Layers aren’t limited to clothing and cakes. They’re also essential to a well-lit home, maintains Susan Humphress, lighting specialist and showroom manager for Brecher’s Lighting. "You need layers of light from different sources to be effective, efficient and comfortable," she says.
Experts divide light into three categories, depending on use. General lighting illuminates a large area. Think of it as a replacement for the sun. Task lighting, on the other hand, is a workhorse designed to shed light specifically where you need it to read, cook, sew or work at your desk. Finally, accent lighting is the Stephen Spielberg of the lighting world, because it’s all about special effects. Use it to dramatize architectural details such as columns and crown molding or a prized painting or platter. The problems lighting consultants encounter most frequently? "Not using enough light sources and fixtures with insufficient wattage," says Dana Miller, assistant showroom manager for Falls City Electric Supply, who recommends looking at function — how the light will be used and how many watts you need — before you start fixture shopping.
Kitchens and Baths
Adequate lighting is crucial in kitchens and bathrooms. Years ago, kitchens were lit by a single overhead light in the center of the room, recalls Bob Rueff, senior lighting consultant for Rueff Lighting. "It’s the only area in the room where absolutely nothing is happening!" he incredulously notes.
Today the pros recomm/files/storyimages/lights above the sink, stove, island and kitchen table, as well as under-cabinet lighting to cast light directly on countertops. "I don’t care how much light you put on your ceiling," says Humpress. "It won’t light your countertops."
In bathrooms, recommendations include a light strip over the vanity and sconces on either side of the mirror to eliminate harsh shadows. Where sconces are impossible, opt for a three-foot instead of the standard two-foot light strip to create some cross lighting. Another trick Rueff uses to reduce shadows: Position recessed cans directly above the front perimeter of the vanity.
Lights are also important above the tub, shower and commode, especially when the toilet is in a private water closet. While many ceiling fans have optional light kits, Humphress advises a separate recessed can or ceiling fixture instead. "Most fan lights are only 60 watts, and for reading that’s not bright enough," she explains. "Some fans accept 100-watt bulbs, but the plastic lens tends to discolor over time."
Staircases
Sconces are better than overhead lighting for staircases, says Humphress. "You can put a ceiling light on a landing, but sconces are more accessible above the treads when you need to change a bulb. They also provide even light when spaced correctly," she says. Her only caveat: Make sure they don’t protrude too far from the wall.
Step lights can actually throw depth perception off in a full flight of stairs, because they only illuminate three steps. Better ways to use them: very short flights in home theaters; as nightlights in bedrooms, halls and baths; or to accentuate drives, walks and patio, pool or retaining walls outdoors, Miller says.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers are turning up everywhere these days, from dining rooms and foyers to great rooms, bedrooms and even baths. One of the most popular new looks is a mini model, measuring a mere 15-18 inches in diameter, for use in guest rooms, nurseries, children’s rooms and over kitchen islands. Also hot are one-of-a-kind antique Victorian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco fixtures, says Jordan Michelson, owner of Architectural Salvage. "Our biggest market for antique chandeliers is with people building new homes," he observes. "They want a unique look — something a little different than off the rack."
Right-sizing a chandelier is relatively simple. Add the room’s length and width in feet together to come up with the chandelier’s recommended diameter in inches. A 15-by-20-foot dining room, for example, requires a 35-inch chandelier. That said, other factors can come into play. Two-story or unusually high single-story ceilings, for example, may require a larger chandelier.
Replacing a dated chandelier with a newer model? Compare weights before you hang. "It’s not unusual for a replacement chandelier to weigh twice as much, and your outlet box must be rated to hold the increased weight," Humphress warns.
Lamps and Shades
When floor and table lamps are used for reading, position them behind you so light shines over the shoulder directly onto your reading material. Shades should reach just below eye level, so if you turn toward the lamp, you’re not staring at a bare bulb. To choose lamps that are the correct height, it’s best to take them for a trial run. "Most of our lamp sales are on approval," Humphress notes.
Can’t find the perfect lamp for a particular spot? Have one made by The Lampmaker on Lexington Road. Proprietor David Huter creates lamps out of figurines, vases, jars, bottles, art glass, candlesticks and pottery. Some of his more unusual designs have been made from coaxial cables, riding boots, vintage wooden skis and musical instruments.
Changing lampshades is an inexpensive way to update your decor. "You can put six different shades on the same lamp and produce six different looks," Huter says. While there are no hard rules governing height, shades should be deep enough to hit the electrical base about a half-inch below the socket. Best bet: Take your lamp with you when you go shade shopping.
To prolong the life of your shades, use the lowest-wattage bulb possible for your purpose, make sure there is ample distance between the bulb and the shade, and rotate the shade every six months so it fades evenly in the sun. "The main shade killer is heat from the bulb," Huter says. Keeping shades clean can also slow deterioration. Most can be soap-and-water washed, as long as they’re cleaned within a year of purchase and annually thereafter. An alternative to soap and water is a chemically treated lamp shade dry cleaning sponge sold at The Lampmaker for $14.
Energy Efficiency
Lighting represents some 10 to 15 percent of your monthly electric bill, says Miller, but there are steps you can take to reduce that bite. The two easiest: switching from incandescent to fluorescent bulbs and putting dimmer switches on the lights you use most often.
Old-fashioned, Edison-style incandescent bulbs are energy-wasters because 90 percent of the electricity they use is converted to heat. In contrast, compact fluorescents produce no heat and use only about a quarter of the electricity to produce the same amount of light. And although compact fluorescent bulbs cost more initially, they last 10 times longer — about 10,000 hours, as compared to 750-1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb, Miller says.
While many homeowners object to their somewhat greenish light, color-corrected fluorescents are available. A good place to try before you buy: Rueff Lighting’s downtown lighting laboratory. "You can look at fabric and paint swatches under different types of bulbs to find out what works best with your decor," Rueff says.
Rueff is also big on dimming. "Put your lights on dimmers and you’ll not only save energy; your bulbs will last longer," he says. "A $13 dimmer on recessed kitchen lights will pay for itself in six months just by reducing light bulb replacement."
While most lighting specialists advocate dimming in every room, a great place to get started is hard-to-reach fixtures in high places — recessed cans, floodlights and chandeliers.
Style
For the past few years, Old World looks have dominated the lighting scene. That’s slowly changing, says Samantha Griffith, senior designer for Thomas Lighting. While dark finishes remain strong, the designs themselves are more streamlined. "We’re seeing more mid-20th-century modern, soft contemporary and transitional designs with the same silhouettes as traditional fixtures minus the ornamentation," she explains.
Glass shades are moving from alabaster white to warm tea-stained and amber tones. Brilliantly colored art glass is also a strong seller in pendants, sconces and chandeliers. "It’s a simple way to add art to your decor," Miller notes.
In contemporary lighting, brushed-steel and nickel finishes, halogen bulbs, bendable or molded heads and frosted or art-glass shades are hot, says Todd Mason, vice president of Contemporary Galleries of Kentucky. On the horizon: the return of black-and-white looks and increased use of energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs.
LED, in fact, is the wave of the future for all types of lighting. As energy-efficient as fluorescent, LED bulbs last 50,000 hours or more and emanate light directionally, making them suitable for task lighting. "The lighting industry is waiting for the day when we learn how to improve the color and produce them inexpensively," says Humphress.
RESOURCE LIST
Rueff Lighting
523 E. Broadway, 583-1617
Brecher’s Lighting
105 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 426-1520
Architectural Salvage
618 E. Broadway, 589-0670
Falls City Electric Supply
601 Broadway, Jeffersonville, 283-6693
Contemporary Galleries of Kentucky
220 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., 426-9273
The Lampmaker
3718 Lexington Road, 896-2899
