Varaluz is a lighting company which Creative Lighting has supported for many years. More recently however, we have begun to feature their styles in a much more deliberate way, and for good reason! Varaluz lighting products are assembled in the Philippians where recycling is a way of life. This being the case, when you invest in a Varaluz light you are investing in a product which is made of at least 70% recycled steel and 100% recycled or reclaimed glass. Elements that are used in their glass ranges from recycled soda bottles to pearl shells.

With the heavy emphasis Varaluz places on recycled materials and sustainability, one might come to the conclusion that they lack style. Nothing can be further from the truth. The styles which Varaluz boast range in inspiration from the organic to the industrial. This being said, if you decide on a Varaluz light you can be confident you will have a fixture that is both fresh and unique.

To investigate Varaluz further please stop into our showroom where you will be able to see many of their creative and beautiful designs.

Since we look at lighting all day, we are not easily impressed with new LED offerings from our manufacturers.  Puck lights, undercabinet fixtures and LED tape lighting ( like rope lighting, but flatter!) need to give off bright, flattering illumination in order for the staff to take notice.  Everybody makes LED, but very few companies’ offerings produce high-quality light at a price that isn’t offensive.

Because of the aforementioned reasons, I was reluctant to take a look Diode LED, yet another company promising the moon.

Turns out, I was very impressed.

Orinda, California’s Diode LED (Pixar’s next door neighbor) started making LED lights for high end vehicles such as Lexus and Infiniti.  Their engineers are no strangers to crisp, white light that can be easily dimmed.  Due to customer demand, the folks at Diode have produced puck lights, tape light (dry and damp location) and low-profile undercabinet bars that are brighter than halogen but use a fraction of the energy.

While most companies emphasize the quality of the LED chip in the production of fixtures, Diode uses high-quality drivers as well.  Drivers are what regulate the voltage to the LED chips and are usually the weakest link in the installation.  Diode’s drivers are affordable but promise to be more reliable than many brands’.

We invite you to stop into our St Paul showroom where one of our lighting consultants can show you the Diode LED display.  We believe you’ll be as impressed as we are!

Refract Undercabinet LightBar

Tiffany glass refers to the many and varied types of glass developed and produced from 1878 to 1933 at the Tiffany Studios, by Loius Comfort Tiffany.

In 1865, Tiffany traveled to Europe to the Victoria and Albert Museum. He admired the glass but was convinced he could improve on it. In 1878 his interest turned toward the creation of stained glass. At that time he opened his own studio and glass foundry. Today his designs are found everywhere. They  range from prairie, craftsman. art nouveav, and contemporary.

At one time when you said you had a tiffany it came from his studio. Now it refers to the style of his designs.What they all have in common are the individual hand cut pieces of glass.

How is a tiffany style lamp made?

First: The puzzled must be designed. Then actual pieces have to be designed to create the puzzle.

Second: These pieces once created have to be cut.

Third: The rough edges on each piece have to be smoothed.

Fourth: All copper foil and zinc egdes soldered together one at a time until the entire fixture is done.

This is why all tiffany lamps are so unique and individual. No two are alike. It’s like buying a piece of sculpture that no else owns and worth every penny!!

The American Lighting Association provides an easy to ready chart outlining the new incandescent bulb requirements.  Check it out if you have questions! 

http://www.americanlightingassoc.com/About-ALA/Press-Releases/New-U-S–Energy-Efficiency-Legislation-for-Light-B.aspx

Experience Hand Crafted Quality from Hubbardton Forge

A new display gallery  is currently up in our showroom featuring a variety of lighting fixtures from one of our “made in America” companies that specializes in forged iron products.

Hubbardton Forge is a company that started as a blacksmithing and metals studio in an old barn in Vermont and has grown into a well known manufacturer in the lighting industry that makes quality lighting and lamps out of hand crafted forged iron.

They have a complete line of table and floor lamps, wall sconces, ceiling and hanging fixtures, pendants, and outdoor lights.

To see the new and various Hubbardton Forge products currently showing in Creative Lighting’s showroom with the different finishes and glass choices, will give you a true sense of the exceptional quality this manufacturer strives to achieve.