More Bling for Your Buck: How to Use Chandeliers at Home

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Oct 222012
 
PinExt More Bling for Your Buck: How to Use Chandeliers at Home

Hanging Chandelier More Bling for Your Buck: How to Use Chandeliers at Home
Here at Pegasus, we recently added some brand new affordable chandeliers and pendant lights to our website. So, I think now is the perfect time to give you a few tips on how to use them. Read on for practical advice and some unexpected design inspiration for using chandeliers and hanging lights…

For the Dining Room:

I’m sure I only have to type the word “dining room” to make most everyone conjure up an image of a fancy table with an opulent chandelier. Though very little thought probably went into that association, adding a chandelier to your own dining room does take some planning. Two basic rules here:

1. A chandelier should always go about 30” above the table.

2. It should also be about 6” narrower than the width of the table on each side.

If you like the traditional look of a chandelier, but have a larger space to fill, try multiple fixtures instead of one large chandelier, which might look too bulky.

For the Living Room:

For those of you with a living room and dining room in one large space, or if your den has multiple seating areas, double chandeliers will also help the space look more cohesive.

For the Kitchen:

Even though it’s one of the more “functional” rooms in the home, a chandelier can add the perfect ambiance to your kitchen, making everyday tasks feel more fanciful.

While the 30” rule is a go-to for the dining room, a chandelier over an island or open counter top should rest slightly higher, as to not block your range of movement. Continue reading »

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Latest Trend: Industrial Lighting

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Oct 152012
 
PinExt Latest Trend: Industrial Lighting

The distinguished Sheffield Design School in NYC recently published this mood board about industrial design on their blog:

Sheffield Mood Board Latest Trend: Industrial Lighting

Image via Blog.Sheffield.edu

According to Sheffield, the industrial look features “unfinished woods, metals, and exposed structural work.”

What I love about industrial design is how lighting is so integral. Not only do the right fixtures (like the galactic chandelier shown above) add to the raw, material aesthetic, they also keep your bare-bones rooms from feeling too dismal.

Here are a few other “industrial” lights that will keep your home looking modern and mechanized, but never bleak. Continue reading »

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Featured Lighting Project From Austin, TX

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Oct 112012
 
PinExt Featured Lighting Project From Austin, TX

LED Under Cabinet Light 300x300 Featured Lighting Project From Austin, TX
A big warm thank you goes out to Mady Kaye of Austin, TX for sending us photos of her recent lighting upgrade! It’s truly amazing what a few 8-inch, 9-Watt LED under cabinet lights have done for her bold kitchen. She used 3 dimmable, low-profile fixtures, one in the corner and two over the counter top to the right of the sink.

Here’s a shot of the finished under cabinet lighting installation:

LED Undercabs Final Mady Kaye Featured Lighting Project From Austin, TX

Lovely! I especially love how the warm glow adds a little ambiance to the place. The LEDs Mady chose have an excellent color rendering index of 87, which is especially important to flatter those bright red counter tops!

Now let’s take a closer look… Continue reading »

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Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Updates and Renovations

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Sep 262012
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Updates and Renovations

This month, more of us are trading out old light fixtures for (surprise) LEDs. Others are re-purposing old lights in illuminating ways…

In Lighting News…

Cree’s New 10-year Warranty on LEDs. Just this week Cree (a notable LED manufacturer) introduced a 10 year warranty on nearly all new commercial light fixtures. For many of us still skeptical about the quality of LEDs on the market today, Cree’s commitment to long-term performance and reliability is a relief.

Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Updates and Renovations

Courtesy of MiamiHerald.com

Notable LED Makeovers at Home and Abroad.  Everywhere more and more iconic structures and events are adopting LED lights. A few recent additions include:

  • The Miami Tower: This beautiful upgrade allows for custom light shows and will reduce the 47-story building’s related lighting energy usage by over 92%.
  •  LSU’s Tiger Stadium: The 90-year-old, 92,000-seat stadium stepped up its game with a multicolor, LED lighting system. It enhances the structure’s architecture, and fans love it!  
  • Oktoberfest: One of Frankfurt’s most popular tents, the Hippodrome, just replaced its 25-watt incandescent light bulbs with 550 5-watt LEDs. The warmly lit atmosphere won’t change, but they’ll save about 1.2 tons in CO2 emissions.    

LEDs Increase Plant Growth. Researchers at Penn State conducted a recent experiment, testing the benefits of using LED grow lights against more traditional fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs. The results were astounding. Not only did LEDs cost less to operate and maintain, but they also caused a noticeable increase in plant growth.

LEDs Increase Plant Growth Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Updates and Renovations

Plants grown with LEDs are on the left. Photo courtesy of the Penn State Department of Public Information.

Continue reading »

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What’s the Commotion About Motion Sensors?

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Sep 172012
 
PinExt What’s the Commotion About Motion Sensors?
getsmart02 GetSmart EdenFX What’s the Commotion About Motion Sensors?

“Get Smart” 2008, The Laser Hallway, Courtesy of Eden FX and AWN.com

You know the story. There’s a jewel robbery happening. After intense planning, the thief infiltrates the museum, probably through an air conditioning vent. When he drops down into the main room he’s still got to navigate the motion sensing security system, slinking under, over, and between beams of light. Perhaps he makes it through, and puts the biggest diamond you’ve ever seen in a shabby sack, ready to make the getaway. Suddenly, he slips, or drops the bag, and activates the sensor by a thread. Foiled! The bad guys get caught and the museum keeps their precious jewel.

While you may not have any multi-million dollar rocks in need of serious protection, motion sensor lights can help you in a ton of different ways. They’re convenient, safe, and will save energy.

Unlike the classic museum sensors that use light to detect motion, most motion sensor lights use PIR (passive infrared) or pyroelectric sensors. These systems detect rapid changes in infrared energy, and thus can turn on the lights when people, animals, or cars approach.

While having every light you own set on a motion sensor might not be a good idea (I foresee superfluous arm waving), select motion-controlled lights can be an invaluable addition to your home or office. Here are a few ways to use them:

  1. Motion sensor step light1 What’s the Commotion About Motion Sensors? Outdoor Lights: If you find yourself stumbling up the front steps with grocery bags after dark, installing a motion sensor spotlight or a few step lights could make the difference between getting inside safely and taking a dangerous spill. Putting flood lights on a sensor will also make navigating your yard and driveway more secure, helping you see and deterring any intruders.
  2. Night Lights: Opting for a motion detector night light will help you save energy – only turning the light on when you need it. If you wake up in the night for a snack or a trip to the bathroom, these lights are also one of the gentlest ways to help yourself see – you don’t get blasted with the full lumens of your overhead light source, and you don’t even have to think about flipping a switch. Continue reading »
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Hey, Light Bulb, I Like Your Shape (A Guide)

 Light Bulbs  No Responses »
Aug 212012
 
PinExt Hey, Light Bulb, I Like Your Shape (A Guide)

It’s true, we often pay a lot of attention to shape. This infographic, in fact, makes a career of it! It’ll help you learn to identify each screw-in light bulb by it’s shape – everything from the slinky little chandelier light bulb to the festively rotund globe.

a guide to screw in light bulbs by shape Hey, Light Bulb, I Like Your Shape (A Guide)

Dying to put this infographic on your website or blog? Go for it! Here’s the embed code:

<img src=”http://images.pegasuslighting.com/infographics/a-guide-to-screw-in-light-bulbs-by-shape.png” width=”600″ height=”3500″>
<br><br> <strong>A Guide to Screw-in Light Bulbs: By Shape</strong> created by <a href=”http://www.pegasuslighting.com”>Pegasus Lighting</a>.

 

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Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Moving Forward

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Jul 162012
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Moving Forward

iStock 000011990336XSmall 300x199 Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Moving Forward
In lighting news…

As of July 1 this year, T12 fluorescent bulbs have begun to disappear, no longer being manufactured or imported into the US. This phase-out has been a long time coming, as T12s have been around for over 70 years now. By switching to newer technology like T5s or T8s, building owners will save nearly 50% of the energy they normally use each year! These new lamps are smaller in diameter, but can still provide the same light output as a T12. For those building owners who still have T12 fixtures, it will become increasingly difficult to find replacement parts. Check out this article from LampRecycling.com on strategizing for the phase-out.

Meanwhile, everyone is going nutso for LEDs. But with the impressive energy-saving stats and new innovations, we don’t blame them. According to IMS Research, the widespread implementation of retrofit LED lights will save us $100 billion globally over the next 5 years. To learn more, read this article from ECMWeb.com.

In June, at the Rio+20 U.N. development conference in Brazil, the Clean Revolution campaign began a trial in 12 major cities across the globe, testing the benefits and drawbacks of LED street lights. Each city has reduced energy use up to 85%! Continue reading »

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Dimmers: They’ll Change Your Life

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Jul 092012
 
PinExt Dimmers: They’ll Change Your Life

Are you ready for a positive life change? (Or maybe just a bit of fun…) Check out our new video about the many advantages of dimmers:

Dimmers really can help you in ways you wouldn’t expect. Allow me to elaborate:

They’re Versatile:

By varying the lumen output of the lights in any room, you can immediately change the look and feel. It’s like having multiple rooms in one that you can enter with the simplest touch of a button. For instance, you can change your den from a lounge perfect for festive fraternization into a very official home theater.

They’re Tranquil:

Dimmers can create a peaceful environment to relax. Lowering the lights in your living room while you read, or for a nice long soak in the tub will keep you feeling very Zen. If harsh lights bother you in the morning, slowly brightening the lights is a gentle way to ease yourself into the new day.

They’re Romantic:

There really is no easier way to create ambiance at the drop of a hat. When you and your sweetie are feeling amorous, you can instantly transform any room into a romantic lovers’ retreat by simply turning down the lights. Try it for a date night – it’s a marvelous, imitate alternative to crowded, expensive restaurants. Continue reading »

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Fantastic Kitchen Remodel Planning Resource

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Jun 152012
 
PinExt Fantastic Kitchen Remodel Planning Resource

NKBAKitchenPlannerCover Fantastic Kitchen Remodel Planning ResourcePoised for a kitchen remodel? Having trouble figuring out where to start? Get ready to be wowed.

I was perusing the National Kitchen & Bath Association website this week, and came across a section for homeowners called “Kitchen & Bath Planners.” Curious of what an official NKBA planning helper would look like, I downloaded a (free) copy of the 21-page guide for kitchens.

There are checklists, questionnaires, cost breakdowns, and tips galore. There are external links that delve into more detail about any question under the sun.

Did you know that you should expect to spend about 5% of your budget on lighting, 14% on appliances and ventilation, 10% on countertops, and 29% on cabinetry?

Have you thought about user-friendly considerations, like raising your dishwasher to a height that isn’t back-straining, or installing pullouts to make your cookware easily accessible?

Decided what kind of style/overall tone is right for you, and pinpointed clippings of kitchens that you love?

The Bath Planner is just as fantastic – and also free. NKBA, you outdid yourselves!

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Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Extra! Extra!

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Jun 052012
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Extra! Extra!
onebythefive1 Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Extra! Extra!

The One By the Five hotel in Paris. Read on to "Other Cool Sites" for more info.

In lighting news …

A team of scientists in Switzerland conducted an office lighting experiment proving that lighting conditions have a significant impact on cognitive performance. A group of volunteers took memory tests and alertness assessments after spending time in a room with natural lighting conditions, compared with artificial/low lighting conditions. The positive effects of natural lighting conditions lasted until early evening! Remember the study on classroom lighting in Germany, and the impact the Philips SchoolVision lighting system had? 

Meanwhile, researchers in North Carolina found that LED lighting can be used as an infection killer. They are developing methods to employ LEDs to sterilize surgical tools or purify water.

According to a recent Houzz survey, today’s homeowners are prioritizing aesthetics over value in remodeling projects. Find out what homeowners plan to spend on various projects and more key drivers for remodeling on Houzz.com.

On Treehugger, Lloyd Alter posed a compelling question: Why are we putting 21st century light bulbs in 19th century sockets? Join the discussion.

In lighting tips … 

Kitchen Designer Robin Siegerman published a book titled Renovation Bootcamp™: Kitchen (Design and Remodel Your Kitchen Without Losing Your Wallet, Your Mind or Your Spouse). From her YouTube video preview - and that enticing title – it looks like it’s worth checking out! See her website for more. Continue reading »

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