Wednesday, August 8th, 2012
by Benson Littman
When picking out a shade for your lamp, you should always remember that the shade should harmonize or complement the lamp without overpowering the design and shape of the lamp itself.
Typically matching your shade shape with the body of your lamp works out the best for the overall look of the lamp; a square lamp will look good with a square shade and the same goes for a round or oval lamp, you should look for a round shade. Of course, if you would rather have a less modest, more dramatic look, you can mix and match varying shapes and sizes with your shade to add a little pizzazz to your lighting scheme.
As far as size, the rule of thumb tends to say that the shade should be about 2/3 the height of your lamp’s base. Ratio is important, you don’t want a lamp that is out of balance or top heavy. The widest part of your shade should also be about a half inch wider than the widest part of your lamps silhouette.
Some common materials for lamp shades are: linen, cotton, silk, paper or vinyl. There are of course many more varying materials out there but if you are trying to go simple, those are the basics.
Here is some general information about the customary shapes of shades that are seen today:
• Empire Shade – This is the most common type of shade with lightly sloped sides (wider on top than bottom) and can be textured with pleating. These can match a traditional or transitional style décor.
• Bell Shade – Similar to the Empire shade but has more of a wave-like flair at the bottom of the shade.
• Drum Shade – These are very chic in style and can become a contemporary or retro style for your lamp. It has a flatter shape, more round than the Empire or Bell and has the same width on top and bottom and has ample light emission.
• Coolio Shade – Has a sharp, more dramatic slant, as it is small on top and very wide on the bottom. This is a very functional shade for lamps.
Wednesday, August 1st, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
There are many advantages to using ENERGY STAR lights; choosing more efficient bulbs or fixtures can make a difference in your overall carbon footprint, limiting greenhouse gases as well as save you money in the long-run.
ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) use less energy than typical incandescent bulbs, about 75 percent less energy. According to energystar.gov, replacing the 60w incandescent bulbs with a 13w CFL will save you more than $30 in energy costs throughout the lifespan of the bulb.
ENERGY STAR fixtures and bulbs are far more durable than other products out there; as indicated by energystar.gov, “pin-based fixtures must last 10,000 hours, about 10 times longer than standard. CFLs must last 6,000 hours.” And all ENERGY STAR products come with a 2-year warranty, far more than the industry norm.
Opposed to the average incandescent bulbs, ENERGY STAR CFLs produce about 75 percent less heat, reducing costs in cooling your home and making you more comfortable. Because of this lower heat production, this also makes ENERGY STAR bulbs much safer to the touch; they light up to less than 100 degrees, whereas Halogen bulbs can get as hot as 1000 degrees, causing burns and sometimes fires.
ENERGY STAR lights are one option in order to save money and be more energy efficient; you can always go another way by using LED lighting as well. Both types of efficient lighting will benefit you in the long run.
Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
The Vertigo family of lights is a very unique style of lights designed by Corbett Lighting. The interesting shape of the pendants might seem to make it difficult to change the bulb efficiently; but it is a fairly easy process. There is a set screw on the bottom rim to loosen on the fixture and then the glass will slide down, allowing you to change the bulb effortlessly.
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Lighting uses about 10 percent of the total energy consumed in a home so it is always questioned how one can reduce that energy consumption. Using less energy greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves the air quality of the environment. Here are some ideas to help you reduce your energy costs and intake:
• Energy efficient bulbs like LEDs, CFLs and fluorescents are the best way to reduce your energy costs. Using them all throughout your home will be beneficial not only to your wallet but also the environment. Energy efficient bulbs like these produce considerably more light and last much longer than the typical incandescent bulbs. Anything that is an ENERGY STAR product or ENERGY STAR qualified lighting will help in your strive for energy efficiency. Fun Fact: According to epa.gov, if every American home swapped their five most used light fixtures or bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR we would save about $8 billion each year in energy costs.
• If you don’t want to go in the LED bulb direction, use more efficient PAR bulbs, especially with task and accent lighting; a 50-watt PAR30 bulb produces about three times more light than 1 65-watt BR30 bulb.
• Keep light bulbs and fixtures clean because it is known that dirt absorbs light, a clean bulb produces more light than a dusty or dirty one.
• Use dimmers with photoelectric lighting controls, such as motion or occupancy sensors or timers to routinely turn off your lights. The dimmers can be used throughout your home and the timers would be a good idea for your outdoor lighting when the sun rises.
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
There are plenty of ways to add a beautiful lighting design to your home but it is of course necessary for you to know the various types, styles, sizes and shapes of lighting that are out there. First you must know the three basic types of lighting you will be choosing, depending on the space you are lighting:
• General Lighting – Supplies an area with a wide-range of illumination and is known as ambient lighting. It allows for an adequate level of light and can be achieved with track or recessed lighting, ceiling lighting, chandeliers or wall sconces.
• Task Lighting – This type of lighting helps you carry out your everyday tasks like games, reading, sewing and homework. Task lighting can be supplied with table or floor lamps, under cabinet lighting, track lighting or pendant lighting; this lighting should be brilliant enough to prevent exertion on the eyes.
• Accent Lighting – Adds a nice touch to any space. It is meant to be an accent for your current décor and tends to highlight curtains, walls, paintings, sculptures and or various possessions around the house. Use track light, under cabinet light, tape or wall sconces to create your task lighting.
Once you know the basics about lighting it is now time to choose how you will light your space. Here is a list of just some of the different fixtures you can choose from:
• Chandeliers – Add a beautiful and elegant style to your space. They usually have an ornate set of billowing arms (depending on the style) with a large amount of bulbs (depending on the size). Chandeliers are a great way to impress upon entering your home or during dinner with guests. The ever-changing designs and unique placements of chandeliers create a wonderful stylish accent to the décor in your home. Try them in your foyer, kitchen, dining room, great room, bedroom or bathroom.
• Pendants – The larger pendants are usually seen in the foyer, kitchen or great room and mini pendants can go in the kitchen over an island or above a bar area. Pendants provide your home with both task and general lighting.
• Wall Sconces – Will bring all three types of lighting into your home. They are great lights to line your hallways or accent chandeliers in dining rooms or great rooms given a matching design.
• Under Cabinet Lighting – Offers task and accent lighting and tend to be placed under kitchen cabinets to light the countertops. Under cabinet lights supply illumination in areas you can’t reach or places task or accent light is needed (either in the office, storage spaces or the shelves in your kitchen.)
There are even more ways to light your home. Don’t forget portable table or floor lamps, vanity lights, and track lighting. With this list of the basic types and kinds of lighting you are sure to shine in your home’s lighting design scheme.
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Lighting a space in your home isn’t always the easiest process and it is often questioned how much lighting is necessary within a room, depending on the type of room being lit. There is actually a method one must utilize when designing a lighting plan for your home.
First, you must determine the square footage of the room you want to light. Figure out the length and width of your space and then multiply those numbers – for example, if your room is 10 feet wide and 14 feet long, the square footage of that space is 140 square feet.
Next, figure out what is known as the foot candle of a room, depending on the type of room or room purpose. A foot-candle is how illuminated the light is one foot from the foundation of the light. Here is a common spectrum of foot candles needed per room:
• Living Room – 10-20 foot candles
• Kitchen General – 30-40 foot candles
• Kitchen Stove – 70-80 foot candles
• Kitchen Sink – 70-80 foot candles
• Dining Room – 30-40 foot candles
• Bed Room – 10-20 foot candles
• Hallway – 5-10 foot candles
• Bathroom 70-80 foot candles
After the foot candles are determined, the next step is to decide how many lumens are needed in your space. A lumen is a measurement of light. So, if you are trying to light your 100 square foot dining room (which needs 30-40 foot candles), you will need 3,000-4,000 lumens in order to light that space efficiently.
In order to find what kind of fixture can achieve this amount of lumens, just make sure to check the rated lumens based on the max wattage of the bulb and fixture as a whole. For example, a 4 light semi-flush mount that has a bulb max wattage of 60 and a fixture max wattage of 240 will have a rated lumen of 2,688.
From here it is up to you to decide what style and type of fixture you think looks best in your space, which is definitely the fun part.
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
The kitchen is a space in the home that attracts the most people – cooking, eating, working and entertaining are all rolled up into one room in a household and that is why it is an area that should be adequately lit. Kitchen island lighting can be a hit or miss; more often than not island lighting should be noticeable and project ample light in a stylish and decorative manner.
Pendants and mini pendants are the top choice when choosing the right island lighting and if you want that lighting to truly pop and achieve that commanding and impressive appearance most kitchens need, here are a few examples you can go with:
• Hudson Valley’s collection of globed pendants from their Beacon Collection will add a unassuming yet industrial ambience as it complements an array of different styles.
• Achieve a truly rustic look with the Brindille Collection from Hubbardton Forge. The twig like look of the hammered metal stems of these mini pendants attracts the eye in a nominal way.
• The pronounced and romantic style of the Point Claire Collection from Kichler Lighting will create a contemporary appeal with the discernible crystal branches the glimmer against the pendants chrome buff. The white fabric shades add a hint of warmth alongside the crystal details.
• Create a dazzling touch to your kitchen island with the unassuming yet sparkling mini pendants from Schonbek’s Matrix Collection – each fixture comes with 50 unique and beautiful crystal colors. Although the crystals will standout, the petite size of the mini pendant can accomplish that subtle drama in the kitchen.
Wednesday, June 6th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
One of the most fundamental yet essential decisions to make when choosing your light fixtures is the finish of the product. It is a key component of the design and can either enhance or sometimes even minimize the design scheme of your home. There are, of course some finishes that archaic and some that remain a well-liked choice in light fixtures for decades.
Throughout the years there are countless finishes that have become outdated or old-fashioned but there are those finishes that are inevitably everlasting. In the 90s, multi-step finishes were extremely popular and continue to be so today. Multi-step finishes are just that, finishes that are created through a process (with multiple steps) that truly bring out the details within the hues of the chosen finish.
What is now being considered the “finish of the decade” is Kichler’s multi-step Olde Brick finish (popular in the 90s as well), that has endured it reputation over the years. It was created by Kevin Von Kluck and Rick Hammar initially solely for their outdoor line of products but the desire for Olde Brick indoors was unavoidable and thus, the finish became popular and legally protected by Kichler.
The inviting yet serene tones of the finish is still a preference today and that is why Kichler has witnessed an array of Olde Brick imitators using alternative names; Kichler of course followed with legal action against those impersonators, keeping Kichler’s praised Olde Brick finish their own. Today the only company who is allowed to use the name Olde Brick for its finishes is Emerson, featured in their fans.
Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
ET2 Lighting’s “Spot-Light of the Month” showcases the fresh and avant-garde Neo Collection; a collection that features an array of pendants, wall sconces and one very unique 8 light flush mount.
According to ET2 Lighting, “Neo stuns with optic crystal glass cubes that take on the hues and tones of the spaces they inhabit.”
They say the substantial yet compact design of the Neo Collection is ideal for dining rooms, entry ways, hallways and media/entertainment rooms. Wherever these fixtures end up in your home, they will entice with a dramatic and striking illumination of light.
The crystal glass cubes emulate that of an ice cube reflecting in a glass, while dark and light tints spread through the clear, glossy chunks. A xenon bulb sits within each cube on the fixture, shining from within and allowing the polished chrome finish to luster even more.
The wall sconces featured in the Neo Collection range from 1 to 2 lights, the pendants are offered in 1, 3, 5 or 9 lights (with each cube being suspended in a unique and progressive manner). The flush mount, shown here, is an 8 light fixture with rows of crystal cubes that emit a brilliant sparkle.
ET2 Lighting offers a wide selection of inventive and bold collections of lighting and continues to be the pioneer of contemporary designs that renovate an area from a commonplace space to a unique stretch of territory.
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
The lighting that Crystorama offers combines tasteful crystal and glass designs that create an overall charming illumination. Crystorama, a family-owned company, has been celebrating its designs for more than 50 years now and pride themselves in extraordinary quality and design.
According to crystorama.com, with every chandelier it manufactures, “Crystorama draws upon its history, knowledge, and legacy of stellar craftsmanship, and then embraces modern shapes, inspirations, and materials. Crystorama chandeliers are timeless and always in fashion.”
With seven decades of lighting and design experience, it is no surprise that Crystorama fixtures can be found in such impressive venues as the U.S. Supreme Court, Constitution Hall and the Palace Theatre.
Looking through the company’s many unique designs, it is apparent that the family at Crystorama strives for superiority in lighting, which is shown in their design techniques and distinct style they emphasize in every product.
Crystorama uses some of the finest crystals in the world to adorn their fixtures such as Swarovski Elements, Swarovski Spectra and Hand Cut Crystal, cut by hand in two stages on a iron wheel and then sandstone wheel. They use their resources to seek out the best quality crystals worldwide.
Crystorama Lighting Group started out solely in the design of chandeliers but has now moved forward creating an array of classical crystal designs in lighting shown in their pendants, flush mounts, wall sconces and vanity lights; they have become one of the industry leaders in residential lighting.