Cellunar Lightings

Choosing The Right Lights for Your Look and Needs

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:08:00 +0000

A successful lighting scheme that meets practical needs and creates atmosphere plays an important part in establishing the style and character of your home.

There's more to home lighting than a central ceiling fixture backed up by a couple of wall or table lamps. A well-planned lighting scheme should be both practical and decorative.

On the practical side, the right sort of lighting provides illumination for cooking, cleaning, sewing, reading, and many other day-to-day tasks. Decorative lighting helps to create a relaxed atmosphere, and should complement your color scheme and furnishings.

A successful home lighting scheme is made up of several different elements. Most rooms will need a carefully thought-out mixture of these effects to work well.

Lighting Choices

General lighting provides overall or background light and should be used in every room.

A hanging ceiling light is a common type of light fitting, offering a variety of shade styles in materials as diverse as fabric, paper, or metal. A ceiling pendant that is the sole source of light in a room is a limiting choice; it provides a bright central space with shadowy edges.

Recessed or semi-recessed low voltage down lights spaced across the ceiling will give a good level of clear light. Depending on the type of bulb used, and the housing, a recessed down light can spread light over a wide area or in a narrow beam. Semi-recessed down lights (sometimes called eyeballs) can be swivelled.

Controlling down lights with a dimmer system is a good idea because you can then have some of the lights off while others are on, and can vary brightness.

Task lighting is designed to give concentrated, directional light over a small area and may be used in conjunction with general and accent fixtures. The type of task lighting you choose depends on the activity you have in mind.

A desk light with a flexible arm is the perfect example, as it can be adjusted to provide light exactly where it is needed.

A reading lamp should be tall enough to shine onto the pages of the book, but not into your eyes. A floor lamp positioned behind the reader is ideal.

Light for writing, sewing, or any other hobby should be positioned so that it shines down onto the work. Rise and fall pendants are useful for this, especially if you work at the dining table. Recessed strip lighting is useful for providing countertop light in a kitchen. Accent lighting is used to show off plants, pictures, collections, and interesting architectural features. There are many different types, which can be used to light objects from above, below or behind, or at an angle.

A narrow beam halogen down light may be used to light a single vase or piece of china. The lower part of the object remains in shade, so this gives a dramatic floating effect.

Pictures are often lit from above. An adjustable eyeball or ceiling spotlight focused on the picture, or a special framing spotlight, which will flood the painting with light but leave the walls around it in shadow, are worth considering, as well as the traditional brass picture light.

A table lamp with a wide based shade will throw a pool of light onto the surface below it and is an attractive way to light a small collection or some framed photographs.

Floor standing drum torchieres can be positioned below large plants to create dramatic leaf patterns on the walls and ceiling. You can light objects on glass shelves very effectively by positioning a row of small halogen spotlights below the bottom shelf. Wall-mounted sconces, wallwashers, or tall floor lamp-style designs will illuminate the detail on an interesting cornice or ceiling.

Small floor torchieres positioned behind a sofa or armchair will wash the walls with light and make the room seem larger.

Bathroom Vanity Lighting in Your Own Home!

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:16:00 +0000

Bathroom vanity lighting doesn't have to be boring. Today, you can light your bathroom vanity with wall sconces and bathroom bars in an amazing range of styles, with settings ranging from Venetian bronze to brushed nickel. Likewise, ceiling fixtures offer excellent variety too, allowing your bathroom decor to be as unique and personally yours as any area of your home. Ensure you get the best-quality light fixtures for your home.

Lighting the bathroom vanity is especially important because it has a dramatic effect on how you see yourself. Tasks like applying makeup, shaving, and styling hair are much difficult to do with a poorly lit vanity. In this area, good color-rendering lights are necessary to enable you to see yourself in a natural light while reducing shadows on your face.

When it comes to bathroom vanity lighting, overhead lights are simply not good enough. When light shines only from above, you will see unsightly dark shadows under your eyes and the texture of your skin will be accentuated. Frontal lighting is necessary to reduce both contrast and shadows.

Sconces, naturally one on each side of the mirror, provide smooth lighting for both sides of your face. A row of vanity lights across the top of the mirror can be used with wall sconces to provide good, even lighting and give your bathroom vanity a coordinated look. You could even place theatrical lighting strips around your vanity mirror to see yourself the way the stars do. In addition to lighting for the vanity mirror, good general lighting is of maximum importance. A ceiling fixture is a good idea for general lighting. For extra warmth on frosty mornings, consider adding a recessed infrared heat lamp as well.

Discover the Secrets of Outdoor Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:44:00 +0000

There are buildings we pass by daily on our way to work and we don't seem to notice their beauty. Some have astonishing architectural elements, but in a rush it is hard to notice them. Things change at night when these buildings shine with an imposing splendor: outdoor lighting makes a lasting impression.

Dull buildings need high-tech light sources properly integrated within the design, to shine at night with a fairytale like brightness. Modern outdoor illumination is no longer reduced to "making light". It becomes an art; a process that requires skills, talent, knowledge and the right lighting equipments to create the perfect light scenarios. Building owners, architects and light designers spend fortunes on modern lighting technologies to create award-ready light patterns with special light and color effects and digital appliances able to display real-time images on enormous video walls. Lighting artists employ special software to simulate diverse light effects prior to starting a project. There's nothing left to chance.

One might even think that so much light is wasting the energy resource of a town. But this is not entirely true. Environment aware lighting professionals recommend environmental friendly luminaries and economical systems. Slowly but sure neon, halogen, tungsten and fluorescent lights are replaced with non-toxic, long lasting, energy efficient and recyclable LED light sources. The LEDs emit a pure light, close to the natural spectrum, safe for the environment (with no toxic gas emissions and no UV or IR emissions), controllable and flicker free. The results are often remarkable: serene outdoor lighting patterns, directional accents and balanced light.

With outdoor lighting buildings reinvent their appearance and contribute to the enhancement of the contemporary cityscapes. Many modern institutions choose up-to-the-minute outdoor lighting technologies not only for beautification reasons, but also for branding purposes: to gain public awareness or to knock off their competitors. The façade of a bank might become the central stage point of a cityscape in a matter of days.

This new trend in outdoor lighting grows rapidly. Even domestic users spend more time decorating their homes and gardens with modern outdoor lights. Some are satisfied with single colored luminous building contours, while others spend more on light sources able to change colors and intensity. The large choice of solar lights for garden and path illumination help homeowners cut energy costs with up to 20%. What does this mean for you? That it is time to change your old DC powered outdoor lights with solar battery powered lights.

Don't choose the cheapest. You need a good quality product to provide light for more than 1-2 hours. Many bargain products are made in China. Made in China is not always synonym with low quality. There are many Chinese companies struggling for a place among the trusted manufacturers and when it comes to LED sources in general you can generally trust a Made in Chine product. But, as they say: better safe than sorry. Do not purchase unless you are sure that you'll really get what you pay for. Choose a brand product, or if you want to choose a bargain product read carefully the manufacturer's disclaimer and carefully read warrantees and quality certificates.

101 Guide Decorating with Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:39:00 +0000

Want to learn about the lighting tricks? It is better to learn the lighting requirements before things going out of your. Your awareness can save your money and safety. Proper lighting makes your rooms more fascinating and creates a groovy environment. Let some questions be raised:

Are you going for outdoor lighting or indoor lighting?
Which lighting kit should you prefer to purchase?
Which manufacturer should you prefer?

These Questions mostly depends upon your budget as well as lighting requirements.

Night life in cities would be much more attractive with the use of overgenerous lights in architectural buildings. By passing the streets of New York, every time you will want to see that buildings with lavish lighting. So, you need to choose right lighting option for your Sweet Home. From Varieties of lighting kits, some of the popular, easy-to-use and affordable lighting kits are as such:

Recessed Lighting
Track Lighting
Cable Lighting
Ceiling and Pendants
Wall Lighting

The Recessed Lighting is ceiling lighting fixture, which is installed into a hollow opening in the roof & creates an impression of shining and focusing down from a hole in the roof. Basically, two types of recessed lighting fixtures are trim and housing. Track Lighting is mainly for a room which facilitates fixing of individual spotlights with a thin wall-tied or roof-hanged metal track. Track lighting fixtures are very popular and convenient way to light specific areas as theatres, yet you can use miniature versions of these lights. Don’t compromise with the cost and with the cheaper products. Proper lighting can give your house a gorgeous look during nights. Lighting is a proper way to decorate a house.

The Right Light: Is There Such a Thing?

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:05:00 +0000

Lighting can make a huge difference in how you and others feel about your home. Lighting adds drama and aesthetics to a room. Done the right way, it can make a small room look airy and open and a large room seem cozy and attractive. It can create a motivating atmosphere for an entertaining evening, or a feeling of relaxation after an exhausting day at work.

Lighting can make a difference in several ways.There are three fundamental types of lighting for a home -- general, task and accent. A high-quality lighting plan amalgamates these types to light an area according to style and function.

In the bathroom, it is best to have a shadow-free, even lighting that facilitates easy grooming, shaving and applying makeup.For bedroom lighting, you want to produce a general atmosphere of quiet recreation, yet offer some bright spots for activities like reading.

The dining room lighting should be practical and aesthetically attractive. This lighting sets the mood for an array of functions.The kitchen is first and foremost a working area, but it is also a place for family and friends to gather. Lighting that is relaxed and purposeful is required.

Living rooms need general lighting for entertaining and viewing television, task lighting for sewing or reading and accent lighting for plants, artwork and appealing architectural features. Dimming controls are perfect for living rooms, as they allow one to design lighting to go with each mood and activity.Outdoor lighting augments the splendor of your property, makes the home safer and increases the number of enjoyable hours you spend outside the house.

Hybrid Solar Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:46:00 +0000

Hybrid Solar Lighting is a technology that can light houses with natural solar light. It captures solar light and channels it directly into the rooms using optical fibers. This would save cost and makes our environment greener.

LED Lightings for Greener Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has become more and more common these days for indoor lighting solutions due to their human and environmental safety, cost, and longevity. LEDs are widely used as indicator lights on electronic devices and increasingly in higher power applications such as flashlights and area lighting.

An LED is a solid-state semiconductor diode that emits light when an electrical current is applied in the forward direction of the device, as in the simple LED circuit. The effect is a form of electro-luminescence where incoherent and narrow-spectrum light is emitted.

An LED is usually a small area light source, often with optics added to the chip to shape its radiation pattern and assist in reflection. The color of the emitted light depends on the composition and condition of the semi-conducting material used, and can be infrared, visible, or ultraviolet.

There many benefits using LED as the lighting source. For example:

LEDs produce more light per watt than incandescent bulbs; this is useful in battery powered or energy-saving devices.
LEDs can emit light of an intended color without the use of color filters that traditional lighting methods require. This is more efficient and can lower initial costs.
The solid package of the LED can be designed to focus its light. Incandescent and fluorescent sources often require an external reflector to collect light and direct it in a usable manner.
LEDs are ideal for use in applications that are subject to frequent on-off cycling, unlike fluorescent lamps that burn out more quickly when cycled frequently, or HID lamps that require a long time before restarting.
LEDs can very easily be dimmed either by Pulse-width modulation or lowering the forward current.
LEDs light up very quickly. A typical red indicator LED will achieve full brightness in microseconds. LEDs used in communications devices can have even faster response times.
LEDs mostly fail by dimming over time, rather than the abrupt burn-out of incandescent bulbs.
LEDs can have a relatively long useful life. One report estimates 35,000 to 50,000 hours of useful life, though time to complete failure may be longer. Fluorescent tubes typically are rated at about 30,000 hours, and incandescent light bulbs at 1,000–2,000 hours.
LEDs, being solid state components, are difficult to damage with external shock, unlike fluorescent and incandescent bulbs which are fragile.
LEDs can be very small and are easily populated onto printed circuit boards.
LEDs do not contain mercury, unlike fluorescent lamps.
Due to the human eye's visual persistence LEDs can be pulse width or duty cycle modulated in order to save power or achieve an apparent higher brightness for a given power input. The eye will tend to perceive the peak current light level rather than the average current light level when the modulation rate is higher than approximately 1000 hertz and the duty cycle is greater than 15 to 20%

Are You Ready to Have a Beautiful Kitchen by Just Tweaking Your Light Source?

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:53:00 +0000

The average American kitchen is fast becoming the hub of modern family activities. Gone are the days when the kitchen is used solely for the purpose of cooking family meals. Instead, today's kitchens are what we can accurately describe as multi-functional rooms.

The modern kitchen can now be used in preparing sumptuous meals, as a venue for the family to discuss events which transpired during the day, as an ideal place to entertain guests, as a study area for the kids, as a home office and virtually anything and everything in between!

Given this plethora of functions, a good kitchen must have a sufficient light source. We need to have the correct lighting at all the conceivable spaces we have so that we can be comfortable in doing whatever it is that we need to accomplish.

Wattage? Candle power? Reflectance? You may be overwhelmed with all these highly technical terms that a lighting specialist may throw your way when discussing what may be the best lighting options for your kitchen. Don't despair! You're not the only one in that situation.

We may not have the technical knowledge or have a grasp of the terms involved in this matter but we do know what we want and need. We can still tell them what effects we want in the final run.

Understanding the basics of lighting can benefit both the lighting specialist and us homeowners in the process. A kitchen is one area of the house where there are a number of different surfaces present. Countertops, cabinets and kitchen appliances are made from different materials and thus, reflect light differently. Furthermore, colors also play an important role in selecting the right lighting. As we all know, dark surfaces reflect light poorly while a predominantly white kitchen will reflect light generously. Hence, a good lighting specialist will take note of all these features to come up with the best possible lighting solution for your kitchen.

There are four basic types of lighting available for our homes. These include sunlight, incandescent, halogen and fluorescent light. Let us discuss each one of these to give you an idea of what type of lighting you may need.

Sunlight. It's a good lighting source and best of all, it's free! What could be more relaxing than basking in the warm glow of the morning sunshine as you awaken each morning? What could be better than sitting down for breakfast with the first glow of sunlight peeping through your kitchen windows?

Sunlight can be counted as the best source of lighting. However, it is also not always reliable. Not all days are bright, right?

Incandescent lamps. These kinds of light are highly favored since they emit a warm glow. These are available in a wide array of shapes and sizes and are generally available in most lighting stores. A typical incandescent lamp has a lifespan of approximately 1,000 hours.

Fluorescent lights. These are considered more efficient and more energy-saving compared to incandescent lamps. These may also come in different sizes and shapes and last longer (7,500 to 20,000 hours). One major setback of using fluorescent lights, however, is that they have a tendency to make some people feel physically ill.

Halogen light. Halogen lights are comparatively smaller in size than all the lighting sources discussed here but they give off a higher light output. Hence, they are ideal for highlighting specific items or spaces in a room.

There you have it, a run down of the various types of lighting available for our homes. Choose the right one (or a combination of several types) to suit your needs!

Industrial Lighting: What Everybody Ought to Know

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:49:00 +0000

There are many things that set industrial lighting apart from residential and commercial lighting due to the particular needs that industrial lighting serves. Aesthetics is not as important in industrial lighting as it is in residential and commercial lighting and this is just one of the aspects of industrial lighting that sets it apart.

Many people don't realize all the factors that come into play with industrial lighting and they all must be considered when lighting an industrial area. Many types of industrial lighting must be mobile such as the large metal halide mechanisms that are mounted on trailers that road crews use. Also, industrial lighting can be for indoor and outdoor use and this is something to consider when choosing industrial lighting.

Large high wattage industrial lighting mixtures can also give off a lot of heat which can be a problem with indoor applications. The main factors that are usually considered with industrial lighting is coverage and energy use and for this reason a lot of thought and planning must go into an industrial lighting scheme.

Some types of industrial lighting has automated light sensitive switching mechanisms that allow it to automatically go on when it gets dark, while other types of industrial lighting will use a mechanical timer to control it. Weather is another consideration when choosing industrial lighting, as some is manufactured to withstand wet climates.

It is highly recommended that you procure the services of an industrial lighting expert before you run out and begin purchasing industrial lighting to make sure that you get the lighting that best suits your particular needs and also to insure that your lighting needs are fulfilled as economically as possible. Now more than ever there are far more choices available in industrial lighting and a knowledgeable expert can help you to make the right choices.

How to Have Great Lighting for Your Outdoor

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:41:00 +0000

Outdoor lighting, also known as landscape lighting, has known an unexpected boost in the last ten years. This is no longer solely the burden if the local administrations and city halls. Domestic users do approach outdoor lighting and enhance the vista of the domestic residences with various light sources. And no, we don't mean solely Christmas lights!

Outdoor lighting is not only used to create and deliver an emotional aura around a home, or in a private garden, but also for safety and orientation purposes. Customers choose their lighting sources carefully and place them in strategic places to insure safety and to provide for an aesthetic landscape lighting scenario. The light sources for outdoor use should not be too bright, yet bright enough to provide enough light along walkways and prevent trespassing. Bright lights need higher levels of electricity, therefore consume more and increase energy costs. Solar garden lamps are there to solve such difficulties. However, the problem with such lamps is that most of them are of inferior quality or the solar batteries are not strong enough to last the whole night, especially not in winter when they don't even charge enough.

There are some outdoor lighting techniques that might help you create the optimal effects using traditional energy sources.

Spot lighting may be used to highlight statues or central architectural elements. As spots emanate pretty powerful light beams, you should always try to position them higher than the human eyes or in places where people don't usually walk or look directly.

Another method to highlight interesting shapes is called in lighting design terms "shadowing". This is achieved by placing a light spot directly in front of the element you want to create an interesting effect for and point the light towards a vertical surface, to form a shadow.

Wherever you have stairs you might want to employ a technique called step lighting. For this purpose LED fixtures powered by solar cells are ideal, as you don't need too much light on each step, but you need a "contour", a light accent or a light path.

Walkway lighting is pretty important to define landscape pathways and add safety. Solar garden lamps are pretty convenient for this purpose too, but if you prefer having your path lights on for a longer time, you could opt for traditional lamps. Although they consume more electricity and increase energy costs, they are brighter and provide for more safety.

If you have a residence with exclusive architectural traits, you might want to accentuate its beauty with uplighters. The technique is not new and it's already used to enhance many corporate and official buildings.

Underwater illumination is great for artesian fountains, pools and ponds, but underwater lights are generally expensive and difficult to install.

No matter what you choose, just remember that each light should be used carefully to enhance the natural beauty of the scenery and not to add undesired glance and glare. Just stay away from too much if you don't want to fall in the kitsch trap!

15 Tips for Low Voltage Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:27:00 +0000

The use of low voltage lighting systems has become increasingly popular over the past several years. Low voltage halogen and low voltage xenon lighting systems can be found in almost any setting – restaurants, hotels, bars, retail stores, museums, art galleries, offices, and the home. We have all seen these types of lighting systems in the form of cabinet lighting, cove lighting, landscape lighting, picture lights, regular track lighting, flexible track lighting (sometimes referred to as monorail lighting), cable lighting, and under cabinet lighting. Here are 15 things that you should know about these low voltage lighting systems.

Low Voltage A low voltage lighting system usually operates on 12 or 24 volts.
Transformer A transformer is generally used with low voltage lighting systems to “transform” the standard voltage that is normally available (usually 120 volts or 277 volts) to either 12 volts or 24 volts.
Type of Transformer The transformer used in a low voltage lighting system may be either electronic or magnetic.
Maximum Transformer Wattage The wattage rating of the transformer should always be equal to or greater than the total wattage of the lighting system. If an electronic transformer is used, then the maximum wattage of the lighting system may be equal to but not greater than the wattage rating of the electronic transformer. If a toroidal magnetic transformer is used, then the maximum wattage of the lighting system may be equal to but not greater than the wattage rating of the toroidal magnetic transformer. If, however, a conventional EI magnetic transformer is used, then the maximum wattage of the lighting system may be equal to but not greater than 80% of the wattage rating of the conventional EI magnetic transformer.
Minimum Transformer Wattage Transformers usually have a minimum wattage that they must power before they work. For example, it is not uncommon for 60-watt electronic transformer to require that there be at least 10 watts of lighting load and if there is only 5 watts of lighting load connected to this 60W electronic transformer, the lighting system will not work.
Electronic Transformers An electronic transformer is generally lighter in weight, smaller in size, cooler to operate, and quieter than a magnetic transformer. However, electronic transformers cannot provide more than 300 watts of power whereas some magnetic transformers can provide as much as 1200 watts of power.
Voltmeter Readings Because an electronic transformer provides its power at very high frequencies (usually greater than 20,000 Hertz) a standard voltmeter cannot be used to accurately measure the output voltage. Instead, a “true RMS” voltmeter must be used to measure the secondary voltage of an electronic transformer.
AC Electronic Transformer An AC (alternating current) electronic transformer should not be placed any farther than 10 feet from the lighting system. If it should be placed farther away than 10 feet from the lighting system, part or all of the lighting system will experience a lower voltage (known as voltage drop) and have dimmer lamps. Also, the longer the distance from the AC electronic transformer and the lighting system, the greater the chance that it might create radio frequency interference (RFI) with other electronic components in the area.
DC Electronic Transformer A DC (direct current) electronic transformer may be placed as far as 50 feet from the lighting system. The DC output significantly reduces radio frequency interference (RFI) and virtually eliminates the possibility of any voltage drop (the drop in voltage over a long circuit).
Toroidal Magnetic Transformer If a magnetic transformer is used to power a low voltage lighting system, a toroidal magnetic transformer should be considered. This type of magnetic transformer is more efficient, lighter in weight, smaller in size, cooler to operate, and quieter than a conventional EI magnetic transformer.
Wiring a Dimmer A low voltage lighting system can be dimmed whether it is powered by an electronic or a magnetic transformer. When using a dimmer with a low voltage lighting system the dimmer should always be installed so that it is controlling the line voltage side of the transformer, which is also called the primary side or the side connected to 120 volts or 277 volts.
Type of Dimmer The dimmer selected to control an electronic transformer should be specifically designed to control that type of transformer whereas a dimmer selected to control a magnetic transformer should be specifically designed to control that type of transformer.
Electrical Connections All of the electrical connections for a low voltage lighting system must be very tight and secure. If an electrical splice is not very tight and secure, the wires may arc, cause a great deal of heat, cause the entire lighting system to fail, and possibly become a fire hazard.
24-Volt Lamps When using a 24-volt transformer make certain that the lamps are rated for 24 volts - not 12 volts. If 12-volt lamps are used with a 24-volt transformer the lamps will burn out immediately and possibly become a fire hazard.
Thicker Wires Low voltage lighting systems require thicker wires (lower gauge) since more electricity is being conducted by those wires. For example, a 300-watt lighting system operating at 12 volts uses 25 amps of electricity on the low-voltage side of the transformer whereas this same transformer may be powered by 120 volts and 2.5 amps of electricity on the line voltage side of the transformer.

Beautiful Landscape Lighting: The Complete Short Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:13:00 +0000

Have you ever been downtown at night, maybe attending a concert or sporting event and were impressed with the lighting along a park walk or on a fancy office building? Most of us, at one time or another, have experienced awe, comfort, serenity or relaxation at the sight of well-designed landscape lighting. Sometimes lights pointing up at the side of a tall building or low profile lights under plants along a downtown walkway can have a very powerful effect on you. Beautiful lighting can completely changing your mood and experience of events around you.

As far as our homes are concerned we tend to think about outdoor lighting in strictly practical terms. We have a light outside at the front and back doors and maybe a motion detector triggered light above the garage door. They are attached to the house or garage and are there just so you can safely see where you are going when outdoors at night.

But your homes outdoor lighting can be so much more than that. It doesn't need to be just for seeing things at night. Properly done outdoor lighting can have a beauty and charm all its own and at the same time provide nighttime safety for your walkways and garden.

For many years savvy homeowners have tried to duplicate this beauty with landscape lighting in the yard around their homes and in their gardens. For the most part it has not worked out very well for the average homeowner. In the past most dependable landscape lighting systems were powered by standard household electricity (120 volt). It had to meet a strict electrical code and you had to have an electrician do all the installation and hookup. The connectors, fittings and bulbs all had to be heavy duty, waterproof and weatherproof. It was too expensive and outside the budget for the average homeowner. Those homeowners that followed through with all of that often ended up with a system that didn't look right. A common mistake is to use too many lights, or put them in the wrong place. You don't want your sidewalk or garden path to look like an airport runway. So doing it properly often meant hiring a landscape architect or a contractor who specialized in landscape lighting. Of course, that pushed the price up even further; and usually outside the reach of all but the wealthy.

Low voltage landscape lighting (12 to 18 volt), however, has several distinct advantages. Electrical codes are much less strict and because it is low voltage you don't need an electrician to install it. You can buy an inexpensive kit and often install it over the weekend. Because it is easy to install and setup you can spend more time working on the light locations and lighting design and not worry so much about hiring a landscape architect to do all that for you. If you don't like the light locations, you can change it yourself without too much trouble. You don't need an electrician or designer to move it. One common problem with low voltage systems 20 or 30 years ago was the durability of the components. Back then low voltage outdoor lighting systems were often little more than toys. But today all of that has changed. The do it yourself low voltage lighting system you buy at your local hardware store is usually not only affordable, but durable as well.

Glow and Behold: Bright Ideas for Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:02:00 +0000

Accent lighting is a new trend. It started, as a luxury mean of enhancing the interiors and exteriors of hotels, high-class restaurants or corporate buildings and it is now an affordable home design technique. There are enough lighting fixtures you could use for interior design, but the ones that could provide for the most spectacular accents are the LED light sources. These come in different shapes, sizes, viewing angles, effects and colors. You could even ask a manufacturer to create a LED luminary of your design (but take care: development costs are high and any non-standard product is expensive). The LED lights contain no harmful UV rays. Take that and their low power consumption and you've got a highly reliable lighting fixture to replace other conventional lights and create unexpected lighting accents and designs.

Let's take a look at what LED light sources you could use (and where) to create spectacular accents that will mesmerize your visitors.

LED spots are perfect for bathroom vanities, cupboards and lockers. They make nice accent lights especially when they come in their RGB option. A quality RGB LED spot not only saves energy and can be programmed to create special light and color effects, but emits a uniform, consistent lighting, with no shadow or glare, far superior to what has up to now been possible with halogen or neon lights. Yes, LEDs can replace traditional halogen and other conventional lamps. So if you have such lighting fixtures you might consider buying some MR16 or GU10 LED bulbs that will emanate enough light (for accent and not for illumination purposes).

LED stripes - either flexible or standard - are perfect to create trails on the floors, walls or ceilings. The best part about such lighting fixtures is that they are really slim and you could insert them in tiny niches, behind different pieces of furniture for instance, to create "hidden lights". You could also use these stripes to mark outdoors paths or for edge lighting. For indoor applications, where you don't want to make holes in the walls or floors, you could always choose LED stripes with adhesive tapes (these are extremely easy to mount and provide for increased flexibility, as you can always change their place if you look for new accents). If you are looking to replace neon tubes, LEDs are the best alternative. Modern LED tubes or ropes have a viewing angle of 360° (due to a special positioning of the LEDs inside the plastic or Plexiglas composite profile), are flexible and safe.

But the most popular accent lighting source so far is the LED tile. You probably know it as "Mood light" a Traxon brand. However, Traxon is not the only manufacturer. If you cannot afford a Traxon product, you could always perform a search for "LED tiles" in Google and you'll find other manufacturers that will sell you similar products, made of high quality materials, for half the price. With a few LED tiles, you could create a "wellness wall" or place them randomly around the room and control the light effects, color and intensity to create a special atmosphere in your home.

Trendy Home Lighting Design

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:18:00 +0000

You should ignore all the rules and advice that has been advocated by the interior designers regarding the latest styles in home lighting and design. Just follow your heart and aim beyond what they had lined out. This is the best way for you to keep abreast with the trendy style of lighting since it is the latest fashion: break the design rules!

People find it more liberating to choose for their own personal taste when it boils down to designing their home, because nowadays they have a lot of choices, comes in every single shapes and sizes. Or at least with the options for lighting fixtures. Lighting is simply not only for the sake of illumination of home spaces, it goes well beyond that. It serves as a self expression whether in architectural lighting, accent lighting, mood lighting or even outdoor lighting.
The choice of lamps is increasing also because the various lighting technologies that bring different advantages to the consumers and are used in different applications. If light fixtures designers are living a moment of glory, lighting designers are facing a real dilemma; clients prefer to choose the lighting fixtures alone and employ light technicians to mount them. This doesn't mean that lighting design is a profession doomed to be outshone! It's probably just a phase until consumers realize that only a professional designer can create a interrelated structure between illumination, structural design and interior decoration.

But most consumers still opt for the lighting fixtures alone and their choices vary between three "root-styles": elegant, traditional and contemporary. The average consumers choose their light sources based on price (cheaper are winning), but some take into consideration other factors as well and the most important is energy efficiency. Although energy efficient luminaries are more expensive, they help cut back electricity consumption. You probably already have in your home a reading lamp with dimmer switch or other light sources of the kind. Dimming the light is one way to cut back costs but it also saves energy and extends lamp life. Compact-fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs) are also very popular choices.

Lighting is not used solely overhead, as it used to be. Today light sources can be used to create a mysterious atmosphere, to enhance the mood of a room or to spotlight an artwork. When it comes to mood lighting, there's nothing better than concealed light sources to highlight a painting or backlights to generate a warm glow behind curtains or pieces of furniture. When it comes to mounting the lights in their homes people become more and more creative. Nowadays it's almost usual to see special lighting effects on the walls of the living room, as usual as it is to see dimmers and solar garden lamps.

Consumers react in a different way to lighting and lights objects. There are some people that buys based on "I like it" more than on "I need it". Let's face it: do you exceedingly need a LED cube with a wooden frame to excite your guests or a mood light panel to calm down? Not especially. But this type of light products sells like zany these days and a trend will undoubtedly grow.

The Secret of Great Landscape Lighting

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:37:00 +0000

Landscape lighting or outdoor lighting is the perfect way to dress up the outside of your home. If you are thinking of investing in outdoor lighting there are several options that you have to choose from. Landscape lighting includes path lighting, up/down lighting, deck/step lighting and other accessories. Imagine your pool, an outdoor oasis, surrounded by the warm glow of outdoor lighting late on a summer night or imagine hoisting a gathering for friends and family on your deck area and as night falls your timed lights turn on casting a beautiful glow into the dark night. Outdoor lighting products can be used in a number of different ways.

There is a variety of different kinds of lights that can be categorized as landscape lighting or outdoor lighting. Basic outdoor lighting products may refer to a directional flood light or a well light. Both of these types of outdoor lighting products come with timers and motion sensors. This is perfect for you because now you do not even have to flip a switch in order to work your outdoor lighting. Landscape lighting usually refers to more decorative lighting that may be used top showcase a poor or backyard or deck area. Landscape lighting is both beautiful and practical. Many people use landscape lighting to light up a certain area of the house.

There are several landscape lighting specialists that can assist you in choosing the perfect lights for your home. Outdoor lighting is more functional then landscape lighting. Outdoor lighting may include lights that are along the walkway of your house or a light at the end of driveway. There are so many practical reasons to invest in outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting makes your home safer in many ways. Both outdoor lighting and landscape lighting are necessities that light up the outside of your home in a functional, warm glow.

About

noreply@blogger.com (Cellunar) — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 08:01:00 +0000

This is about page