Tag: design

Hallway Lighting 101

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Mar 8, 2022 , , , , , , ,

Lighting the hallway is often overlooked in the initial lighting budget. This is an area where people often just stick whatever is cheapest up and leave it at that. But hallways are one of the most functional, and most occupied places in our homes. Your hallway light is likely to get turned on every single day. (Especially in the winter!) So why not dazzle up this often overlooked area of the home. Use our hallway lighting tips to make sure you are getting the most out of it!

Tip 1 – On the Ceiling or On the Wall?

Depending on the age and style of your home, you may have a ceiling light or wall light in your hallways, or sometimes both! If you are doing a new build you may have more flexibility to choose the style you prefer. Generally most people like to keep their hallways clear of obstacles as the hallway is a place for lots of movement. 

Ceiling lights are best for those with a narrow hallway. This helps keep the flow of traffic moving through the hallway without interruption. On the ceiling you can use pendants or chandeliers for those with high ceilings, or flush mounts or semi flush mounts for those with a lower ceiling. There was a time when flush mounts and semi-flush mounts were considered boring in lighting, but those days are over! There are so many new and interesting configurations of this type of lighting!

Wall sconces are best for those with a wider hallway. Most wall sconces will protrude about 5-9” off of the wall, so it is best to use these fixtures higher up on your wall. Wall sconces are a great choice if you have artwork or mirrors in your hallway. These fixtures will serve two purposes – firstly to light your hallway, and secondly to draw the eye to your artwork/mirrors. 

Tip 2 – Placement

The length of your hallway will help you to determine how many fixtures you need to keep things bright and safe. A good rule of thumb is to place your ceiling light or wall sconce fixtures every 8’ through the hallway. If you are using a fixture that requires a lower wattage, you may want to use fixtures more frequently through the space. 

Tip 3 – Style

Your hallway light is likely to get turned on every single day. (Especially in the winter!) So why not dazzle up this often overlooked area of the home. Find something that speaks to you and compliments your home. Take a look from different angles down your hallway and ensure that your sightlines will compliment one another. 

Hallway Inspiration:

Sonna Flush Mount in Heritage Brass
Arlington Flush Mount in Heritage Brass
Beau Wall Sconce in Polished Nickel

If you are looking to update your home’s lighting please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!

Unexpected Places for Chandeliers

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Nov 18, 2021 , , , , , , , , , , ,

There is nothing as timeless as a gorgeous chandelier hanging in a two-story foyer or over the dining room table. But that’s not the only place where chandeliers belong. Chandeliers can add a bit of glam to any space. Take a peek at three of our favourite places to hang a little extra sparkle nowadays:

1) Over the Bathtub

Bathrooms can be such an incredibly busy place in your home. Not only are they where you take care of business, but its also the place where you prepare for your day and wind down for a relaxing night.

Why not add a little glam to your retreat space with a chandelier over the tub. To give yourself the full spa experience make sure you add a dimmer switch so you can set the mood for your nightly soak! 

Neutra Chandelier in Matte Black & Polished Nickel / Arrington Chandelier in Rubbed Bronze

2) In Your Home Office

Experts estimate that we will spend one third of our life working. If you are working from home, why not make your work space just as enjoyable and fun to be in as the rest of your home.

With more and more people working from home nowadays it’s no surprise that we have seen many clients wanting to refresh and jazz-up their work spaces. Try adding a chandelier as your overhead light or over your reading nook. 

Datus Chandelier in Polished Nickel / Auge Chandelier in Chrome

3) The Bedroom

Adding a chandelier to your bedroom may be the perfect way to step up your bedroom design. Bedrooms are the place where doors close when company comes over. The lights in your bedrooms do not need to match or compliment any other lights in the house. If you love that crazy over the top chandelier but it would look out of place hanging over your dining room table, then have a little fun in your bedroom! After all, it’s the space in the house that should be 100% you!

Dealey Chandelier in Matte Black / Alito Chandelier in Polished Nickel

If you are looking to update your home’s lighting please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!

Using Wall Sconces

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Oct 29, 2021 , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Over the past year there has certainly been a push towards a more natural and ambient style of lighting while keeping the design aesthetic minimalist. Key to mastering this style of lighting is incorporating layers of lighting. One way designers are maximizing the layered lighting effect and keeping the look minimalistic is by incorporating wall sconces into the design. 

Wall sconces are desirable because they don’t take up floor space or table space like a floor or table lamp, but still allow a focal point and layered light effect. This allows you to highlight a particular feature of your room like a painting or photograph, or to allow focused task lighting like a reading light by the bed without taking up space on the ever-full bedside table. 

There are lots of different ways to incorporate wall sconces into your lighting design.

1) In the Bedroom

Adding wall sconces in the bedroom is the perfect way to add a little night time ambiance into your bedtime routine. By using wall sconces rather than overhead light, you can begin to adjust your lighting levels to help you get ready for sleep. You can even take it to the next level and put your wall sconces on a dimmer switch!

Using a wall sconce as your bedside lighting source, rather than a table light, helps to save precious table space on your already crowded bedside table. Between that stack of books you’ve been meaning to read, your glasses and your nighttime glass of water – there is a lot going on for that piece of real estate. 

2) In Your Living Room

Wall sconces in your living room can help to provide focus on a prized piece of decor, anchor your fireplace or just provide a little extra light by your favourite reading nook.

Living rooms are another great spot to add a dimmer switch to your wall sconces. This will help you to adjust your lighting levels to better set the mood for whatever activity is happening in the living room. From a bright game day, to dimming the lights for movie night! 

3) In the Entry

Wall sconces in your front entry are the perfect way to greet guests! These lights help keep pathways clear for the busy entrance and exit of your home. They are also the perfect light to leave on when you know you will be coming home late to a dark house. 

If you are interested in including wall sconces into your lighting design, please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!

Kitchen Island Lighting Inspiration – Contemporary Look

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Oct 14, 2021 , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Calling all foodies and kitchen-lovers! Today we take a deep dive into some of our favourite contemporary kitchen lighting ideas for your island. 

1. Joliet Pendant

From the Joliet Collection comes an intriguing, ultra-modern one-light pendant offering a superb accent for kitchens, hallways, and main living areas. This pendant delivers a reverse-goblet design with a chic clear glass shade and gorgeous chrome finish steel holder, down rod, and canopy. Infuse custom contemporary charm with a delicate flavor.

Also available in brushed nickel, matte black and olde brass. As well as many different style configurations (sconce, chandeliers, flush mounts, etc). 

2. Nimbus Pendant 

Encourage a sense of serenity with this crisp orb pendant, boasting mount blown glass. Beautiful over a dining table or entry, the pendant shows off a lovely silhouette with a snow flurry finish.

Also available with different shade finishes like silver, gold and mirror. 

3. Eaton Pendant 

A customized kitchen or living space deserves fashionable lighting fixtures, and this one-light pendant from the Eaton collection delivers. This sleek, simple light offers a minimalist design with a cone-shaped shade, down rod, and canopy mount crafted of iron with a shiny polished nickel finish. Mount this light straight-up or on a sloped ceiling.

Also available in brushed nickel, bronze plate, matte black and rubbed brass. As well as different sizes; 12-inch (pictured), 18-inch and 24-inch.

If you are looking to update your home’s lighting please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!

Lighting Your Primary Bedroom

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Sep 16, 2021 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oftentimes bedroom lighting is overlooked. But what people don’t realize is that these are the perfect rooms to play with your lighting design. Bedrooms are the one area of the house where you want the ability for the room to be completely dark, completely bright, and somewhere in between all within the same 24 hours. Luckily for you, we can help you make that happen!

When shopping for your primary bedroom lighting consider these three tips:

1) Think About the Purpose of Each Area of the Room

Take a look through your bedroom and take note of the different tasks you want to accomplish. For example, do you have a vanity area in your bedroom for applying make-up, or do you like to read in bed? These are areas where you may want to add layered lighting options.  Maybe a desk light is needed on the vanity. Or some bedside scones or hanging pendants would be neat for bedtime reading! Or even the perfect floor lamp to complete your cozy reading nook and armchair. Remember – All of your light does not need to come from one source.

2) Consider Climate Control

Ceiling fans are a popular choice for bedroom lighting. The great benefit of having a ceiling fan is the air movement. The amount of air flow is determined by the pitch of the blades. Most residential ceiling fans will be pitched between 12-16 degrees. There are also fans with higher pitches like 22 degrees for even more air movement. The greater degree of pitch will result in more air flow. 

3) Have Fun!

Bedrooms are the place where doors close when company comes over. The lights in your bedrooms do not need to match or compliment any other lights in the house. If you love that crazy over the top chandelier but it would look out of place hanging over your dining room table, then have a little fun in your bedroom! 

4) Don’t Forget The Accessories!

Don’t forget the finishing touches like dimmer switches and remote controls. Creating a little ambiance in the bedroom is always a good idea. And a remote control means you don’t have to get out of bed to turn off the light!

If you are looking to update your master bedroom lighting please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!

A Little Inspiration:

Item: Soriano Wall Sconce
Item: Nimbus Pendant
Item: Cavallo Pendant
Item: Sonna Flush Mount
Item: Neutra Wall Sconce

3 Must-Know Lighting Tips

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Aug 30, 2021 , , , , , , , , , , ,


Lighting design is often one of those design elements that feels overwhelming. Let us help take some stress off with some of the most important lighting tips and tricks to embrace…

1 – Mix & Match Across Finishes

Gone are the days where your lighting fixtures need to match perfectly to the hardware of your kitchen cabinet hardware or bathroom taps. Nowadays mixing finishes is all the rage. Be bold and experiment with complimentary finishes in the kitchen and bathroom. If you have chrome taps, try out a vanity light finished in matte black for a bold statement. 

2 – Layers, Layers, and More Layers

Finding the perfect combination of lighting for your home can be tricky, but let us help you with breaking down the most important tip for lighting your home – layering your light sources!

Within each room of your home there are many different types of tasks that need to be accomplished. For example, think of all the things you do in your home office – working on the computer, reading, talking on the phone, video calls, holding meetings, etc. Each of these tasks would benefit from a different style of lighting which all layer together to create the perfect home office! 

When layering your lighting it is important to consider three types of light:natural light (windows), overhead lighting (flush mount, chandeliers, pendants, etc) and task lighting (under cabinet lighting, floor lamps, table lamps, etc). Combining these three types of lighting will illuminate your home to perfection! 

3 – Style

And finally, it all comes back to style! Your personal style as well as the character of your home should inform your design choices across your home. Take some time and think about the feeling you want to create in each room. Do you want your front foyer to be welcoming, to dazzle, to relax, or maybe to excite! Do you want your living room to feel cozy or to have an air of sophistication? The options are endless!

If you are looking to update your home’s lighting please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!

Making a Grand Entrance

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Jul 29, 2021 , , , , , , , , , , ,

Like it or not, first impressions matter. When guests visit your home there are a few key spots to put a little extra love and attention on. Your foyer is one of those places! Lighting for a foyer can be tricky to get right. There are a lot of different perspectives to consider. So let us help you with a few of those considerations.

1 – Scale and Sizing

Depending on the build of your home, you may have a one storey or two storey foyer. The amount of space you have will ultimately determine what type of light you may be looking for. People with two-storey foyers are often able to use larger chandeliers or pendant fixtures to fill their space. While people with one-storey foyers will need to focus on a flush or semi flush mount fixture. In either case you want to make sure that you keep approximately a 7 foot clearance between the floor and the bottom of your light. This will certainly make your life easier when moving furniture in or out of the house, hockey sticks are flying about or super tall Uncle Dawn comes to visit! 

2- Position of The Light Box and The Door

Another measurement to keep in mind is the distance between the light box and any doors in the space. Be mindful of the width or diameter of your light and ensure that you will be able to open and close any nearby doors without any interference.

3 – Sight Lines

When looking for your foyer lighting be aware that this is a high traffic area and an intersection point in the house. Take a look from the front door, down the hallway, dining room, etc and check to see what you can see within those different sight lines. You may want to choose a light for your foyer that compliments or contrasts the other elements within the space. 

4 – Style

And finally, it all comes back to style! Your personal style as well as the character of your home should inform your design choice in this space. Take some time and think about the feeling you want to create when opening your home to guests. Do you want your front foyer to be welcoming, to dazzle, to relax, or maybe to excite! The options are endless! 

If you are looking to update your foyer lighting please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!

Kids’ Bedroom Lighting

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Jul 16, 2021 , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oftentimes bedroom lighting is overlooked. And the kids’ bedrooms – even more so. But what people don’t realize is that these are the perfect rooms to play with your lighting design. Bedrooms are the one area of the house where you want the ability for the room to be completely dark, completely bright, and somewhere in between all within the same 24 hours. Luckily for you, we can help you make that happen!

When shopping for your kids bedroom lighting consider these three tips:

1) Think About the Purpose of Each Area of the Room

Depending on the age of your kids the purpose of their room may alter throughout the years. WIth young kids you may want to incorporate a small toy area, or cozy reading nook to cuddle up together in. While older kids may need a desk for school work and a reading light next to the bed. When looking at the layout of their room consider your options for layering your lighting. Maybe a desk light is needed. Or some bedside scones or hanging pendants would be neat! Or even the perfect floor lamp to complete your cozy reading nook and armchair. Remember – All of your light does not need to come from one source! 

2) To Theme or Not to Theme

As we all know, kids change their mind more than Mother Nature changes the weather. As badly as your little one may need a Frozen themed room, or may love Thomas the Tank Engine, they probably won’t love them for the next 10 years. And as much as we would love it if everyone changed their lighting fixtures every 1-2 years, you probably don’t want to do that! So if you want to theme your child’s room, we recommend opting to theme items that are easy to swap out like bedspreads, small table lamps, etc. While your overhead lighting should remain a little more fluid through the whims of your children. That’s not to say that every room should have a boring flush mount round fixture, but rather think through the possibilities for your fixture. For example if your child loves outer space, look around for some of our more modern designs that have that space-age look when surrounded by planets and stars on the ceiling, but will also age with them into their teen years as a piece of sleek decor (once the glow-in-the-dark star stickers are peeled off the ceiling.) 

3) Have Fun!

Bedrooms are the place where doors close when company comes over. The lights in your bedrooms do not need to match or compliment any other lights in the house. If you love that crazy over the top chandelier but it would look out of place hanging over your dining room table, then have a little fun in your bedroom! 

If you are looking to update your kids bedroom lighting please feel free to contact us. 

Or better yet, come in for a visit to our showroom!