Light IQ: We design, supply and install innovative and inspirational lighting schemes.

Friday, 25 April 2008

As Vigilant as a Night Owl

In our energy-sapping world, each gizmo and gadget continually drains our homes of electricity. We are becoming more aware of how much our homes cost to run in terms of electrical consumption, but although we all know that we use too much, the task of reducing our usage seems too daunting to even deliberate. The abundance of energy saving household options available today bombards us at every turn – energy saving light bulbs, low consumption refrigerators, 'green' hairdryers and low energy plasmas - but how can you tell if the higher cost of these products will be worth it in the end? The enthusiasm we tend to begin with when deciding to lower our energy usage normally dissipates before we have even managed to get round the whole house switching off sockets. So instead of beginning with a drastic and soon-to-be-discarded 'all-off' effort, why not find out what consumes the most amount of energy (and therefore money) in your home and start by limiting the usage? What about those smaller and apparently insignificant items such as phone chargers and devices on stand-by? Surely those don't cost enough to even warrant unplugging them?...well you would be surprised. If there was a way of actually calculating the amount each 'on' switch and plug was costing you without sitting down with a calculator, the electric bill and loosing yourself for a couple of hours, perhaps home energy-saving would be moved higher up on our agenda. Enter: OWL.

OWL is a discreet electrical monitoring device providing you with continuous information about your electrical usage throughout the home. It is incredibly sensitive and will register all minor fluctuations in consumption, allowing you to experiment with your energy saving strategies and use the ones that make an actual difference to both your pocket and the planet.

OWL comes in two parts - the transmitter which is fixed next to your electricity meter on one of the main trunk cables and the handheld display unit that can be mounted centrally or moved wirelessly around the home. The beauty of its flexible position is that it can be used to measure the energy consumption of individual devices; placing the OWL faceplate near your television, hairdryer or nightlight will tell you precisely how much energy is being consumed – allowing you to really see the difference that can be made from using the 'off' switch.

Unlike many of its competitors, this gadget is British through and through ensuring full compatibility with all of your domestic devices. The display lists the electrical output in kilowatts per hour, the cost in pounds and pence of either the total house at that moment or the specific device you are holding it near, as well as the percentage the device is draining from your total electricity bill and the amount of emitted greenhouse gases. Set the integral alarm to notify you when your total consumption peaks past a pre-set level and just wait in anticipation for the next electricity bill to see how much you have saved by turning off all those non-essential items!

Reportedly, each OWL home saves on average of 27% from their bill, making the initial outlay of £34.99, a very worthwhile investment.

Save money and the planet; Install an OWL in your home and just watch as your fingers are irresistibly drawn to the off-switch! www.theowl.com

RW.

Monday, 21 April 2008

Sitting Pretty

NeoNeon is the debut collection of illuminated furniture by Lee Broom. His six piece collection (which can be viewed at the Milan Fair this year) haloes the rich shapes of traditional furniture with striking day-glo fuchsia and white neon illumination. Each piece is limited to editions of 25.
For further information on this wonderful new collection visit www.leebroom.com

RW.

Friday, 18 April 2008

Exterior Makeover

Stumped for a plan this bank holiday weekend? Hoping that the weather will dramatically change enabling you to get out to the garden for some much desired rays of sun? While you're out there, why not think about giving your garden a facelift in time for the summer? With a few key changes, your garden can be transformed to a beautiful oasis in which to host glamorous summer soirees, it can allow you to extend your space by opening your French doors out on to a stunning vista for the first BBQ of the season. At the very least, a coordinated and immaculate garden will provide you with a place of calm and tranquillity when you look out of the kitchen window during evening meal preparations.

Cast your eye over our Light IQ Garden Lighting Tips and start designing your dream garden!

'Less is more' - leave part of the garden dark and limit the number of elements you light. Too many focal points confuse the eye.

Mind the environment - with the less is more philosophy, garden lighting can be energy efficient and hence prevent light pollution. Use low voltage lamps or energy efficient lights such as LED's. A time clock will ensure that lights aren’t left on accidentally.

Maximize the depth of the garden by focussing the light on the furthest point.

Backlighting planters and object such as pots creates strong silhouettes and adds drama.

To uplight a tree fix spots on both sides so you can see the whole tree from every angle.

When lighting evergreens or topiary, position the light at a distance to provide a wash of light and avoid hot spots.

Avoid glare at all times and try to see the 'effect' of the light as opposed to the light source itself.

Don't over light.

Installing fairy lights are great for the party feel and can be installed on a separate circuit and used for special occasions. Ensure you get a qualified electrician to install an external power supply for you to avoid a trailing cable from an indoor socket.

Halogen bulbs provide a warmer colour on flora but whereas LED's provide a cooler colour, they also use a lot less energy.

Abby

Friday, 11 April 2008

DON'T FORGET...!

When undertaking the renovation of your house there are countless decisions to make and the enormity of it all can sometimes mean that some seemingly unimportant areas get little time and attention. But remember...small spaces can make big impressions! For example, that neglected store room in the basement can easily and inexpensively be transformed into a showcase wine cellar. By creating space to have a focal point at the end of the room, a recessed downlight highlights a magnum of wine and a small backlight throws a wine canister into soft relief. Now this wine cellar becomes a rich opulent den to store many a bottle of Bordeaux.

So often the WC is squeezed under the stairs or in a forgotten corner, but that does not mean that the design doesn't count. Why not make this a room to remember with some fun wallpaper and a couple of wall lights on a dimmer. Wherever possible, use mirrors to bounce the light around and increase the sense of space.

Or maybe it's that windowless room in the basement used to store all the bits and bobs no one needs...how about transforming this into the room of your dreams; a cinema for the stars! Here LED uplights frame the entrance and a fibre optic starry sky softly twinkles away whilst the movie is being watched. Should kids be playing in the space, linear fluorescents have been concealed to flood the room with a daylight feel when needed.

So have some fun and exploit your imagination to create dazzling and different rooms in the least expected areas of your home.

IK

Monday, 7 April 2008

Experiment with your Exterior...

When designing the lighting for a scheme it is easy to focus on the interior, however exterior lighting is just as important as the interior and should not be forgotten. A well-lit garden becomes a miraculous space at night and with increased external light you can overcome the 'black mirror effect' whereby the light inside the house is reflected back on windows and glass doors creating the illusion of a smaller area. Exterior lighting can give depth to a space by drawing your eye to the farthest point and maximising the space.

There are a few key rules that should be followed in order to achieve a great garden scheme; firstly it is important to think about the garden as a whole, including any gates, driveways and side passageways to ensure a cohesive and well-balanced scheme. Secondly, too much light or focal points can be overwhelming; use light with restraint focussing on techniques such as up-lighting that can create drama, drawing the eye to specific architectural features or individual plants.
There has suddenly been a surge of new and unusual ideas for the garden. Summer is just around the corner and if you want to whizz up your garden but don't have the time or resources to do it here are a couple of small ideas that will make a big impact and change your garden from a 'grubby gremlin' into a 'gorgeous goddess'.

Add a touch of character to your terrace by using this fabulous floor standing lamp by Artemide. Visually stunning yet practical, it can be positioned anywhere and provides an excellent ambient light. The shade comes in an assortment of colours so all you need to worry about is finding cushion covers that match!

Add a touch of colour to your garden by positioning RGB LED's underneath glass paving slabs. Fun yet sophisticated, they add an interesting dynamic to a space, perfect for parties and complimenting the architecture. As LED's can provide 70,000 lamp life, installing them in hard-to-access places will not cause any issues. They also act as a great safety feature, providing a well-lit pathway at night.

Add a touch of charm to any arena with the addition of the 'Smoon'. What is more romantic than the reflection of moonlight on water? This Watersmoon by Beau et Bien is wireless and rechargeable and is more-over, totally waterproof. Floating on a swimming pool it gives the magical glow of moonlight for 6 to 8 hours...if you don't have a swimming pool, why not use it as a reading light by a bedside or as ambient lighting on the floor of a living room...the opportunities are endless.

If you want to go that extra mile and create something awe-inspiring and exceptional, you should look at the work of Bruce Munro. "The company is renowned for creating adventurous, bespoke, sculptural light works and one-off design installations that are in themselves works of art." The above images are of his well-known piece 'The field of light', where flexible diffused light sources are installed in open plains, allowing the strands to sway with the natural movement of the wind, producing a calming and evocative response.

Natasha HD

A Designer's Deliberations