Thursday, July 12th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
To begin the selection of your ceiling fan you should determine the size of the room that you would like the fan to be installed in. Once you have the dimensions of the room you can select the size of the fan you will need for the space. Here is a little key for you to know what size to choose from:
• Up to 75 square foot room – 29-36” fan
• 76-144 square foot room – 36-42” fan
• 144-225 square foot room – 44” fan
• 225-400 square foot room – 50-54”fan
Once you have calculated the size of the fan, you should find the price range you would like to be in. If the fan will be used in an area like the bedroom or office, the team at Littman Bros Lighting recommends using a better quality fan so you will hear less noise coming from the fan.
After you have determined the size and price range of the fan, it is up to you to pick the style (the fun part). Some other things to consider will be whether you want a light on the fan and what type of control you deem works best in your space.
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.
Thursday, June 28th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
It is important to get the ultimate performance from your ceiling fan and if a fan is wobbly it is not accurately circulating the air through the room. If a fan is wobbly it could be from various things; loose screws, warped or unbalanced fan blades or the fan is just not properly installed. Here are some tips to correct a wobbly fan:
• Initially, you should get a ladder and once up by the fan, hold onto it and attempt to shake it. If it moves easily then it is most likely the screws loose by the junction box. Detach the canopy and check to see if the junction box is secure in the ceiling – make sure to tighten all the screws and bolts just to double check everything is secure.
• Tighten all the screws holding the blades to the fan motor.
• Make sure the blades are not bent, warped or even out of their correct positions and that they are centered. In order to check this you can get a measuring device, a yardstick would be good, and measure the distance from the tip of one blade to the ceiling. From there, rotate the fan and see if the rest of the blades measure the same distance. If there are some higher or lower just adjust them accordingly.
• If your fan is hanging from a long rod then it is typical you might experience some wobbling. If this bothers you, try switching to a shorter rod and it should resolve the problem.
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.
Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Earth Day 2012 has passed and it is now time to ask ourselves what we can do beyond just Earth day to protect our planet. There are enormous advantages in using LED lights that can make a big difference in reducing your carbon footprint as well as begin to recognize how easy it is to go green and re-define the value of the environment. LED bulbs use less energy, last longer, are cost-effective and far more durable than the traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Major manufacturers in the lighting industry put forth great efforts in engineering the most energy efficient designs in lighting; players like Kichler Lighting and Hinkley Lighting are implementing LED lights throughout their collections.
Changing your indoor bulbs to LEDs is a good start to becoming more energy efficient but it’s time to move your energy-saving efforts to the outdoors; this is where Kichler and Hinkley’s endeavors with LED lighting have produced a stylish turning point for your homes outside design. Both companies offer an array of tasteful, elegant designs in landscape LED accent lighting. These lights have a more accurate angle and beam of light that significantly reduces energy consumption – all from using LED bulbs.
LED lights come in a wide range of colors that will expand your style options while benefiting you in the long-run because of its long life-span (lasting much longer and saving you more money on replacement bulbs) to the considerable money saved in energy costs over the life of each LED fixture. When deciding on your energy efficient landscape lighting design, remember the important designs to consider: up-lighting (creates ambient lighting in the area), down-lighting (targeted light from above), silhouette lighting (provides dramatic accents) and of course the options of LED colors, with the varying colors of LED lights you can add an appealing touch to your outdoor lighting.
Whether it’s indoors or outdoors LED bulbs are a wonderful way to start helping the environment and reducing general pollutants while making a smart investment in bulbs that are rated for continual use for up to 100,000 hours and use 50% to 90% less power than standard bulbs. It doesn’t have to be Earth Day for anyone to put in the effort and start using energy efficient lighting.
Friday, February 17th, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
Current economic times have left home owners struggling to find a safe way to invest in their home. Common ideas such as landscaping have the potential to add value to your property but it also suffers from wear and tear and demands constant upkeep. One investment that requires no maintenance, does not suffer from aging, and always retains the original value is quality lighting fixtures.
Lighting manufacturers such as Hinkley Lighting stand by the fact that their products will increase the value of a home. Hinkley has dedicated an entire section of their website to inform homeowners of the lights that will add the most value. Lighting Tips at hinkleylighting.com is a step-by-step guide for installing the lights that realtors look for.
Benson Littman, Owner of Littman Bros. Lighting based in Schaumburg, IL, says, “Customers who are selling their home will come into our store and buy lights for their entire house.” In talking about how lighting has the potential to increase the property value of a home, Littman added, “It’s like investing in fine art. It never loses value.”
This is true for both interior and exterior lighting. “Bathrooms are sometimes overlooked rooms in terms of lighting. Beautiful bathrooms really enhance the value of a home,” said Littman. Hinkley has a guide on the best lighting practices specifically for bathrooms. According to Hinkley, proper layering is essential for all bathrooms. “It is the room where people get ready for the day and it is important that the colors and shadows are just right, bathroom lighting will dictate the functionality of a bathroom,” says Littman who has been in the lighting industry for almost 35 years. As the director of littmanbros.com, Littman strives to ensure customer satisfaction by offering the most options with great customer support. His site offers advice from lighting experts with decades of experience in the lighting business to guarantee customers are buying the lights that will best fit their home and eventually return on their investment.
Lighting fixtures are a flawless investment for any home. It is makes your home more enjoyable to spend time in and above all it increases the bottom line should you decide to sell.
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
by Littman Bros Lighting
There are certain criteria you should know when finding the right lighting for your home:
When hanging an outdoor wall sconce, it should measure about 1/3 the height of your door and when hanging two outdoor wall sconces, they should measure about 1/4 the height of your door.
For your foyer lighting, in order to determine what type of lighting would be best, you should make sure that the bottom of the fixture is at least 7 feet from the floor. For two-story foyers, you should make sure the ceiling fixture is seen from the outside. If your foyer is on the larger, you should add some wall sconces around the room to accent your space; wall sconces should be placed just about 60 inches from the floor and 6 to 8 feet apart.
For bathroom lighting, a vanity light is usually a minimum of 24 inches wide and the center of the fixture should be hung 75 to 80 feet above the floor. A wall sconce on either side of the mirror in your bathroom allows the light to be spread evenly throughout your space and across your face, which is important in a bathroom. The wall sconces should be hung at eye level and be about 36 to 40 inches apart.
For a set of pendants over an island, the bottoms of those fixtures should be about 30 inches from the countertop.
For chandeliers, you should measure the length and width of the room you want to hang it in, add those numbers together – the sum of those measurements, in inches, should equal the perfect sized chandelier. The bottom of your chandelier should typically be 30 to 32 inches above the tabletop.