david k warfel
No. Er, Yes. Wait a minute, is this a trick question? Retailers and websites are hawking new smart gadgets for our homes incessantly, essentially trying to do what Apple did for smart phones: make them cost a whole lot more. There are smart coffee makers, smart pet feeders, smart doorbells, smart thermostats, smart irrigation systems,... Continue Reading →
My mother has carefully and meticulously curated a style for the family farmhouse over the past 45 years of residency (we've had the farm since about 1882, but none of us remember that). In the 1970's and 80's when I was growing up it was, well, very 1970's. Then, when we finally all went off... Continue Reading →
Light is a tricky substance. You cannot hear it, taste it, feel it, or smell it. You can only see light when it comes directly into your eyes or bounces off of something. It is predictable, so long as you can memorize the trillions of possibilities and recall the correct answer. I can't. Lighting design... Continue Reading →
One of the reasons that light in our homes and workplaces is not good for us is that our primary considerations are 1) how cheaply can we get lighting and 2) how few watts can we use. I am often asked "will good lighting cost more than regular lighting?" Yep. Let's say you hire a... Continue Reading →
The most common lighting malady I diagnose is CFLS, or Ceiling Fan Light Syndrome. Statistically speaking (and I am completely making this up), CFLS affects three of every four Americans at some point in their lives. If you or someone you know is suffering from CFLS, please contact your designer immediately. One common side effect... Continue Reading →
My latest story from Houzz.com shares the same information from my light bulb buying guide but in National Geographic Style (lots of pretty pictures). I think that helps the medicine go down a bit better! Read my version of the story here.
Yes, it is another post on lightbulbs. If you want someone else to make the decision for you, go out any buy Philips Soft White Dimmable LED with warm glow effect. If you want to brave the lightbulb aisle on your own, read on. I am going to conveniently avoid the obvious question a post like this... Continue Reading →
The Right Light for Kitchen Counters (Click here to read the companion story on Houzz.com) After the paint is dry and the counters are set in place, the kitchen becomes the most difficult place in the house to change. Getting lighting on the countertops has to be done right the first time, and here are... Continue Reading →
My latest Houzz article shares four ways to brighten up these long, dark nights at home. I forgot to add that wearing an LED headlamp might also help, but anyone who lives with you will get very annoyed. On second thought, stick with the four options in the article. Click on the image below, and... Continue Reading →
