Today I send a big THANK YOU to the fabulous editorial team at Fine Homebuilding for shaping my article for their readers. It was a fun experience for me and I am delighted with the final product! Read it online.
Fine Homebuilding (and Lighting)
Notes of a Keynote
Last night I was honored to deliver the keynote address at the American Institute of Architects Illinois Prairie conference in Carbondale. I had fun tying together thoughts from a number of blog posts and writing this “sermon.” Lighting is a product. It costs you money. Light is a gift. Light can help you live better. When I was... Continue Reading →
Chandeliers and Umbrellas
"Sacrifice for beauty," someone once said. Not in my house. Lighting is not immune to questionable fashion trends, and we're in the middle of one right now that makes many dining experiences less enjoyable. "Transitional" design has given birth to the open-structure chandelier, the philosophical equivalent of an umbrella without its fabric cover. You and... Continue Reading →
Buying Guide: Exterior Wall Sconces
Here's a fun challenge to do when you should be washing dishes, mowing the lawn, or cleaning your teeth: Go shopping online for wall sconces and see how many of the product photos have the light turned on. Or you can skip the search and trust me. There are not very many. Most manufacturers and... Continue Reading →
Choosing Downlights with 5 Questions
Need to choose downlights for your home? I took a stab at simplifying the process (there are literally thousands of possibilities) in my latest Houzz.com article. Check it out by clicking the link below.
Of Recessed Cans and Folding Chairs
The Electrical Walk Through I’m grumpy this morning, and a little sad. I just saw another beautiful home under construction, and it was too late to save it from bad lighting. So be warned: while I try to keep most of my posts focused on the positive Gift of Light and the five promises that... Continue Reading →
Dark Sky, Bright Home
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 →
The Farm Boy After Dark
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 →
Update/Downlights
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 →
Origin Stories: Farm Boy
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 →
the language of light 