david k warfel
I recently wrote an article for Houzz.com on how to make the outside of your home welcoming at night. It had been awhile since my article on downlights drew so many sharply divided comments, so I had grown complacent and used to the vanilla “great article” responses. Whoops. While many readers appreciated the article and the... Continue Reading →
Try not to look at the geeky high school boy and his cute girlfriend, but note the east-facing window by my bed, the adjustable lamp on the wall, and the string of Christmas lights above. She's still cute, by the way, and I'm still geeky. But neither of us wear silk shirts or use nautical... Continue Reading →
I am working on an article for Houzz.com on how to choose the right downlight trim, and it is turning out to be quite a challenge. The article is inspired by my earlier post here, but I wanted to simplify the ideas and provide something a little more helpful. The problem is that choosing a... Continue Reading →
From left: my grandfather, oldest sister, either me or my brother in my dad's arms, a neighbor, and my mother. I have no idea why this picture was taken, but this is what I called the front porch of the farm house. I am an overly-sensitive midwestern farm boy, which means I grew up in... Continue Reading →
Straight from the depths of the mind of a lighting designer, here comes another fascinating, edge-of-your-seat, page-turning buying guide for the most exciting of all light fixtures: under-cabinet LED tape light. Oh yeah! Buying LED tape light (those tiny flexible LED strips with adhesive backing) would be easier if it weren't for the seemingly endless... Continue Reading →
Experts tell me I should consider lighting as "the jewelry of the home." This has always bothered me instinctually, but it wasn't until a few days ago that I understood why. Jewelry is useless. Wait, wait, I am not advocating that we give up jewelry on our bodies and in our homes. I happen to... Continue Reading →
The start of a new series, part memoir of darkness, part manifesto of light.
So now you know- because I am certain you read all of my posts again and again until they are burned in memory- that we need light that helps us adapt to changes in tasks, times, eyes, and moods. Most of the time, I do not add any lights for changing. I add dimmers... Continue Reading →
If you're looking to review the layers of light and apply them to your living room, my article on Houzz.com (link below) would be a good place to start. In addition to my oh-so-nifty sketch, you'll find photographic examples of each layer from multiple projects in multiple styles. Enjoy!
It is late at night- too late- and I am weary from a solid stretch of too much work and not enough rest. It feels too familiar. When I am this tired, I tend to ruminate on my purpose in the world. Recently, I have come to believe that my purpose in my professional life... Continue Reading →
the language of light 