Posts Tagged ‘lighting’

When it comes to selecting a chandelier many people opt to go with many different styles to suit their personal frame of style. Often times you will see people who have invested their money in gold, glass, crystal or carved wood chandeliers. There are so many different types of chandeliers to choose from that many people overlook the alabaster chandelier.

You have probably heard of alabaster before, there is even a chance that you currently have something in your home that is made out of this material. Alabaster is used to make many different objects that include tools, drywall for your home and many other objects. Alabaster is an incredibly soft and delicate rock that can be shaped into many different things.

A lot of people are hesitant to purchase an alabaster chandelier, simply because it is made from soft rock. However, with proper care and maintenance your alabaster chandelier can turn into an incredible heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation.

A lot of the most breathtaking alabaster chandeliers can avidly be found in museums all across the world. The most shocking thing about the chandeliers is many of them found in these museums are thousands of years old.

Obtaining an alabaster chandelier for your home is a great choice. These chandeliers are made from soft rock that is naturally pale. The chandeliers will create a natural yet elegant appearance to any room that it is set in. Alabaster chandeliers easily blend with any home decor that you presently have in your humble abode.

A grand example of heirlooms is the many decorations in the White House, in the USA. Other places like the many Museums throughout Europe hold Alabaster created statues as well. Alabaster is the new traditionally passable heirloom!

These chandeliers come in a vast amount of styles and can incorporate many different pieces. Alabaster chandeliers can consist of the alabaster stones as well as wrought iron, or crystal. There are also many different finishes that you can have brushed onto the chandelier to complement any room that you wish the chandelier to adorn.

Regardless if you’re looking for a chandelier that bares a rustic feel, modern feel, or you simply want something that signifies immense elegance an alabaster chandelier is a great choice. The chandelier is the perfect piece to complement any style of home superbly.

Cody Scholberg writes about the antique chandelier and black chandeliers.

People were thrilled when fluorescent lighting first came out, since now they had a light that was bright white, efficient and needed little maintenance. It was not long before schools and offices started using it since they worked great in covering large areas. Eventually they also got integrated into home lighting choices.

Less expensive than regular light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs and lighting fixtures give the homeowner more options than ever before. These bulbs have been improved upon steadily and no longer does the consumer have to struggle with what once was the often annoying flickering and buzzing of fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent bulbs have been perfected and improved steadily and now afford a perfect lighting option for almost any need.

Fluorescent light bulbs are cool, energy efficient and less expensive than regular light bulbs. They use up to 75% less energy than traditional light bulbs and require little, if any, maintenance. They come in all sizes now for use in many different fixture styles. Variety and versatility in lighting is important to most home owners and fluorescent lighting fixtures are now able to provide this to the consumer.

Once you change over to fluorescent light bulbs you will eliminate changing bulbs often, save energy and money and the need to turn off the light every time you leave a room. Fluorescent light bulbs can now also be used in all types of lighting fixtures from floor lamps to chandeliers.

With fluorescent lights you will actually use up more energy but turning them on and off than you would by leaving them on. That means if you will only leave a room for a short period of time then it is best to just leave the light on. However, if you will be gone for a long period of time then it will be more cost effective to turn the fluorescent light off.

Fluorescent lighting is perfect in the kitchen and has been used more there than almost anywhere else, except for home workshops. The bright, white light is a perfect light by which to work. The new florescent light bulbs now accommodate almost any light fixture for all home lighting needs. The homeowner does not need to sacrifice style and decor to use this lighting option.

Today energy efficiency is becoming more important, as is our awareness of it. Therefore, it is a must that fluorescent lighting be considered a serious option for home lighting needs if we want to not only save money but reduce the impact of our carbon footprint on the planet. No matter how small a step is, every bit that is done to decrease the amount of energy consumed will help later on.

There was a time when fluorescent lighting was used solely by the big retail stores and office buildings but now it is available to you for all your home lighting needs.

If you are interested in more reading about fluorescent lighting, one website you should consider has more writing about fluorescent light fixtures.

Candles are an ubiquitous sight and have been in existence since time immemorial. Who would forget the vital role candles played in human lives before electricity lighted up homes, buildings, streets, practically the whole world? Candles were also the first Christmas tree decorations. With progress in science and technology, there too is advancement in the candles’ aesthetics – sizes in width and length, designs, colors, shapes in which the common round candles are now joined by stars, squares, oblongs and such; scents such as linen, lavender and citrus; materials other than wax, and candle holders and containers.

Candles make nice accents but it requires more careful thought than you think. Some candles are fit for a certain space or backdrop, and specific candles suit only some particular decorative pieces. A popular classic look for candle pieces are the tall, wrought iron candelabras with short candles, usually in bright hues of green and red, or a simple shade of off-white. The candles’ color will also depend on the color of the background. If you can’t make up your mind with the best shade to use, white candles go with any furnishing and theme.

Decorating is not only for the eyes but for the sense of smell as well. Make use of scented candles and fill your place with aromas so rich and pleasing to the senses. Transform your home into a flower shop, the countryside or a fruit stand in an instant.

The size of the candles should complement the space. The bigger the space, the bigger the candles and vice-versa. This balances out the appearance of the room. One great idea in using smaller candles is to pair them with a nice holder or container. For instance, a simple fish bowl can be a centerpiece when spruced up with some water, decorative rocks and floating votives. Many spas utilize this kind of design for a serene and relaxing atmosphere.

With the vast amounts of candle shops, boutiques, online stores, and big candle companies you have a huge selection to choose from. Yankee Candle and Glade are two of the most well known candle manufacturers in the world. Finding a candle to fit your style is easy if you decide to decorate using candles from either of these companies. Yankee Candle will take a bigger bite out of your wallet than Glade, but either company will give you excellent products for the price.

With the wide assortment to choose from, making your home and office look relaxing, romantic, warm, sophisticated, calm, or whatever image you envision can be done. Choosing the right color, design, container and scent will give your space your desired effects. Candles can also be paired with other decorative items like area rugs. There’s no need to go to an expensive restaurant when you can have candlelight dinner with the luscious scent of the candles and the cozy feel of your area rug in the comforts of your home.

Once lit, candles are more than just pretty piece of art in your house they become beacons of light when the power goes out, or, as written above, when you want an evening of romance with your loved one, or when you want to celebrate a birthday. A caveat regarding candles; when lighting candles be careful. Try not to set fire to the family heirloom rug that you inherited from your Grandma Georgina.

Make the most of your Candles by ensuring the rest of your room is well decorated – start by brightening your floor with these shag area rugs.

Regardless of how you perceive chandeliers, the hand blown Murano style glass chandelier will change your perception on chandeliers forever.

Well, throw everything out the window of how you have come to perceive chandeliers appearing and take heed of the most elaborate chandelier on the market today the hand blown Murano glass chandelier.

Do not think that all chandeliers that are made from this precious glass are in any means small. Murano glass is used to make full size chandeliers. They provide these chandeliers with an incredible feeling of decadence and awe inspiring beauty.

The chandeliers are large and elaborate many people often times cannot believe that the entire piece is made from glass. The arm of the chandelier as well as its axis, finials and everything that is on it is made from 100% hand blown Murano glass.

These chandeliers are setting the standard of what a chandelier should look like to many onlookers. It is absolutely beautiful and extremely decadent.

Many of the chandeliers offer one distinct color. Often times this color is a very light red that you can easily see straight through. Once the chandelier is lit up often times the colors will bounce off the wall to create a lighter friendlier tone. For instance the red color will create a pink shade over an entire room.

Ocean motifs as well as floral motifs are avidly painted on the chandeliers to create not only a feeling of beauty but also a love for fine arts. Many spectators proclaim that these chandeliers closely resemble the type of chandeliers that you would expect to see in 17th century Venice.

These chandeliers can also be hung in different places around your home. Many people think that a chandelier is only meant to be hung on the ceiling, not the Murano glass chandeliers. These chandeliers can be made to hang on a wall or set anywhere in your home that you deem.

If you are interested in purchasing a Murano glass chandelier for your home, you need to begin saving up for this precious piece right away. Normally, Murano chandeliers have a history of running into the thousand dollar range.

Cody Scholberg writes about the black chandelier and crystal chandeliers.

How to Install a Low-flow Faucet Aerator

You may have noticed, but the choice to be green doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet. It can be as boring as putting a $2.99 faucet accessory. Remember, it’s easy to make more expensive mistakes if you don’t spend some time on research in the beginning. Many manufacturers label their product as “earth friendly” or “green” but there are no government standards in place currently to define what makes an item eco-friendly or not.

Follow these 5 tips to assist you on your journey to create a kitchen that will save you money, give you a fresh new look, & save the world all at once:

1. Buy a low-flow water faucet/aerator

• Why: A shiny new faucet is a simple upgrade, but kitchen faucets can vary from 1.5 – 4 gallons per minute in the amount of water that come from them. Low-flow bathroom faucets with the Environmental Protection Agency’s new WaterSense label are about 30 percent more efficient than older models.

• Simple Eco Upgrade: Until the government comes up with some industry standard for low-flow kitchen faucets, for $3 to $11 you can make most new or existing taps more efficient simply by attaching an aerator. These simple devices save water plus lower utility bills as well, because less hot water is consumed. Because of this, low-flow aerators will generally pay for themselves in just a couple of months.

• Cons: With lower flow, it might take a bit longer to fill that 2 gallon pot for spaghetti night.

• Suggested Purchase: Look for a gallon per minute rating of less than 2 gallons per minute or GPM (some are as high as 4 GPM). Many Kohler faucets offer an aerator option that can reduce the GPM rate by about 25 percent. When buying aerators, keep in mind, some of them are available with more than one water speed setting. Keep the aerator on the slow speed when using the sink for typical use and set it to high speed to fill up big pans with water. Another green choice is a hands-free faucet, like the Danze Parma D421058, $480 or other low-flow Danze faucets.

• Keep in Mind: When you find a faucet that fits your budget and style, make sure it has a lifetime warranty that covers stains and water-wasting leaks. Also, some kitchen aerators will allow you to flip between two flow rates without affecting the water temperature

2. Switch to low wattage lighting

• Why: Modern kitchens can use up to 2,000 watts for lighting (especially track lighting) because standard incandescent, halogen, and xenon lights are energy vacuums. All that excess heat radiating from lights might motivate you to turn down the A/C to cool things off.

• Simple Eco Upgrade: Switch to cool-burning compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in your fixtures, and also consider adding some LED or fluorescent under cabinet task lighting. This simple DIY fix costs about $199 for 5 fluorescent fixtures.

• Cons: A handful of CFLs and LEDs cast a bluish or other odd color light. Before you buy, ask if you can return the fixture if you don’t like the way the light looks with your décor. Better yet, try the brand new light in your local Ace Hardware or ask an associate for their opinion.

• Suggested Purchase: Strips are the most common type of task lighting, round “hockey puck” lights are best for casting pools of light onto a counter and linear lights are best if you need more versatile fixtures. Both circle “puck” light fictures and linear lights can be included with LEDs.

• Keep in Mind: If your cabinets don’t have a built-in valence to hide task lighting, either add one or choose a fixture with a sleek housing that’s not as noticeable.

3. Install a ceiling fan

• Why: Kitchens get hot, and if you use an air conditioner to cool things off, it will gobble up a lot of energy and money.

• Simple Eco Upgrade: A ceiling fan in the kitchen will use only a fraction of the electricity that an A/C would.

• Cons: Aesthetics, few people have ceiling fans in kitchens for a reason, it doesn’t usually look good.

• Suggested Purchase: There are a number of great models from Hampton Bay, Harbor Breeze, and Hunter, and most circulate air about the same. So rather than shop for a particular brand, go for a style the lady likes and you find on clearance and remember that lighting affects energy use.

• Keep in Mind: You might be able to find CFLs designed for ceiling fans that can replace the original bulbs and save energy. You need to remember current CFL’s don’t function correctly with fans that have light dimmers.

4. Refurbish with second hand materials

• Why: A new countertop or cabinet face can change the whole look of your kitchen, but producing them keeps coal power plants polluting the air and some “earth friendly” materials aren’t as green as they might seem.

• Simple Eco Upgrade: Before you buy new, see if you can find used materials.

• Suggested Purchase: Salvage shops are stocked with new or lightly used stone countertops, hardwood flooring, decorative lumber, and kitchen cabinets, so they’re a great place to look for bargains. Even better, Habitat for Humanity sells used and surplus building materials at outlets called ReStores.

• Keep in Mind: If you will buy brand new, at least search for greener cabinets and other products made from sustainable lumber and materials.

5. Trade in/Sell the biggest energy hogs

• Why: The appliances in your kitchen that take the most energy to operate are refrigerators and dishwashers. The older these appliances are, the less energy efficient they are and the more costly they are to run.

• Simple Eco Upgrade: Only open the doors when you know what you want. Don’t waste energy by “browsing” with an open fridge. As you know, it usually doesn’t work best for your wallet to replace working appliances with new ones. Search for models that are quieter and need less energy when you decide to update. Yes, energy efficient models cost more BUT, you’ll recover the investment as your utility bills decrease.

• Suggested Purchase: Look for appliances that are Energy Star qualified. These ENERGY STAR approved fridges need about 50% of the energy as the energy wasters manufactured before 1993. Also ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency. Switching out a dishwasher manufactured before 1994 with an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher can save you more than $300 a decade in utility costs. These also use significantly less H20 than old school models. This can help extend the life of your septic tank.

• Keep in Mind: You don’t have to get rid of all the old appliances at once. Start with the ones that are the biggest energy hogs. When repairs might cost more than 50% of a new appliance, why not replace them with a new one.

If this is all seems complicated some online retailers make it easier for you such as Designer Plumbing Outlet with the help of Site Search technology by SLI Systems. When browsing the fixtures on their website you can just click one button to refine your search by “Eco-Friendly” results. This helps makes the search easier and makes going green even simpler when buying new.

 

Curved track lighting has introduced a new paradigm in home and business lighting design.  Decorators and designers are no longer restricted to fixed lighting systems and expensive installations.  With curved track lighting, a decorator can mold their interior lighting in any form they see deem appropriate.  Gone are the days of settling for fixed overhead lighting, where the only chance of changing was through expensive contractor services.  Using a curved track lighting setup, designers can easily redesign the lighting setup themselves. 

The majority of curved track lighting functions in a very straightforward and easy to use fashion.  When selecting curved track lighting, the best to use types are usually sold as a set of rails.  These independent rails can then be connected together with a set of hubs that can rotate.  This makes the lighting extremely simple to design, with the rails simply clicking together and rotating without the need for any expensive tools or intense work.  The rails simply connect and rotate to the wanted angle.  The setup as a whole connects to a anchor attached to the ceiling.  This point can also be adjusted, raising and lowering according to the lighting requirements. Curved Track Lighting

This is a lighting system that all decorators can work with.  The kits themselves are fairly affordable, and definitely cheaper than hiring exorbitant contractor services.  The kits require no complicated installation, and only connect to the ceiling or wall itself at a single anchor.  This simplicity of installation and manipulation allows the decorator to spend more time focusing on their decoration than on setup.  Vendors make curved track lighting available in all themes, working with all kinds of environments, from the rustic to the sophisticated. 

Designers turn to curved track lighting for the ultimate in flexibility and minimum of hassle.  Curved track lighting can give a designer the power to create a complicated lighting design without spending too much.  The low voltage and slidable light fixtures make curved track lighting the best choice when a sophisticated, yet flexible, solution is required.  There are numerous curved track lighting manufacturers in the United States, with some of the most recognized names including Bellacor and Lightolier.  Interior Lighting Designers is another well known name in track lighting, providing affordable installation services across the country.  Curved track lighting is a great solution for designers and decorators.