Page 70 - Flathead Living Fall 2014

homE intEriors by MEREdith CooPMan
Got a Light?
Create a balanced, visually comfortable space
A s the busy days of summer wind down, so do the plentiful hours of sunlight. Soon we will be waking in the dark and (finally)
going to sleep in the dark. I say this because, just as I look forward to summer every spring, I also look forward to the fall. Kids are back in school, routine is in effect and we aren’t trying to cram in all of the company, activities and myriad things we do in the short three-ish months of summer. Don’t get me wrong, I adore summer! It’s one of the best seasons in the valley, but by mid-August, I’m ready for fall. My kids will go to bed at a decent hour. No more fighting bedtime with the excuse that it is still light out at 10:30 p.m. The 15-plus hours of daylight in June dwindle to eight-plus hours in December. To make up for the lack of daylight, we turn to artificial light, and in the winter months we need a lot of it.
Lighting can be extremely complex, and in about 1,000 words I will give you the very basics. I’m certainly no expert when it comes to lighting, as designers and architects are notoriously known for embracing natural light. That’s great, until the sun goes down, and we’re all left in the dark. I leave the lighting to the professionals.
Welcoming spaces include carefully chosen light and wisely placed light fixtures. There are three basic types of lighting that work together as layers. A good lighting plan combines all three. The concept of layering light involves combining ambient, accent, and task lighting to create a bal- anced, visually comfortable space. In fact, every room should have the three basic layers of light:
Basic caTeGories of LiGhTinG
Ambient or GenerAl liGhtinG
The first layer of light is ambient or general light. Ambient lighting provides an area with overall illumination emitting a comfortable level of brightness without glare. It is a broad wash of light that allows us to see and walk safely through a space. It can be accomplished with chandeliers, ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures, recessed or track lights. I will talk about the different kinds of fix- tures below. Having a central source of ambient
top Good example of layering light. bottom under cabinet lighting.
68 FLATHEAD LIVING | FALL 2014
pHotos By exCeL eLeCtrICAL CoNtrACtors