The introduction of the CFL into residential homes has brought some great attention to color temperature; before the compact fluorescent light bulbs were popular, there were not as many options in color temperature for bulbs. The incandescent bulb has been THE residential light bulb for decades, which produces a warmer light at 2700k and has become the color we associate with warm and inviting homes. Light color is measured on a temperature scale referred to as Kelvin (k) – the higher the Kelvin the cooler the light output. Bulbs with a Kelvin of 3500 or lower will output an amber hue, 3500 to 4100 will produce a white hue and anything over 4100 will look blue.

Today there are so many light bulb choices that you truly can find a color that matches your preference. Although incandescent bulbs are typically at 2700k, they now offer bulbs with a purple coating; this unique coating filters out the dull, yellow rays revealing truer colors. Halogen light bulbs are more like natural light than the incandescent bulb at 2800k. When CFLs were first introduced they were only offered in cooler tones, once they were able to manufacture the energy efficient bulbs at 2700k to 3000k CFLs became more popular. This growing popularity is because we have come to associate warmer light with a welcoming home. LED bulbs are the next big thing in energy saving technology, which are becoming increasingly popular light bulbs as their color temperature lowers into the 2700k to 3000k range and slowly become more affordable.

Limited Time Only – While Supplies Last
Fine Art is the premiere lighting manufacturer for all your lighting needs – they hand make every detail of their fixtures and are based in Miami, Fla. Fine Art is updating a handful of wall sconces and lamps from their collections and while supplies last you can purchase these pieces of illuminating art at 70% off:

Select pieces include lamps and wall sconces from the Veil collection (741615, 742210); the Veil collection consists of woven, metal shades layered with dynamically painted metal strapping.

Fine Art’s Encased Gems is a popular collection that displays oversized colored gems encased in silver or gold leaf finished metal (709650-1, 726650-1 are included in the blow out).

Also a part of the Fine Art Lamps select sale is the Perspectives Silver Leaf Table Lamp (734510-2), which is part of a large collection of geometric pieces with soft, sheer fabrics in both silver and brushed gold finishes.

And don’t forget the Grand Canal Silver Coupe Wall Sconce (746850) as one of the last pieces included in the 70% blow out sale – this is a very lengthy wall sconce with clear glass and silver leaf accents that fits right in the more popular light and airy style lighting.

LEDs are the newest and most talked about energy saving technology for lighting today – they use approximately one tenth of the power of an incandescent fixture. This amount of energy savings is not only great for the environment and your wallet but this new technology also influences the designs of light fixtures.

There are fewer design limitations with the use of LED lighting; the lower energy consumption frees the light fixture from being attached to a power source. Fixtures are now able to be completely mobile without sacrificing their operational time and batteries last so much longer. LEDs are also so much smaller than even halogens, which allows for sleeker, thinner and smaller light fixtures.

A great example of LEDs influencing fixture design is the Slim-Line LED Picture Light by House of Troy. This wonderfully versatile picture light features a cylinder that holds the LED bulbs and it is approximately one inch in diameter and it runs off of 4C batteries. Older picture lights like this were much bulkier in design and shape, sitting at approximately three inches in diameter and they only ran for about six to eight hours before the batteries needed to be changed.

Lighting can impact the experience of a room more than any other architectural element. Besides the obvious function, lighting can be used to evoke predetermined emotional responses. The first step in lighting a space is to think about its functionality; how do you plan on using the space? Will your dining room be strictly for entertaining in the evening or will it double as a homework center? By answering questions like these you will know how much light you will need for the tasks at hand. Then we can move on to focus on the mood you want to promote in your different scenarios.

Bedrooms, spas and relaxing spaces benefit from soft diffused lighting – dimmers and warmer lights are calming and more desired. They minimize the harsh shadows and provide a more relaxing and visually compelling environment. Diffused lighting lacks in shadows and highlights, which can create a dull and boring atmosphere. Add a few direct lighting sources to highlight different textures and create some interest. Direct lighting creates highlights and shadows and is great as a complement to your primary light source.

In contrast to soft lighting, higher levels of illumination create cheerfulness and alertness. Combine direct lighting with an overall higher level of ambient lights; think brighter over head lighting, lamps or recessed lighting. Higher levels of light should be directed over specific task areas. Create a playful mood by positioning lighting fixtures to create rhythms with the highlights and shadows. Reflections and diffusions create an active effect on an atmosphere.

Is your home in need of an update? Do you still have the original builder grade light fixtures that came with your home? A dark and shadowy space can make a home feel dated, cramped and dirty, but don’t worry because there are some easy techniques to give your house a makeover, making it more modern and creating a style that is more current.

One way to completely change your space is to throw out the shiny brass and beveled glass light fixtures you’ve probably had for so long. Besides being dated, these fixtures tend to be too small for the space and do not have enough light output; larger more proportioned fixtures will modernize your space. In addition to removing your dated fixtures, consider adding the right amount of both task and ambient lighting to your space, this will add layers to the areas of your home. Ambient and task lighting will also add to the perceived square footage of your home by brightening and lightening it up. To make a space feel larger you will want to make sure you have lighting in at least three of the four corners of a room; this can also be achieved by using a combination of table and floor lamps and even leveled wall sconces. Wall sconces will allow you to create a layered look by turning some of them on or dimming them depending on the desired look you want to achieve. Dimmers are another simple way to update your lighting and by installing dimmers, you can get the bright, crisp and clean look of today while also dialing the brightness to your space down for a more calming environment. Dimmers are also great energy savers as they allow you to only use the light that you need in that specific area of your home.

LEDs are also a great energy saver; your current light fixtures can be updated by retrofitting LED bulbs instead of incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Many LEDs are rated for 25 years of average usage and they use about one tenth of the electricity of an incandescent bulb and are dimmable like their counterparts. Lighting accounts for more than 25 percent of a home’s energy, so switching to LED bulbs will yield significant savings. LED tape lights are a wonderful source for LED lighting and are very small and inconspicuous; they can be placed in book shelves creating accent lighting that will add dimension to a space. Home lighting today should be comfortable, easily controlled and energy efficient.

There is no denying that brass is out…..or is it?? Don’t be alarmed, that old shiny brass from the 80s and 90s is not making a comeback, this finish has evolved into a more refined, elegant and sophisticated set of finishes in the lighting world. While satin nickel has been a long-standing, ever-popular finish, the rise of oil rubbed bronze has swayed designs towards the warmer tones. Right now, the hottest finishes in lighting and décor are matte gold and champagne – satin nickel and gold combo; it has the glamour and subtlety of satin nickel with a warmer palette. Fixtures like the Crystorama Broche collection are inspired by vintage jewelry but feel very modern, sophisticated and sculptural in a golden hue. Hinkley’s contemporary Monaco collection becomes more transitional and elegant when finished in a matte gold finish while the traditional pieces like Schonbek’s Amytis collection, also being finished in a matte gold, only adds more to their elegance and sophistication.

Matte gold is richer and far more refined than their tacky, brass relatives. The texture and hue inspires many of its forms and furnishes, it pairs nicely with gem tones as well. Emerald anyone? Emerald, the Pantone color of the year, pairs well with warm tones and adds some rich character.

Trending: Today’s fixtures are lighter in both color and design. The newest finishes are champagne, satin nickel and gold combo, satin gold and white. These finishes modernize both traditional and contemporary designs, creating a delicate elegance that fits into any décor.

Lighting is no longer just about lighting up a space with general lighting, it has become so much more than that – designer lighting is meant to enhance a space and add purpose to your home. With the various kinds and styles of lighting come alternative lighting designs and variations other than general lighting or ambient lighting. Other common stylish lighting distinctions are task lighting, which would be achieved with lamps on a desk or pendants over an island. Accent lighting and decorative lighting are two more types of lighting that create depth and interest in a space – accent lighting is used to accentuate an object or element in a space like picture lights over paintings or puck lights in glass cabinets; decorative lighting is purely ornamental, one of the most common applications is cove lighting above cabinets or in tray ceilings.

There are different designer lights that can create these various lighting types in a space, the most common being chandeliers and lamps. You can also consider using different style like flush and semi-flush fixtures that sit closer to the ceiling. For accent and task lighting, wall sconces are a great choice and add wonderful depth to your space and pin lights, which are small compact lights, are typically used for accent and decorative lighting. With your outdoor areas, consider wall lanterns or outdoor hanging lanterns to hang from the ceiling or wall. When picking out your designer lighting it is important to consider the function you want, size and materials of the light and how they will fit in with the current décor of the space.

There are 4 basic components to a Low Voltage Track System: track, standoffs, transformer and light fixtures.
• Track – this is what the light fixtures attach to, it brings power from the source to the very last fixture.

• Standoffs – standoffs hold the track steady so that it does not dip with the weight of the fixtures. Standoff sizes will be determined by your transformer size.

• Transformer – this cuts the 120v power running through your house down to 12v, which can run along the monorail track and through the thin pendant wires.

• Light Fixtures – monorails can hold both low-voltage track heads and pendants.

All Low-Voltage Track Systems use different forms of the components above. Once you decide which type of system you like, follow the rest of the guide to help you select your individual parts and pieces.

• Basic Track Kit – a great example of some functional and contemporary basic track light kits is the George Kovacs LED track light kit; this style track kit comes in bronze and silver finishes and offers a simplistic yet sleek design in track lights. They are simple to install and a wonderful choice to blend into your home’s current décor.
o Includes all parts and pieces need for installation

o Light fixtures are fixed and can not be mixed and matched

o Lower in price because they are pre-packaged and not a la carte

o Hand bendable and can be cut

• Monopoint vs. monorail with Tech Lighting low-voltage pendants
o Customize to your length and wattage needs

o Some kits are available for common lengths and wattage’s

o If not using a kit all components must be added separately

o Standoffs required every 30 to 36 inches

o Light fixtures are always a la carte

o System can be suspended from both a level and angled ceiling

o Hand bendable and can be cut

• Tech Low-voltage pendants come with the option to buy as a complete single pendant (monopoint) or as multiple pendants hanging on a single track (monorail). All you have to do is find your favorite Tech low-voltage pendant style; all of the choices in finish and glass are on the product page. If you choose monorail and want to hang 3 pendants on a monorail, for example, change the quantity on the product page to 3. Then click add to cart. You will be prompted to add the monorail kit once the pendants are added to the cart. Here are two popular Tech Lighting low-voltage pendants:
o Tech Lighting Low-Voltage Cabo Pendant

o Tech Lighting Low-Voltage Mini Melrose Pendant

Popular lighting finishes are forever changing to coordinate with the evolving styles and trends of today. Finally there is a finish that compliments every space – white light fixtures are ever so versatile that they feel modern in an edgy downtown loft and chic in a vintage country cottage.

A classic crystal chandelier instantly becomes chic when it is turned white, like in the Murray Feiss Chateau Blanc collection as well as fixtures like the Cyan Design Treviso white chandelier shown here. Other white blown glass designs add sophistication and a classic touch to any space, like the glossy white rod iron effect in Crystorama’s Solaris collection; it has a retro and modern flair.

White goes with every palette – remember, white can add a clean, bright element to brighten a dark space or soften loud colors and textures and a modern or vintage feel can be created when added to a monochromatic or simple white space. When creating your lighting design plan, don’t forget you always have white to brighten up your home.