Art Deco Pendant

What’s hot in lighting for Fall 2010? We have rounded up the best ideas happening in interior design and lighting right now and put them in an easy to read list:

• Art Deco fixtures – Deco lighting is timeless, going from Victorian to Contemporary interiors. Particularly nice for a bit of warmth in a a black and white decorated room. Deco lighting was plentiful, so there’s plenty affordable pieces in the secondhand market.

• Environmentally friendly fixtures are in – just like in every aspect of interior decorating, “eco-conscious lighting” is brightening the day for “eco-conscious homeowners”. Dimmer switches help keep energy usage down, as do automated lighting control. LED light fixtures enable longer lamp light along with compact fluorescent bulbs in traditional fixtures. Look for lighting to go more high tech as this trend continues.

• Larger lighting lingers in design, as great rooms and larger multi-purpose rooms need the big fixtures for scale.

• Metal bases for table lamps shine with the metallics that are setting the design stage in 2010.

• Barring a metal base – look for more organics, such as bamboo, cork, wood veneers and even vines to be used in lighting.

• Lighting is going global with Japanese influences sneaking into fabric styles, look for the trend to continue to lighting as well.

Japanese Influence

Organic Material

Metal Base

Many designers have pointed to creative use of light as a kitchen trend in 2010. People are coupling overhead recess lighting with accent lights to create dramatic effects and interesting design elements in the kitchen.  Right now personal expression is in vogue. Whether it’s highlighting design elements with light, adding custom work spaces, or creating comfortable living spaces within the kitchen, homeowners are making the kitchen their own.

There is a continuing movement toward tapping into one’s inner creativity, finding one’s personal expression.  An easy way to save is by using lighting creatively.  Layering light and adding decorative task or accent lighting in the kitchen is a great way to highlight design features without dishing out the dough.  Since the kitchen is such a busy space it needs to be bright — here are some ways to light it up:

• Install uplights on the tops of cabinets to highlight a  ceiling.

• Undercabinet lighting is always a popular way to brighten countertops and light your work spaces.

• Lights inside a cabinet can showcase cherished collections.

• Task lighting is an important part of any kitchen design, whether it’s over an island or counter. Installing a hood with built-in lights helps out when cooking at the stove.

• Don’t forget dimmers when planning a lighting scheme.

This 10-watt fixture produces more light than a 54-watt xenon

Undercabinet lighting has come a long way since the days of flickering T12 (fat) fluorescent tubes. While these are still fine for laundry rooms and ‘man-cave’ workbenches, they don’t do much to flatter the high-end countertops and custom cabinetry that today’s homeowner demands.

For over twenty years, customers have had the option of using color-true halogen undercabinet lighting. Halogens will make granite dance, but will also produce so much heat as to ruin spices and even warp cabinets if used for many years. Xenon has all but replaced halogen as the go-to undercabinet lighting choice, but even xenon still produces a fair amount of heat (25% less heat than halogen).

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology seems to be a perfect fit for undercabinet applications. Long-life, energy-efficiency, and very low heat output seem to crown it the new king of undercabinet lighting.  The very thought of kitchen lights that last for 18 years of average use may make you want to rip your current system out of the wall.

Is it really that simple?  As of July, 2010, I can confidently tell you, yes.  Even folks’ main objections to LED- high initial cost and light quality- are much less of an issue today.

For instance, a high-quality low-voltage 22 inch xenon undercabinet fixture will run about $110, whereas a middle-range non-dimmable LED fixture with acceptable light quality will only be 40-50 dollars more.  You can certainly find higher-end LED fixtures with even higher color rendering and light output for a much higher cost, but I believe there are currently enough reliable LED choices in a reasonable price range to recommend over xenon lighting.

When considering an LED system for your undercabinet lighting, make sure it is from a reputable brand, offers at least a three-year warranty, and is purchased from a retailer that will be able to answer any questions you may have.

Most importantly, purchase a (returnable, of course) plug-in version of one or two brands of LED you are likely to choose so you can take them home and decide for yourself if the brightness and light quality meet your expectations.  Unlike xenon, LED brightness and color vary greatly from one company to the next, even in higher-end products.  Only after this test should you buy a whole kitchen’s-worth of LED undercabinet lighting.

There are myriad options for LED undercabinet lighting, and the staff of Creative Lighting would like to help you make the selection as smooth as possible.  A bright, cool, energy-efficient kitchen is just around the corner!

 June Market releases show a wide variety of refined naturals. Natural elements such as, burlap, twigs, linen, cork, stone, shell and driftwood are being incorporated into all types of lighting. These natural elements are a great way to add texture and warmth to your decor without having to be  too “rustic”.  Stone and iron chandeliers, mother of pearl lamps, or  twig mini-pendants are sure to enhance your style!

Lighting has a larger decorative value today than it did even a few short years ago, and consumers are now choosing lighting products as an important accessory to their overall home design.

Three Major Movements. Most of today’s design choices fall under one of three definite categories: casual elegance, with fixtures a bit more upscale in design that still create warm, relaxed and cozy environments; simplified traditional that removes the ornate by such methods as stripping down solid brass fixtures and applying an antique patina; and soft contemporary that is still clean, modern and simple, but no longer “cold.”

• Larger Fixtures: As the average size of homes in this country have increased, so have the design elements that go into them. Larger interior volumes need larger lights, and energy-efficient compact-fluorescent lamps (CFLs) often need larger fixtures than their incandescent predecessors.

• Layers of Light: Rooms need multiple sources of light to get the best balance of light in a room. Especially in areas such as kitchens and eating areas, a simple overhead light is only the beginning. Well-placed task and accent lighting is a must to brighten the perimeter and fill the background.

• Energy Efficiency: Consumers are looking to save energy when they can, and lighting is an obvious place to cut back consumption. Dimmer switches and whole-house control systems allow for mo re precise usage, conserve energy and extend lamp life. Low-voltage bulbs cont inue to grow in popularity and use, as CFLs and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offer a higher quality, warmer light than just a short time ago. Also, many contractors are fitting recessed fixtures more tightly, which cuts down on conditioned-air loss through ceilings.

Think of approaching lighting design the same way you would approach buying a piece of art. There are enough lighting options out there to suit everyone’s taste.