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Lighting

Light plays a critical role in the ambiance of a room. Enlighten your understanding of light, its characteristics and how to use it effectively with the following information. Brighten your world with knowledge about lighting fixtures, resellers, manufacturers, comparisons, and links.

Boyd Lighting - Art Deco style lighting

Consumers Reports Online / Home - fee based subscription access to brand-name ratings and evalutions. For suppliers in your area, see our yellow pages section. Yahoo.com - search for lighting

General - OL$ = online shopping, P = portal, DC = discount center

Artemide - extensive Italian designer lighting Boyd Lighting - Art Deco style lighting Derek Marshall - sculptural lighting table lamps and sconces Hurricane Creek Stained Glass - hand crafted copper and stained glass lighting Kaiser-Kuhn Lighting, Ltd. - OL$: porcelain, floor, candle, brass and stoneware lamps in distinctive designs Lucid Lighting - traditional and contemporary lighting Lighting by Gregory - stylistic lighting offerings Luminaire - contemporary European furniture, lighting and accessories Matheson Valley Woodcraft - OL$: fine handcrafted wooden lamps Mobelform - contemporary furniture lighting and accessories Tech Lighting - manufacturer of low-voltage lighting systems Trinity Lighting, Inc. - residential and hospitality lamps Williamsburg Brass, Lighting and Textiles - outdoor and indoor lighting yamagiwa - Frank Lloyd Wright and Japanese lighting

Contemporary

Light-Project - commercial and industrial lighting AGA Warehouse - wide range of furnishings and lighting products Best Lamps.com - OL$: fine lamps for the home at the best prices Lamp Fashions - OL$: office, home and decorative lighting Lamps on the Web - OL$: unique lighting products Lamp House.com - OL$: designer fixtures, lamps and shades Tensor® Lamps - OL$, DC: 500 lamps from 62 manufacturers

Traditional

Golden Valley Lighting - OL$, DC: online showroom specializing in Tiffanies and traditional lighting H.A. Framburg & Co. - traditional lighting Southwest Country - handmade lamp shades

All Styles

Ambience Lighting - unique lighting products Light-Project - commercial and industrial lighting AGA Warehouse - wide range of furnishings and lighting products Best Lamps.com - OL$: fine lamps for the home at the best prices Creative Lighting & Home Accents - various lighting products Dagmar Lamps - custom made lamps and lamp shades, including wrought iron Garbe Industries, Inc. - home decorating accessories and extensive lighting selection, including crystal chandeliers, track, sconces, under-counter, halogen, etc. Golden Valley Lighting - OL$, DC: online showroom specializing in Tiffanies and traditional lighting House of Lighting, Inc. - decorative lighting fixtures Lamp Depot - OL$: Ceiling fans, table and floor lamps Lamp Fashions - OL$: office, home and decorative lighting Lamps on the Web - OL$: unique lighting products Lamp House.com - OL$: designer fixtures, lamps and shades Southwest Country - hand made lamp shades Tensor® Lamps - OL$, DC: 500 lamps from 62 manufacturers

LIGHTING GLOSSARY

Task - functional lighting used for specific purpose Accent - highlights an area or furnishing of interest Ambient / Mood - generally warm, low lumen lights that radiate

Fixed Lighting
Pros: Focused light, long lasting, low maintenance, elegant. Cons: Most require professional installation at construction time, inability to alter lighting layout easily, require spot or flood light bulb.
R   E   C   E   S   S   E   D	Fixture About Disperse Pros Cons Canister downlights The lighting fixture is mounted entirely into the ceiling and points downward Downward, spotlight beam with hard edges creating dramatic shadows or ambient floodlight with soft fall-off Low fixture visibility Uni - direction Eyeballs The lighting fixture is mounted into the ceiling and is directional Downward, spotlight beam with hard edges creating dramatic shadows or ambient floodlight with soft fall-off Omni - directional High fixture visibility Partial recess The lighting fixture is partially mounted into the ceiling and is directional Downward, spotlight beam with hard edges creating dramatic shadows or ambient floodlight with soft fall-off Can be used with low and drop ceilings High fixture visibility  Additional info:
S   U   R   F   A   C   E   M   O   U   N   T   _     A   R   C   H   I   T   E   C   T   U   R   A   L	Fixture About Disperse Pros Cons Sconce A small fixture mounted to the wall that radiates light onto the wall and ceiling. Generally used as decorative or accent lighting Various dispersion types including up, down and lateral onto wall. The falloff is usually affected by the fixture and uses low-watt bulbs High fixture visibility in stylistic flare. Can be replaced easily Luxury lighting providing little usable light Pendant / chandelier The base is mounted to the ceiling with the lighting fixture suspended from it. Generally used over tables Direct lighting with semi - hard shadows High fixture visibility. Can be replaced easily. Useful for tasks. Adds to overall brightness of room Requires dusting. Hangs from ceiling, reducing vertical space Track A long track that powers moveable lighting elements. Generally mounted onto the ceiling or wall with various lighting element options Dispersion depends on individual lighting elements and required bulb types Omni - direction used for accent lightings High watt use Strip A lighting fixture mounted onto the ceiling or wall with evenly spaced bulbs Bright, even light with very soft falloff. Generally used for tasks, including bathroom and makeup High light output. Great for task lighting Poor ambient lighting, high watt use Under mount A lighting fixture mounted under a counter, cupboard, or at the foot of a cabinet Indirect lighting with various dispersions based on fixture, light mechanism and placement. Generally used for task lighting Light is focused to area of use Does not add to overall brightness of room Valance A lighting fixture that is mounted above a door or window and illuminates up and downward Indirect lighting with soft falloff mostly illuminates walls, ceilings and window treatments Soft reflected light that does not create hard shadows or is harsh. Great for gloss paint Adds to overall brightness of a room via indirect light Bracket A lighting fixture that is mounted on the wall, near the ceiling that illuminates up and downward like a valance Indirect lighting with soft falloff mostly illuminates walls, ceilings and immediate surroundings Soft reflected light that does not create hard shadows or is harsh. Great for gloss paint Adds to overall brightness of a room via indirect light Soffit Overhead fixture containing dispersing mechanism for broad, even lighting Soft direct lighting dispersed by clear or 'frosted' plastic that creates semi - hard shadows Great for utility uses where a large volume of bright, even light is required, such as kitchens and craft rooms Does not lend itself well to areas where mood lighting is required  Additional info:

Mobile Lighting
Pros: Easy to change lighting layout and style. Cons: More susceptible to dents, scratches and mars. Can be knocked over, creating fire hazard.
S   U   R   F   A   C   E   L   A   M   P   S	Fixture About Disperse Pros Cons Table lamps A small lamp with shade set on a table for ambient or task lighting Dispersion depends on bulb, lamp shade, physical form and construction High fixture visibility in decorative flare. Can be replaced easily. Low watt consumption Luxury lighting providing little usable light Desk lamps / task light A small lamp with shade set on a table for ambient or task lighting Dispersion depends on bulb, lamp shade, physical form and construction Generally uni - directional used for task lighting. Low watt consumption Can be tipped over creating fire hazard Floor / base A lighting fixture mounted onto the ceiling or wall with evenly spaced bulbs Indirect lighting with soft falloff mostly illuminates walls and immediate surroundings Can be moved or replaced easily. Great for mood lighting. Adds to overall room illumination Creates vertically opposing shadows  Additional info:
U   P   R   I   G   H   T   L   A   M   P   S	Fixture About Disperse Pros Cons Standard Tall pole with support base, fixture, lamp and shade at top Direct light with dispersion depending on bulb, lamp shade, physical form and construction High fixture visibility in decorative flare. Can be replaced easily. Some dimming capability may be available Can be tipped over easily creating fire hazard Torchiers Taller pole than standard with support base, fixture, hallogen lamp and reflector at top Direct light with dispersion depending on bulb, reflector, physical form and construction High fixture visibility in decorative flare. Can be replaced easily. Excellent mood and ambient lighting. Dimming capability Can be tipped over easily creating fire hazard Reading lamps Shorter pole than standard with support base, fixture, lamp and shade or reflector at top. Usually found near sofas and chairs Direct light with soft falloff similar to spotlights. Halogen and incandescent are most common Can be moved or adjusted easily. Great for task and mood lighting. Some dimming capability may be available Can be tipped over easily creating fire hazard  Additional info:

Ideas

RESOURCES

Architectural Lighting Magazine Creative Lighting & Home Accents - tips for all types of lighting Lightforum.com Lighting Research Center - the definitive source for lighting and energy efficiency Lighting Research Center - interactive living room lighting application, see each type of light and its illumination effect on the room. Lighting Resource, The - articles, events, industry links Maloneys Online - antiques & collectibles resource directory

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