Phantom Lighting - Tips from the Manufacturer

Countertop Lighting & Undercabinet Lights

2009-06-19T14:52:00.005-05:00

Phantom Lighting is a manufacturer of custom under counter light fixtures committed to equipping the architect, home builder, and interior lighting designer with custom-made task lighting fixtures for kitchens that need more than simple functional lighting. The unique aesthetic created by our linear lighting strips contributes an added value to the practical demands of countertop lighting. In addition to a scalability that makes them one of the most concealed under cabinet lighting sources available anywhere, a number of proprietary manufacturer designs also make them the most versatile linear fixtures in a world of highly custom architecture, design, and interior schemes.

One of the most unique products offered by our company is a proprietary LED festoon lamp with lumens per watt ratio previously unattainable by any kitchen under cabinet lighting manufacturer. The genius of its design lies in its physical structure and advanced lighting and heat control features. Combining three LED bulbs into one physical lamp structure, the Phantom LED festoon operates at only 1.7 watts—yet it outputs the same level of light as a 5-watt xenon bulb! The Phantom LED festoon also features a proprietary heat sink that draws the forward throw heat away from the direction that the beam is travelling. With these linear lighting fixtures, an architect can furnish the homeowner with a high-end light source that is virtually heat-free and fully capable of illuminating any surface with an equally decorative and functional

Phantom manufactures under cabinet lighting systems to be far more easy to conceal than those made by other manufacturers. Our linear strips are thinner and more compact. They can be concealed behind the forward lip at the bottom of any sized kitchen cabinet. In the event that the cabinet has no such reveal in the front, a trim carpenter can usually add trim pieces that match the color and texture of the wood and thereby conceal the fixtures. This ability to assume a hidden position in almost any kitchen environment actually inspired our manufacturer brand—Phantom—and also inspired our motto, “see the light, not the fixture.”

Not only does this design produce a better quality of light, but it also produces a more controllable source of under cabinet lighting. As a home lighting manufacturer, each individual trim style is engineered with its own unique angle of light distribution. This allows builders to choose an angle of incidence directly proportional to the surface area of the countertop being illuminated. The forward mounted position of the fixtures, combined with a very precise distribution pattern of luminance, sends the light backward across the surface of the counter into the backsplash. This minimizes the reflective glare that is common when lighting marble and granite countertops, and it creates both an aesthetic and a level of comfort for the eyes that unify the dual purpose of aesthetics and function for which under cabinet lighting is intended.

Other manufacturer features that distinguish Phantom cabinet lighting fixtures include low-voltage power and user-friendly dimmability. As low-voltage devices, these luxury lights create an exceptionally chic compliment to kitchen décor without exorbitant electrical consumption. If the builder opts for incandescent or xenon lamps over LED, the dimmability of our strip lights further allows for reduction of power load and heat by reducing the wattage requirements of the lamp proportional to the level of accent lighting that the homeowner selects. This also has the additional benefit of extending incandescent lamp life and creating even more savings through reduced maintenance and replacement costs.

Our xenon under cabinet lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas, which in turn distributes these specialty linear lights through a nationwide network of lighting supply channels, distributorships, and sales representatives in cities such as Rhinelander, WI (RHI), Yakima, WA (YKM), Windsor Locks, CT (BDL), Mason City, IA (MCW), Sault Ste Marie, MI (CIU), Binghamton, NY (BGM), Lawton, OK (LAW), Pasco, WA (PSC), St Cloud, MN (STC), and Hyannis, MA (HYA). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to call a contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and Phantom Lighting FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Under Kitchen Cabinet Lighting

2009-06-18T08:10:00.003-05:00

Architects and builders order Phantom TL series linear strips anytime they need a source of under cabinet kitchen lighting capable of meeting all the complex demands of custom kitchen cabinet lighting. Our diversity of trim and lamping options makes this unique task light adaptable to the under surface of any cabinet, and its exceptionally small size makes it very easy to conceal behind the front lip of the cabinet.

We built this versatility into our under kitchen cabinet lighting fixtures because we know how important countertops are to custom kitchens. Just as they function as much needed work areas, counter tops are also foundational design elements. Builders will go to exorbitant lengths and invest expense to install a marble or granite counter that sets the entire tone for interior kitchen design. Because this is such an important room, the appearance of kitchen countertops often plays a pivotal role in establishing home sale price.

The two greatest enemies of countertop aesthetic are reflective glare and shadow. Glare creates white spots that can irritate the eyes of people handling utensils such as knives. Shadows make it hard to distinguish between shades of color, which in turn makes it hard to see food products clearly. Uneven kitchen undercabinet lighting diminishes the aesthetic of custom stone work that characterizes many modern kitchens. To combat these enemies, architects must use under cabinet kitchen lighting fixtures engineered with better trims and more precise angles of light distribution. They must also turn to any number of both traditional and non-traditional festoon lamp designs in order to find the very best color temperature to match to the particular material and design of the countertop they are illuminating.

Phantom lighting strips are intended to function as linear templates that can be customized to specific lamping and trim requirements on a case by case basis. For example, beam distribution angles range from 88 degrees to 166 degrees, depending on which trim you select. Because our under kitchen cabinet lights mount on the forward under surface of the cabinet, the light shines backward across the countertop. While this does not reflection, most of the light that is reflected travels away from the eyes and illuminates the backsplash. This is a much better method lighting a counter than using puck fixtures, which are notorious for creating white spots beneath cabinets. A concealed source also results in more attractive presentation than one produced by visible fluorescent fixtures. In spite of the energy-saving qualities of fluorescents, they invariably create an eyesore by shining glare toward the viewer, and by visibly protruding below the cabinet surface.

A better aesthetic luminance that also saves on energy costs is the new Phantom LED festoon lamp. It is capable of producing a lumens output equivalent to a 5 watt xenon lamp, yet it operates at only 1.7 watts. Its patented heat sink technology draws forward throw heat away from the cabinet and the counter, making this a truly cool-burning source of illumination. Capable of reducing energy costs by as much as 60 percent, the Phantom LED festoon gives homeowners he option of leaving their under kitchen cabinet lights on as decorative luminaires for extended periods of time. Our warmest color temperature, the 2800K, is a close approximation to xenon, and one that is highly favored by builders who install marble and granite countertops. Cooler counter top colors, such as white and off white, are often lit with our 2950K series LED cabinet lighting.

For architects who prefer color temperature ranges between 2600-3000K, Phantom also installs xenon lamps in its linear strips in order to provide that traditional, luxurious lighting effects that xenon has always been famous for. Although the lamp life is much shorter than that of LED (7500 hours as opposed to 40,000 to 50,000 hours), dimmers on our cabinet lights let users offset normal power consumption, driving down operating costs and extending lamp life as a result. Dimmer controls also offer the added aesthetic matching decorative and task lighting levels to precisely compliment general kitchen lighting.

Phantom under kitchen cabinet lighting strips are custom-made to fit the exact specifications of every cabinet undersurface. Trims and lamping options are based on cabinet surface area, material build, color, and decorative pattern. These options are chosen with the help of a Phantom Lighting specialist who knows your industry and can help you match our technology to functional and decorative expectations of your clients.

Our in-cabinet lighting supply facility is located in Houston, Texas. We then distribute these nationwide through our network of lighting suppliers that encompasses all 50 states into cities like Keahole, HI (KOA), Dallas, TX (DFW), El Paso, TX (ELP), Duluth, MN (DLH), Charlevoix, MI (CVX), Montrose, CO (MTJ), Telluride, CO (TEX), Dubuque, IA (DBQ), Mason City, IA (MCW), and Chicago, IL (MDW). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Countertop Lights & Counter Top Lighting

2009-06-18T07:48:00.003-05:00

The Phantom TL light series under the cabinet lighting fixtures are an exceptional source of countertop light for any task needing to be performed in the kitchen. We aim to provide the architect, the builder, and the lighting designer with complete freedom of choice when it comes to countertop light. Each counter top fixture is custom cut to match the precise dimensions of a cabinet under surface. Due to their impeccable engineering, Phantom under cabinet lighting fixtures can also perform important aesthetic functions beyond their obviously practical purpose.

Phantom countertop kitchen lights are dimmable, and they are better able to evenly distribute illumination across counter top surfaces than are standard under cabinet lights. Color temperature options range from the warm LED 2800K up to the cool 5000K in LED, xenon, or incandescent choices. Lamping options range from the traditional incandescent and decorative xenon, to a revolutionary, patented LED festoon lamp that has been engineered to carefully approximate the color temperature and decorative appearance of xenon.

We cannot stress enough the importance of countertop lighting solutions. The kitchen counter is quite possibly the most important surface area in the entire room. Food is prepared here, and many cooking tools and appliances are also showcased here. It is absolutely necessary that we properly illuminate the countertop so that any person who enters the kitchen can clearly see variances in colors and safely handle utensils such as knives. A good many lighting manufacturers advertise all types of fixtures that to give the best and cheapest source of counter top light. Most of these fixtures are energy saving fluorescents that have been designed specifically for the do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement hobbyist. These lights are fine for the smaller kitchens we normally find in homes, hotels, and apartments. In the more sophisticated domain of custom in kitchen cabinet lighting, however, a more contemporary and chic quality of countertop light is required.

This is because of many reasons. To begin with, larger homes have larger kitchens simply because of design proportions. If each room in the home is larger than its equivalent in a much smaller house, then common sense tells us that the kitchen is also going to be larger. A larger kitchen will have considerably more countertop surface area, and light from generic fixtures will not adequately light its entirety. Shadows will still show up beneath cabinet corners and along the corner of the backsplash. If the light is not positioned correctly, or if it has too wide a beam angle (as most retail under cabinet lights do), then it will cast reflective glare back into the eyes of the person working in the kitchen.

There are other considerations that must be taken into account when you choose and undercabinet 12 volt light fixture for a high-end kitchen. Every kitchen countertop in a custom home will be much more than a functional work area. It will be a work of ornamentation in its own right, often crafted from the finest cuts of marble and granite. Both the type of lamps used, and the color temperatures of the lamps themselves, must be carefully chosen in order to match the countertop colors and designs. Otherwise, the multi-dimensional elements of marble and granite often will look as though they have been flattened out beneath the light. Custom stone work also requires illumination that is carefully angled so it will direct reflected light away from the eyes. Ideally too, it will be adjustable to match surrounding general room lighting. This prevents the counter top surface under the cabinet light fixtures from appearing too dark or too light in relation to the rest of the counter. It also makes the room look bigger and much more vibrant for events like cooking parties and family dinners where the kitchen functions as the hub of gathering and entertainment.

When all of these factors are considerate together, architects and builders freely admit that the best source of countertop light installation in a custom kitchens is the TL series Phantom strip light. With special glare shields that shine the light at an angle across the countertop toward the back splash, forward-mounted Phantom fixtures direct light away from sensitive eyes. This better illuminates the intricacies of the rich colors and patterns of stonework. Precision lighting control is also available through our technology through dimmers that allow luminance to be set to levels appropriate to any occasion.

Our undercabinet linear lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide lighting supply sales agents fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like San Juan, PR (SJU), Isla De Vieques, PR (VQS), Fajardo, PR (X95), Erie, PA (ERI), Killeen, TX (ILE), Sheridan, WY (SHR), Casper, WY (CPR), Parkersburg, WV (PKB), and Escanaba, MI (ESC). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Under Counter Kitchen Lights

2009-06-08T16:55:00.004-05:00

Undercounter lighting is necessary to both the aesthetics and overall functionality of kitchen design and workflow. Dark spots under cabinets make it hard to see colors and work with tools. Food preparation is difficult (and sometimes a bit unsafe) if you do not have an adequate source of glare-free light to work with. It is also more difficult if the light is unevenly distributed or brighter in some places than in others.

Fluorescent under cabinet lights have long been used for undercounter lighting sources for many reasons. Originally developed as energy efficient task lights, fluorescents could operate for long hours with lower energy cost and less frequent lamp replacements. It made sense to then adapt these same sources to indoor task lighting applications like under undercounter kitchen lighting. In some ways, they are ideal for this task—provided the lighting is uniform and aesthetic outcome is not the highest priority.

Fluorescent undercounter kitchen lights are segmented fixtures that mount in series underneath the rear of the cabinet. Depending on type and origin of manufacture, these segments vary in length. Ideally, these segments can be lined from side to side, end to end, and evenly distribute light across the countertop.

Fluorescent undercounter lighting can work very well in such a setting if the counter features a matte finish that reflects virtually no light, and provided that the fixtures can completely line the posterior undersurface of the cabinet. You will encounter problems, however, if you are looking to build a custom home with more sophisticated cabinetry and countertop design.

Custom cabinets vary and cabinet light solutions cut to standard lengths cannot precisely match their horizontal surface. A series of fluorescent fixtures can still be installed here, but there will be gaps on one end or both due to the fact that standard lengths, even when combined, may not precisely match horizontal measurements. You will see an immediate, noticeable deterioration in the quality of undercounter lighting. Dark spots will appear under the sides of your cabinet due to the lack of lighting uniformity.

The problem becomes more compounded if you are planning to install a granite or marble countertop. Because these surfaces are so reflective, glare becomes just as much of an enemy as shadow. Fluorescent undercounter lights installed at the back of the cabinet will not work here because they will shine light forward across the counter which will then reflect up into the eyes.

For these situations, LED undercounter lighting with linear strips is much more effective than fluorescent lighting. Because they mount to the forward undersurface of the cabinet, they direct light backward away from the eyes and provide a higher quality aesthetic. Custom made strips are to be preferred above standard-sized linear strips because they can be manufactured to fit the exact horizontal dimensions of the cabinet. Glare shields should also be present, with options in light distribution angles offered by the manufacturer as well. Lights should also fitted with dimmers so homeowners can adjust countertop lighting to match general room lighting levels. Furthermore, multiple lamp options should be made available to the builder who needs freedom of choice in selecting light source and color temperature.

To meet all of these requirements, Phantom Lighting engineered the TM series linear task light for kitchen cabinet lighting. The TM strip light can be fitted with your choice of incandescent, xenon, or LED festoon lamps. This series comes in 5 available trims, each one having a specific light distribution angle that allows you to precisely match beam spread in kitchen cabinet lighting applications. TM linear strips are 100 percent dimmable, so homeowners can easily and instantly adjust light levels. Each strip is also glare shielded to minimize spill light and direct the majority of luminance away from the eyes into the back splash.

We have further developed our technology with the patenting a new LED festoon lamps that can closely imitate the color rendering and luminance output of xenon—at only 60 percent of the power consumption. Furthermore, heat sinks built into our festoons make it a cool-operating light source that can be left on for long periods of time without measurable heat buildup.
You can order Phantom LED festoons in the warm color temperature of 2800K, the slightly cooler 2950K, and the cool color 5000K. You can also order incandescent and xenon lamps in the same color temperatures for special, luxury under counter lighting applications. If this is your decision, we recommend you use dimmer controls to minimize heat and power consumption, which will also help keep temperature down and maximize lamp life.

We manufacture cabinet lighting fixtures in our Houston, Texas facility. A network of nationwide lighting supply sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Dallas, Texas (DWF), Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of kitchen and display lighting products. You can also request cabinet lighting literature on our Phantom Lighting website, visit our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our cabinet lighting blog. All of these resources, including our online virtual lighting showroom contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Kitchen Countertop Lighting Fixtures

2009-06-03T15:31:00.002-05:00

Phantom TM linear strip lights are the best choice for architects and builders to use in countertop lighting applications. Particularly in custom homes where the kitchen plays a significant role in home value, it is imperative to use the very best fixtures that can be customized to any cabinet design and countertop surface for maximum aesthetic and functionality. Kitchens in these homes almost always feature a high level of customized interior architecture and a deliberately emphasis on the ornamental. This is because the kitchen in today’s custom home has become much more than a place to cook a meal. It has become the hub of entertainment and home society, where everything from family gatherings to neighborhood dinner parties require the very best kitchen cabinet lighting possible.

Countertop lighting in kitchen cabinets is a challenging task in any environment simply because cabinets always block overhead light to a certain degree. Shadows form and make it hard for people to see colors and safely work with knives and other tools. Under cabinet lights have been used for decades now to dispel these shadows and create safer, more attractive work environments. Some, like energy-saving fluorescent, mount underneath the back wall of the cabinet and shine the light forward across the countertop. Other fixtures, such as center-mounted puck lights, shine lights directly down onto the counter from the center of the cabinet above.

Puck lights and fluorescents were not developed for high-end markets, however. Their greatest value lies in energy-savings and utility in small to mid-sized homes in rural areas and suburban subdivisions. They have also found widespread use in many apartments and hotel kitchenettes that require basic countertop lighting. In these environments they often work very well because kitchen counters are usually white, non-reflective surfaces that absorb the majority of light that strikes their surface.

Custom low voltage countertop lighting, on the other hand, is an entirely different manner. Marble and granite surfaces absorb very little light, so anything used to illuminate their surfaces is going to throw out glare in some direction. Linear lighting strips that mount behind the forward lip of cabinets are preferable for this task for two reasons. First, they are concealed in this position and pose no threat to the aesthetic of cabinet design. Secondly, they can direct the light across the counter, sending reflective glare up the back splash. This of course, is provided they are built with the appropriate glare shields that will keep light from shining at a forward angle where it could then reflect back up into the eyes.

Another very important consideration to factor into countertop lighting design is the actual color of the stone work itself. The warmer reds of granite need a cool color temperature light source that will bring out the sharp sense of absolutism that granite has always symbolized. Marble has an even gentler appeal, with swirls and eddies of blue reminiscent of pools of water or even ocean waves. Warm color temperatures work better here because they help differentiate each shade of blue and add an extra golden touch to the white spaces. It helps if the builder can count on having total freedom of choice when it comes to choosing color temperatures.

Phantom TM series linear light strips have been engineered to meet all of the many concerns that architects and builders face when illuminating spaces under cabinets and fine custom stonework. Our TM series strip light is available in 5 different trim styles, with light distribution angles ranging from 88 degrees to 166 degrees. All linear strips have a special patented glare shield that directs illumination down and away from the eyes. Lamping options include incandescent, xenon, and LED festoons in color temperatures that range from the warm LED 2800K lamp to the cool LED or Xenon 5000K lamp.

All linear strips are custom-cut to precise cabinet dimensions, and they can even be painted to match cabinet color on cabinets that have no forward lip on their under surface. Furthermore, all countertop lighting with any of these fixture choices is 100 percent dimmable, allowing the homeowner to control heat output, power consumption, and aesthetics all with one simple control. An added benefit of LED festoon lamps is the patented heat sink that draws forward throw heat away from the lamp, eliminating the need to use the dimmer for heat control. Xenon festoons can be ordered in clear or frosted lenses depending on the sheen, color, and design of the counter top they are lighting.

We manufacture cabinet lighting fixtures in our Houston, Texas facility. A network of nationwide lighting supply sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Dallas, Texas (DWF), Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to call a Phantom Agent toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our Phantom Lighting website, visit our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our cabinet lighting blog. All of these resources, including our online virtual lighting showroom contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Lighting Antique Corner Cabinets

2009-05-01T13:03:00.000-05:00

Corner cabinet lighting can present some unique challenges to the carpenter and the designer. On an aesthetic level, one has to precisely match the color temperature of the light to the contents on display to most appropriately showcase their color and form. On a functional level, the designer must select corner cabinet lights that offer some means of controlling heat buildup within the cabinet interior, or install a light source that will produce less heat without sacrificing lighting levels or lighting quality.

To better understand how the present generation of corner cabinet lights evolved in the first place, we need to take a look at back in history. In the very beginning, there were only incandescent lights. Corner cabinets were originally built with hand soldered incandescent lighting strips built into the displays themselves. Incandescent was and still is the closest match to natural sunlight, so early corner cabinet lighting solutions produced a luminance that was incredibly “golden” in tone and ideal for lighting fine antiques and rare collectibles. However, these lights produced considerable heat output that was further magnified by glass door enclosure. Also, incandescents only lasted for a short period of time. Even to this day, incandescent bulbs of any kind suffer from the shortest lamp life on the market.

To create a light source with longer lamp life, cabinet lighting manufacturers began to develop a new, hybrid form of incandescent light called xenon. They also developed dimmer controls that would allow display owners to raise and lower lighting levels at will. Xenon still had the slightly golden appearance of incandescent lights, only with a slightly lighter, whiter tone. It quickly became the new standard in custom cabinet furniture lighting, and the new technology of the dimmer control allowed for forward throw heat to be directly controlled for the first time. The only disadvantage to this, however, was that reducing heat meant reducing the level of light. For some very elaborate antique and collectible displays, this meant creating too much darkness for maximum aesthetic.

The ultimate solution to all of these concerns came with the most recent development in corner cabinet lighting-- LED technology. LED allows us now to create much higher lighting levels with less heat. The patent pending Phantom LED festoon lamp, for example, is a 1.7 watt unit that emits the equivalent of 5 watt xenon bulb. However, the heat generated in the production of light is dissipated by a heat sink that draws heat away from the cabinet interior. Additional benefits of LED technology are the longest lamp life of any light source and a power consumption of only 20%-40% that of previous technologies.

Ranging in terms of the warmest to coolest, LED festoons are available in color temperatures 2800K, 2950K and 5000K. Of course, Phantom has a policy never to limit the choices of our clients for display cabinet lighting. Some decorators have already determined specific ambient qualities they wish to create that require xenon or incandescent strip lights. For such clients, we recommend the use of dimmer controls to control heat, and we also suggest that lights be turned off for periods of time. Also, our engineers strongly recommend that for lighting closed corner cabinets with glass doors, one should use xenon bulbs rated at 3 or 5 watts. Anything more than that will generate too much heat buildup to effectively control without sacrificing luminance and aesthetics.

Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas, which in turn distributes these specialty linear lights through a nationwide network of lighting supply channels, distributorships, and sales agents in cities such as Rhinelander, WI (RHI), Yakima, WA (YKM), Windsor Locks, CT (BDL), Mason City, IA (MCW), Sault Ste Marie, MI (CIU), Binghamton, NY (BGM), Lawton, OK (LAW), Pasco, WA (PSC), St Cloud, MN (STC), and Hyannis, MA (HYA). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. Feel free to visit our mobile website, lighting blog, read our client testimonials or visit our online lighting showroom to discover which Phantom Lighting products will best adapt to your particular lighting needs.

All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Lighting Cabinets With Fixed Shelves

2009-04-24T15:36:00.006-05:00

Do you manufacture fixed shelf lighting fixtures specifically for custom furniture and retrofit applications?
Yes. We not only manufacture light fixtures specifically for non-adjustable shelf lighting, but we take it one step further by making each individual strip light custom to the dimensions of the shelf or vertical style to which you intend to mount it. We have engineered the basic components of our display cabinet lights to accommodate a wide range of wiring techniques that allow you to install what amounts to a completely concealed or almost completely concealed hidden cabinet lighting source.

This customization allows you total freedom in a much wider range of cabinet lighting installations. Customization means more application power when it comes to illuminating build outs and retrofits that are characterized by highly stylized cuts of wood and unique construction designs.

This sounds like a very bold claim. Is there any type of cabinet you cannot light with your equipment?
To be honest, there is. Any cabinet with a glass or mirrored backing tends to produce too much reflective glare. However, when it comes to lighting private library cabinets with solid wood backing or panel backing, there really is no style our fixed shelf lighting fixtures cannot be adapted to fit.

I read about your HM series (Horizontal Mount) on your website. How can I install these fixtures on a shelf that has no reveal?
There are two ways we can help you do this. One would be to custom design a trim that matches color of the wood. This would be the equivalent of creating the equivalent of a reveal out of a fixed shelf lighting fixture itself. Another way we could accommodate you is to add a reveal to the front of the shelf behind which we can conceal the lighting strip. Your intentions in design and quality of aesthetic are very important to us, so we will ultimately recommend what both works best—and looks best—for your particular project.

I have another cabinet I’m looking to add fixed shelf lighting to. I do not want to alter the shelves in any respect because it is an antique reproduction that requires minimal alteration.
In your instance, we recommend using vertically-mounted curio cabinet light strips concealed along the interior edges of the vertical cabinet styles. If there is a small space between the shelves and the style interior, we will notch the trims on your fixtures so that one continuous vertical strip light can be installed on either side.

If no space is available, we can cut vertical segments proportional to vertical dimensions between each set of shelves.

What if I light a cabinet that has no vertical styles, but instead has large hinged doors?
Hinges present a challenge for fixed showcase cabinet lighting, but it is never an insurmountable challenge. European-style hinges, even though very effective in function, can be quite large and cause you a great deal of difficulty if you attempt to install a continuous accent light strip. For this application, we recommend you get strip lights with lamps spaced around the hinges. We also recommend that you notch the glare shield in the field to maintain a finished look.

Do you have vertical strips that mount to the door interiors rather than cabinet interiors or shelf bottoms?
Yes, but this is only recommended for fixed shelf cabinets that measure 30” or more in width. It is a very effective accent lighting tool for displaying solid objects such as china, vases, sculptures or books which may block the light and produce shadows. A center mount trim requires special wiring provisions that will give the wiring enough slack to allow for door movement.

Is it difficult to conceal the wiring for fixed shelf cabinet lighting fixtures?
It is much easier to conceal wiring with our cabinet lighting system than with any type of standard or generic fixture available on the open market. Since all of our cabinet lights are custom built, we have evolved our technology to accommodate unique techniques that are custom to both the individual cabinet and the trim of the fixture. Also, our transformers are much smaller than other competing models and are therefore also much easier to conceal.

We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our Phantom Lighting website, visit our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our cabinet lighting blog. All of these resources, including our online virtual lighting showroom contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Under Cabinet Lighting Lights

2009-04-23T14:37:00.003-05:00

Phantom under cabinet lights are distinguished by a variety of unique attributes that allow them to be adapted to any custom kitchen. Counter tops appear exceptional when illuminated with Phantom products thanks to a number of patented components and a robust set of options in lamp type and color temperature.

To begin with, each under cabinet lighting strips is custom manufactured to the under surface of the specific kitchen cabinet to which it mounts. Because we make our fixtures much smaller than fluorescent under cabinet lights, their low profile design makes them almost impossible to detect. Additionally, under cabinet lighting strip can be adjusted with a dimmer switch that allows for lighting levels to be raised or lowered at will. Traditional xenon lamping options are available for these strips, along with new LED festoon technology that generates a lumens output and quality of light that closely approximates xenon.

If you are an architect, builder, or designer, these characteristics give you a number of advantages over previous xenon under cabinet lighting technologies. To begin with you do not have to worry about chasing down fixtures to fit cabinets with custom dimensions or unique specifications. If you will send us your spec sheets or drawings, we can use these as a template to manufacture your under cabinet lights to match your cabinet out so you can install them directly into its structure at the time of build out.

Because our kitchen under cabinet lights are smaller than competing, standard linear lights, they remain invisible from a normal standing or seated position. Your clients will see the light, but they will not see the fixture. This adds value to the work of the interior decorator, who no longer has to worry about his or her work being diminished by extruding equipment. Additionally, our patented new LED light bulb technology is now able to rival xenon in lumens output; yet it is by nature energy saving, and it offers the additional advantage of a cool operating source that can be left on throughout the night without risk of overheating.

As an construction or design professional, one of the most important benefits you will receive from Phantom’s under cabinet lighting manufacturing process is a complete freedom in design options that allows you to specify what you deem fit without having to worry if you can find fixtures to match. We can make them match. More options than ever before exist when it comes to LED color temperatures, and the continued availability of xenon lamps allows you to opt for traditional linear strip lighting sources with the added value of lighting control that can minimize heat and extend lamp life. Adding the “golden touch” to counter tops and back planes can be done with less heat and with extended xenon lamp life thanks to Phantom dimmer technology.

We do, however, strongly recommend you consider the benefits of new, improved LED lamps that can give you virtually the same results—particularly with the warm color temperature of the 2800K. This, along with the respectively cooler color temperature options of the 2950K and the 5000K, will allow you to illuminate virtually any surface in the kitchen.

Call a Phantom Agent for more information on all of these options. We invite you to call toll free 800-863-1184 to request literature online or visit our lighting blog to learn more about Phantom custom low voltage lighting products.

Our cabinet lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas with professional lighting sales agents located throughout the United States that enable us to service all of Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America and the United States including Washington DC, Nashville Tennessee, Las Vegas Nevada. Portland Oregon, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Tucson Arizona, Orange County California, Atlanta Georgia, Austin Texas and Palm Springs California.

Adjustable Cabinet Shelf Lights

2009-04-23T09:59:00.003-05:00

Phantom adjustable shelf lights can be used to illuminate any custom creation of an architect, builder, or designer (provided the cabinet or bookcase has a solid back plane). Our custom shelf lighting fixtures are designed specifically for displays with varying shelf heights that are commonly found in collections and private libraries. Library cabinet lighting levels can be fine tuned through dimmer controls to create both functional and decorative lighting effects. Heat sinks and glare shields help bulbs operate at cooler temperatures, extending lamp life and protecting display contents from excessive IR output. Phantom strips can be made with either xenon or any one of three custom LED color temperatures—giving the interior decorator total freedom of choice in selecting a source that ideally compliments artistic lighting interior designs.

The amazing range of our adjustable shelf lighting applications that our fixtures can be used for is made possible by several unique and patented features of our custom technology. Because adjustable shelf lights are specifically designed for new constructions, they can be configured and installed as wireless hidden custom cabinet lighting source. This is made possible through a unique combination of patented buss bars, brass metal shelf supports, and brass contact pads connected to the linear strips themselves. Installing this proprietary technology takes only a few simple steps.

Custom Phantom buss bars are custom cut to the vertical height of the cabinet so they can be installed in routing on either side of the case. Each buss bar has screw holes located a regular intervals so metal shelf supports can be affixed to them at any desired height. The adjustable shelf linear lighting strips attach to the forward bottom of each shelf, concealed behind the reveal. Contact pads connected to the lighting strips complete the circuit when they are laid on top of the shelf supports. This wireless, low voltage circuit is thus completed using a few pads and screws making simple touch contact with one another—completely replacing the need for internal or external wiring with ingenious Phantom innovation.

If you are a collector, this gives you a tremendous freedom for setting up your display any way you choose to do so. For example, if you are collecting antiques of different types, you will no doubt need to vary shelf height to create variable display spaces to accommodate differently sized objects. The same could also hold true if you are an avid collector of hardback books. Rare prints and first editions will invariably feature different spine lengths, forcing you to adjust your shelving height accordingly. With in cabinet lighting strips that do not require rewiring the entire cabinet, you can do this in minutes without the help of an electrician, and at no risk of electrical hazard to yourself.

If you are a contractor responsible for building display cabinets and libraries for custom homeowners, consider the benefits you can pass along with adjustable LED shelf strip lighting that is not only easy and safe to manipulate, but also generates a superior quality of light than competing, standard fixtures. Our patented strips are made with glare shields that direct light downward and backward from a concealed location beneath the front of the shelf. This creates a more even distribution of light on book spines and collectibles, and it more effectively fills cabinet space with a warm, decorative, luminous aura.

Color temperature ranges include new 2800K LED festoon lamps, which emit a warm color tone that very closely approximates that of xenon. Adjustable shelf lights can also be built with the slightly cooler color temperatures of 2950K and 5000K. Xenon is also still available through special order, and even though it represents a traditionally shorter-life lighting source known to generate a great deal of heat, these negatives can be offset with heat sink technology that dissipates the heat away from contents, and from dimmer controls that allow wattage to be reduced to conserve both power and lamp life.

Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. Feel free to contact us toll free at 800-863-1184 for assistance on strip lighting or fine art lighting projector equipment.

A network of nationwide distributorships and Phantom lighting sales reps fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer sales representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Private Library Display Shelf Lights

2009-04-17T16:39:00.004-05:00

Library shelf book lighting is often very different from display and cabinet lighting. Private libraries tend to feature shelving units that are much taller than collectible displays and storage cabinets. They also tend to be highly decorative in nature to better showcase collections of books. Only the finest woods, staining techniques, and finishing methods are used in their construction. Shelves must be easy to adjust, because different groupings of books may feature different spine lengths that require library shelving heights to be adjusted to their dimensions. Lighting such an environment effectively requires a shelf lighting strip that will compliment the aesthetics of the bookshelf and facilitate unencumbered repositioning of shelves at will.

Mill workers can more easily achieve these objectives with library shelf lights that are built into the bookshelves at the time of construction. Attempting to retrofit fixtures to a cabinet that has already been constructed seldom generates satisfactory results. Finding a fixture that will precisely match the dimensions of custom library display bookshelf often proves a time-consuming challenge. Even if such a match is located, lights and wiring are also difficult to conceal, and the value of the presentation is diminished as a result.

Phantom library shelf lighting fixtures are engineered in anticipation of all these concerns and provide a flexible alternative to the cumbersome challenges of forcing a generic fixture fit on a high-end cabinet build out. These cabinet lighting systems are built to the exact dimensions of each library shelf and are powered by wireless technology built into the bookshelves themselves. Rather than requiring our clients to devise time-consuming and awkward strategies for concealing long wire runs, we use buss bars that are installed in the vertical walls of the cabinet to deliver power to the strip lights. Each buss bar is cut to match the vertical height of the bookcase on either side and is made with multiple screw holes that allow metal shelf supports to be mounted at any desired height. Contact pads affixed to the under surface of each shelf complete the circuit when the shelf is laid on top of the supports.

Because our library shelf lighting solutions feature a low-profile design that operates on an adjustable, wireless platform, the aesthetic results our fixtures can produce are far superior to competing, generic cabinet lighting fixtures. The fixtures are small enough to be concealed behind shelf reveals, providing a hidden light source that emanates light downward and backward over book spines. They are also completely dimmable, allowing collectors to raise lighting levels to search for books, and then reduce illumination when low-level, decorative lighting is desired.

Phantom library shelf lighting can be ordered in a variety of color temperatures that compliment a wide range of wood types and finishes. Our patent-pending festoon lamp design enables us to replicate the quality of xenon lighting with LED 2800K lamp technology that is much safer than incandescent technology when it comes to lighting old and rare books. As a light source the outputs no heat and no ultraviolet radiation, an LED lamp can be left on indefinitely with minimal power consumption and no risk of damaging book collections.

Call us today for more information on cove lighting design in commercial and residential interiors. Our lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and United States lighting sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL), Orlando, Florida (MCO), Santa Monica, CA, (LAX) Columbus, Ohio (CMH), (LGA) New York, NY, (JKF), St. Louis, MO, Detroit, Michigan (DTW), Madison, WI (MSN), San Francisco, California (SFO), and Omaha, Nebraska (OMA). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us at 800-863-1184 to obtain more information. You can also visit our mobile website, lighting supply page or read through the many informative summaries and frequently asked questions located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products.

Custom Kitchen Cabinet Light

2009-04-14T14:46:00.003-05:00

What do you recommend as a low-heat light source for kitchen in-cabinet lighting?
We recommend an LED linear kitchen cabinet lighting fixture with a special patented festoon lamping design made only by Phantom Lighting. These light sources have been special engineered to produce a luminance output equivalent to incandescent light sources. Phantom does not attempt to increase the lumens output of the individual LED diode, but rather uses a patented lamping configuration that combines multiple bulbs into a single festoon unit. The combined light output is comparable to xenon lamps and can compliment everything from fine wood finishes, fine china and dinner ware, and sheik, contemporary interior kitchen cabinet lighting designs. These lights produce zero UV or IR radiation, so they are the ideal light source for lighting cabinets behind wooden doors with glass windows.

How attractive are these linear strip lights?
Technically speaking, the light strips themselves are never seen due to their low-profile design. The illumination they produce tends to be superior to competing models due to their forward mounted positioning. Light is directed backward and downward from a concealed locating behind the cabinet reveal. This produces a more even distribution of light along the front surfaces of cabinet contents and fills the interior with an even wash of light. When horizontal mounting is not practical, we can configure our in-cabinet display lights to mount along vertical styles to direct lighting inward from either side.

What standard fixture sizes do you carry?
Phantom Lighting does not manufacturer linear strips in standard fixture sizes. We have standard mounting and conductivity options (see our cut sheets for more information) which are then customized to the precise dimensions of kitchen cabinet interiors.

What color temperatures do you have available?
Our LED in-cabinet lights can be ordered in 2800K, 2900K, and 5000K color temperatures. Many builders and interior designers prefer the 5000K when it comes to lighting the Spartan absolutes of contemporary kitchens and marble countertops. Other, more warm and traditional interior designs look better under the near-xenon quality of the 2800K LED festoon lamp. The 2950K represents the mid-point of the color temperature range and is often used to highlight special types of glass ware and china. The choice of color temperature is a highly subjective one that should be made in consultation with the homeowner. We can provide detailed photographs upon request that you can show your clients so you can be certain that the fixtures and lamps you choose work best for their personal expectations.

How well do these in-cabinet lights work with other room lights?
All of our low voltage lighting systems are dimmable, and they will work well with any type of general or overhead lighting. Our products are designed to provide high-end decorative lighting that also fulfills a functional purpose. As such, they are designed to anticipate a variety of general lighting designs and work within the boundaries of any lighting design theme.

Tell me about Phantom Lighting

Kitchen Under Cabinet Lighting

2009-03-31T12:52:00.004-05:00

Architects know that every home they design has kitchens, and every kitchen has cabinets. Beneath these cabinets are countertops that serve a dual purpose of decoration and multi-task utility. Shadows in these spots are both unattractive and possibly hazardous. Eliminating these dark areas with kitchen under cabinet lights instantly improves the aesthetic and safety of utility areas, and can play a major contributing role in a home buying decisions.

To ensure that the most important elements of kitchen under cabinet lighting installations are met, architects must move beyond generic puck lights and outdated fluorescent “energy savers” toward a more robust engineering and manufacturing design that captures the intentions of an artist with the precision of a scientist.

Phantom TL series kitchen under cabinet lights is one of the few strip lights that offer LED lamping in color temperatures that are aesthetically complimentary to the granite and marble countertops common in high-end homes. Warmer color tones look best under the 2800K led festoon, and cooler temperatures can be accented using our 2950K. These options offer home buyers a long-term return on investment on the front-end costs of the strips. The energy efficiency of LED, which is up to 60% more than that of any other form of lighting, accrues a savings that offsets initial purchase costs. Also, LED lamp life of 40,000-50,000 bulb hours eliminates the need for frequent maintenance and makes bulb replacements very rare.

LED kitchen under cabinet lights can also play a contributing role in reducing cooling costs. Most people who invest in under cabinet fixtures tend to want to leave them on in the kitchen if and when it is safe to do so. A hot-burning light source is going to trigger the thermostat to activate the HVAC system, driving up power bills in the process. However, LED bulbs emit light electronically rather than chemically through the ignition of gas in a sealed glass container. This makes them a very low-heat source of illumination, perfectly safe to burn throughout the night, and negligible in terms of impact on room temperature.

For applications that require color temperatures ranging from 3000K-5000K, Phantom also offers xenon lamping options that offset the higher power consumption curve with dimmability options and low-voltage transformers engineered to curtail excessive electrical consumption. Our purpose is to provide our commercial design clients with the full range of necessary color temperature compliments to every cabinet build, interior decorating scheme, and general lighting requirements they may encounter in custom home design.

The linear strips that power our kitchen under cabinet light fixtures are sophisticated pieces of engineering in their own right. These linear strips are very small in comparison to most competing models, and they are much easier to conceal beneath the surfaces of a variety of cabinet sizes and custom builds. Two very important features of these lighting strips work to eliminate not only shadows, but also reflective glare. Rather than mounting in the center of the under surface like puck lights, or in the back as many fluorescent fixtures install, Phantom TL series fit under the front of kitchen cabinets. Special glare shields that are built into the lights direct the light backward away from the eyes and across the utility areas under countertops. Dimmer controls allow the homeowner to adjust lighting levels to match those created by general overhead lighting. This adjustability allows the end user to create a contiguous luminous that is both sourceless and seamless from the viewer’s perspective, and creates a very attractive setting for gatherings, parties, and cooking demonstrations.

Phantom Lighting makes it easy for architects to incorporate our kitchen under cabinet lighting fixtures into their custom home designs. Each fixture is custom cut to the dimensions provided to us by the architect. The choice of LED or xenon sourcing is determined (with the help of a Phantom specialist if need be), and a purchase order for custom manufacturing of the fixtures is set in order.

Call a Phantom Agent for more information on all of these options. We invite you to call toll free 800-863-1184 to request literature online or visit our lighting blog to learn more about Phantom custom low voltage lighting products.

Our lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas with professional lighting sales agents located throughout the United States that enable us to service all of Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America and the United States including Washington DC, Nashville Tennessee, Las Vegas Nevada. Portland Oregon, Oklahoma City Oklahoma, Tucson Arizona, Orange County California, Atlanta Georgia, Austin Texas and Palm Springs California.

Library Shelf Display Lighting

2009-01-26T12:05:00.004-06:00

Does library lighting require special equipment and techniques?
Absolutely. Even the way you install cabinet lighting matters in library lighting. The classic aura of antiquity and eloquence that a library establishes calls for exceptional attention to be paid to the quality, nature, and level of the light itself. It also requires special fixtures and installation techniques to be truly effective.

What types of fixtures provide the best lighting for libraries?
Linear strips provide the best sources of library cabinet lighting system because they can be so easily concealed. However, not just any linear strip will do. The strip has to be thin enough and small enough to fit under the shelf and not protrude visibly into the line of site. Standard fixtures are too bulky. Phantom Lighting manufactures custom strips to accommodate the need for a more compact, completely concealable source of lighting in bookcases and libraries. These in cabinet lighting fixtures are made specifically to fit the dimensions of particular shelves and are so low-profile in design they actually fit to the under surface as if they were part of the shelves themselves.

If your strip lights are that thin and compact, how do you power them?
That is an excellent question. There are two ways to deliver power to Phantom’s linear lighting strips. One way is to build them into a new library bookcase and use the buss bars in the case to send low-voltage power to the contact pads. In older libraries, however, this may not be possible because the bookcases do not have metal bus bars. In this case, small wires can be run through the spaces between the sides of the case and the edges of the shelves, then connected to the contact pads accordingly. As you will see in our gallery of images, what results is an apparently sourceless form of library lighting that appears to make the books themselves glow with light.

Can we leave these lights on all night?
Yes. These are low-voltage lights that generate no heat if fitted with new, 2800K LED festoon lamps. They are also dimmable, so varying levels of ambient lighting appropriate to time of evening and general lighting conditions around one’s privately library can be appropriately set. Another significant advantage to using today’s newest LED light bulb technology is that it to date has produces the safest form of luminance known to science. There is absolutely no ultraviolet light or infrared heat produced by an LED light. This means that even rare books are safe from degradation and overheating even with the lights left on 24/7

Is this affordable?
LED uses only 20% of the power as incandescent lighting to begin with. When combined with a dimmer control, power savings are even greater. The quality of today’s LED cabinet lights is so superb that you cannot distinguish them from incandescent or high-end xenon lamps.

Their power-saving functionality, combined with the superior presentation they afford, makes Phantom fixtures some of the most eclectic and elegant choices for library lighting found anywhere in the world.

What are Phantom Strips and who makes them?
Phantom linear strips have earned the reputation of being some of the most unobtrusive fixtures for this type of lighting, and have led to the coining of our motto, "See the light, not the fixture."
Visit our online gallery here, and visit our phantom website to read more about such topics as cove lighting, curio cabinet lighting, under cabinet lighting, and retail display lighting.

Where do you manufacture and distribute your products?
Our bookcase and cabinet lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. Contact us toll free at 800-863-1184 for assistance on strip lighting or art lighting projector equipment. We have a network of nationwide distributorships, interior designers and sales representatives spread out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP).

We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer sales representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

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Book Lighting & Bookcase Displays

2009-01-15T13:26:00.003-06:00

Why is it necessary to use special lighting for books?
Generally speaking, only books made from very fine and sensitive materials, or rare books that are old or out of print, tend to be displayed in a fashion that requires illumination. Due to the sensitivity of leather, binding, and pages, book accent lighting must be free from all harmful wavelengths of light and also look aesthetically presentable.

What do you mean by “harmful wavelengths of light?”
The invisible extremes of the light spectrum—ultraviolet and infrared—both present unseen hazards to books and other fine materials. Ultraviolet light breaks down the cellular and molecular structure of any organic material, living or non-living. Infrared light generates heat that can dehydrate paper and leather, causing cracking and possible fire hazards.

Should book lights then be UV and IR filtered?
Some are, but it is better to use LED lights that do not produce UV or IR rays to begin with. Unlike all other light sources (fluorescent, incandescent, and xenon) that ignite gases to create luminance, LEDs create light by passing a current through a solid substance called a diode. This diode in turn emits a monochromatic frequency of color that travels in a tight, narrow wavelength and avoids either extreme of the spectrum where harmful radiation is found.

I have heard that LEDs produce a poor quality of lighting compared to other lamps. Is this true?
No. LEDs such as Phantom Lighting’s 2800K LED festoon lamp emit a quality of light that is equivalent to xenon in the ability to render colors true to form. Phantom book lights also are designed with a unique, patented festoon that combines multiple LED bulbs to create a high output of lumens. Although these bulbs use a mere 1.7 watts of power (a fraction of that used by older technologies), they are able to shine just as brightly. LEDs also produce no heat, so they will not dry out covers or pages and pose no risk of fire hazard if left on for extended periods of time. See our festoon lamp comparison chart for more details.

With all this complicated science, how decorative are Phantom book lighting fixtures?
The purpose of the science is to maximize, not minimize, the decorative potential of our fixtures. Phantom’s motto is “see the light, not the fixture.” Our strip lights are very small and very thin, and they can be concealed under any book shelf in a wireless, unobtrusive configuration. Furthermore, they are completely dimmable, so a variety of lighting levels and moods can be achieved simply by adjusting the brightness of the lamps. The hidden position of the fixture, the absence of wiring that can create an eyesore, and the smaller, concealed low-voltage transformers enable you to light your bookcase or library in such a way as to make it appear to generate light magically from within the shelves.

What sizes do you sell your book lighting strips in?
We have basic model designs for new cabinet build outs and retrofit display cabinet lighting. However, we do not have pre-cut sizes like many online stores. Instead, we custom build each strip to the specific dimensions of the shelf to which it mounts. This makes the product literally become a part of the overall bookshelf or cabinet and further adds to the element of concealment. We work closely with designers and cabinet makers to make this process as seamless and efficient as possible, and to add value to their work with our proprietary showcase lighting technology.

We manufacture cabinet lighting fixtures in our Houston, Texas facility. A network of nationwide lighting supply sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Dallas, Texas (DWF), Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to call a Phantom Agent toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our Phantom Lighting website, visit our Phantom Lighting mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our cabinet lighting blog. All of these resources, including our online virtual lighting showroom contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Bookcase Lighting & Cabinet Lights

2009-01-10T13:27:00.004-06:00

What is the best type of lighting for a free-standing bookcase?
If the bookcase has already been built, we recommend installing Phantom AE (Adjustable Exposed Bookcase Lights) series linear lighting strips. These bookcase lights are ideal for remodelers because they are designed to be installed in bookcases that have already been built. In most cases, there are metal buss bars in these bookcases that can function as the main conduits of power to the low voltage lighting system. If not, we can supply you with buss bars to install with the lighting strips.

Can Phantom bookcase lights be built into a unit at the time of manufacture?
Yes. We have another line of linear strips, the AC (Adjustable Concealed Bookcase Lights) series that is intended to be built into new-construction cabinets and bookcases. The AC series is used by a great variety of contractors, including cabinet makers, general contractors, and even electrical specialists.

What advantages do these strip lights offer over other forms of bookcase lighting?
Concealment is the most important attribute of these luxury lighting fixtures. Both the AC and AE series are very slim, low profile linear strip lights that are custom-manufactured to specific shelf dimensions. They mount on the front under surface of each shelf, hidden from open view.

Phantom linear bookcase lights feature some ingenious engineering found nowhere else in the world of cabinet lighting design. We have patented a virtually wireless cabinet lighting fixture that negates the need for both gangly wiring and problematic battery power. Using buss bars and metal shelf supports, we have engineered linear strip technology to use metallic structures that are either built into the cabinet or retrofitted to its surface as conductors of low-voltage current. This current neither generates heat nor presents any risk of shock, and is essentially the safest form of bookcase lighting to utilize for eclectic displays and collections of older books whose covers and pages are exceptionally sensitive.

Because these bookshelf lights utilize buss bars and metal shelf supports as electrical conductors, there is no visible wiring, either, to clutter the display.

How can Phantom Lighting provide such specialized lighting on a customized application basis?
We rely upon a sophisticated internal consultation, manufacturing, and distribution process flow that coordinates the production of the product with our client’s project itself. When a professional contacts our office, we first determine if this is going to be a new build out or retrofitting project. Once that determination is made, we gather detailed information on the scope of the project, the dimensions of the bookcase we will be lighting, and even the contents that will be displayed within that case. This allows us in turn to choose not only the right linear strip series, but the appropriate festoon lamping options as well. The factory then produces the strips, which are then sent to the client’s location. For large projects, our agent network acts as a distribution and technical support channel. These experts help contractors; interior decorators customize both select and customize the lighting strips to bookcases, displays, coves, armoires, and even antique furnishings. Large projects such as these require a great deal of consultation and technical support, which are Agents are happy to provide to the general contractor and the specialty interior designer.

Phantom linear strips have earned the reputation of being some of the most unobtrusive fixtures for this type of lighting, and have led to the coining of our motto, "see the light, not the fixture." Visit our online gallery here, and visit our phantom website to read more about such topics as cove lighting, curio cabinet lighting, under cabinet lighting, and retail display lighting.

Our bookcase and cabinet lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. Feel free to contact us toll free at 800-863-1184 for assistance on strip lighting or fine art lighting projector equipment. A network of nationwide distributorships and sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer sales representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Indirect Cove Lighting Designs

2008-12-03T16:01:00.004-06:00

Cove lighting design adds dimension to interior architecture and design by adding a layer of accent lighting in otherwise unreachable places that function to blend general lighting with decorative lighting and fill the entirety of the room with a sense of luminary completion. Because lighting coves vary widely in depth and radius design, cove lighting requires a highly level of customization. Standard fixture designs prove inadequate on any but the most rigid and angular of surfaces. In a more sophisticated interior, xenon linear strips engineered to accommodate radial bends and narrow surfaces have to be used in order to conceal the light source and add mystique and ambiance to overall lighting design.

This allows the architect to focus on the structural designs of unique architectural elements without having to worry about what type of lighting he or she will later have to search for to illuminate the interior. With Phantom CM series kitchen cove lights, designers can simply submit a blueprint to our team and have our factory manufacture cove lights around the framework of the ceiling architecture. These strips can be made to fit radius bends of up to 360 degrees and remain completely concealed when installed. The resulting sourceless glow these cove lights produce allows building design professionals to apply some very unique attribution on a precision level to achieve any number of important accent and decorative strip lighting effects in key areas of commercial and residential structures.

Foyers, for instance, are intended to be more than simple entryways into an establishment. In a hospitality setting, they play an important role in establishing a sense of separation from the outside world. When guests walk into a foyer filled with ambient lighting, they immediately feel relaxed and welcome. LED strip cove lights in foyers can set the tone for an evening of fine dining, or a night in a well-furnished suite filled with amenity and charm. Equally important, cove lights in both hotels and restaurants can be used to initiate theme lighting designs. A recent project at Houston’s Aquarium restaurant features an installation of our CM linear lights along serpentine covers that wind along curving, fluid walls and ceilings built to mimic a sandy shoreline. Special 2800K LED lamps were used in these fixtures to mimic the color of sand.

In a troubled economy such theme accent lighting effects are remarkably cost effective when done with 2800K LED lamps. Already operating on a dimmable, low-voltage linear strip, these energy saving lamps further reduce costs by the simple virtue that they only need 20% of the power required by other luminaires in the first place. Restaurant cove lighting adds a very essential design element necessary to attracting repeat business at a negligible cost that is well worth the one-time investment in equipment.

Custom homes designed with visible trusses also experience a very powerful new dimension of lighting when lit from within by concealed cove lights or low voltage linear lighting systems. This serves to magnify the visibility of the beams without the visible presence of technology, and can be done in harmony with a number of decorative styles including rustic, Craftsman, or Arts and Crafts motifs.

Call us today for more information on cove lighting design in commercial and residential interiors. Our commercial lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and Unites States lighting sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL), Orlando, Florida (MCO), Santa Monica, CA, (LAX) Columbus, Ohio (CMH), (LGA) New York, NY, (JKF), St. Louis, MO, Detroit, Michigan (DTW), Madison, WI (MSN), San Francisco, California (SFO), and Omaha, Nebraska (OMA). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us at 800-863-1184 to obtain more information. You can also visit our mobile website, lighting supply page or read through the many informative summaries and frequently asked questions located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Custom Cove Lighting Systems

2008-12-03T15:50:00.004-06:00

Phantom linear cove lights offer architects and builders a flexible and multifunctional tool of ceiling accent lighting. Far more efficient and sophisticated than cove rope lights, linear strips feature longer lamp life and a greater range of colour temperatures. Many are also fully dimmable and capable of supporting a choice of lamp types including the new 2800K LED festoon cove lights that can equal the color rendering capabilities of xenon bulbs.

We patented our CM series linear strip to function as a template for high-end cove lighting applications in custom homes, hospitality industries, and elegant commercial interiors. This linear strip light is engineered for maximum concealment and flexibility, and can be fitted to even the most challenging ceiling environments. This is because of two very important reasons. The first is physical size. Phantom cove lights are smaller and thinner than most competing luxury lighting fixtures on the market. They are also engineered to be custom cut to fit any radius bend up to a full 360 degrees. This allows them to be installed in challenging environments such as serpentine coves and vaulted dome ceilings.

Another excellent advantage that Phantom cove lights offer is energy savings without compromise of lighting quality. Far more attractive than fluorescent equivalents, they are nonetheless competitively efficient due to their low-voltage engineering design and their fully dimmable lighting control mechanisms. Even greater cost savings can be instantly generating by having these fixtures manufactured with new 2800K LED festoons—a light source equivalent to xenon in color rendering capability. We see more and more restaurants and hotels choosing LED to save on energy costs and buffer their overhead against a sluggish market.

Residential home builders also becoming more interested in LED cove lighting construction for the very same reason. A new home today can be furnished and decorated with superb aesthetics that cove lighting plays an active role enhancing. Indirect decorative motifs appear more colorful and clear under the additional layer of accent lighting they create—at a negligible operating cost. Homeowners who have already purchased cove lights consider upgrading the festoon lamps in their fixtures to both reduce their electrical bills now and add value in the form of energy savings on the list price of their home.

We invite you to contact us at 800-863-1184 to obtain more information. You can also visit our mobile website, online lighting showroom or read through the many informative summaries and frequently asked questions located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Our lighting supply facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Cedar Rapids, IA (CID), Bloomington, IL, (BMI), Bar Harbor, ME, (BHB) Portland, ME, (PWM) Butte MT, Las Vegas, NV, (LAS) Santa Fe, NM,( SAF), Augusta, GA, (AGS) Athens, GA, (AHN) and King Salmon, AK (AKN). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Phantom Projector Frequently Asked Questions

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Why would I use the Contour Projector instead of a low voltage pinhole light?
The primary reason to use a framing projector is to shape the light exactly to the contour of the object of art without illuminating the wall or floor around it. This is done with one of two masking methods: Adjustable shutters or custom cut templates. The art takes on a three-dimensional, lighted from within look, which is spectacular in the right environment. Framing projectors are considered the most dramatic form of art illumination on the market today!

How does the Phantom Contour Projector compare with the Wendelighting® optical projector?
The two projectors are very similar in optical design except for the light source, housings and mounting techniques. Utilizing a 75-Watt MR16 lamp our custom lenses collect, condense and focus the light to levels exceeding the 150-Watt lamp used in the Wendelighting® optical projector. This has allowed us to reduce the size of the housings by 50% and design five different mounting methods to handle any installation condition. The remodel housing, a first in the industry, if perfect for applications where drywall repairs are not practical or desired.

Will the light from the Phantom Contour Projector fade my art?
No, almost all of the infrared heat is contained within the projector itself. Most of the ultraviolet light is filtered out as it goes through the lens. Special UV filters are available by request for sensitive pieces of art.

How difficult is Phantom Contour Projector to install?
It is really quite simple if you understand the concept and follow the instructions. Selecting the right housing and focal lenses is the most important part of the installation. Send us some drawings or a picture and we will be able to discuss your needs!

What kind of dimmer should I use to control the Phantom Contour Projector?
We recommend that you use a dimmer that is designed to control an electronic transformer. Some dimming systems such as Lutron Grafik Eye may require the use of an electronic interface. Consult the manufacturer or you local lighting professional for information regarding dimmer controls. We now offer Q-Tran magnetic transformers on all our projector models.

Where can I learn more about Phantom fine art lighting projectors?
Feel free to contact us toll free at 800-863-1184, visit our mobile website, lighting blog or online lighting showroom to discover which Phantom Lighting products and models will best adapt to your particular lighting needs.

Where can I request Phantom lighting information?
Subscribe to our RSS feed and get instantaneous results! You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile website, see us at Lightfair International or read through the many informative summaries and frequently asked questions located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers, interior designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Where is Phantom Lighting manufacturerd?
Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Under Cabinet LED Lights

2008-11-26T11:03:00.004-06:00

Why have I only now heard about under cabinet led lighting?
Because for a very long time these fixtures had a hard time creating white light that could truly function as a replacement for incandescent sources. If you looked at a countertop lit by led under the cabinet light fixtures, you could almost immediately tell what they were. Many custom home builders and interior designers avoided using them for this reason/ LED was seen new technology with great potential, but not quite ready to take the market. That is, until now.

Are these new undercabinet led lights just as good as xenon?
For all intents and purposes, yes. You won’t be able to tell the difference unless you are a trained lighting professional who works with both types of lighting every day. This is because 12 volt under cabinet LED bulbs can now be manufactured that operate at 2800K color temperature—a very white light akin to sunlight. The more white a light is in this sense, the “warmer” its color temperature is said to be. With a warm color temperature lighting source, you can see the greatest level of color and detail in surfaces such as granite and marble.

Why are Phantom undercabinet let lighting fixtures the best choice for builders to use in custom cabinets?
Aside from the custom nature of the strips themselves, Phantom‘s 2800K festoon lamps combines the newest, warmest color temperature available with previous engineering that differentiated our festoon lamps from all competing equivalents. LED bulbs typically emit lower levels of light than incandescent sources. To compensate for this, Phantom developed a lamping techniques that places three bulbs together in a festoon lamp, thus generating a higher lumens output. Now, with this latest evolution in color temperature, you have both the brightness and the “whiteness” that xenon and incandescent have been famous for. For the first time in ever, energy saving led is now poised to eventually replace all other sources of kitchen cabinet lighting.

What are the other benefits of Phantom’s under cabinet festoon lights?
Well, for one thing you don’t have to order new strips to get new lights if you already have Phantom linear strips in place. The 2800K festoon lamps can be retrofitted to both our vertical and horizontal mounting fixtures. They also work on a number of luxury lighting linear strips that use the festoon lamp design.

With incandescent bulbs being eliminated out by 2010 in places like California, developing LED technology to this new level is just in time for today’s custom home builder to offer greater energy savings and superb aesthetic in a problematic housing market. Fully dimmable and ultra-concealable, these linear cabinet lights will add dimension and accent to any home kitchen. Call Phantom now to learn more about 2800K under cabinet led lighting strips and their many applications for builders, architects, designers, and homeowners alike.

Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. Feel free to contact us toll free at 800-863-1184 for assistance on strip lighting or fine art lighting projector equipment. A network of nationwide distributorships and sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer sales representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Phantom Lighting & 2009 TSA Handbook

2008-11-24T09:09:00.012-06:00

In the 2009 TSA Handbook of the Texas Society of Architects you can find contact information for Phantom Lighting, a Houston Texas based specialty lighting manufacturer of fine art projector lights and low voltage cabinet lighting.

The Mission of the Texas Society of Architects is to be the voice of the Texas architectural profession uniting AIA members to advance the profession, serve society and improve the built environment.

TSA members are the key decision makers in the specification of building products for the total construction of commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. In Texas, the vast majority of licensed, high-profile architects are members of Texas Society of Architects (TSA). TSA is comprised of 17 chapters across the state of Texas — collectively representing the Texas component of the American Institute of Architects. The member architects are involved in making the profession better; they have a vision of the industry and influence statewide legislation that will benefit the industry in general.

The 2009 TSA Handbook and resource guide is mailed directly to all 6,500 TSA members, plus many local government and public school officials and key decision-makers working with the design and construction industry in Texas. It will also be distributed to chapter offices of the Associated General Contractors across Texas.

About Phantom Lighting
Phantom Lighting is a pioneer, Houston-based art lighting company and low voltage lighting manufacturer established in 1981 to service the lighting and design community. Phantom Contour Projector and Phantom strip lights feature lighting technology that is completely unique, 100% proprietary, and found nowhere else in the world of lighting. Phantom’s revolutionary approach to decorative picture lighting and low voltage display, shelf, and under cabinet lighting has taken it from humble origins to the level of an international leader in lighting manufacturing on two continents.

Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located west of downtown Houston. A network of nationwide distributorships and lighting sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to visit our main phantom website, our phantom mobile website, request literature, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQ's located on our lighting blog.

About Phantom Lighting Systems

2008-11-21T20:27:00.004-06:00

Phantom Lighting is a pioneer, Houston-based art lighting company and low voltage lighting manufacturer established in 1981 to service the lighting and design community. Phantom Contour Projector and Phantom strip lights feature lighting technology that is completely unique, 100% proprietary, and found nowhere else in the world of lighting. Phantom’s revolutionary approach to decorative picture lighting and low voltage display, shelf, and under cabinet lighting has taken it from humble origins to the level of an international leader in lighting manufacturing on two continents. We offer two unique products: Phantom Contour Art Lighting Projectors and Phantom LED and Xenon Linear Strip Lighting.

Phantom Contour Art Lighting Projectors
Phantom art lighting museum projectors feature ideal optics and photometric capabilities ideally suited to fine art illumination. These low voltage lighting projectors feature halogen light fixtures and produce a very unique quality of luminance called “the lighted from within effect.” Phantom recessed picture lights are easy to install and extremely versatile, because of their small, compact size and small ceiling aperture.

The Phantom Projector incorporates a parabolic aluminized reflector 75MR16/FO halogen based lamp in its design compared to other projectors. These lamps were originally used for the fiber optic industry, where detailed light focusing is required. The typical rated life of this lamp is around 4000 hours, giving the enthusiast of exquisite paintings plenty of time to enjoy their precious piece, before having to replace the bulb. The surface mount projector is the ideal choice for lighting any type of fine art. This adjustable framing projector has a sleek design, which is unobtrusive and perfect for accenting brush stroke details, along with other vital elements of your paintings. The design of Phantom art projector lights will ensure that your frames are pampered, so they are not damaged.

Phantom Linear Strip Lighting
Phantom LED strip lighting replaces soon-to-be antiquated lighting sources of fluorescent and halogen light bulbs. Phantom strip lights utilize LED lamps that employ semiconductor technology to generate illumination. This reduces the risk of fire hazards that result from overheated lighting equipment and cuts cost on energy consumption. Phantom LED strip lighting delivers value to both commercial and residential lighting arenas and is sweeping the technology world as the wave of the future.

The most popular application for xenon linear lighting is under cabinet lighting. This is due to xenon’s ability to render both cool and warm colors with equal depth and distinction. Incandescent lighting also has a high CRI (color rendering index) when it comes to lighting cool colors such as white or off white counter tops. However, for the deep blues and reds commonly seen in today’s marble and granite counter tops, a more robust source of lighting like that produced with xenon festoons is preferable. Both granite and marble are hard composite stones with multiple layers of vibrantly colored minerals embedded in their substance. Xenon linear under cabinet lights produce enough light to clearly illuminate the many complex colors and patterns in the stone while at the same time adding something of a three-dimensional look to the counter top. By extending the “depth” of the surface, reflective glare is minimized, making for a more sheik and refined appearance appropriate to today’s larger, more elaborate custom kitchen and bathroom décor.

Our home lighting manufacturing facility is located in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and sales representatives fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Scottsdale, Arizona, Seattle, Washington (SEA), Los Angeles, CA, (LAX) Boston, Massachusetts (BOS), Princeton, NJ (EWR), Philadelphia, PA, Dallas, Texas (DWF), Pasadena, California, Chicago, IL (ORD), Baltimore, MD (BWI), and Minneapolis, MN (MSP). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Feel free to contact us toll free at 800-863-1184, visit our mobile website, lighting blog or online lighting showroom to discover which Phantom Lighting products and models will best adapt to your particular lighting needs. Together, the professionals at Phantom Lighting will ensure that your next project is an astounding success!

Phantom Lighting Design Showroom

2008-10-24T14:16:00.006-05:00

Phantom Lighting’s designer showroom offers a unique and innovative virtual lighting supply source for decorators, home builders, architects, electricians, and carpenters. The diversity of elegance found in our lighting design showroom is intended to serve as an example of how applicable our residential and commercial luxury lighting fixtures to a wide range of custom lighting environments. When a designers visits our online lighting supply showroom, they are seeing not just products, but tangible examples of how specific products have been customized to the exact specifications of high-end projects that standard art lighting and linear lighting fixtures could not have adequately been communicated with technical catalog.

Consider this fact: every project you see showcased here began as a custom lighting design project just like the one you are currently working on.

Each professional we helped in the pat simply gave us the scope of his or her project, supplied us with appropriate dimensions, schematics, or photographs, and then let our consultants and lighting agents take it from there. Our unique custom specification and lighting supply process was then able to meet the needs of the professional needs on a very personal level and provide him or her with a luminaire made specifically for the project at hand.

You may notice quite a few cabinet lighting, display lighting, and antique furniture lighting projects showcased on our lighting design gallery.

Every one of these lit by customizing one or more of our six linear strip models into an in-cabinet, undercabinet, bookshelf, or display cabinet lighting fixture. Although based on hidden linear lighting technology, these fixtures go far beyond the capabilities typical linear strips you buy from online stores or find in retail showrooms. They are custom manufactured as ultra-thin vertical and horizontal pieces that fit so exactly match the cabinets and shelves they illuminate that you cannot even see that they are there. If you are a home builder, you can count on these luminaires to fit even the most original and eclectic of kitchen cabinets. The same principal applies to cove lighting as well. Our lighting supply showroom exhibits a number of projects where the CM series linear lighting fixtures have been bent to fit the exact curvature of the cove or vaulted ceiling they illuminate.

Our lighting design showroom has a great deal of projects for the art consultant to study as well.

If your profession is locating and hanging artwork for your clients, one of your top priorities is going to be finding art lights that will effectively illuminate your designs. Consider the benefits offered by the Phantom Contour Projector’s “lighted from within effect.” This picture lighting effect is created by a powerful halogen bulb whose light is passed through a sophisticated, adjustable series of filters that both shape the light and render it free of all ultraviolet and infrared light. Since the recessed projector light is “contoured” to match the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the painting or sculpture it illuminates, you gain a remarkable precision in lighting control and luminance intensity when lighting your clients’ art. Our lighting design showroom offers many examples of how this proprietary effect has earned Phantom Lighting world recognition for bringing museum quality lighting to private residential and commercial art collections.

Take your time as study these projects and let your own creativity begin to speak to you.

Although your current project will no doubt be unique, there is a Muse waiting to inspire you today as you browse through our lighting design showroom, and a manufacturer’s representative agent in your area waiting to help you put your next project in a whole new light.

All of our display lights and artwork lighting projectors are made in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and lighting supply representatives then distributes them throughout all 50 states in places like Lansing, MI (LAN), Hagerstown, MD (HGR), Sidney, MT (SDY), Islip, NY (ISP), Elmira/Corning, NY (ELM), Minot, ND (MOT), Marion, IL (MWA), Kaunakakai, HI (MKK), Agana, GU (GUM), Valdosta, GA (VLD). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America and South America.

We invite you to call a Phantom Agent toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options.

You can also request literature on our phantom website, visit our phantom mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Virtual Lighting Showroom Gallery

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Phantom Lighting’s Virtual showroom provides a virtual lighting supply source for interior decorators, custom home builders, architects, electrical contractors, cabinet makers, and commercial lighting specialists. With one-click convenience, professionals in the design community can find exactly what they need in residential and commercial luxury lighting fixtures. Phantom’s virtual lighting showroom shows you tangible examples of projects we have done in the past—from the convenience of your laptop or desktop. Direct contact with our factory is only a phone call or email away if you have a question or choose to place an order.

Every project you will find today in our virtual lighting showroom began as a custom project like the one you are most likely currently working on. These amazing lighting effects have been produced through a unique custom specification and lighting fixture manufacturing process that takes what the professional needs and wants and uses that as a blueprint for luminaire manufacture.

Find a wide variety of cabinet, cove, display, and antique furniture lighting effects in our virtual lighting showroom that we have created using our proprietary, custom linear lighting strips. These are not the typical low voltage cabinet lighting strips you buy from online stores or find in retail showrooms. They are custom made from ultra-thin vertical and horizontal strips that match exactly the under cabinet and shelving dimensions of the surfaces you are lighting. Builders can requisition under cabinet lights made that will perfectly fit even the most original and eclectic of kitchen cabinets. They can also illuminate cabinet interiors and other forms of shelving with Phantom linear strips. The many cove lighting construction projects depicted in our virtual showroom were designed with linear strips as well. The low-profile, wireless design of these fixtures makes them highly adaptable to low-profile ceiling accent lighting. In fact, our CM series LED strip lighting fixtures can even be bent up to full 360-degrees to accommodate anything from a serpentine cove to a vaulted ceiling dome.

Our virtual lighting gallery also has a great deal for the art consultant to consider.

Here you will find many examples of fine art illuminated by what is known as our "lighted from within effect." This is achieved by the advanced lens configuration and filtration mechanism of our Phantom Contour projector fixture. The light is shaped or “contoured” to match the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the painting or sculpture it illuminates. This allows for a remarkable precision in lighting control and luminance intensity. The filters also strip the light of all ultraviolet and infrared light to render it harmless to sensitive oils and canvases. The light is also shaped, or “contoured” Regardless of the color scheme, location, or size of the painting, the light always appears to emanate from the surface of the art. For decades, this is is what has made the Phantom Contour Projector world famous for art lighting.

Find other examples of eclectic art and sculpture lighting in our virtual showroom now.

Take some time to really study these specialized projects that represent years of partnership and co-consulting with professionals in the design community. Although your current project will no doubt be unique, it will be easy for you to find a number of previous lighting projects that can serve as a general starting point for our factory and agent network to begin serving you.

Our display lights and artwork lighting projectors are made in Houston, Texas. A network of nationwide distributorships and lighting supply distribution reps. then distributes them throughout all 50 states in places like Lansing, MI (LAN), Hagerstown, MD (HGR), Sidney, MT (SDY), Islip, NY (ISP), Elmira/Corning, NY (ELM), Minot, ND (MOT), Marion, IL (MWA), Kaunakakai, HI (MKK), Agana, GU (GUM), Valdosta, GA (VLD). We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main phantom website, visit our phantom mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Phantom Online Lighting Showroom

2008-10-22T21:44:00.005-05:00

Phantom Lighting’s online showroom provides a convenient virtual lighting supply channel for architects, interior designers, custom cabinet makers, home builders, commercial lighting specialists, and interior decorators to find exactly what they need for residential and commercial luxury lighting. Our lighting showroom requires no travel costs or downtime to visit, and offers a convenient means of contacting our factory directly to place an order. Every project displayed in our lighting showroom was actually once a custom project just like the one you are currently working on. The results you see before you have been achieved through our custom specification and lighting fixture manufacturing process that builds the lighting fixture to your exact luminary requirements regardless of the industry you are contracting in.

Art lighting consultants will readily find a variety of applications where our Contour Projectors have produced museum-quality lighting effects.
The beam of light that comes from our projector lighting fixture remains invisible while it travels from the ceiling to the painting. Advanced filters strip it of ultraviolet and infrared light to render it harmless to sensitive oils and canvases. The light is also shaped, or “contoured” to match the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the painting or sculpture it illuminates. This allows for remarkable precision in lighting control and effects. You will see example after example of this when you browse through our online lighting showroom. Regardless of the color scheme, location, or size of the painting, the light always appears to emanate from the surface of the art. This is known as the “lighted from within effect” and has made Phantom world famous for art lighting.

Our Phantom lighting.com also showroom also models a wide variety of cabinet, cove, display, and antique furniture lighting effects that we have created using our proprietary, custom linear lighting strips.
These are not the standard linear strips you buy from online stores or find in retail showrooms. They are strips are custom manufactured from ultra-thin vertical and horizontal strips that precisely match under cabinet and shelving dimensions. If are a builder, you can have under cabinet light strips made that will perfectly blend with the under surface of any kitchen cabinet you install. You can also light cabinet interiors and other forms of shelving with our linear strips. Also, the many cove lighting projects you see depicted in our showroom were done with linear strips as well. The low-profile, wireless design of these fixtures makes them ideal for hiding near the ceiling. Our CM series strip light even bends up to full 360-degrees in order to accommodate everything from serpentine coves to vaulted ceiling domes.

Find other examples of eclectic art and sculpture lighting in our showroom now.
Take some time to study the specialized projects we have done over the years in the areas of wine cellar lighting, collector’s displays, antique furniture lighting, and bookshelf lighting. Although every project is unique, it is easy to find exactly what you need by picking out one or two lighting projects from our showroom and calling our main office to request something similar for your next build out, architectural drawing, or interior decorating project.

Find US manufacturer representatives in all 50 states in cities like Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (PIT) Atlanta, GA (ATL), Marina Del Rey, California, Coral Gables, Fl, Redmond, Washington (RDM), Memphis, Tennessee (MEM), Madison, WI, (MSN) Portland, Oregon, (PDX) and Stamford, CT. We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to contact us or a Phantom Agent toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our phantom website, visit our phantom mobile website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting products that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and in cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.

Interior Decorator Lighting Supply

2008-10-17T15:39:00.005-05:00

Why is Phantom the interior decorators best source of specialty art lighting product supply?
Because we look at ourselves as an extension of your creativity, not a vendor of parts that you have to force fit on top of your vision. We custom manufacture lighting for all of our display, shelf, furniture, and decorative strip lights to the exact specifications of your interior design strategies. You can call us directly at our factory and speak to a artwork lighting design expert who will give you a free consultation over the phone on how to properly illuminate art. During this consultation we will learn exactly what you intend to do for your client, and then locate an agent in our lighting supply network who can best assist your specific application.

Why not simply go to a lighting supply store when I need lights for my clients?
If you go to a lighting supply depot, you will no doubt find countless fixtures that are exquisitely designed and perform exceptionally. The problem you will run into, however, is finding the right accent lighting fixture out of all these choices that will provide a low profile fit for a decorative cabinet, book case, valance, display, or cove you intend to light. Even if you come close, there will still be technical challenges associated with installing it, as many of these lights have transformers that are difficult, if not impossible to conceal.

With Phantom Lighting, however, you can simply send us some photographs and detailed dimensions of what you want us to light and we will supply you with hidden linear lighting strips that will be invisible to the client and operate on low-voltage transformers that remain unseen. This results in a fully dimmable, energy efficient luxury luminance for your design creations that looks great in your client’s home—while saving them money all the while!

Do you supply picture lights or over the frame lights for paintings?
We actually provide you with something much better—your choice of six model designs for our Phantom Contour Projector. These projectors are much smaller and more sheik in design build than larger, bulkier equivalents. They have the very best filtration and lens adjustment mechanisms on the market, making it possible to strip the light of all harmful UV and IR rays and render it safe for even the most rare and delicate of oil paintings.

The Phantom Contour hides near the ceiling and delivers an invisible beam of light that also remains hidden until it strikes a painting, sculpture, or rare furniture arrangement. This is called the “lighted from within” effect which has made us famous for museum-quality art lighting fixtures and sculpture lighting all over the world.

What if I want to hang art in my client’s den and they already have eyeball fixtures in the ceiling?
No problem. We can supply you with a retrofit art lighting projector that you can install in the same sockets the eyeball fixtures currently occupy. Not only will this represent a simple upgrade in terms of switching fixtures, but it will also avoid the need to cut into your client’s ceiling to install the projector.

We manufacture fine art projectors here in our Houston, Texas headquarters, then distribute them through a network of nationwide lighting suppliers and sales representatives that fans out throughout all 50 states into cities like Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (PIT) Atlanta, GA (ATL), Marina Del Rey, California, Coral Gables, Fl, Redmond, Washington (RDM), Memphis, Tennessee (MEM), Madison, WI, (MSN) Portland, Oregon, (PDX) and Stamford, CT. We also service clients internationally, with lighting manufacturer representatives working out of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

We invite you to call a Phantom Agent toll free 800-863-1184 to obtain more information on all of these options. You can also request literature on our main website, visit our mobile phantom website, or read through the many informative summaries and FAQs located on our lighting blog. All of these resources contain a wealth of information about our custom; low-voltage lighting installations that are the dream come true of art lighting designers and cabinet lighting builders on two major continents.