The Wrong Answer

Sometimes I get questions that seem simple but are complex to answer.  A recent Houzz reader asked me "what spacing should I use for my recessed downlights?"  Yep, this post is definitely on the practical side. Hmm.  A lot of "designers" have rules of thumb for spacing downlights- perhaps you need one for every so... Continue Reading →

Light up the Ceiling

If you have a ceiling, you may want to consider lighting it.  Especially if you can incorporate some variation to the ceiling, and one of the techniques discussed on my Houzz article.

Less is…less.

"Do we really need all those lights?" If you ask me to help lay out lighting for your living room (or kitchen, or bedroom, or bathroom...), the probability of me increasing the quantity of light fixtures is about a million to one. Increasing the quantity of lights does not mean there will be more light,... Continue Reading →

Light for Feeling: For Rest

When my wife was expecting our second son, I turned my remodeling do-it-yourself muscle towards an unused room occupying our former attached garage.  Hastily turned into an extra room by previous owners, the space was all but unusable and served as a storage room while we remodeled the rest of the house.  Now, with our... Continue Reading →

4 Kinds of Light for Feeling Good

Science is catching up to what professional lighting designers have known for years- great lighting can help us feel better.  The right kind of light can help us relax or be more alert, and nowhere is this more important than in our homes.  It is light for feeling that can fill us with delight when... Continue Reading →

Practical Advice: Choosing Downlight Trims

Recently a reader posed a tough question following one of my articles on Houzz.com: "I am often stumped by the variety of sizes and baffle colors of recessed lights.  Any info regarding how to choose?" Hmm.  I had to think about that one, as I often make choices subconsciously from my own experience and preferences.... Continue Reading →

Light for Changing

Imagine yourself in a windowless, featureless room, like an exam room at the hospital.  There is a light switch on the wall that turns on the overhead fluorescent fixtures.  You can have bright white light or pitch dark at the flick of a switch. And those are your only two choices.  So most of the... Continue Reading →

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