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Posts Tagged ‘lighting’

Kitchen renovations are an essential expense for homeowners in Australia. This is because a few simple changes can alter the whole look and feel of these rooms.

For kitchen renovations the fashion is leaning towards sprucing up rooms that function perfectly but that are showing signs of age and wear and tear. The kitchen is one of the most frequently re-modeled rooms in a house. It is also one of the most used rooms, which elevates an interesting point. It may be that it always gets a remodeling job because it is one of the busiest rooms in the home and therefore looks ‘used’ fairly quickly, but how do you renovate such a busy area?

Everyone gathers in the kitchen it is true, but this part of the kitchen’s function can easily be moved elsewhere. This is not so with the other kitchen functions: i.e. food preparation, storage and meal clean-up. For a real renovation these functions will have to be moved to a temporary ‘kitchen area’. Advance planning will be requisite to set up a second ‘kitchen’ before you dismantle the first.

The fridge will probably have to be moved out of its spot in the kitchen but not be able to travel too far due to its large size! You will also need a sink, a microwave and an electric toaster oven that is outside of the kitchen.

Interior design consultancies understand the richness of light in all its forms. In London, lighting is crucial to interior design consultancies that need to create stunning results. In this, the sixth article in my series which I call “DeLIGHTed by Design,” I continue to draw on my experience working with some of London’s Top Interior Design Consultancies to explain this exciting area.

Six main lighting tools are considered foundational by established interior design consultancies. These are down-lighters, up-lighters, wall-washers, decorative lighting, colour and control. Many London interior design consultancies will preferentially think of these mostly in terms of mood and results – from daring highlights to soft textures – instead of as hardware and installations.

Down-lighters are often set back into a false ceiling, although some interior design consultancies will prefer to install them on walls. These units will direct light downwards, and can be focused by the design team as necessary, perhaps to illuminate the floor or a favourite contoured bookcase. Most interior design consultancies recognise that this type of light is very sharp and will generate somewhat intense shadows, which can be a refreshing contrast to the occasionally dreary London weather. The most popular units are always available in narrow beam designs, which are best for highlighting certain features. Interior design consultancies will sometimes opt for a wide beam model instead. One nice technique that I have seen used in a few London residences is to create an array of shimmering ceiling lights with wide-beam downlighters. This is appropriate when the interior design consultancy wishes to create a more general, ambient light, but with a fabulous designer feel.

As a professional London Interior Designer, I meet with clients all the time who simply crave more originality and personality in their interior spaces. It is such a delight for the interior designer to be able to transform a house into a home by judicious use of lighting, stencils, photo frames, rugs and frames, to name just a few. Each of the different classes of accessories allows the professional interior designer to lean into a certain style, emotion or personality framework in order to create stunning results. In this article, I will draw on my experience in London’s design community to suggest a few great options if you’re looking to spruce up your home this winter with some interior designer magic.

LIGHTING. If there are nooks and crannies that just don’t get enough light, interior designers may recommend low-voltage illumination to make your interiors look larger and more welcoming. This can also boost your mood – perfect for the gloomy and overcast London skies that are all too common this time of year. Some professional interior designers will recommend theatrical lighting moods, so that you can flip between settings to choose either relaxed, or atmospheric and edgy, or task-orientated, all according to your needs.

COLOUR. The hue of the lighting system can substantially impact the overall look of a room. Incandescent filaments are now being phased out across the European Union, and London interior designers are having to rely instead on compact fluorescents or halogens to create custom effects.