HOME & DESIGN theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 34 Fair Street Interiors fairstreetinteriors.squarespace.com fairstreetinteriors@gmail.com 908-334-1953 Gail Bicknell, ASID, CAPS recently had a client tell me he found himself standing in the light bulb aisle at a local warehouse store, completely baffled, unable to decide what to buy to replace the three spent bulbs in his hand. Lighting is typically a topic full of questions in design. How much is enough? What’s too bright or too dim? Is it adequate for the task? Is it efficient? Does it create the right mood? The incandescent light bulb was first invented in England in 1806 using two charcoal rods and a battery. The light produced when the rods were heated was blindingly bright and tended to dim and sputter; not practical or reliable. Thomas Edison found a far better solution (initially lasting 14.5 hours) in 1879, which was the forerunner of the vacuum-sealed incandescent bulb that was in use throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries. These bulbs consisted of two filaments heated by electricity until they glowed, encased in a clear glass globe that was filled with stable gas to prevent fire, providing more than 1200 hours of light. They were inexpensive to manufacture and widely distributed, but highly inefficient in electrical usage. Fluorescent bulbs became widely used in commercial applications from 1930 to about 1970. Produced in long tubes, they were substantially more cost-effective, but the light they emitted had a high color value (6500K to 7000K), blue-toned and harsh. By 2023, incandescent bulbs were banned in the US, in favor of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) bulbs, which allow an electrical current to pass through a semiconductor microchip and release photons to produce energy/ light. This technology generates very little heat, is safer to use and can be adapted to produce a variety of color temperatures from soft white (2700K to 3000K) for bedrooms and living rooms to daylight (5000K) for kitchens, bathrooms and workspaces. Now to the dilemma my client had purchasing replacement bulbs. Watts measure power consumed. Lumens measure brightness emitted. The key is understanding “equivalent voltage.” An “old style” 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to an 8–10-watt LED bulb, both providing about 800 lumens of brightness; however, the LED consumes 85% less electricity and typically lasts 25 times longer. You can see why LEDs are a far better option! When it comes to home lighting, layering is the key. There are three types: general, overall lighting is known as ambient; think of the central fixture in a room or recessed lights in a kitchen. I recommend these be put on dimmers, so the brightness can be easily controlled. Second is task lighting, which, just as it sounds, directs concentrated light on the task being performed. A lighted makeup mirror or under-cabinet lights in a kitchen are examples. Lastly is accent lighting provides mood, drama and directs the eye to focal points. Decorative table and floor lamps provide accent lighting, as do art lights and candles. To add design interest to a room, and for practicality and function, you’ll likely want a combination of the three. In a bedroom, you may have several recessed lights in the ceiling (ambient), as well as lamps on bedside tables to provide light to read (task), along with softer, restful light (accent). Your designer can help you find the right combination and style of lighting to enhance your space, leaving you to just enjoy it! Gail Bicknell, Owner/ Designer Fair Street Interiors www.fairstreetinteriors.squarespace.com HINTS HOME FOR THE A Lesson in Lighting By Gail Bicknell, ASID, CAPS I Candace Olson John Cullen Lighting casa de luce
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