Tag: style

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!

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!

Quick Tips for Your Thanksgiving Day Prep

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Oct 7, 2021 , , , , , , , , ,

It’s that time of year again! The time when families gather inside and celebrate their gratitude with one another. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the idea of hosting this season, don’t sweat it. We are here to help with three quick tips to make your home shine!

1) Clean Up Those Chandeliers/Pendants

From cobwebs, sticky fingerprints or just regular old dust- your lighting fixtures would probably benefit from a little TLC. Give your lighting fixture a quick once over with a dusting cloth, then take a look from different angles to find any of these pesky fingerprints or cobwebs still hanging about.

2) Quick Style Update? – Change Your Bulbs!

Making a little style update is a great way to keep you falling in love with your lighting fixtures without breaking the bank. Changing up the style of bulb in your chandelier can give you lots of options to prolong your interest with your lighting fixture. Having a themed party? Why not add a little whimsy and try a coloured bulb! 

3) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

We all know it’s true, but can easily forget when things get crazy and we feel like we have to pull it off all on our own. But, you CAN ask for help! What that looks like for you may be different from someone else. You could ask another relative to bring dessert, or play “Power Hour Clean-Up” with the kiddos. 

And of course, don’t forget to take a little extra time to ENJOY the season too!

Bathroom Vanity Lighting Inspiration – Contemporary Look

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Sep 23, 2021 , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Your bathroom vanity lighting should express your style and feel of your family’s aesthetic. We have collected three options for those aspiring to a contemporary feel in their bathroom. 

1. 24” Baden Vanity Light in Matte Black

Clean and modern, this 24” vanity light showcases sleek, slim lines of matte black finish metal. Perfect for a powder room, it boasts a delicate, frosted white shade that diffuses the light into a soft, graceful glow. This collection is also available in a brushed nickel or chrome finish. 

Size not what you’re looking for? 

The Baden Collection offers the vanity light in a 8” or 24” size as well. 

2. Kube 5-Light Vanity Light in Matte Black and Chrome

The Kube family exudes ambiance. The Kube vanity light features a matte black and chrome finish with an austere rectangle design that provides plenty of light. The bold, edgy design really energizes a bathroom or powder room. This collection is also available in a matte black and brushed nickel finish. 

Size not what you’re looking for?

The Kube collections offers vanity lights in 1-light or 3-light options as well. 

3. 36” Rings Vanity in Black

Contemporary and simple describes the Ring family by Kendal lighting. The LED vanity features a white acrylic lens tube off set by the clean black finish of the hardware. The contemporary design will bring an elevated look to your bathroom or powder room. The Rings collection is also available in a chrome finish. 

Size not what you’re looking for?

The Rings collection offers this vanity in a 24” or 30” size as well. 

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!

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!

Lighting Your Front Door

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Jul 9, 2021 , , , , , , , , ,

Some people say that first impressions don’t really matter. But, we beg to differ. The first impression of your home can go a long way in making people feel welcome. So today we are here to help with our favourite lighting tips to make your front door a welcoming and inviting place for all!

Sizing

Often we find that clients have a tendency to undersize their outdoor lighting. We like to remind our clients that their outdoor lighting is largely being admired from the street or sidewalk. Therefore going up a size often helps these elements stand out with a bit more flair. A good rule of thumb to follow is that the front door wall light should be roughly one third of the size of the front door. From there you can go up or down to make your preferred statement!

Wattage

Lighting for your front door should provide enough illumination so that you can see and navigate your path or steps safely. However, you don’t want it so bright that your neighbours are complaining of glare through their windows! No one wants to live next to the Broadway-lit house. The wattage and colouring of your front door light will depend on the set up of your front door, proximity to neighbours, and any additional lighting you may have working in your landscape. Take a good look around and snap a quick picture before coming into the showroom so we can help you the best way possible! 

Style

The style of your outdoor lighting fixture should always compliment the style of your home. When this happens successfully, your home will always be welcoming to guests and have great curb appeal. We always recommend that our clients bring in a photo of the front of their house so we can help you choose something that reflects the charm of your house. 

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

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

Lighting Your Table | Woodstock Lighting

Posted by: The Lighting Lady Posted on: Jun 24, 2021 , , , , , , , , , ,

Kitchen tables are no longer just the place where we eat. Kitchen tables are now part of our at-home office, the homework help center, the transition land of all lost items and the place where the family might eat if the game isn’t on. Lighting your kitchen table can be difficult while you keep the many functions of your table in mind. 

Let us help with a few quick tips:

1. Position of Your Light

A good rule of thumb when positioning your table is to aim to have your electrical box centered to your table. It’s important to remember that the purpose of this light fixture is to light your table, not necessarily your entire room. 

2. Sizing Your Light to Your Table

When picking out your over-the-table light, you want to keep three important dimensions in mind:

  1. Ceiling Height
  2. Height of your Table
  3. Length of Your Table

These three measurements will be incredibly important when finding the right size of light for your table. 

Knowing the height of your ceiling and table will allow our lighting experts to ensure that there is enough clearance from the top of the table to the bottom of the light, so that no one is bopping their heads when passing the buns. 

The  length of your table will determine the size of lights you can consider. Many tables may be able to add extra leaves into them for those bigger family gatherings, but you want to size your light for how your table will look 90% of the time. 

3. Style

Of course, everything comes back to your own signature style! To get the most out of your visit, feel free to bring in pictures of your space and table (with your measurements, of course). 

Some people prefer a light with shades, while others prefer the easier cleaning of fixtures with no shades. 

Tired of your light, but love it too much and want a cheap, easy fix? You can always change up the look of your light just by changing the shape or colour of your bulbs. 

And most importantly, remember that not everything has to be matchy-matchy! You can be complimentary with your design choices to the rest of your living space. 

If you are looking to give your dining lighting fixture a refresh please feel free to contact us. 

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