Lighting
Layer 3: Lights for Feeling Showcase lights, also known as accent lights, all have one thing in common: They help a space feel more inviting and comfortable. Whether you use illuminated cabinets, chandeliers, sconces or pendants, showcase lights should be visible from wherever you stand or sit in the kitchen. That way you’ll get the benefit of this feel-good lighting at all times. Showcase lights might also help you perform functional tasks in the kitchen, but their main purpose is to draw attention and make a room feel complete.
Layer 2: Lights for Knowing Designers call it “ambient light,” but it is really just a layer of light to help us know where we are and where we are going. Recessed “can” down lights are a great option here because they light up the floor and bounce light off cabinet fronts to create a bright, well-lit space. Adding toe-kick lighting underneath cabinets and islands is also a great way to help prevent stubbing toes at night. Wall sconces are another way to provide ambient lighting that can help you better navigate your kitchen.
Layer 1: Lights for Doing Your kitchen lighting scheme should start with creating a functional workspace. Adding lights where you need them the most, such as above countertops, sinks and cooktops, will let you perform manual tasks in a bright and safe atmosphere. We need light to see what we’re doing, especially when using sharp knives and high-temperature burners. You want to protect your fingers, so getting this layer right is important. In the kitchen above, note the strong lighting over the cooktop and the pendant lighting above the countertop. LED lights mounted underneath cabinets are also a great way to add functional lighting to your kitchen.
Layer 4: Lights for Changing As the sun changes location in the sky, lighting needs inside the kitchen change as well. During the day, natural light from windows might be all the lighting your kitchen requires. But at night, you’ll want your kitchen brighter for cooking meals and more dramatic for entertaining guests. Adding dimmers to your kitchen lighting is key for setting the mood. Keep in mind that our eyes require more light as we age. So if you expect to stay in your home for awhile, you might want to add more lights than necessary now so you’ll have them later.
Doing” lights help you perform manual tasks like prepping and cooking in the kitchen. “Knowing” lights help you navigate your way around a kitchen. “Feeling” lights make a kitchen feel inviting and comfortable. “Changing” lights help you adjust to the time of day and set a desired mood. And finally, the cherry and icing on top are all about adding decorative fixtures that let your personal style shine.
The counters in this kitchen designed by Rittenhouse Builders are well-lit by pendant lights and undercabinet lights, but many kitchens suffer from having more light shining down on the floor than on countertops where it’s needed most. Adding well-positioned recessed lights, pendant lights above islands and undercabinet lighting are among the ways to ensure your kitchen work areas have enough light.
John Cullen Lighting How Do I Minimize Disturbance to Wildlife? Show consideration for wildlife by not leaving lights on overnight. “It’s important to restrict the lighting to only when you’re sitting outside or you’re inside and want to light up the garden for ambiance,” Rogers says. “Artificial light can disrupt animal behavior, especially breeding and hunting, and can disorientate nocturnal pollinators.”
AV Genie Ltd Can I Incorporate Smart Technology? Bestall says his company regularly incorporates smart technology into clients’ lighting designs. “It’s fun, too, to use products such as a smart bulb, which is an easy retrofit to existing lights.” You also can connect programs to your voice-activated technology indoors, he says, and extend an indoor lighting system to incorporate the lights outside. “Smart systems allow wireless switching, which is incredibly convenient,” Davies adds. “This can be to a wall-mounted switch, a fob or, even better, via an app on your smartphone. In the same way, you can now unlock, de-ice and warm up your car via an app, you can control your garden lighting from any location so long as you have internet access.”
“A garden can be lit using either mains or low-voltage lighting,” where a transformer reduces the number of volts needed, Davies says. “Mains voltage may be cheaper, but I’d always recommend the use of low voltage on account of safety.” Bestall agrees. “Low voltage is quick and easy to install, especially if you use a plug-and-play system,” he says. “Don’t opt for a cheap one, though, and make sure the transformer is an external one, as these usually come with a simple plug that you can place into an outdoor weatherproof socket.” As for the light fixtures, Rogers recommends ground and mounted lights. “Mounted lights can be installed on trellis, walls and trees to cast light across areas underneath,” she says. “However, most of our lighting is ambient plant lighting using spike spots or ground-fixed spots. “LED strip lighting can illuminate dark gaps beneath stairs, and inset lighting in paving can highlight objects such as pots,” she adds. “Step lighting can be recessed into the side walls, so the tread is well-lit for people to climb.” Bestall isn’t convinced by solar lighting, though. “I’ve yet to find one that works for longer than two years, so I’m not sure how eco-friend...
Where Should I Put My Outdoor Lights? The first thing to do is to establish if there are any paths or stairs that need lighting for safety and practicality, Rogers says. “Then we concentrate on lighting the focal points of the garden, such as trees, water features and sculptures. We keep the rest of the lighting subtle.” “The first phase is often based on a client’s lifestyle — for example, whether they keep a bike they use for commuting in the shed, have chickens that will need feeding in the dark winter months, or have wheelie bins at the bottom of a dark driveway,” Bestall says. He adds that a second, decorative, layer of lighting could include uplighting trees (such as multistem and pleached varieties), backlighting strong topiary shapes and washing lighting over steps, driveways and paths. “It’s really important not to overdo it, as less is more in many instances,” Davies says. “However, light the space evenly, taking care not to create black holes between highlights.” “Garden lighting is as much about what you don’t light as what you do,” Bestall says. “In an open country garden, for example, we never illuminate boundaries, as it makes the garden appear smaller. Also, if...
This photo shows the Nebula pendant, made from banana fiber and roughly 24 inches in diameter. The Nebula collection is inspired by interstellar clouds of dust and gas — regions where stars begin to form. The designer is Milan artist Mirei, who started her career in her native Philippines. She is represented in the U.S. by Brooklyn, New York-based Costantini.
The Dew pendant from SkLO Studio in Healdsburg, California, made its U.S. debut at ICFF and stems from work that design director Karen Gilbert had done with vases. Its drip-like appearance is created by adding layers while the glass is hot. The pendant is available in both a sandblasted and a clear finish, pictured. SkLO showed the fixture for the first time at the Euroluce show in Milan.
Love the gentle light in the far corner
13. Chandeliers. Designer Christine Ramaekers and the owners of this Michigan home smartly steered away from going with typical shade pendents over the island. Instead, a pair of crystal chandeliers add just the right touch of sparkle to complete the space. “If we chose something too simple, the kitchen would just fade away,” Ramaekers says.
wall mounted sconces
careful with staem onto conch lights and also put them 65-70 inches from the floor and 25-30 inches apart.. this picture: I loce the supprt brackets/railing aound the vanity
stair lighting
don't used recess lights alone unless for a specific focus. Mix up with sconce lighting etc
sometimes lighting is better than art
sconce lighting
Great tip: Think about night light. The undercabinet lighting in this bathroom is motion-controlled and turns on during late-night visits.
Cherry on Top: Decorative Light Fixtures The fun part is choosing decorative fixtures that look at home in your kitchen, like this barn-style sconce in a country cottage. Think carefully about your personal style and kitchen design and then determine whether the light fixtures you choose can add any of the other layers of light needed.
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