Interior Design - Current Home and Commercial Design Trends

The Pegasus Lighting Roundup for Mar 29 to Apr 16

April 16, 2010September 26, 2013 Emily Widle 1 Comment

"Kitchen Lighting that Sizzles" — A photo from lighting designer Eddie Cohen’s tips on improving task lighting in the kitchen

There’s been a lot of speculation in the news lately about LED lighting. Research teams are working to improve it, market analysts say it still faces challenges, and the lighting industry in general is scrambling to release affordable products. Meanwhile, remodeling growth is back, according to a report released by Harvard University. Read on to find out more in our Lighting Roundup!

In lighting news…

For the first time since 2006, home improvement spending is on the upswing. 2010’s annual growth will be five percent, and the positive trend is expected to continue in 2011.
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Planning Your Kitchen Lighting – 8 Easy Steps

April 1, 2010September 25, 2013 Emily Widle 3 Comments

1. Set a budget. Think about what you can afford and don’t forget to account for costs of labor if you end up having to hire an electrician.

2. Find out what your current circuit in the kitchen can handle. In order to do this, multiply the amps by the volts. Most circuits have 120 volts. So if your circuit was 15 amps, you’d multiply 15×120. That amounts to 1800 – the total number of watts your kitchen circuit can handle. It’s a good rule of thumb to use your circuit up to 80 percent of its capacity.

3. Consider the condition of your current wiring. If you’re in an older home, you might consider rewiring the room (this is where you should contact an electrician if you don’t have experience).

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Remodel Your Kitchen in Minutes

March 17, 2010September 26, 2013 Emily Widle 2 Comments

Most people will tell you that changing out one or two light fixtures does not mean you have remodeled your kitchen. We would respectfully disagree.

Mini pendant lights instantly both brighten your kitchen and add an element of design, and they’ll have any guest asking what you have changed. The effect is transformative.

Suspend them over a counter, island, table, or bar to produce task lighting with a touch of glamour. Use them in groupings in a dining room or foyer: you’ll find that they’re less expensive than chandeliers and that they create a much more stunning effect.

You can choose between incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, and xenon mini pendants. If you’re looking for a dimmable option, avoid the fluorescent mini pendants – they don’t have that capability.

Make sure you share your finished project with us on our Customer Lighting Projects page! We love hearing your success stories.

Just think: it’ll be the least expensive “remodel” you’ve ever done.

LED Lighting as a Design Trend

January 25, 2010September 25, 2013 Emily Widle 1 Comment

An article in Electronic House last week discussed how interior designers and architects are incorporating LED lighting into homes for truly amazing visual effects.

Imagine controlling lights embedded in your bathtub to glow with the color of your choice. Or picture an LED kitchen faucet that lights with a different color based on temperature, signaling when the water is too hot to touch. The applications for the color and light control options that LEDs offer are endless, making them a hot design trend – especially because they are incredibly energy-efficient as well. Even tile flooring can be illuminated with LED lighting from beneath.
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Low Voltage Indoor Lighting: Pendant Lights for Every Room

January 18, 2010September 26, 2013 Chris Johnson 5 Comments

Low voltage lighting is not new. According to Popular Mechanics magazine, “Low voltage outdoor lighting got its start in the early 1950s when Bill Locklin, an electrical contractor in Redlands, Calif., was asked by a client to put up some outdoor lights.” It took a few decades for homeowners to catch on and take advantage of all the benefits that low voltage lighting has to offer. Nowadays, homeowners installing outdoor landscape lighting often choose low voltage lighting fixtures.

But what about low voltage indoor lighting? Almost 60 years after Bill Locklin’s innovation, low voltage indoor lighting has finally become mainstream. There are several reasons why low voltage lighting has become more popular. Better quality fixtures, long-lasting bulbs and easier installation methods are just a few of the reasons. Further, many Americans are more aware of the importance of energy conservation and the savings that result from using low voltage fixtures and energy-saving light bulbs. Low voltage lighting fixtures, and the bulbs that are used with them, provide a higher quality light. Low voltage lights have also become more versatile than in the past. There are many low voltage design options. Some popular fixture types include track lighting, under cabinet lighting and hanging pendants.
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Bathroom Vanity Lighting – How Not to Look Like Dracula

July 6, 2009September 26, 2013 Tom Farin 7 Comments

Recessed downlights should not be used to light your face while standing at a mirror in your bathroom because the light coming from these fixtures will only cause harsh shadows on your face. Instead, wall-mounted vanity light fixtures attached above the mirror and/or on both sides of the mirror, or backlit vanity mirrors (a very neat option – especially if wall space is limited) should be used. That way, shadows on your face can be minimized. Recessed downlights can be used in other parts of the bathroom for general lighting but not for task lighting at the sink area – unless, of course, you want to look years older or like Bella Lugosi in makeup.