interior design | Pegasus Lighting Blog

Powerful Lighting Changes for Your Everyday Life (Brought To You by Philips & LEDs)

Sep 142012

Have you seen Philips’ series of lighting makeovers? They’re all on YouTube, showing how LED lights can positively change the lives of people around the world. Seriously, LEDs can solve so many common lighting problems, it’s almost unbelievable! I’ve picked out my three favorites to share with you, featuring three unique problems and their ingenious LED solutions, but you can view all 20+ here.

This first LED makeover takes place in Amsterdam. A couple has been trying to sell their flat for over a year, and they haven’t gotten anyone to bite…

With inadequate lighting, real estate agents complain about low ceilings and a gloomy atmosphere. After the lighting makeover, the agents focus on the unique architectural features, the bright kitchen, and the cozy mood. And when post-lightover they price the flat at 40,000 euros more, it really makes you marvel at the power of LEDs! Continue reading »

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Using Dynamic Lighting Arrangements to Liven up Your Yard

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Aug 222012

Using Dynamic Lighting Arrangements to Liven up Your Yard

Today we have a guest post from Jillian Watkinson of Community Home Supply, a family-owned Chicago kitchen and bathroom showroom. Jillian’s post gives us some tips for improving the look of your home’s yard with strategically placed outdoor lighting.

Regardless of what your backyard looks like, how big it is or what landscape style it’s been built to, the addition of decorative dynamic lighting arrangements in strategic places is guaranteed to improve your yard’s look immensely. Placing lights around your property in certain patterns is not difficult or expensive and can turn even an ordinary yard into a nighttime wonder.

Take a look at the following tips and maybe use some of them to liven up your garden space with dynamic light arrangements.

What are Your Existing Yard Features?

As a first step towards setting out your lighting arrangements, take a good look at your front yard, back yard and any walkways you have to decide where lights could be placed for maximum effect. For example, if you have a walkway in your front yard and a large stone or wood patio in your back, you might want to think about surrounding their edges with small decorative lights in order to accent their presence and shape.

The idea here is to notice the features against which lighting would look best and make them stand out while muting other parts of your yard that would be better off more hidden in the dark. Continue reading »

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All About Window Installation: What You Need to Know About New Windows

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Jul 252012

PinExt All About Window Installation: What You Need to Know About New Windows

Ah…windows. Windows, obviously, are an important part of any home and provide valuable lighting during the day. Unfortunately, sometimes windows need to be replaced. I know firsthand because I have had to perform a window installation in my home before. This guest post comes to us from Mark Cunningham of Cunningham Contracting, a general contractor in the Silver Springs, Maryland area. Thanks Mark!

Are you thinking about new windows for your home?

If you are, then it helps to know all about window installation and what you get from it.

So let’s take a look at the reasons why you should get new windows, how to go about the process, and what you ultimately stand to gain once it’s all said and done.

Afterwards, you’ll be ready to get the kind of windows you want for your home.

Why Should I Get New Windows?

There are plenty of reasons why people get new windows, among them being: Continue reading »

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Ways to Brighten Your Home Beyond Lighting

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Jul 112012

PinExt Ways to Brighten Your Home Beyond Lighting

We, of course, love lighting. Layers of light help to brighten any space, highlight certain aspects of a room, and help set the mood. Justin Krutz, a blogger for Palatin Remodeling, sent us this guest post with interior design decorating tips to help you brighten your home beyond just lighting. Thanks Justin!

bigstock Modern Bedroom Interior 400pixels 300x225 Ways to Brighten Your Home Beyond Lighting So you’ve gotten that new lighting for your home and while it keeps you from sitting in the dark, the right lighting combined with the right decorative touches can do wonders for you and your home. It can bring new life to a room that’s been feeling tired for a while, help you get through the long winter days with little sun or even set the right tone for your home when the bright and warm summer days arrive once more.

Paint

Paint is widely recognized as a great yet inexpensive way to change up the look of any room, but a new coat of paint lends itself just as well to sparking new life in any area of your home.

White: White or variants such as off-white or cream are popularly known for making a room look larger. While white by itself may be a bit overpowering – it’s a great base to start with and you can mix it with other colors such as sky blues for the baseboards and molding

Earth Tones: Browns, beiges and similar earth tones are also a great choice especially when accentuated with darker shades or used to complement existing furnishings such as dark hardwood flooring.

Pastels: While reds, yellows and other colors may be too dark – you can still use pastel shades of these colors to help brighten up a room. Continue reading »

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Use Bookshelf Lights to Help Tell Your Story

Lighting Tips No Responses »

May 252012

PinExt Use Bookshelf Lights to Help Tell Your Story

Whether they shelve books, artwork, or heirlooms, bookcases are a great way to feature your unique interests. However, it can be easy to let your special things fall into the shadows if they’re not properly lit. Here are a few different ways to spotlight your most precious items:

Strips and Microfluorescents

If you prefer to highlight your entire bookshelf, running a Xenon Low Voltage Light Strip or a microfluorescent light fixture along each shelf will do the trick. Just make sure you install the lights in a place they can’t be seen—that way they’ll draw attention to what is important and really make your display pop. As an added bonus, they’ll also provide a significant light source to the entire room.

Puck Lights and Recessed Lights

Do you have a favorite painting, sculpture, or photograph sitting on your bookcase? Feature it with a small puck light attached to the shelf above. This finishing touch draws attention to the item and adds diverse visual interest to the entire bookshelf. If your bookcases are freestanding and have curiosities on top, you can use recessed lighting to attract the eye above. Installing recessed lights is also an easy way to emphasize a bookshelf without illuminating the whole room, although this option will highlight the shelf more than its contents.

Need more ideas on how to display your favorite belongings? Check out these thoughtful shelf decorating tips by HGTV’s Leah Hennen!

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Pegasus Lighting Roundup: National Remodeling Month!

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May 152012

PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: National Remodeling Month!

LED placemat Pegasus Lighting Roundup: National Remodeling Month!

Photo via Apartment Therapy

Did you know May is National Remodeling Month? Must have something to do with the after effects of spring cleaning. Are you inspired to start a home project? Here’s the latest and greatest in lighting:

In lighting news …

We’re in the midst of a revolution, according to the Washington Post. A light bulb revolution, that is. This post is a great overview of the new legislation that is changing the lighting market, addressing concerns such as mercury content, cost & environmental impact of manufacturing efficient light bulbs, and LED sticker shock. Continue reading »

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Seen & Heard At The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

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Apr 272012

PinExt Seen & Heard At The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

We were not able to attend The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Chicago this year, but we have had a lot of fun following the Twitter hashtag (#KBIS) to stay tuned in to the latest & greatest kitchen and bath products.

Here are a few photos that caught our attention:

Top Row, Left to Right: Retractable Towel Rings by Moen; Image via @HGTV. VibrAcoustic Bath Controls by Kohler; Image via @AptTherapy. Bottom Row, Left to Right: Space Corner Drawers by Blum; Image via bobvila.com. Galley Sink by Roger Shollmier; Image via remodeling.hw.net. Continue reading »

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Lighting to Bring Out the Best in Any Bedroom Color Scheme

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Apr 252012

PinExt Lighting to Bring Out the Best in Any Bedroom Color Scheme

We are pleased to offer you, our readers, another guest post with great lighting tips for bringing out the best in your bedroom color scheme.

Have you ever noticed how different lighting types affect the color of your room? From the warm colors of the standard incandescent light bulb (which is being phased out) to the cool colors of fluorescent, the type of lighting you select affects your color scheme – for better or for worse. After investing in bedding, drapes, and accessories for your bedroom, don’t make the mistake of overlooking the lighting. Select the wrong lighting and you’ll ruin the mood; select the right lighting and your bedroom’s color scheme will pop!

Warm versus Cool

In general, “warm” light sources bring out the warm colors such as orange, red, and yellow, while “cool” lighting intensifies cool colors such as blue. This concept is referred to as color temperature, which is measured in units called “kelvin” or “K.” For example, warm incandescent light bulbs typically equal about 2,700K, soft white light falls in the 3,000K range, cool white is about 4,100K, and daylight is about 6,500K. Continue reading »

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Lighting Tips for the Elderly

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Apr 232012

We are pleased to present this guest post from Daniel Frank, a blogger for Stannah Stairlifts, about the unique lighting needs for everyone as we age.

Lighting is vital for our health and well-being, and it becomes particularly important the older we get. As we age, two things happen to our eyes. The ability of our pupils to dilate decreases, which effectively makes them smaller, and our lenses become thicker. This means our retinas receive less light, and more of the light that gets through our pupils is absorbed or refracted before it gets to the retina, making an image softer.

This poses some serious safety risks as tripping hazards and other obstacles may not be as obvious as they would be to a younger person. The effects of glare on bright surfaces are also worsened as we get older, making detailed tasks such as drawing or sewing harder. However, there are some fairly simple lighting solutions to this “age old” problem. Continue reading »

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5 Ways Lighting Improves the Homeowner’s Life

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Apr 192012

PinExt 5 Ways Lighting Improves the Homeowners Life

xenonproject 3 300x224 5 Ways Lighting Improves the Homeowners Life

We are pleased to have this guest post from Christine Cooney, a writer at The House Designers, about the five benefits homeowners can get from proper lighting. Thanks so much Christine!

We are creatures that are made to live in the light, not the darkness. The lack of sunlight can leave the homeowner facing a number of negative effects, ranging from poor mood to the lack of energy needed to face the day. However, properly lit homes can counter these ailments, allowing individuals to live in a more productive, happier environment.

If you’re living in a dark, poorly-lit home, you should immediately start considering the advantages of proper lighting. The following are a few of the many benefits that lighting provides for the individual homeowner:

1. Increased Productivity
Many homeowners have a home office, from which they may spend hours at a time, staring at a computer screen. However, the lack of balance between artificial and natural light can strain eyes and lead to serious health issues. In addition, poor lighting can affect your attitude towards work, leading to decreased productivity. In order to make sure that the home office is used to full effect, it is vital to make sure it is well lit as possible. Continue reading »

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