Lights and shadows, old and new
Chris Harrison, director of J.G Harrison & Sons Ltd. discusses some of the options available to self-builders when specifying lighting
experience a heady combination of excitement and dread. On the face of it, the options are endless with such a blank canvas, but this can be quite daunting. The best chance to get light- ing right needs to be before any decoration is undertaken so it has to be right first time. Extreme schemes can have an amazingly
W
striking visual impact, but beyond the initial wow factor, they can prove hard to live with on a day-to-day basis and can also be off-putting for future purchasers. The polar opposite preferences for ultra-
modern schemes to extenuate minimalism and more faux traditional and classic installations designed to bring greater character and a feel- ing of heritage to new builds endures. But increasingly, domestic developers are opting for an eclectic blending, a deliberate juxtaposition even, of cutting-edge and traditional lighting schemes which can create or enhance practical modern minimalism in task areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, while contributing greatly to the creation of softer, relaxing, even romantic ambiances in dining areas, family rooms, lounge areas and especially bedrooms. A vintage or a reclaimed look contrasting
strongly with its surroundings in a brand new building, can look amazing but certainly, so does uber cool, futuristic lighting. Decisions of this nature are of course purely subjective - there is no clear cut right and wrong. But when a light- ing plan comes together living in that space can be a joy and when it doesn’t, it can be quite a jarring experience. Getting the balance right when mixing the old
with the new can work fantastically. Vital to suc- cess is planning well ahead to create the perfect level of light throughout the property with the best possible positioning to create highly flexi- ble, layers of lighting for shadow free task areas, and definition and drama for mood and feature areas.
Low energy future
No matter what style of lighting scheme being opted for, energy consumption must be a signifi- cant consideration for all developers all new builds these days, not just to save money but actually to meet regulatory stipulations. The
hen embarking on a comprehensive lighting design for a cutting-edge new build, budding developers can
ways in which ‘low energy layers’ can be achieved have thankfully increased so significantly over the last couple of years with the sudden evolution and aesthetic versatility of cost-saving low energy LED lighting. Early energy saving bulbs were quite visually offen- sive and therefore were hugely restrictive with most users having to find ways to hide them from view. But now there are numerous shapes and styles of LEDS available which are attractive to look at, come in warm or cool tones and very importantly are very successfully dimmable
Hot and cold
Developers tend to opt for cool white LEDS when they want to achieve a contemporary look in a task area as they compliment high-gloss kitchens. This is especially good with the current trend for grey kitchens, lifting battleship grey to a cool, soft and chic grey. They work fantasti- cally behind splash backs and under units and in central pendants over islands. Warm whites are often chosen by developers
looking to soften the stark lines and the look of Continued overleaf...
selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk 53
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68