This was an exciting week at the house. All of the light fixtures (with the exception of two little sconces for the powder bath) were delivered and it was time for install.
Lighting design is so important when setting the tone for one’s home. Way to often lighting design misses the fact that how we light our homes both inside and out says a lot about who we are and what is important to us.
My dear friend Cynthia Cross discusses how every room is a layered composition. This layering includes the light coming thru the windows (be aware of your window tint), the paint, the furniture and the materials used in the space.
There are three basic ways to light your home. The first is Ambient Lighting. This type of light provides general, all-purpose light. These would be our many cans we have installed. (The first layer)
The second type of lighting is Task Lighting. Task Lighting is used to provide light for certain tasks, like reading a recipe in the kitchen. These lights are not used to light an entire room, but to illuminate a small area. Examples would include under counter lighting.
The third type of lighting is Accent Lighting. This is the fun part of the project and where the layering begins. Accent lighting is the most decorative lighting in a room. These lights can create focal points in your home and include your chandeliers, sconces and lamps.
In our plan we began with the light coming thru the glorious windows and the Ambient Lighting in the contractor’s plan. We then built on that plan working thru each room defining the space, the lighting required and considering the Urban Upscale Farmhouse style we were creating.
The Great Space will be an area where we entertain and relax. It also acts as our entryway where we welcome friends and family into our home. We selected a substantial chandelier that will be installed in the living space. We also added art lights at each end of the room to highlight future art pieces on the board and batten accent walls. We will install dimmers to control the brightness and set the mood for the space.
Looking back into the kitchen and dining area we have selected pendant lighting and another chandelier to hang over the dining table.
Going into our master we felt we needed warm lighting. Our master bedroom and bath both have chandeliers that work together well. In the photo below you will see that we have the holes cut for the vanity lighting but they have not yet been installed. These lights are going to be placed directly on the plate glass mirror that will be over our vanity.
We have also added a number of ceiling fans in the plan as well. In our guest room (Andy’s Media Room) we have opted for a fan and will use table lamps to add dimension to the space.
We’ve also added fans to our back and side patio to give us that farmhouse feel.
Each room may have a different lighting scheme but ultimately when pulled together it sets the stylistic tone for the entire home. One we hope you find warm and inviting.
Need help in designing your plan and selecting your lighting…send me an email at loriweberathome@gmail.com and let’s set up a time to discuss your project.
Until next week…
Lori Weber Home Design 