Chesapeake Home

The fundamental importance of light in the home can only be surpassed by the biological effect that it has on the human spirit. Experts agree that the amount and placement of light is critical to the planning of any residential space. Additionally, the way a room makes you feel is also directly related to the way the room is illuminated.

Brett Schoolnick suggests cupolas and planning a good balance between natural and artificial light.

BRETT SCHOOLNICK, President of Baywood Design/Build Group, Inc.

Brett Schoolnick, president of Baywood Design/Build Group Inc. in Columbia, Maryland says, “Light is the most important element in design because it plays such a major factor in the perception of space. You could have the same square footage that isn’t light infused, and it would appear much smaller and gloomier than it needs to be.”

According to Schoolnick some of the most common ways of bringing light into the home include stacked skylights, cupolas on the roof, glass walls, and integrated dynamic rooflines. From an architectural viewpoint, Schoolnick says that to bring the most natural light into newly constructed homes, the front door should face north and the rear of the house south. But he also says that bringing artificial light into the home is just as important as getting the full spectrum of natural light. “Even artificial lighting is important to stimulate the serotonin in your body. It keeps you active and creates a natural rhythm in your life,” says Schoolnick.

Architectural Tips:

• Stack Skylights
• Design with Cupolas
• Intergrate Dynamic Rooflines
• Consider North Facing Entryways
• Use Artificial Effectively

Properly layering your light sources is essential in planning home interiors. Photo by Michael Dersin

CAROL CRAMPTON, Crampton Lighting Design

Carol Crampton of Crampton Lighting Design in Towson, Maryland has been a lighting specialist for over 30 years and says “there are basically three different levels of lighting.” Crampton continues, “Poor lighting is usually very easy to identify. Acceptable lighting accomplishes the technical aspects of lighting rules. But good lighting is what excites the soul.”

Here are Crampton’s top three tips for bringing light into the home:

1. Layering is essential. It is important that you not expect one light source to do the job of what should be multiple light sources. A simple checklist can assist you in evaluating a room’s lighting potential.

• Accent lighting
• Decorative lighting
• Ambient lighting
• Indirect lighting
• Portable lighting

2. Use high quality light bulbs (lamps). Low quality lamps can have the following drawbacks:

• Lamps can shift in color as they age.
• Light output does not necessarily relate to wattage.
• Filaments can be noisy.
• Reduced lamp life (They don’t last as long.)

3. Consult an expert to help you make an educated decision about light bulbs and lighting controls.

• Avoid compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in fixtures that were not designed to use them. It’s like putting cheap tires on a race car; you lose all the performance.
• Invest in dimmers and halogen bulbs. The lumen output (brightness) of halogen bulbs allows for decreased wattage, therefore by dimming a halogen bulb 30 percent you achieve the same energy use and lamp life as a CFL while maintaining the ambiance of the room.
• Don’t be afraid to use color. LED technology offers an infinite range of color choices.

BOB JONES, Jones Lighting

Lighting design specialist, Bob Jones, owner of Jones Lighting in Towson, Maryland, has over 40 years of experience. Jones says one of his biggest challenges is fixing bad recessed lighting. “Most people think that recessed lighting is the solution to the majority of lighting dilemmas,” Jones says. “This type of lighting can appear harsh and glaring when overused and poorly placed, which occurs more often than not. Lighting should come from various sources throughout a room, not only from recessed lighting.”

Jones says a good lighting job is like a good makeup job. “You need definition like lipstick and eyeliner to define certain things, but you need blush and foundation to blend it all in. Good lighting finds a balance between direct and indirect light in each room.”

• A ceiling that is light in color can be a useful tool in reflecting light from sconces and up lights. This type of lighting is called indirect.
• Vertical surfaces should be analyzed to determine whether adjustable recessed lights are needed to highlight artwork, photographs, architectural details, etc.
• Task areas such as table surfaces, countertops, and desks need to be well lit with direct lighting from sources such as recessed down lights, chandeliers, pendants, and/or lamps.
• The recent trend to use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, which until recently had a very limited variety of aesthetically pleasing characteristics, has left many lighting experts and professionals looking for alternative ways to save energy while bringing light into the home. Jones suggests “low voltage lighting which allows you to aim, adjust and focus light while achieving a beautiful aesthetic.”

Paint walls and ceilings in brighter, lighter tones to help reflect light. If you like darker tones for formal spaces like the dining room, use it on an accent wall and in furnishings.

DEBBIE WIENER, Designing Solutions

Interior designer Debbie Wiener of Designing Solutions in Silver Spring, Maryland, is also not a big proponent of CFL lights for aesthetic reasons. “LED lights are on the market, and we can get them for recessed light fixtures.” The downside is that they are more expensive to purchase, but the cost of LED lamps is decreasing every day. A few years ago an LED lamp designed for recessed fixtures may have cost $160 per lamp. Today, a similar lamp that uses 2 watts of electricity and lasts for 15,000 hours typically costs between $10 and $30.

Here are some of Wiener’s important design tips for bringing light into your home:

• Consider sheer window treatments and bottom up shades.
• Use brighter, lighter paint colors that reflect light in your home.
• Arrange furniture to take advantage of natural light from windows.
• Light affects mood, so use appropriate lighting in spaces like home offices and playrooms.

“Light and mood are interconnected, so you want to light rooms so they are functional and promote good feelings,” says Wiener. “Light purifies and that’s why it is important. It makes us feel healthy and alive, and it influences our lives even when we don’t recognize it.”

Jennifer K. Dansicker is Special Projects Editor for ChespeakeHome.

Contacts:
Baywood Design/Build Group Inc: baywooddesignbuild.com or 410-995-6363
Crampton Lighting Design, Inc.: cramptonlightingdesign.com or 410-494-4477
Designing Solutions: mydesigningsolutions.com or 888-444-5593
Jones Lighting: joneslighting.com or 410-828-1010