Lighting by Lux - Blog

Outdoor Light Bulb Considerations

2009-07-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

It seems like such a small consideration, and it's an easy one to overlook; but just as with indoor lighting, you don't want to neglect light bulbs as a factor when planning your outdoor lighting scheme. The options for outdoor bulbs are pretty similar to those for indoors, but there are other considerations, such as climate conditions and the amount of voltage you're planning to use, that might

Outdoor Lighting Power Sources

2009-07-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

This week, our coverage of outdoor electric lighting basics continues with a look at the main types of outdoor lighting power sources. Not so long ago, the options were pretty much limited to a single source. Today, there is a bit more of a choice, each with its own set of pros and cons.These are currently the three available types of outdoor lighting:120-volt household current fixturesSolar

Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

2009-07-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

These days, the mechanics of outdoor lighting are simple enough that the average DIYer can achieve a well-lit landscape in a single weekend. Still, all of the options can be overwhelming, especially if you're not familiar with the terminology. Whether you plan to install lighting yourself or turn all of the work and planning over to the pros, you still have a lot of decisions to make. It helps to

Summertime, and the Lighting is Easy

2009-06-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

It's the time of year when warm weather and long hours of daylight beckon us outdoors, and most of us are happy to answer that call. Time was when outdoor summer fun ended with the sunset. But thanks to technological advances that have made outdoor lighting both more affordable and more accessible, that no longer has to be the case.The back yard barbecue, the garden party, and the friendly

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

2009-06-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

As we've demonstrated over the last few weeks, there are several alternatives to the old-fashioned incandescent light bulb, all of which will save on energy use and, ultimately, save you money. But we have yet to discuss the most popular alternative: Compact Fluorescent Light, or CFL, bulbs.Apart from being the most widely available and affordable alternative bulb, there are a few other facts you

Kitchen Lighting Considerations

2009-06-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

Lighting a kitchen doesn't seem that complicated, does it? Just make sure there's enough light to see what you're cooking, and you're done. Right? Not so fast. A lot more goes on in the kitchen these days than meal preparation.In contemporary homes, the kitchen serves as the main hub, where not only do meals get eaten, but also where homework gets done, bills get paid, and family and guests alike

A Video Tour of Our Retail Location

2009-06-09T15:52:00.000-07:00

From time to time we get questions about our retail store in Atlanta Georgia, here's a quick video tour. A larger version of the video can be found here.

Picking the Right Chandelier Size

2009-06-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Chandeliers aren't just for grand foyers and formal dining rooms any more. In contemporary homes, this popular form of decorative lighting also shows up in bathrooms, eating nooks, hallways and bedrooms, in sizes and styles ranging from the traditional grandiose crystal model to the sleek and modern pendant lamp, with enough options in between to leave even the Phantom of the Opera scratching his

California's Title 24 Lighting Requirements

2009-05-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

California residents who are planning lighting solutions for new homes or additions must be sure to consider the Title 24 lighting code, which is the strictest state-enforced energy mandate in the nation. First established in 1978 in response to the energy crisis, the standards are updated every few years to keep up with evolving technologies and expanding options. The current standards went into

LED Lighting For the Home

2009-05-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

In the quest for more energy-efficient home lighting, it can be difficult to keep up with the trends. Advances in lighting technology seem to be happening constantly, and the trends are evolving at almost the same pace. The latest trend is moving toward LED lighting. It's efficient, it's affordable, and it's not just for flashlights anymore.LED, which stands for Light Emitting Diodes, is a type

The Right (Light) Bulb

2009-05-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, choosing a light bulb was simply a matter of deciding on wattage. Today, however, light bulbs come in a much wider range of options, with differences that are both subtle and not so subtle and can make a huge impact on your design and budget.The old standby, traditional incandescent bulbs come in both cool and warm tones. They work by igniting a tungsten filament surrounded by

Under The Xenon (Cabinet) Lights

2009-05-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, just like all of you, I like sunlit days and moonlit nights. Our granite and marble countertops, however, prefer the glow of the xenon lights. And why wouldn't they, after all? Xenon light brings out the best in them!Xenon lighting can render cool and warm colors in a distinct and equal fashion. Xenon under cabinet lighting illuminates the vibrant colors and complex patterns in stone. Xenon

Lighting 101: Lighting Categories

2009-02-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

Chandeliers - are installed electric fixtures that hang from the ceiling. Also known as hard wire products that are wired directly into an electrical source.Wall Lamps - may either be of the "pin-up" variety or they may be permanently mounted on the wall. Wall sconces, wall brackets and swing arms are all types of wall lamps.Table Lamps - This is the most common lamp type. Are also knows as

Dramatic Lighting: Define Your Focal Points

2009-01-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

When planning the lighting for individual rooms, it is important to determine the key focal points, so that they can be lit separately. They might include a favorite picture or sculpture, a piece of art, or an architectural feature that would benefit from being highlighted. The eye is always drawn to the brightest point, so focus is created by highlighting whatever you want to be a feature, the

Lamp Shades 101

2008-12-26T07:19:00.000-08:00

We’ve put together a comprehensive lamp shade buyers guide that covers all the basic styles, shapes and accessories to help you choose the right shade for your lamp. Over the next few months we look forward to expanding our selection of lampshades as they’ve been a most asked for item throughout the year.Choosing the best shades for your lamps is easy with a little knowledge. Vocabulary first -

Lighting Industry Leaders: Murray Feiss

2008-10-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Murray Feiss company grew out of the great changes affected in American labor-patterns caused by waves of immigrants at the turn of the century and America’s entry into the Second World War. Although only part of the story is told on the Murray Feiss website, Rose Feiss's job as a lampshade-sewer bore fruit in the postwar establishment and in the growth of this large lighting company.Murray

Lighting Industry Leaders: Quoizel

2008-09-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Quoizel originated in New York in 1930 and, until the 1960s, retained its manufacturing specialization as a producer of hurricane lamps. While Quoizel is not a family name, the original owner and designer Michael Chaiken and his successors the Phillips family reflect the close-knit quality of the lighting-manufacturing industry.Even though Quoizel headquarters are now located in Charleston, SC,

Lighting Industry Leaders: Kichler

2008-09-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Kichler, Quoizel and Murray Feiss share some interesting common elements: small local beginnings, hard work, and the continuity of family ownership. Although all three companies have grown enormously, the importance of family leadership is such that, on one company timeline, owners (father and son) are identified only by first names. When you buy a lighting fixture from Kichler, Quoizel, or

Kitchen Lighting Advice

2008-09-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Whether you are lighting a new kitchen or redecorating your present one, the best advice is: think about lighting early in the process. We call it the “too little, too late too dark”syndrome. Customers appear close to the end of the project—and the end of their budget—wanting, but unable to determine clearly, lighting to “go with” their other decisions.Surprisingly, in the store’s view, this was

Popular Bathroom Lighting Styles

2008-09-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Today’s bathroom decorating strategies unpack the word “bathroom” and reset the “room” part in capital letters. Gone are the banks of movie-star mirror lights, and exiting right behind them are the hard-edged European bath-as-lab fixtures that delighted designers within recent memory.Bathroom design responds to two recent trends in overall design: the amenities of a gracious older house and

Lighting with Style: Traditional, Transitional, or Contemporary?

2008-08-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

Whether you’ve just moved into your first home or the house of your dreams, it’s not complete until you have chosen the right fixtures to fill it full of light.To accomplish this, it helps greatly to consult a good lighting professional. Some homeowners believe that they will save money at a large chain- or bargain-store. You may be surprised to learn that a good lighting center staffed with

Crystal Chandelier Buying Tips

2008-08-26T11:56:00.001-07:00

Nothing in the home-decoration vocabulary signals elegance as much as the word “chandelier.” Even those extolling the clean lines of Mission furniture and declaring “drapes” a pretentious word for curtains cannot find a better word to describe the pendulous sparkle of this lighting fixture. A chandelier, especially crystal, firmly asserts its alluring character and quietly demands elegance in

Five Things You Probably Don't Know About CFLs

2008-08-17T20:26:00.000-07:00

1. CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs) save energy two ways: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star program estimates that Energy-Star-qualified CFLs use up to 75% less home energy than their incandescent counterparts. They can last as long as 10 times longer than conventional light bulbs and often come with partial-time warranties (you are guaranteed, for example, that the bulb will

Genuine Alabaster Lighting

2008-08-04T13:57:00.000-07:00

Q. What is alabaster?A. Alabaster, in its pure form, is a mineral: a crystalline form of gypsum. The alabaster quarried is actually a rock frequently mixed with traces of other elements like iron—the dark veining—or quartz. There are three main types of alabaster: an opaque, chalky variety that is ground up and used in gypsum or plaster, a semi-transparent type called escaglione and the

Tiffany Lamp FAQ

2008-07-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Q. What are the historical roots of Tiffany?A. Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of Charles Tiffany, the famous New York City jeweler. Tiffany became a legendary artist, painter, designer and architect who thrived in the late 1800s to the early 20th Century. He invented new methods of creating stained-glass lamps using a new type of glowing, Favrile iridescent glass, which is indelibly associated