So much of our modern lives is digital that we scarcely stumble across the archaic digital versus analog debate. No one uses an abacus in high school math class. Finding a land line to make a phone call is increasingly difficult. Clacking typewriters have given way to silent computers. Some of us wear watches that […]
The Gift’s second promise is that light can help us know where we are, where we are going, and who we are with. Light for knowing may take the form of “ambient” light, which is soft, diffuse, general light that dimly fills a space. But it may also be much more focused light that gives […]
Choosing a lamp can be just as much fun as choosing a chair…until you get the chair home and realize it doesn’t fit/doesn’t coordinate with the room/or isn’t comfortable after an hour of reading. Guess what? A lamp can also be uncomfortable or not fit with the room and leave you wanting more. As […]
Author’s note: I think of myself as a strange hybrid of wannabe tree-hugging liberal and stumbling follower of Jesus. From time to time you may see one or more of my values and beliefs come to the surface in my blog, such as in this post. Yet the only “religion” I will push on this […]
Recently a reader posed a tough question following one of my articles on Houzz.com: “I am often stumped by the variety of sizes and baffle colors of recessed lights. Any info regarding how to choose?” Hmm. I had to think about that one, as I often make choices subconsciously from my own experience and preferences. […]
Most folks I know never ask me to advise them on lighting their living rooms, but I get called in often to take a look at kitchens. Modern lifestyles place a much higher emphasis on kitchens than when many of our homes were built, and it makes sense that lighting these spaces has become more […]
CFLS: Ceiling Fan Light Syndrome. Great for vacuuming the carpet, awful for everything else. Everyone uses their living rooms differently, which means everyone’s idea of great lighting will be different. In your living or family room you might watch television, read books, play games, relax on the couch, surf the internet on your iPad, knit, snack, […]
Professional lighting designers use different terms like task, ambient, and accent light when describing what they do. And they may not always talk about storytelling, but it is embedded in their work none-the-less. When I’m working with a client who is converting an old brick warehouse into a frozen yogurt shop, I might suggest neon […]
Need some help applying the language of light your dining room? Check out my article on Houzz. The 5 Layers of a Well-Lit Dining Room […]
Imagine yourself in a windowless, featureless room, like an exam room at the hospital. There is a light switch on the wall that turns on the overhead fluorescent fixtures. You can have bright white light or pitch dark at the flick of a switch. And those are your only two choices. So most of the […]
Choosing a color temperature can be tricky. Read my quick summary on Houzz.com. How to Choose the Right Color Temperature of LED Lightbulb […]