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Posted by Michelle, Creative Lighting Staff on September 6th, 2011 — Posted in General Lighting Tips
Tags: creative lighting, lighting store st paul minneapolis, lighting tips
Most people only pick out lighting every 15-30 years. Lighting changes a lot in that time span, so there are some common mistakes people make that can be avoided.
- Under-sized lighting on the exterior of their home, especially next to large garage doors. When you pick out lights, you’re in a store or showroom that is smaller scale than the exterior of your garage is usually. To avoid this, bring in a picture of your home into a lighting showroom so someone can help you with appropriate scale. Just remember that they will always look larger in the store, than they will look on your house.
- Heights are important. For fixtures you will be walking under, you’ll want to leave 7’ of clearance from the floor to the fixture. Over tables, many people hang fixtures to high. Fixtures should be hung a little above eye level. The general recommendation is 30” between the table and the bottom of the fixture.
- Wall Sconces and Lamps are underused. When building a home, don’t understimate the nice accent lighting that sconces can create. If you’re doing a remodel, see if you can wire in a couple sconces to flank a large window, or fireplace. Also, if you need extra lighting in a room, but don’t have the ability to hardwire anything, add some floor lamps or table lamps. They make many styles that can add quite a bit of lighting for a room, or just create a nice accent as well.
- Installing Only Recessed Lighting in a Bedroom. If its a bedroom in your house that will be used primarily for sleeping, only using recessed for general lighting will not be the best way to do that. When you are laying in bed, you will have spotlights to stare up at. These can be very uncomfortable for a place of rest. Its better to use a fan with a center light, or a semi-flush mount in the middle to provide more soft & diffused light along with the recess. This gives you the option of having soft light or directional light in the room
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Posted by Tami, Creative Lighting Staff on July 22nd, 2011 — Posted in Creative Lighting News, Lighting Trends 2011, Lighting Vendors
Tags: creative lighting, green building, lighting store st paul minneapolis, lighting trends, sustainable lighting
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.
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Posted by Rob, Creative Lighting Staff on July 21st, 2011 — Posted in Creative Lighting News, Energy Efficient Lighting, LED Lighting
Tags: creative lighting, energy efficient lighting, energy saving, LED, LED cabinet lighting, lighting store st paul minneapolis, lighting tips
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
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Posted by Kay, Creative Lighting Staff on July 19th, 2011 — Posted in Lighting Trends 2011
Tags: art glass, creative lighting, lighting store st paul minneapolis, Tiffany Glass
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!!
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Posted by Tami, Creative Lighting Staff on July 6th, 2011 — Posted in Creative Lighting News, Energy Efficient Lighting, General Lighting Tips, Lighting Trends 2011, Uncategorized
Tags: creative lighting, energy efficient lighting, green building, lighting store st paul minneapolis, lighting trends
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
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Posted by Lesa, Creative Lighting Staff on July 1st, 2011 — Posted in Creative Lighting News, Lighting Trends 2011, Lighting Vendors
Tags: creative lighting, Hand forged iron lighitng, Hubbardton Forge, lighting store st paul minneapolis
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.
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Posted by Rob, Creative Lighting Staff on May 3rd, 2011 — Posted in Ceiling Fans, Creative Lighting News, Energy Efficient Lighting, Lighting Trends 2011
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.
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Posted by Tami, Creative Lighting Staff on March 9th, 2011 — Posted in Creative Lighting News, Lighting Trends 2011, Lighting Vendors
Tags: chandeliers, creative lighting, lighting store st paul minneapolis, lighting trends
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.
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Posted by Tami, Creative Lighting Staff on March 2nd, 2011 — Posted in Creative Lighting News, Lighting Trends 2011, Lighting Vendors
Tags: creative lighting, lighting store st paul minneapolis, lighting trends
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!
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Posted by Lesa, Creative Lighting Staff on February 14th, 2011 — Posted in General Lighting Tips
Tags: creative lighting, curb appeal, light fixture cleaning, lighting store st paul minneapolis
Like everything else, light fixtures both inside your house and outside do and will get dirty. Your fixtures can acquire anything from dust, cobwebs, dead bugs, to a build up of heat inside an enclosed fixture that creates a fog that will make a clear glass fixture look cloudy. With any or all of these conditions happening, you can take a few simple steps to make this part of your weekly, monthly, or seasonal cleaning routine and eliminate that dirty look and make your light fixtures sparkle.
1. First things first, turn off power at switch and circuit breaker.
2. Remove light bulbs, glass, globes, shields, grills, and shades to ease the cleaning of the hardware part of the fixture.
3.Clean this hardware, along with any other metal parts (shields, grills, etc) with a soft cloth that has been moistened with water and a mild detergent. Then dry with soft dry cloth.
(DO NOT use harsh cleaners on this metal hardware, a protective coating has been put on by the manufacturer to protect the finish and could be damaged by anything abrasive.)
4.Wash the glass and /or globes from the fixture by hand in warm soapy water. Dry with a soft cloth and attach back on to the light.
5.Put your light bulbs back into the dry fixture.
6.Turn your power back on and enjoy your sparkling lights!
