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1728 Concordia Avenue , St. Paul MN 55104
Many customers come in, not really knowing where to start when it comes to lighting a new home they are building or doing a large remodel. Here are some things to consider when starting to think about lighting.
Call a lighting showroom, and set up a time to meet with a consultant. Set aside 2-4 hours for this process, any longer than that and you’ll be feeling drained.
Make sure to bring plans if you have them, any pictures you might have, and an idea of a budget. Keep in mind, if you haven’t shopped for lighting in a long time, prices have changed.
When you come in for the meeting, the consultant will most likely go over your whole plan with you, and make some recommendations of placement and types of lighting for each area, going over details with you.
A list will be made, for all of your lighting needs, and notes.
Usually, you will walk around the showroom and look at different options, and jot down any that you like or could work.
It will be different for every consultant, but usually you will get photocopies or emailed links of all the selections you made, and then you’ll either meet again, or work via email to make all of the final selections. Also, your consultant may want to visit your home to do a walk-through, and talk with your electrician to verify decisions and clarify any questions. The rest of the terms will be discussed at the time of ordering.
Things to Note: You will want to plan the locations before they install all of the junction boxes/wiring. Lighting is the last thing to go in, but you’d want to get it on order at least 2 months prior to your move-in date. Lighting is usually a 2-3 week lead time, but there can be unforeseen backorders. The earlier you can pick out your lighting, the better.
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
The American Lighting Association provides an easy to ready chart outlining the new incandescent bulb requirements. Check it out if you have questions!
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.
For 2011, manufacturers are concentrating on producing ceiling fans that offer better energy efficiency and quieter operation. In order to achieve these goals, most manufacturers are offering more choices utilizing DC motors.
DC Motors have several advantages over the traditional AC motors commonly found in previous generations of ceiling fans.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
DC fan motors use less than 30% of the energy of a standard fan motor. In fact, three DC fan motors running at high speed use the same energy as one 100 watt light bulb! This, of course, leads to smaller energy bills. If several thousand homes switched to fans with DC motors, it could lead to considerably less strain on power grids during the summer months.
In order to rotate the motor housing, traditional ceiling fans use electricity to magnetize the motor. DC motors are permanently pre-magnetized, so no power is wasted in this process. This is the major reason for the difference in energy expenditure between AC and DC motors.
COOLER OPERATION
Less wattage equals less heat. Less heat equals less stress on the motor, which leads to considerably longer, more reliable operation.
EASIER INSTALLATION
DC fan motors have the wall/handheld control receiver directly on the motor housing. This allows the manufacturer to construct the fan with a 3-wire configuration. Older fans have the receiver near the ceiling, requiring a 6-wire setup. Electricians will find DC fans quicker and easier to install.
Most fan manufacturers have introduced many contemporary and traditional fan styles for 2011. Leading the way is Kichler, one of the most trusted manufacturers in residential and commercial lighting products.
Crystorama Lighting is a leader in quality lighting products. They continue to introduce innovative designs while staying true to the classic styles that go back to the orgins of the company.
Crystorama Lighting was founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1958 by Abraham Kleinberg. The company was initially established as a primary importer of crystal chandeliers from Bohemia-Northern Czechoslovakia and offered the finest selection of classical crystal designs. Abraham Kleinberg’s passion as an artist and designer was inspired from various cultures around the world. Through his travels he has incorporated into the product line the full hand cut crystal, the craftsmanship of decorative ironwork, and the meticulous manner by which ornate castings are hand chased to bring out their intricate detailing. Crystorama’s rich heritage has continued over the last 50 years by working with design communities in Europe, India, Asia, and North America. The classically designed chandeliers continue to use the authentic molds and patterns to maintain the traditions of our forefathers. In a world of mass production, Crystorama Lighting continues to offer classical chandeliers that require years of experience and specialized craftsmanship.
At Creative Lighting we appreciate the impact a great lighing fixture can have in any space. Visit our showroom to see some of the latest Crystorama designs like these shown here.
Authenticity Lighting made it’s debut at the January Dallas market. This new company was founded on a simple premise: produce beautiful, high quality lighting with an honest and straight forward approach. To accomplish this they took a fresh look at every aspect of the process, from initial sketches and design to material and finish selection, all the way through to final production and delivery.
Seen above are two peices from the Monarch Collection. It features four styles in two finishes: Antique Gold Leaf or Rustic Iron. It’s shape and seeded glass panels echo the floating freedom of a butterfly in flight. Monarch is offered in two chandelier sizes, plus a mini chandelier and a two light wall sconce.
Come to the Creative Lighting showroom to see a gallery of fixtures from Authenticity Lighting!
At Creative Lighting we continually work to offer you the best- a great selection of products available when you need them, at the lowest possible price by experienced lighting consultants.
We know that at times, you have a tight deadline – your electrician calls to tells you he’ll be there this afternoon, or you want to finish that nagging project this weekend. An advantage to shopping with Creative Lighting is that now you don’t have to drive all over town to find that fixture that you need today, you can see what’s in stock online at www.creative-lighting.com before you leave your home. We offer the advantage of online shopping with all of the the convenience of a local showroom.
Browse our wide selection of lighting on our website – the items that are available for same-day pick-up are clearly marked with our icon:
Then stop by the showroom to “kick the tires,” and take the items you love home with you the same day, OR give us a call to place your order. We can have it ready for pick up ASAP!
In our showroom, you’ll find a large selection of unique lighting, ceiling fans, and mirrors, as well as, our ”In Stock Today” items on display. While you’re here, visit our bargain room area to save even more on clearance items or select special order items not offered on our website. Our experienced staff will help answer your questions and provide ideas and inspiration to ensure you get the most from your lighitng project.
Shop now for:
In Stock Today trestle lights or In Stock Today mini-pendants that you might use over your kitchen island.
In Stock Today vanity lights to complete your bathroom remodeling project.
In Stock Today table lamps to add a new punch to your décor.
Or, check it all out at www.creative-lighitng.com.
