Lighting Designer
Information for and about residential lighting designers.
Recessed Lighting in Concrete Ceilings
Q: I'm dealing with a concrete ceiling in a condominium. If I use LED recessed lighting, do I still have to drop a 6-inch soffit? Someone told me that LED cans take up less space than traditional…
Tips for Stairwell Lighting
What's the Best Way to Configure Stairwell Lighting?
Q: Randall, I still see electricians and architects placing recessed cans in the middle of stairways. It is very difficult for homeowners to…
How to Deal With an Off-Center Junction Box
Q: I can’t find lighting for over my oval dining table. The junction box is 16 inches off the side of the table and can’t be moved because the ceiling is concrete.
A: Yes, you do have a bit of the…
Accent Lighting Around a Fireplace
Q: I have a fireplace that is about 72 inches wide on a wall that is 16 feet tall on one end and 14 feet tall on the other end. What would you suggest for accent lighting of the fireplace? The room…
Positioning Lighting Around a Bathroom Mirror
Q: You say how high to hang bathroom vanity fixtures, but I need to know how far away from the mirror they should be.
A: You have some flexibility with the distance off the mirror. It is the…
Proper Spacing of LED Recessed Lights
Q: When using 4-inch LED recessed lights, what spacing between fixtures would you recommend with an 8-foot ceiling height?
A: What is the room that you are lighting being used for? How is the…
What's the Best Way to Light a Media Room?
These days, it seems everybody’s got a high-def, flat-screen TV, a PlayStation, an Xbox and a pile of games — and a media room to enjoy them in.
Lighting is especially important, and tricky, in…
Light Output and 130V Bulbs
Q: I have tried to use 130V bulbs as an energy-saving technique, but found that the light output was different when I compared a 60W 130V bulb and a 60W 120V bulb. The 130V 60W looks more like a 120V…
Color Temperature vs. Color Rendering Index
Q: Just as I understand the concept of color temperature (Kelvin), now CRI is being bandied about as LEDs come into the market. What is it exactly?
A: I am right there with you. From the beginning…
Best Color Temperature for Ambient Lighting
Q: How important is color temperature in ambient lighting? Should this be a concern if you are using fluorescents or LEDs for your ambient lighting?
A: Frankly, I think color temperature is…