Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Recessed Downlights And Well Positioned Up Lights Can Enhance Your Garden Ambiance.


There are very few features that will provide a dramatic difference to your home, than the use of landscape lighting. It's like the finishing touch to a cake when the candles are lit; it creates excitement and draws your attention. Unfortunately though, many homeowners barely get their yards nicely landscaped much less accented with proper outdoor lighting.


Lighting can be both functional and beautiful. If you are picking out lighting fixtures for a new house, or renovating an older one, it's important to talk to your electrical contractor. He or she will be able to assist you in your planning and make sure that you get the most for your budget.Another common update that many homeowners make today is to replace the lighting over a kitchen island. Many houses were built with a large fluorescent light over the island. Fluorescent lights can flicker and the glow that they put out is not flattering to most skin tones.While striking when used properly, landscape lighting should not be overdone. To avoid too much of a good thing, be sensitive to your overall surroundings and especially your neighbors. Lighting should be used to create ambiance, draw attention to focal points, and provide for security. Showcase a few elements of your home and yard and ensure that safety is a key element in your design.Personally, we have a dimmer on our shower light. It allows for a slow wake up by anyone getting into the shower before the light of day. But it�s important to provide enough light to allow you to shave and see what you are doing.Depending on the height of your bathtub and if it is separate from your shower, your lighting solutions here will be different. Let�s assume you have a separate bathtub here. If not, you won�t do anything different than what I�ve outlined above. Typically, you will be using recessed lighting above your bathtub area. It is not necessary to have water rated fixtures and light bulbs in this spot. One or maybe two recessed fixtures aimed at the outside of the tub will provide what you need. Aiming to the outside of the tub will provide light to see what you are doing yet will cut down on any glare.Adding a ceiling fan is another option for homeowners. Ceiling fans come in a wide range of styles and finishes to compliment any decor. They can be installed indoors in a room or outdoors on a porch. A ceiling fan circulates the air and helps you to feel cooler. It is also a great addition to a baby's room. In fact, a study by the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found that a fan in a baby's room reduced the rate of SIDS by up to 72%.Topping and flanking your mirror with vanity strips is one way to provide light. Insure that you purchase vanity light bulbs that have a lower wattage or frosted glass so you don�t blind yourself. The mistake I�ve seen many make is that their light bulbs are too powerful and then they unscrew several of them to take the light level down. This totally defeats the purpose of having a vanity strip as it is suppose to distribute light evenly.Night LightRecessed LightingUse recessed to light dead areas or to light sitting/reading areas. Yes, some bathrooms are big enough for reading or lounging areas. Above a bench or reading area is a perfect place to insert a recessed fixture. Now, I�m going to throw this in now. My neighbor wants to put a sconce above the toilet for reading purposes. Use the same rule of thumb as mirror sconces and place the fixture at about eye level.

Celebrate your home and garden today; spotlight appropriate features to create warmth, excitement, intrigue, and security for your family and neighbors.




Author: Kathryn Dawson


Bathroom Lighting Design


Bathroom Lighting Design


Some can lights are designed to be installed as recessed lighting, in which case the canister is built into a ceiling or wall so that the light does not project into the room. Recessed downlights provide a very direct beam of light, and can be especially useful for rooms with low ceilings, kitchens, and workspaces where bright task lighting might be desired. Can lighting of this style may also be used to create atmospheric lighting, with the beams playing across a wall or ceiling.Directional lighting when used in or around your home and yard truly enhances your d�cor and adds the finishing touches to your overall design. Dramatic effects can be created by placing a light at the base of a statue or plant and have the light point up into the feature. Reversely you can light from above and use a beam or spot to shine down unto your focal point for display.There are numerous components to bathroom lighting design. The above should get you started in the process or at least give you the confidence that your electrician is putting junction boxes in the correct spots. One last suggestion I�ll make is to put all of your bathroom lighting on dimmers. Many of us use our bathrooms as a serene get away. To achieve this; lighting is a huge component. Having the ability to dim the lights will provide the perfect atmosphere.Showers are a space that you no doubt need a form of recessed lighting. It�s very important to use a recessed fixture that is made for the shower and rated to work under conditions of humidity and possible contact with water. In addition you�ll want to use a light bulbs rated to use in the shower. Most products will be clearly marked as such.Celebrate your home and garden today; spotlight appropriate features to create warmth, excitement, intrigue, and security for your family and neighbors.If you are lucky enough to high ceilings in your bathroom, go for a small decorative fixture like a small chandelier. The rule of thumb on the size of chandelier is calculated by taking the width of the room added to the length of the room. (Or if you are installing multiple lighting fixtures, use the dimensions of the area that this fixture is meant to light.) That number should equal the diameter of the fixture. Ie. A master bath that is 15� X 13� would need a chandelier or decorative fixture about 28� in diameter.For this reason alone, every conscientious parent should consider adding a ceiling fan to their newborn's room. As a side benefit, many babies sleep better with the soft whir of a fan in the background. Older children will appreciate task lighting for studying, or lighting that can be easily dimmed for watching movies or gaming.With energy in mind, solar-power is an eco-friendly and popular choice for garden and yard lighting. Because there is no need for outdoor wiring, solar lighting can be a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to address you backyard needs. When considering use of solar-powered lights, check the brand for illumination time and strength.I�m all for recessed fixtures in your overall bathroom lighting design. What I don�t care for are ceilings that look like swiss cheese. After you�ve planned for all other lighting, it would be prudent to fill other lighting needs with recessed lighting. If using recessed in the toilet area, locate the can in front of the toilet and not right over. No reason to be in the spot light!What we decided to use is our home is wall sconces. And now that I think about it, we used it in all three bathrooms. The master has 3 as we have a long vanity and there are holes cut in the glass where the sconces sit. The other two bathrooms have the sconces flanking the mirror. When you choose to have more than two, it�s important that the spacing be such that the light is coming from either side of each sink. Spacing here is not as critical; just insure that they are evenly spaced. Most folks tent to stand in front of the sink and you wouldn�t want to have the sconce right in front of your face! Their height should be about eye height. This will need to be adjusted slightly according to the type of sconce that you choose. Bottom line is that you don�t want to be able to see the light bulb itself when standing and looking at the sconce.Shower LightsAn obvious benefit of landscape lighting is to help people stay on a designated path and to provide a safer walkway especially if steps or level changes are involved. This is particularly important from a safety perspective and inclement weather may obscure your view. Rain or snow on a poorly lit pathway or step can become dangerous.Landscape lighting is both fun and functional. Use of feature lighting guides your eye through the garden often creating a magically environment. While security lighting can alert you to potential danger or simply light the way on your pilgrimage to the trash can.This area might be the most crucial spot to get it �right.� Improper lighting when you are trying to apply make-up or shaving can be the pits. Lighting companies have come up with a number of functional and decorative choices for vanity/mirror lighting.Some sort of lighting that can be left on all night is not only a safety solution but will allow you to make the middle of the night trip to the bathroom without totally waking yourself up. Lots of folks use a night light and if you don�t have much space in your bathroom, this is a great solution. I love to use accent lamp lighting when there is room. A small lamp with a long life light bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb in it provides a wonderful accent light day and night. Either place on your vanity or on a small accent table.Lighting is especially important if you are modernizing your home for a more updated look. Replacing tired, old fixtures with sleek and modern recessed lighting can add instant value to a room. Recessed lighting is unobtrusive, letting your furnishings and accessories take center stage. An electrical contractor or electrician can also install recessed lighting in a large room to eliminate dark, shadowy corners. This will make the room seem much more inviting and welcoming.Do you find yourself not wanting to look at yourself in your bathroom mirror in the morning? It may simply be because you have poor lighting. Lighting naturally creates shadows and if you don�t have your lighting properly planned, you may find that your newly remodeled bathroom isn�t the happy place you thought it would be.Bathtub Lighting

There are numerous components to bathroom lighting design. The above should get you started in the process or at least give you the confidence that your electrician is putting junction boxes in the correct spots. One last suggestion I�ll make is to put all of your bathroom lighting on dimmers. Many of us use our bathrooms as a serene get away. To achieve this; lighting is a huge component. Having the ability to dim the lights will provide the perfect atmosphere.




Author: Holly Eddins


Lighting Can Be Both Functional And Beautiful


Lighting performs many functions within a home. It provides ambiance and helps to set a mood. It eases your eyestrain if you are working on a hobby, reading or studying. Lighting also helps to define areas in a home. A beautiful light fixture can be a stunning focal point. Outdoor lighting discourages burglars and provides a sense of safety and security. Given the number of functions that lighting performs, it is extremely important not to let your lighting solutions become an afterthought during your home renovations.


Well executed landscape designs with often use a combination of up lights and spot lights as the garden lighting to accent plants, fountains, and trees. Up lights, down lights, and recessed lights are often the fixture of choice for use in patio decking, a gazebo or and pergola. Backyard structures such as stone and cement walls, and level changes can also be enhanced with the use of wall lights or sconces. Look for specially designed outdoor features to withstand weather changes.Keep in mind that you don't want to overdue the lighting, as bright lights may wash out features. You also want to be mindful of your neighbors so ensure that your lights are positioned correctly for their comfort and safety also. Too much light can also lead to light pollution�obscuring the view of the stars or too much energy consumption.Ceiling FixturesHomeowners can also put the finishing touches on a kitchen renovation with tasteful under-cabinet lighting. This type of lighting is also practical because it illuminates the work surface, a must-have if you love to cook and bake. It also highlights those quartz or granite countertops that are so popular today.Graceful pendant lights are becoming a more popular choice these days. An electrician can easily switch the old dated fluorescent fixture for sleek, modern pendant lights lending a whole new updated look to your kitchen. The shades for pendant lights can also be easily changed out down the road if you decide that you want to change the look.Can light is a light which is enclosed in a cylinder, directing all of the light through one end of the cylinder to create a much focused, bright beam. There are a number of settings in which can lights can be used, and many hardware and home supply stores carry several can lighting options for people to choose from. These lights are ideal for task lighting, focused lighting, or situations in which it is desirable to reduce light pollution as much as possible.

Lighting can be both functional and beautiful. If you are picking out lighting fixtures for a new house, or renovating an older one, it's important to talk to your electrical contractor. He or she will be able to assist you in your planning and make sure that you get the most for your budget.




Author: Nick Messe


Good Lighting Can Brighten Up Your Home


Although it may not be obvious, lighting can change how you feel about your home. Changing the lighting in a room can change the whole look and feel of the area. Many people do not realize just how big of an impact the lights have on how a room is perceived. A room can appear comfortable and cozy or bright and welcoming just from changing the lighting. The great thing about lighting a room is that it is the cheapest form of redecorating there is.


Many homes have problems with poorly lit, dark corners. A great way to create an ambiance and bring bright, even lighting to an entire room is with recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is a clean, efficient way to supply light to an entire home without taking up space or throwing off the feel of a room. The simple design makes it easy to complement any design scheme, and recessed lighting can look great in all rooms of your home.Before you begin installing lights in a new home or renovating an old one, you should contact an electrician to help with the process. Working with a professional is the easiest way to begin changing the lighting in your home. Skilled electricians will be able to install any lights, including recessed, quickly and efficiently, which can make a huge difference in the overall outcome of a house.Another benefit of recessed lighting is their versatility in design. USALight.com offers many different styles, sizes, and colors. This means that the lights can be installed for different purposes and can be used for different. The varying colors such as white, black, chrome, gold, etc. makes is possible for people to customize the look of the lighting in order to match their d�cor theme. Furthermore, the different sizes of lights that are available make it possible for people to successfully light their areas without having too much or too little light. A general rule of thumb states that recessed lighting size corresponds with how far apart the lights will be. Typically, 4 inch lights need to be placed 4 feet from each other and 6 inch lights need to be placed 6 feet from each other, and so on according to the size of the light. This allows the size of the light to be matched accordingly with the size of the room in order to illuminate the room in a good way.If your home is suffering from poor lighting, there is a chance that each room isn't seeing its full potential. With good lighting, children will be able to safely play or concentrate on studies, and the whole family will be able to enjoy quality time or hobbies well into the night without being disturbed. If the lighting in a room is poor, it can have an effect on work performance and even your overall mood.

Before you begin installing lights in a new home or renovating an old one, you should contact an electrician to help with the process. Working with a professional is the easiest way to begin changing the lighting in your home. Skilled electricians will be able to install any lights, including recessed, quickly and efficiently, which can make a huge difference in the overall outcome of a house.




Author: Nick Messe


Tips on How to Choose Your Own Recessed Lighting System


Recessed lightings are those which are down light fixture installed in such a way that it illuminates through the ceiling and create an explicit lighting beauty within the facility. The light concentrates in a downward motion having to mimic a flashlight mode and its lighting power only concentrates to one specific direction. These are usually used as ornaments for specific interior designing and local commercial decorations.


These are just simple tips on how you are to start fairly your own lighting fixture and play your creativity when it comes to assembling it. Choosing the right fixture for the right trim will help you ease out stress when buying recessed lights and make sure that they have warranties for you to be assures that they can be replaced once damaged. It is just a matter of buying wisely to save you more time and effort as well as additional expenses when buying recessed lighting system.Not only can recessed lighting brighten up dark corners and hallways, but you can also install them over points of interest in your home, such as above the piano, a piece of artwork, or a bookshelf. Recessed lighting is also an excellent choice for task lighting. Placing these lights above work spaces, in offices, and above desks is a simple way to illuminate a focused area.Another benefit to having certain types of recessed lighting is that there can be lights that move in order to produce a more �spotlight� effect on a certain area. There are useful for those who want to highlight certain objects and areas without generating an overall lighting effect.Magazines and online web sites are great sources of information as to how you are going to design the area. A perfect design would mean that it suits both comfort and beauty having not to sacrifice either of these basic categories. Comfort is very important when it comes to designing so when you place your recessed lighting, it needs to be placed in such a way that it does not adhere to one�s comfort and accessibility to the place. Beauty at the same time is very important since this is where you are going to base the assessment of the total design of your craft.The theme is a very important consideration when assessing your place where you will be placing your recessed lighting. You need to associate every detail of the area as to its shape, size and design. The color needs to also complement well with what you have in your recessed bulb and the intensity of its light.

These are just simple tips on how you are to start fairly your own lighting fixture and play your creativity when it comes to assembling it. Choosing the right fixture for the right trim will help you ease out stress when buying recessed lights and make sure that they have warranties for you to be assures that they can be replaced once damaged. It is just a matter of buying wisely to save you more time and effort as well as additional expenses when buying recessed lighting system.




Author: Cameron Forbes


Recessed Lighting Benefits and Helpful Hints


There are many reasons as to why more and more people are converting to or planning on recessed lighting in their homes and businesses. Not only are they contemporary looking, but they also allow for d�cor of any type and can provide benefits such as illuminating certain objects and providing sufficient lighting for different activities. Websites such as USALight.com have seen that recessed lighting is increasing in popularity and hence supply a large number of resources for those who wish to install recessed lighting into their own homes and/or businesses. While some people may like the looks of recessed lighting, there are many more benefits to them other than their looks.


One of the benefits of recessed lighting is the fact that they allow for less room to be taken up by lighting fixtures. When there are no longer lamps and other fixtures such as chandeliers taking up space, the room automatically appears larger. Not only that, but there is the added benefit of recessed lighting being able to illuminate large areas or accentuate specific objects depending upon how they are set up. This provides great versatility for the lights. Not only that, but depending upon how the lights are set up and what types of bulb are used, recessed lights are capable of being controlled by a dimmer. This means that the mood of the room can be set quickly and easily depending upon the owner�s preference.With benefits such as these, USALight.com has taken the opportunity to supply many of the parts needed in order to successfully set up recessed lighting in any area. There are many different styles, colors, and sizes that they offer for every lighting need that can be imagined.These types of lighting are very attractive to look at when it is properly fixed and well-coordinated with its environment. Here are some tips on how to choose good recessed lighting that suits your house perfectly.

With benefits such as these, USALight.com has taken the opportunity to supply many of the parts needed in order to successfully set up recessed lighting in any area. There are many different styles, colors, and sizes that they offer for every lighting need that can be imagined.




Author: Cameron Forbes


Canadian Tire buys house to showcase small projects


Canadian Tire has positioned itself through the last recession as the starting place for small household projects. Now, the retailer has bought a house of its own to put that strategy into practice.


Vera Sandarova Marketing Communications 420-222-316-282 Vera.Sandarova@klinegroup.comRecessed lighting can serve several purposes. It can serve as your primary lighting source in any room. One switch can turn on all of the lighting fixtures in your basement or living room. You can also use recessed lighting for a specific purpose, such as above your home office desk or in the bathroom. It can also be used to illuminate specific decorations, such as a painting or a trophy case. There is no limit to the number of things for which you can use recessed lighting. Its flexibility allows you to determine how much of it you want in your home.

"At Canadian Tire, it's about how to make life easier for people without a lot of time or money--that's our sweet spot," says Shields.