaces. As you look at cabinets, you may want to get lighter shades as it will make the space seem larger. Dark colors and grains go much better in larger spaces. Utilizing glass fronts for some of the cabinets can give depth to the room.

The counters should be somewhat deeper to give you more work space as well as more room for table top appliances. As with any kitchen, seating can be difficult to fit in. You can create seating by using a small round table with two chairs that can tuck into a corner. A wall mounted counter to create bar seating is also a great way to use space. The stools can be pushed under the counter to create more work space.

To increase storage, you can build your cabinets almost to the ceiling to give vertical height and extra shelves for items you do not use often. A small island in the middle of the space can give extra counter area to work as well as storage underneath. By hanging pots and pans, you can save the space for these items for other things. For more narrow and long kitchen spaces you may want to line the counters on either side of the walkway to create a galley style kitchen.

Lighting is very important in any kitchen design. For a smaller kitchen it is even more important. You do not want a large hanging light as it may make the room look smaller. Recessed ceiling lighting will make it look more spacious. You should use small track lighting fixtures to illuminate work areas and create the ambiance of a larger space. Track lighting is wonderful to use underneath cabinets to light the counter area. Because you can point track lighting in different directions, you can have smaller fixtures but just as much light.

Just because your kitchen is small does not mean that it is not workable. Using a small kitchen design and track lighting fixtures that highlights the space will give a kitchen that anyone would love. Check with design stores and on the internet for interesting kitchen designs.

No responses yet

Feb 28 2010

Crystal Chandelier – The Elegance and Glamour That It Can Provide

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Lighting

You cannot get the elegance and glamour that you want for your home through renovation. It is usually achieved by installing all the needed furniture and fixtures that can give those criteria.

There are times that no matter how hard you try to arrange and change your furniture and fixture you still end up unsatisfied. This is due to the wrong choice of your lighting fixture. Actually there are lots of lighting fixtures that are available out in the market. But having the right one will be a little bit tedious on your part especially with the abundance of choices that you have.

One of the most elegant and glamorous lighting fixture that you can install for your home is crystal chandelier. This fixture can provide a certain glow to your home. It has the ability to enhance the natural beauty of your home. With this, you can be sure that you can achieve the goal that you want for your home.

With the countless options that are available out in the market, there will be a great chance of picking the wrong one. It is better to make a specific plan first so that you will be able to end up with the right fixture.

Ion making plans it is important to decide first the place where you plant to install it. Each room in your home requires a specific designs and size of crystal chandelier. Most of the time homeowners install one to their living room, dinning room, bathroom and bedroom. All of these rooms in your home require a specific design so you have to be careful in choosing one.

There are plenty of designs that are out in the market. Though there are lots of modern design crystal chandeliers, classic designs are still one of the most popular. Classic designs are timeless that is why there are lots of homeowners who prefer to have classic design for their home. Now there are modern designs that are base on the creative mind of those manufacturers. These modern designs are also base on the timeless beauty of those classic designs.

In buying crystal chandelier, one of the most important factors that you need to consider is the price. In buying one you should not base your purchase with the amount that you have. But of course you cannot buy one if you have insufficient amount. All you have to do is to pick a specific design and if you think you cannot afford it, then you have to wait for the store to go on sale so that you can avail the lighting fixture that you wanted.

Crystal Chandelier
Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com – SEO Company

No responses yet

Feb 27 2010

Using LED Lighting in Your Home

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Lighting

While LED lighting is not usually the main source of light in most homes, new technology is making LED lighting far more useful than you may have previously thought. Your home can benefit from these clean highly energy efficient sources of light in so many different places. You might be wondering where exactly, so let’s talk about the different uses of LED lights in a home.

First of all, you will find that LED lights work well under cabinets. As most of us know, the kitchen can be a room with many hard to illuminate dark areas. Installing lights under your cabinets to lighten up your counter tops can help a lot, and you will probably be surprised how much it helps bring light to the entire room. Modern LED under cabinet lighting uses very little energy, about 1.3 watts per foot, is easy to insall, and can even be dimmed for night lighting. Whether you are preparing dinner or just hanging out in the kitchen area with friends, you will love the additional lighting.

Another place you can use LED’s is in a hallway or on a staircase. Sometimes you need a little light in a dark hallway, especially when you get up in the middle of the night, but you don’t always need the light to be as bright as possible. You’ve probably tried the standard light with the dimmer switch, but more than likely you turned it too far and nearly blinded yourself. LED rope lights along the bottom of the walls and on steps will guide you to your destination quickly and painlessly.

They can also be used for what is known as accent lighting. This will not be the main lighting in a room, but are placed to bring added character to a space. LED puck lights are perfect for this task. They can provide just the right touch, without the heat of traditional halogen or xenon puck lights. Keep LED’s as accent lighting in mind next time you are considering a remodel, or just want to spice up the house.

If you want to have some real fun, you can always light up your outside house numbers with LED’s, or have the numbers themselves be LED’s. This will help others to find your house at night and give the exterior of your home a little bit of character. Make sure that you look into this amazing feature for your house.

It’s hard to deny that LED’s are both functional and enjoyable. They are a clean & green lighting source, they’re useful, and they have so many different applications. It might be a bit before LED lighting can replace all your homes’ lighting more effectively, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot make use of them in lots of areas now. You will find that there are many choices for this type of lighting, so take your time and determine which LED lights can make the biggest improvement to your home.

Barry Wax of Brodwax Lighting is pleased to offer a good selection of LED lighting fixtures along with a variety of other light fixtures on the company website. Visit today.

No responses yet

Nov 21 2009

Switch Plates – A Small Fixture That Can Make Or Break The Look Of Any Room

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Lighting

As your eyes travel through your friend’s new living room, you become pretty impressed by what you see, until you come to the switch plates on the wall. As beautiful as everything else is in the room, these fixtures just are not getting the job done. Really, even though they are a small detail, it is usually the small details that make or break a project.

So, to help your friend out, all you need to do is just drop a hint and let her know that with all the switch plates selections out there, she can easily fix the problem and bring the look of her room together. For example, maybe your friend has a traditional looking living room, filled with antique furniture, a paint job to match, and fabulous woodwork. The ones that she currently has on the walls just clash because they are made from plastic and have that ugly cream color to them. Well, those are just not going to work with her motif and ones that will are some that are crafted from copper that have a vintage finish and intricate detailing pounded right into them. Or, another nice option for a room that has an antique feel are ones crafted out of porcelain or ceramic that have lovely hand painted designs all over them.

When it comes down to it, there are a lot of switch plates to choose from and those just mentioned are only a few of the choices. You can get ones made out of wood, like maple or ash, that come in a wide variety of finishes, including plain or cherry. Others that are available include ones made from different types of metal like steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and chrome or silver that can have a brushed, even oil dipped finish. There are some that are even made out of decorative stone and many others crafted from plastic, but instead of just being a cream color, are available in all types of colors and a slew of fabulous looking patterns. You can even get ones crafted out of brass that are hand crafted, featuring eloquent scrollwork and patterns. Really, there are just so many options to choose from and for an easy way to check them all out, just hit the Internet and do some online shopping. You, and especially your friend, do not have to leave the comfort of your home to see what you could get and in no time you can find the perfect one to match the motif of any room in your home.

If you want to bring the look and feel of any room together, you need to make sure that you have everything in place, particularly the little things. You saw how not having them in place ruined the look of your friend’s living room, so do not let the same thing happen to you. Switch plates so happen to be one of these small details, and with all the available options, you can easily find ones that will cap off the look of any room in your, or your friend’s, home.

As an owner of many indoor and outdoor home furnishing and design sites, Jennifer Akre, discusses valuable product information and comments on switch plates and switchplate covers. Learn how to decorate your home or garden with style. Click today – Shop for: light switch plate.

No responses yet

Nov 20 2009

Give Your Deck A New Look With Decorative Lighting

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Lighting

Fitting of a deck on the house can allow you to use extra working space and there must be appropriate wood outdoor deck lighting which serves both the purpose for security and illumination. If you have outdoor pool where you would like to enjoy by sitting around and have some leisure, you can use wood outdoor deck lighting. You can decorate the deck by placing tables and chairs where you can not only enjoy quite dinner but also doze off in the summer evenings.

You can modify the basic structure of the house through various stuffs available in the market for designing the house. If your priority is safety then subdued light of 12 volts will be the right one for you for wood outdoor deck. Such a light will not be harmful for the kids playing around who might unknowingly touch it and it is also safer for pets as well. And it is not hazardous if situated near the pool area incase of it falling into the water.

One of the best alternatives is the use of fiber optics as it is heatproof and electric shockproof. It is safer in the under water fittings and is really helpful in designing pools. Another benefit for wood outdoor deck lighting is the graphics of the color. It can be made to change accordingly with the change in the season but only when it is used in fiber optics.

Beautification and Security-Hand in Hand

Deck can be used for stairways walking into the house or into the pavement; it will create remarkably good sense for wood deck lighting and also avoid the injuries by falling from the stairs for visitors and family. You can also decorate the mounted deck by installing railing which can be decorated with small and soft lighting which will not only provide illumination of the stairways but also give facelift to the wooden deck.

You can make use of different structures of wood outdoor deck lighting to give definite designing of illumination in different styles. Light fittings can be separated and put apart which will provide illumination to a larger area and can be changed accordingly with your requirements. Here you can also have choice for 20 volts and 120 volts lighting for bright or soft illumination. You can create a different look every few months by installing the different types of lights according to different whether conditions.

You must keep in mind that wood outdoor deck lighting should be fitted in such a way that it completely matches the design of the house. There are lots of choices available for wood outdoor deck lighting in different elements, shapes, shades fittings and easy-to-use guide through which you can design it by your own. This saves money for hiring any professional for it.

You can also find more info on Outdoor Lighting and Gas Lighting Fixtures Outdoors. Outdoorlightinghelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Outdoor Lighting.

No responses yet

Nov 19 2009

A New Beckon In Outdoor Lighting- Solar Outdoor Lighting

Published by L.A. Remodeler under Lighting

For lighting outside the house there are number of options and all the needed stuff can be easily accessed in the market with the guideline kit. You can install lights on the pathways, on the walls, in the gardens and stairways which enhances the look of the house and also serves act as the potential security and safety arrangement. You can also buy wireless lamps and lightings which can be placed anywhere you like. if you find this a bit hectic in electrical light fittings which requires regular maintenance. Then you should try out solar outdoor lighting.

One of the best alternatives for electrical illumination is the solar outdoor lighting. You do not require any passing of wiring lines, not much fitting cost compared to electrical fitting and it is fully upgraded with the absorbance of solar energy from sun, which gets transformed into the electrical energy which further generates light. Solar outdoor lighting does not require any monthly cost like billings and maintenance compared to electric bills. Due to innovation and modern techniques which has reduced the drawbacks of the solar power which were encountered in the past.

Solar Rock Illumination

The latest innovation of the solar lighting is solar rock light. Solar rock is the substance where solar rays are absorbed, which looks very similar to natural rock. This is not only easy to carry it does not require any electricity and requires only the light from sun which in turn produces power. After considering the demand for the solar outdoor lighting one can easily say that this is the beginning of the new era for solar energy which will sustain for lifetime and further more scientific inventions are going to increment the use of solar power.

A Few Adorning Thoughts for Solar Outdoor Lighting

Lets check out the number of uses for solar outdoor lighting, it can enhance look to your house by utilizing energy from sunrays. Solar rock can be used by placing it anywhere outside the house which could give the beautiful vision in the structure of the house. It looks similar to natural rock this offers adorable feature for the house decoration. Solar rock can be used for garden as it looks alike a natural rock and it adds to the beauty of the garden. You can keep it in an angular way wherever you require light at night. This solar outdoor lighting can be useful for guest in finding your house during night.

Solar outdoor lighting is valuable for designing purpose by installing it in such a way, which improves the feel of your house. Place the lights in one straight line right from the gate to the house’s entrance this will really give definition to the outlook of your house.

You can also find more info on Outdoor Solar Landscape Lighting and Outdoor Stairway Lighting. Outdoorlightinghelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Outdoor Lighting.

No responses yet