Andriy Holubets
Lighting
Different zones. Dining and Living room spaces with decorative wall section.
by Mary Beth Schwartz
During those dark winter months we look to the lighting in our homes for uplifting spirits. According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), there are three basic types of lighting that work together in the home. The first is ambient or general lighting. This level of lighting offers a comfortable amount of brightness without glare. Homeowners can achieve ambient lighting from chandeliers, wall-mounted or ceiling fixtures, or outdoor lanterns. The second type is task lighting. You might use pendants, lamps, and under cabinet, track, or recessed lighting. This lighting should restrict shadows, glare, and eye strain while you are doing everyday tasks such as reading, preparing cuisine, or grooming. Accent lighting is the third type of lighting. According to the ALA, it is used to draw the eye to houseplants, paintings, sculptures, and other prized possessions. It also can be used to highlight the texture of a brick or stone wall, window treatments, or outdoor landscaping.
When it comes to lighting design, many homeowners like to be up on the latest trends. The ALA has teamed up with Better Homes & Gardens to offer these families their trend watches for the year in Lighting 2017 magazine. Here are some of their design chart toppers.
Screens
Lighting fixtures are increasingly including patterns of dots for visual appeal. These dots can be colored, bent, even cut out.
Cool Colors
This lighting has hues bright and bold in the green and blue families.
Sputnik
These lighting fixtures are both modern and retro. Their design makes one think of the sun.
Crystals
Crystals remain an element of lighting fixtures. Today’s designs might mix sizes and materials to add more contrast.
Barn Aesthetic
Materials and form from our farming past make an appearance in these contemporary yet rustic lighting fixtures.
Criss-Crossed Geometry
According to Lighting 2017, shapes tumble, stack, and bisect, creating new to lighting shapes and forms that focus on dynamic movement as well as sculptural silhouettes on ceilings, tables, and floors. With some research in your pocket, it is time for the real fun to begin. You are ready to go shopping at some of the area’s lighting showrooms.
Denney Electric Supply
Owners Steve and Brenda Thornton have been in business for 79 years. With eight locations, Ambler being their headquarters, Denney Electric Supply has clients in all of Bucks and Montgomery counties, Philadelphia, and the surrounding region. The company specializes in decorative lighting, home decor, and electrical supplies. “We offer hanging fixtures, landscape lighting, portable fixtures such as lamps, specialty lighting, whole house controls/automation products, LED products, and every kind of bulb you could imagine,” said Marketing Coordinator Jill Weiskopf Noga.
Customers have access to nearly all major lighting manufacturers, namely Hinkley, Progress, Kichler, and Quoizel. Their staff can assist in locating hard-to-find items. “We also can consult lighting design/layout, as well as styles and trends. In addition, we offer support in vendor price negotiation and can recommend area contractors.”
According to Weiskopf Noga, the lighting industry always is evolving. “LED has dramatically changed the industry. There are tons of new LED products with warmer color options. Plus, we are seeing a variety of new finishes coming out from all manufacturers—wood, rope, beads, matte metals. More ceiling fan choices are available now than ever before. For the outdoors, manufacturers are offering more wet- and damp-rated fixtures to illuminate spaces. If you have a large space to fill, there are oversized chandeliers for homeowners who want to add drama and visual interest. Even gold is back in a big way. The new modern looks are far from the shiny brass lamps that adorn more traditional homes.”
Denney Electric Supply is headquartered at 61 East Butler Avenue in Ambler. Their phone number is 215-628-8880. You can visit them online at www.denneyelectricsupply.com for further inspiration.
Kody Lighting
For 68 years, Kody Lighting has specialized in residential and commercial specification for consumers and the trades. According to General Manager Brian Kody, they have been known since their existence to stock over 5,000 lamp shades where clients bring in their lamps to be professionally fitted. They also offer a full repair and restoration department.
Covering Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Lancaster counties in PA, as well as nationwide, Kody Lighting has designer lighting brands for any price point. Some of their major manufacturers include Arteriors, Tech Lighting, PureEdge, and Hinkley. You’ll also find LED recess lighting, LED landscape lighting, even LED linear lighting for coves, under/in cabinet, and custom closets. One of the latest trends that they offer is color tuning. This is the idea that you change the color of LED lighting for the impact on one’s health and well-being.
Kody Lighting is located on the Main Line at 530 West Lancaster Avenue in Wayne. Their phone number is 610-687-4201. For more information, visit them on the web at www.kodylighting.com.
Bergey’s Electric, Inc.
In business for 80 years, Bergey’s Electric, Inc. specializes in LED lighting inside and out, appliances & parts, and electrical needs. With residential and commercial clients in Bucks and Montgomery counties, the full-service electrical contracting and HVAC company has its own appliance and lighting showroom. Customers can shop online at www.bergeyslightingshowroom.com or in the store. Bergey’s Electric, Inc. is a diamond dealer of Hinkley lighting products.
Dave Nyce, Lighting Specialist for Bergey’s Electric, Inc., is ready to help customers with indoor and outdoor lighting design. “Today’s fixtures are not only beautiful, sometimes compared to art, but they run more efficiently than ever before. Your creativity can be endless, and we can help.”
According to Nyce, some of the new lighting terminology can be confusing. He likes to keep his clients educated. Here are a few of those terms.
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
This is the ability of the light source to reveal colors of objects in contrast to natural light. “If it is high, 89 to 90, your skin tone will look great. If too low, you will look half dead,” Nyce noted.
Driver
“This is what is driving the LED chips to light and stay lit.”
Integrated Light Sources
“There are two options for LED fixtures, lamps (bulbs) or integrated. Integrated fixtures are a wave of our future where the light is built right into the fixture. The biggest difference is how the light is dispersed. Integrated illuminates the entire fixture, while the lamp option only does a portion of it.
Kelvin
“This is the color of the light source. The trend is white and bright and dimmable for control. 3000K is that color and has become the standard for residential fixtures. 2700K is equal to the old incandescent lamps or bulbs (yellowish) that we are used to seeing in the past. 4000K is bluer.”
Lumen Output
“How bright is this fixture? You will see 650, 800, 1,000 lumens. These numbers are comparable to bulbs that we used to know as 60, 75, 100, etc. Watts.”
You can visit Dave Nyce at Bergey’s Electric, Inc. The company is headquartered at 2880 Penn Street in Hatfield. Their phone number is 215-723-5518. For more information, visit their website at www.bergeyselectric.com.
(bio)
Mary Beth Schwartz is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to regional publications.