Let Your Light Shine

It is said that lighting is the jewelry of the home. While this this isn't always meant literally, the rising trend toward incorporating crystal in lighting really adds truth to the phrase.

There are many ways to use crystal in your home. Traditional fixtures may feature crystals heavily enough to obscure any metal portions of the light, but it's certain not necessary to have such formal fixtures.

Quoizel's Bordeaux flush mount makes elegance possible with a low profile

Kichler's Emile pendant features two rows of prisms

Many new fixtures use crystal accents, but the main emphasis is on the elegant metalwork.

Minka's Laurel Estates Chandelier is just as beautiful before adding the crystals

This Shelsley pendant from Kichler has delicate crystal raindrops and is only 12" wide

Kichler's Piper family mixes glass and espresso-colored rods for a contemporary feel

If you're not ready to make the leap to crystal, you can look for fixtures with just "a touch of bling."

Feiss' Pave mini-chandelier is studded with tiny crystal chips

Whatever your personal decoarting style, there's probably a way to work in a little crystal!

Lighting As Art

This is an exciting time to look at new lighting. For a hundred years, fixtures have been limited by the size and shape of the standard light bulb. Bulbs are available in more sizes and shapes than ever before, creating opportunities for lighting designers to explore new possibilities!

One company taking advantage of these new light sources is Elan by Kichler. Most of their fixtures have built in LED, which has a very small profile resulting in some truly unique fixtures that could be considered modern art!

Krysalis mimics the lacy pattern of a dragonfly's wing

The Elan line covers a range of styles from minimalist to elegant.

Maze-- The panels pivot to form your own configuration!

Elan includes most of the major lighting types including chandeliers, pendants, wall sconces, vanities, and even outdoor lighting.

Summer is an excellent time to consider installing a new fan. A fan creates a breeze that can make the room feel up to 4 degrees cooler. During the warm months, you can keep energy costs down by using the fan instead of air conditioning. In the winter, reversing the direction the blades run can push warm air from the ceiling back down into the room.

What should you look for in a fan? You'll get the most air movement from a fan with greater blade pitch. The more the blade tilts, the more air it will move. We recommend a pitch of at least 12 degrees.

Consider the size of your room. Fans should have at least an 18" clearance between the ends of the blades and the nearest vertical surface for proper air movement. Generally, this is more of an issue in a hallway, but fans are available as small as 15-30" wide. On the other hand, if your room is huge, consider either a very wide fan or two average size fans. Average sized rooms are best with 52" or 60" fans, but you can get larger fans as wide as 96"!

Kichler Bellamy

Another crucial measurement is your ceiling height. Blades should always be mounted at least 7' above the floor for safety. If you have high ceilings, you can get longer downrods in increments from 12-72". A fan that starts 8-9' above the floor gives the best air movement as well as providing the most useful light, if you choose a fan with a light.

There's a fan design for everyone. You can find contemporary, traditional, ornate, clean-lined, and kids fans.

Monte Carlo  Great Lodge Fan

Come in and ask about our selection of fans! We're happy to help you find the style and features most suited to your home. From June 1 to August 31, all of our regular-priced fans are 25% off!

Bring the Indoors Outside!

One of the big trends for 2016 is bringing elements of the outdoors inside, but did you know you can bring your indoors outside? You do need to be sure that the lighting items you use are wet rated, but there are probably more options than you realized!

Kichler Halleron, cluster of three pendants

Typically, outdoor fixtures are wall lanterns, hanging lanterns, flush mounts, or post tops. With the incorporation of LED, there are an increasing number of contemporary fixtures available that are either slimmer or provide lighting without a visible bulb.

Kichler Magnolia

Kichler Estella

Quoizel Zephyr

If you enjoy grilling or sitting outdoors, consider an outdoor chandelier! You can find several types of chandeliers with varying styles and numbers of bulbs.

Hinkley Holden

Kichler Alameda

Kichler Ashland Bay

If you'd like to spend more time outdoors, but it's just too hot, try an outdoor fan. You'll find a variety of styles and sizes, from 15" wide to 60+" wide!

Kichler Harbor Walk

Kichler Terna

Kichler Szeplo

If you don't have an overhang, you can even use outdoor portable lamps. Some are available  for plug-in and some work with solar power.

Kenroy Hatteras

Kenroy Biscayne

Kenroy Weaver

Summer is near and now is an excellent time to plan out your outdoor space. Come in and let our lighting specialists help you with your project today!

Happy Earth Day!

This month we celebrate Earth Day on April 22. Earth Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1970 and has since spread to countries all over the world. The event is organized by earthday.org.

In honor of Earth Day, this month's blog post is dedicated to LED. By now, you've probably heard about how efficient and long-lasting LED is. You can buy fixtures with built-in LED, but it's also very easy to swap out bulbs in fixtures where you currently use incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.

 For lamps and chandeliers, there are several types of replacement bulbs available. They vary in design and color (from 2200K, very warm light, to 5000K, very cool light). As long as the socket type matches and the bulb fits in the fixture properly, LED can be substituted anywhere. (Note: some brighter bulbs, such as the 100W replacement, can be larger than the bulb they are replacing and may hang out of the fixture or press up against the glass.)
 

The selection of replacement bulbs is always expanding. You can get retrofit bulbs for recessed lights, fixtures that take small halogen bulbs, and even some fluorescent tubes.
   

For fixtures with exposed bulbs, you can even get filament LED bulbs that have a very similar look and weight to standard incandescent bulbs. These bulbs use 90% less energy and last an average of 23 years!
  

Several LED bulbs can also be dimmed. Stop in to our store and find out how we can help you upgrade to LED!

2016 Trend Watch

Two words can sum up the the trends we are seeing for 2016: tranquil and spa-like. Homes are increasingly becoming a refuge from the chaos and stress of the world.


Pantone's Color of The Year is, for the first time, actually two colors: Rose Quartz and Serenity. Below, you can see several suggested color pallettes incorporating both colors. (Click on the photo to visit the original page.)


Other trends for 2016 include geometric shapes, elements of nature, and mixing of textures.

Bathrooms frequently feature chandeliers, often crystal or art glass as seen here. Flush mount crystal fixtures are available for those with lower ceilings.

Spring is here! Now is the perfect time to revitalize your lighting and home decor!

Undercabinet Lighting!

Undercabinet lighting is essential for the feel and function or a modern kitchen. It can be used for task lighting, decorative accent, or even a light glow for navigating at night without turning on the main light.

Undercabinet lighting comes in several forms. Lighting can be hard-wired or a plug-in fixture. It can be incandescent, fluorescent, or LED.

Puck lights provide a dramatic splash of light. Spacing depends on the desired effect.

Tape light gives off a bright, even glow and can often be dimmed. It can also be used above cabinet or as a toe kick to create a striking look. Dimmed, it can function as a night light.

For the adventurous homeowner, you can even get RGB LED tape that allows you to choose your own color!

Come in and talk to our lighting specialists to learn more about the options for your home!