The Simple Gift of Light #10 There is a part of me that wants lighting design to be so complicated, technical, and artistic that no one else tries it, leaving all of the opportunities to me. In this fantasy world- the one where lighting is too complex for ordinary citizens to grasp- I get to […]
Another one just came across my desk: a kitchen where the plans call for lighting placed precisely in the wrong place. Chopping with large knives and dealing with hot pans is no place for poor lighting and obscuring shadows, and this is just one reason kitchens have the most at stake when it comes to […]
T Brand, the paid content arm of the New York Times, recently launched a post on cutting-edge lighting in cars. Paid for by Audi, the relatively short post has fabulous graphics and quotes from experts across the country on how light affects us. About half-way through the article there is a quote from an architectural […]
Today I send a big THANK YOU to the fabulous editorial team at Fine Homebuilding for shaping my article for their readers. It was a fun experience for me and I am delighted with the final product! Read it online. […]
“Sacrifice for beauty,” someone once said. Not in my house. Lighting is not immune to questionable fashion trends, and we’re in the middle of one right now that makes many dining experiences less enjoyable. “Transitional” design has given birth to the open-structure chandelier, the philosophical equivalent of an umbrella without its fabric cover. You and […]
Here’s a fun challenge to do when you should be washing dishes, mowing the lawn, or cleaning your teeth: Go shopping online for wall sconces and see how many of the product photos have the light turned on. Or you can skip the search and trust me. There are not very many. Most manufacturers and […]
Need to choose downlights for your home? I took a stab at simplifying the process (there are literally thousands of possibilities) in my latest Houzz.com article. Check it out by clicking the link below. Choose Downlight Fixtures by Answering These 5 Easy Questions […]
The Electrical Walk Through I’m grumpy this morning, and a little sad. I just saw another beautiful home under construction, and it was too late to save it from bad lighting. So be warned: while I try to keep most of my posts focused on the positive Gift of Light and the five promises that […]
I recently wrote an article for Houzz.com on how to make the outside of your home welcoming at night. It had been awhile since my article on downlights drew so many sharply divided comments, so I had grown complacent and used to the vanilla “great article” responses. Whoops. While many readers appreciated the article and the […]
Straight from the depths of the mind of a lighting designer, here comes another fascinating, edge-of-your-seat, page-turning buying guide for the most exciting of all light fixtures: under-cabinet LED tape light. Oh yeah! Buying LED tape light (those tiny flexible LED strips with adhesive backing) would be easier if it weren’t for the seemingly endless […]
While at a business lunch a few hours ago, I had to look up today’s sunset time so I could arrange to meet the client at the project site after dark to view the new lighting. My weather app told me 8:15. That’s good for tonight, as I won’t have to stay awake as long. […]