I just got back from an extended stay in Sun Valley. We visited two of my favorite people in the whole world who have bought a big, gorgeous, comfortable house there. Now the husband is a guy who is beyond generous, but he doesn’t like to spend more than fifty cents for anything if he can help it; so I was surprised that he had every light in the place blazing. I have little bit of a Blanche Dubois thing going so I kept trying to turn off lights. It annoyed him no end, which made it even more fun to keep switching off lights.
I agree with designer Miles Redd in Elle Décor, March 2012, that “too much overhead lighting takes away the romance.” But then again that evening in Sun Valley did not revolve around romance, but just old friends laughing, eating, and drinking.
I agree with designer Miles Redd in Elle Décor, March 2012, that “too much overhead lighting takes away the romance.” But then again that evening in Sun Valley did not revolve around romance, but just old friends laughing, eating, and drinking.
I also agree with Andee Hess, Portland designer, who tells us that lighting has” the power to completely transform a space, control how it is experienced and what the focal points are.” (About Face winter 2012)
So here are some basics to approach a lighting design:
1. You want different layers of light.
a. First is ambient light - light that extends to the whole room. It makes you able to navigate, but if it fills up the whole room, it looks like you’re ready for surgery. A little goes a long way. Think dimmer switches!
b. Next is task lighting. It is just what it says it is i.e. light to read by, sew by, etc. usually provided by light fixtures.
c. Last is accent lighting to do things like light up art, a table, a fireplace etc.
2. You don’t want pools of light in a dark space – unless you want a spooky, scary room.
3. Make sure corners are lit as well.
4. Be careful of overhead light. If you use only overhead lighting in a bathroom, you will look like you had a rough night. Add side lighting or sconces or hanging sidelights to avoid this.
5. A chandelier or pendant over the dining table gives everyone a sense of gathering around something, almost like a fireplace does (or a TV, sorry to say). Hang that fixture anywhere from 27 inches to 37 inches above the table to maintain that sense of gathering.
Here’s to a little romance in your life.
Jan for Meredith Branch Design 2-12-2012
