I enjoy crafting articles on Houzz.com for a number of reasons, including having access to millions of photographs of beautiful projects. When writing the most recent article (link below), I found dozens of examples of lighting stone and brick to include. But my favorite aspects of the process are figuring out how to simplify my […]
Category: Design Theory
The Gift of Light
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 […]
Practical Advice: Choosing Downlight Trims
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. […]
Light for Storytelling
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 […]
Light for Changing
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 Color Temperature
Choosing a color temperature can be tricky. Read my quick summary on Houzz.com. How to Choose the Right Color Temperature of LED Lightbulb […]
Light for Feeling
Once you have light for doing and light for knowing, it’s time to think about light for feeling. Can light impact how you feel? Imagine yourself driving a car. Suddenly, you see flashing red and blue lights coming from behind you. Your heartrate rises, your brain goes to high alert, and you reach a state […]
Downlighting Advice from Houzz.com
Are you a Houzz.com user? Check out my article on the pros and cons of downlights by clicking the link below. The Pros and Cons of Recessed Lighting […]
Light for Doing
Do you know how many footcandles you need to read a magazine? Most likely not, and there is no reason you should. But you are an expert at what you do in your home, and you need light to see it. You need a certain kind of light to read your magazine, light that illuminates […]
Theory: Red Velvet Cake
I can talk about lighting theory and ideas for hours (just ask my former students), but all my lighting knowledge can be encapsulated in a single piece of delicious Red Velvet Cake. If you read just one post on this blog, or remember just one idea, I hope this will be the one. Red Velvet […]