In building a custom home, the homeowner is barraged by thousands of choices in everything from the architectural design, to the plumbing, tile and finish choices. One of the most important choices is the type of lighting equipment to use and where to use it. Most architects supply a basic lighting design that effectively provides adequate lighting for the floor space in a home. For the custom home a good lighting plan needs to incorporate a variety of different types of lighting sources. These include: accent lighting for artwork, architectural lighting for columns, ambient lighting for coves, task lighting for undercounter areas, and of course, decorative lighting. Deciding the most basic of these choices can be both confusing and frustrating.
One of the main sources of lighting in most custom homes is the recessed downlight. The concept is to provide general lighting from a source where the bulb is recessed into the ceiling. Since our eye is drawn to the brightest light source in any room, we want to make sure it is not drawn to the ceiling. Glare is caused from the surface of any bulb. This is why it is important that the bulb be at the proper height inside of the recessed can. This causes you to see a series of bright spots of light on the ceiling as you walk into the room, defeating the whole purpose of using recessed lighting.
Choosing the right size and type of downlight is very important. There are three main sizes in the basic downlight each of which takes a different size bulb. There are the 4-inch, 5-inch, and 6-inch downlights, and the choice depends upon the application. The 4-inch downlight is best used in cabinets or where space is limited. This fixture is very limited in the spread and amount of light that it provides. The 5-inch downlight is becoming very popular for use as the main downlight throughout a house. The 6-inch downlight has been the standard in the industry for some time. This fixture is best used for high ceilings and wide coverage. However this leaves you with the biggest opening in the ceiling and the highest glare factor. It is the most cost effective and provides the best spread of light.
The choice of downlight trim is very important in all applications. The standard type is the black baffle trim. It is one of the most cost effective and does not reflect the bulb source. The drawback is that when the light is switched off, you have what looks like black holes throughout the ceiling. The next standard choice is the white baffle trim. This is the least effective trim, because it reflects the bulb source and creates a series of bright spots on the ceiling. What is now beginning to become a new standard and the one I recommend is the Clear Alzak trim. This trim has a mirrored surface, but does not cause a glare spot on the ceiling and also looks sharp and clean when the light is turned off. It goes great in kitchen and bathrooms where there is already a lot of chrome and polished chrome surfaces.
Another important type of recess lighting is the low voltage fixture. This recessed fixture is great for lighting artwork, architectural features and as a light source when you want the least amount of glare factor, such as over a bar top or dining room table. Some lighting designers use this type of lighting throughout the whole house. This fixture incorporates a magnetic or electronic transformer that is usually integrated with the housing. In the past few years the price of this fixture has come down drastically. One of the main benefits to using this fixture is the lamp choices. The MR 16 bulb comes in a wide variety of wattages and beam spreads, making it a very flexible source of light.
Lighting design is a key aspect to creating a truly custom home. In deciding a proper layout, the use of a lighting consultant can be very important. They not only guide the client in creating an exceptional layout, but they also add the finishing touches that make a home really stand out. Let’s face it; when are you usually at home? For most of us it is during the evening, when lighting becomes crucial to creating a beautiful environment. |
