Lighting By Jean

Here is a quote from Nathan T. Frampton, Fanimation

 ”Items that are Energy Star-compliant and use recycled/renewable resource materials are direct responses to consumer demands for green products, as are products that have closed glass or upward-facing glass to hide the sometimes unattractive look of energy-efficient bulbs.  One energy-efficient yet attractive way the industry is responding to this demand is with ceiling fans.  Consumers can not only save energy but can have a functional fan with ambient lighting and endless design options.”

Check out our offerings of ceiling fans.

I was chatting with a friend who was sitting under the   chandelier in my living room the other day, thinking:  “My, she is looking much older.  I wonder if she is ill?” However, careful questioning revealed her to be in great good health.  Later I was browsing a magazine when I came across an article on this very subject, entitled:  “Getting Older and Changing Light”, in a Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publication called “Lighting”.  This explains my friend’s apparent change in look.

 It says that frequently people change eyeglasses as they age, but that light needs changing to as the people it lights up get older.

Aging causes our eyes to deteriorate and the lenses to yellow, because of exposure to ultra-violet light.  So when we add the warm light of incandescent bulbs (remember my article on the colour of light?) to the tendency of our own lenses to yellow, we get far less visual acuity, according to lighting designer Randall Whitehead.

 So the answer is to change your light sources to ones with a cooler temperature (lumen) which would be halogens or flourescents  “which can have a 5,000 degree Kelvin, closest to daylight and the coolest”.  He also recomends adding a light source at the centre of the room, to achieve higher levels of light, to supplement the other light sources in the room. 

In other words, folks, as we mature we need even more and cooler light for good sight, which is a really cool idea…check my website for help.

Are these terms familiar words in your everyday vocabulary?  Can you toss them off in considering what light bulbs to use in your lighting scheme?  I’ll bet not, for most of us. 

Margot Austin, senior design editor of Style At Home magazine provides the following definitions that should help straighten out our thinking and provide a useful tool to get the just-right bulb for each fixture and for each use of our lights.

First of all, what do the terms mean and why should we care?  Each term is important in choosing the appropriate bulb, since manufacturers packaging can vary greatly in what kind of information they provide. 

• wattage:  the amount of energy used by a bulb
• lumen:  the amount of light emitted by a bulb
• kelvin:  the temperature of a colour
• warm light:  light with a yellowish cast
• cool light:  light with a bluish cast

If you are thinking about buying compact flourescents, you will find they come in a variety of colours to suit your decor.  The colour is determined by the kelvin temperature of the bulb; a lower kelvin temperature means the light will be warmer and slightly yellowish, a higher kelvin temperature means the light will be cooler and slightly bluish.

In my next posting I will talk about comparing flourescents and incandescents (the standard light bulbs).  In the meantime, take a look at my website to see the many beautiful, smart and up-to-date lighting fixtures that are available at low prices.

Ceiling fans add a cool note to your decor and to the temperature in the room when it is hot, hot, hot outside. 

Fan blades running clockwise push air downwards.  You’ll feel a fresh breeze.  If you keep your fan running in the summer time you will not need to use your air conditioner nearly as much, thereby saving on electricity and not only being kind to yourself and your family, but kind to the environmnet, as well.  A good fan can operate 24 hours a day.  Set it at a higher speed during the summer than in the cool weather.

Good air circulation is a must in your home.  Fans in the kitchen, living room and bedroom can express your sense of style while being extremely practical and cost effective. Remember, you need a fan that is large enough to do the job in the size of room you are working with (see my previous post about what size fan to invest in), but not too large that it looks awkward.  Find the size and finish that suits your individual taste.

Most fans have a light attached…good way to add extra lighting in the bedroom, for instance, when many builders’ homes do not provide a ceiling light.

    You have made the decision to install a modern ceiling fan in your bedroom.  It will pull the warm air down from the ceiling in the winter and keep the room cozy.  In the summer, it will help you sleep by cooling off the air.  It will look so smashing with a satin nickel finish, and a lovely light hanging from the centre.

OK, but what size do you need?  If your bedroom is 10′ by 12′, you will need a 38″ to 44″ diameter fan.  If it is bigger, say 12″ by 14″ you will need a 50″ to 60″ diameter fan.

Fortunately, lightingbyjean.com website has fans in just that size and in several styles and finishes.  Click on the link and shop for just what you need.

One rule that can help you decide is this:  keep the general shape of your fixture consistent with the rest of your lighting.

 There are so many shapes in modern lighting fixtures…they can be angular, industrial, curvy, flirty…how do you decide?

Usually, if your track light glass is square, then you would probably look for an angular shade in a new floor lamp.  A room with edgy industrial track lights is probably not the place to include a chandelier with flirty, soft-looking shades.

However, like any rule, too strict adherence to this one can result in a bland room…horrors!!  Sometimes the floor lamp with angular lines in its stand and a square shade can harmonize with that glass-less track light.  A Tiffany shade might be just the thing to crown a new table lamp in a room with a modern crystal chandelier.

Ultimately, your own fashion and style sense will tell you whether to follow or break the rules.  Look at the total effect and go for it!

Modern pendant lights offer a very special kind of stylish, versatile lighting effect.  Choose a cluster of three mini pendants to add drama to an otherwise dark corner of your living room. Contemporary pendant lights in your kitchen make your island a place where people want to gather and chat. 

Since there are no awkward cords or ugly plug-ins to confuse sight lines, hanging pendants create a peaceful, restful mood when used as bedside lights.  You can use soft coloured bulbs to set a scene or complete a decor plan.

 Modern hanging lights come in a wide variety of finishes, with various glass types.  Some have downward facing bowls, while others have upward facing, offering an ambient light to flow through special glass, setting a soft mood. 

Browse lightingbyjean.com to discover lighting ideas.  Our power-saving technology will help you to preserve a bit of our precious environment.