A Designer's Deliberations

Friday, 9 May 2008

Wardrobe Wonder

Staying with my mother recently who, at 87 years old, remains beautifully groomed and careful of her appearance, she turned and said how glad she was that the days had lengthened and that with the sun shining through the bedroom in the morning she could see the colours of her clothes in her wardrobe, finding it so much easier to get dressed knowing that she was wearing nothing that clashed!

Not all of us have the finance to redesign our whole house, but just changing one thing at a time to enhance our lifestyle and make it a little easier, can make a real difference. Rafaela wrote in her blog that 'task lighting' had changed her parent's home from a 100w pendant light to a multi-tasking room with a warm and homely ambience. This same principle applied to a couple cost effective wardrobe lights in my mother's home; she now almost anticipates winter when she will still be able to see all the colours in her wardrobe!

After this minor addition, she is quite unfazed by technology and is wondering where next to put lighting to such great effect.

All wardrobe lights are a practical solution and will suit many different situations; you may not want to change lamps therefore LEDs would be perfect, or you may not want to wire up your wardrobe therefore battery powered lights would suit you. Sensors detect movement and will turn themselves off after a short period of time giving your lamp a longer life and saving on electricity.

Whichever type of wardrobe light you choose it will certainly help the morning blues seeing an array of colour!

Coat hanger Wardrobe Light

This Rail light has an integrated fluorescent lamp. There is a ballast built into the assembly housing, and a plastic cover for easier gliding which is designed to protect the profile against scratching.

Magic Lite Illuminated Wardrobe Tube with LED Lights

This battery operated wardrobe rail is fitted with evenly spaced LEDs, to give an overall light. The LEDs will not need changing like ordinary lamps, but you may need to keep some spare batteries to hand.

This illuminated wardrobe tube comes in two sizes. The motion sensor detects movement and the light remains on for approximately 30 seconds.

Wardrobe light with integrated motion sensor and integrated ballast.

Wardrobe Lights will allow you to find the perfect items for your wardrobe

Lynda.

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

Fun and Fabulous!

Candy Queen Designs has a huge range of totally unique light switches. From dinosaurs to cupcakes and even mini's, these designs are guaranteed to make you smile!
A perfect present for the person who has almost everything!
For further information and to purchase online visit www.candyqueendesigns.co.uk

RW.

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

Friday, 28 March 2008

Inspirational Lighting

When it comes to lighting design, aesthetic lighting is normally superseded by the practical side of things. I tend to agree that practicality should always come first, and if the principles are correct, aesthetics can appear from that.
"Architecture is an art when one consciously or unconsciously creates aesthetic emotion in the atmosphere" - Luis Barragan.
However, once in a while it is important to look at lighting not from a practical point of view and not as a lighting designer, but to value lighting as an outsider and appreciate form and beauty as a separate entity. Here are a few designs to get you inspired!

Metalarte's light-hearted re-chargeable pool lights are great for kids and add a 'wow' factor to any pool. Perfect for any party they add a real touch of character and also provide a great ambient light.

Furniture that comes 'alight' with LED's... this teak garden furniture by Jonathan Stockton gives a contemporary yet classic look to any luxurious setting. The light can be set on one colour or allowed to blend in rotation creating beautiful beams of white or coloured light which gives a 'unique theatrical twist' to any space.

Highly commended at the Lighting Design Awards 2008, the PizzaKobra by Iguzzini is a truly inspirational design. Designer Ron Arad took on the task light and came up with something that resembles a hybrid of a pizza and a cobra, depending on its position, hence the name. The structure can take on many positions and its aim is to give it an aesthetic presence even when not in use. Not only is it a fore-runner in genius design, it is also energy efficient as it has 6 x 1w LED's as its lamp type.
Get inspired!

Tash Hamilton Dick

Friday, 14 March 2008

Lamp Vitality

Have you ever thought how important a desk lamp is in your life?
You may not have realised until now but trust me: it can change your life! (or at least the part of your life that you spend working, studying or reading, which, let's face it, is quote a lot...!)

Let me give you an example:
My parent's house is, in my opinion, 'over-lit'. My mother spends at least two hours each evening knitting or crocheting while she watches TV in the family room while my father reads in the meantime. They both like to use the computer either for gaming or the internet within "study-officially-known-as-guest-room" (as you can tell they are retired...:)). My cousin also currently lives with them while she goes to the university nearby and obviously she should be spending time studying (who knows if she really does it??). She is the official occupier of the Guest Room but I am not too sure who spends more time there: my parents or her.
Anyway, now that you have pictured my family, let me go back to my example. The other rooms of the house are fairly well lit whereas those rooms I have mentioned are the ones I consider most over-lit. For me they are so over-lit that I prefer to be in them with the lights off rather than having them on (they do not have dimmers). Each room only has one source of light (in the ceiling) which means that in order for them to be able to carry out all of their different activities with appropriate light levels, the output from this one light needs to be, and is, extremely high. This strong light diminishing any feeling of atmosphere or ambience in the room and regardless of which task is being carried out, there is only one option when it comes to lighting; on or off. As a lighting designer I do not advocate this, from neither a professional design nor environmentally friendly point of view!

On my last visit to them they asked me to reconsider the lighting. I proposed a scheme which they regarded as not bright enough and were scared of how they would manage with so much less light. The solution I presented was very simple: task lighting! After some convincing and a few "trust me, I'm a lighting designer" conversations, this was easily achievable with the use of desk and reading lamps.
So how did it change their lives?
- Now these rooms are much cosier as the light is more flexible and they can enjoy a relaxing moment with correct light levels!
- As desk and reading lamps can add to the design of a room, each space has been transformed with new points of interest.
- The individuality of task lighting means that reading in bed no longer disturbs a sleeping partner.
- They are saving a huge amount of electricity now!

All thanks to desk lights!

If you are still not so sure, cast your eye over this snazzy selection:

A design classic: designed in 1926 by Paul Henningsen the "PH 2/1" is an icon known by most designers. It provides soft lighting with the principle of reflection in this multi-shade system, producing glare-free even lighting. The shade design is based on a logarithmic spiral, with the light source placed in the spiral's centre, shading it from sight no matter from which angle it is viewed.

Traditional look with a contemporary touch: the "Deco" table lamp will give you great even spread of light for reading, whilst providing a modern take on a classic shape that will suit all manner of studies.

The flexible: "Tolomeo", other than a slender and great looking fitting that manages to fit with both traditional and contemporary interiors, is an inherently flexible lamp because of the simple mechanics within the arm that allow the light beam to be directed wherever it may be needed. The diffuser is fully rotational with an integral switch. The arm and the diffuser come in different dimensions, colours, finishes and shapes, giving you total flexibility of choice to blend seamlessly within your working space. The table base is ideal for desk areas, especially if a computer is being used as you can avoid glare by directing the light. As this product family also comprises floor standing, wall mounted and ceiling mounted options, you can use it in all manner of family rooms, bedrooms, studies and playrooms for hobbies on the sofa, computer work or bedtime reading. And don't ever dismiss the benefits of using task lighting in less obvious rooms such as Utility rooms. If you are still not convinced about its flexibility, have a look at the available colour range!

The portable: 2002 Design Plus light + building award winner, "Sui" is a rechargeable and portable desk lamp that works connected to mains or with a battery. The lamp's shape invites you to grasp it, both to adjust the direction of the light and to use the lamp as a torch. The base has an indicator of the battery life and can accommodate more than one battery for extended life.

The unique: What if instead of having your desk lamp positioned on your desk, you positioned it among your books? "Oskar" comes with a book-shaped base that fits easily between books on a shelf. Very flexibly, the light can be orientated towards the books (to read their titles) or towards your desk, right below your bookshelf!

Cast away your previous images of dull desk lighting and push the boundaries to find unusual task lighting that not only adds interest but changes your working atmosphere for the better.

Rafaela.

Friday, 7 March 2008

Light IQ go to the Awards...

Thursday night saw the 2008 Lighting Design Awards at the Hilton Hyde Park. Over 1,000 lighting design professionals all gathered together for this annual glitzy event to celebrate some of the best in the industry and to have a damn good time doing it!

The Hilton ballroom, in honour of the occasion, was packed full of lights from starry walls, projectors, chandeliers and led's on every table. The event allowed industry professionals to mingle and network as well as to unify the message and importance of lighting design, celebrating the hard work and developments in both the product and project sectors over the past 12 months.

Among the 15 categories, awards were given to Isometrix for the best Residential project, who also managed to scoop the honour of Best Lighting Designer of 2008. Megaman's smooth dimming compact fluorescent lamps were given a Highly Commended in the Innovative Light Sources category highlighting their influence in the industry and their good work driving forward the energy efficient message.

This event symbolises the fantastic growth experienced within the Lighting Sector in recent years, highlighting the topical light pollution and energy efficient drives and importance of maintaining professionalism within the industry. We can all be sure that the future looks bright for Lighting Design.

Good fun was had by all and we are proud to say that Light IQ did their damndest to keep the party going on the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning!

Watch this space for future Light IQ entries...

ALW.