The Pegasus Lighting Roundup for May 21 to June 11

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Jun 112010

Solar lantern The Pegasus Lighting Roundup for May 21 to June 11

Two companies will distribute 10 million LED lamps in rural India over the next 3 years.

In lighting news…

Journalist Tim Conneally wrote an informative, humorous take on LED technology in his article I left a light bulb on for one year straight, or: Why LED bulbs are about to change your life.  He discusses his experiment comparing LEDs with CFLs for a year and talks about the implications of Philip’s new LED “replacement bulb.”

MIT is investing millions in a ‘living lab’ initiative to cut electricity usage by 15 percent in the next three years.  About half of the reductions will come in the form of more efficient LED lighting systems.

John Bullough from the RPI Lighting Research Center in Troy wrote a great article on The Science Behind LED Technology. He explains the basics of LEDs and how they can be incorporated into homes.  Continue reading »

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Posted by Emily Widle on June 11, 2010 at 3:58 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Ambient Lighting & Wine: A Surprising Link

Lighting News 1 Response »
May 182010

10371 wine sparkle Ambient Lighting & Wine: A Surprising LinkApparently, your perception of how a glass of wine tastes is influenced by more than just the brand name.  A study by German researchers found that the type of ambient lighting can significantly affect consumers’ quality ratings of wine.  Crazy, right?

Participants who drank the same glass of wine in rooms with fluorescent lamps producing red or blue light rated the taste quality higher than those who were in rooms with fluorescent lamps producing green or white light.  The red-tinted fluorescent light seemed to provide the most pleasing effect: consumers indicated they were willing to spend more for the same wine under this light, and noted that it tasted fruitier.

More than 500 people were involved in the study, which was published in the Journal of Sensory Studies. In an environment where fast food restaurants seem to unfailingly incorporate red and yellow into each menu, sign, and building to stimulate hunger, the study is likely to have an impact on the restaurant/wine bar industry.

And just in case you’re interested, you might want to check out our mini pendant lights with red shades.

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Posted by Emily Widle on May 18, 2010 at 9:26 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

The Pegasus Lighting Roundup for Mar 29 to Apr 16

Pegasus Lighting Roundup 1 Response »
Apr 162010
stimmel gwyneddkitchen3 lg The Pegasus Lighting Roundup for Mar 29 to Apr 16

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.
Continue reading »

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Posted by Emily Widle on April 16, 2010 at 1:18 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Planning Your Kitchen Lighting – 8 Easy Steps

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Apr 012010

iStock 000005263934XSmall 300x200 Planning Your Kitchen Lighting 8 Easy Steps1.  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).

    Continue reading »
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Posted by Emily Widle on April 1, 2010 at 11:17 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Hang Pendant Lights Like a Pro

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Mar 252010

We recently posted about how you can remodel your kitchen in minutes with one of our uniquely designed mini pendant lights.  One of the most popular spots to place these is above a kitchen island, although they also provide an interesting effect above a foyer, bar, or small end table.

If you’re thinking about installing a pendant light above your kitchen island, here are some tips about exactly where to hang it:

For an island with no seating: The light should be hung about 30 inches above the counter.  This will provide adequate lighting for chopping and reading recipes.  The general rule here is to think about where the light will hang in relation to your height.  You don’t want to reach across the counter and be hit in the head!  Most islands are about three feet tall, so an extra 30 inches would place the light at five feet six inches.  If you’re much taller and will be working at the island, you’ll want to tweak the height of the pendant light accordingly.

For an island with bar stools or chairs: Make sure the light is not in your line of vision if you are sitting at the island.  My sister recently had to adjust the pendant lights in her kitchen for this very reason.  Pendants typically provide a nice glow, but when they are hung too low, the glare is very unpleasant.  For an island with chairs, the lights should be hung a bit higher: about 36 to 40 inches above the counter.

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Posted by Emily Widle on March 25, 2010 at 10:00 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Remodel Your Kitchen in Minutes

Lighting Tips 3 Responses »
Mar 172010

corner over cabinet 250 Remodel Your Kitchen in MinutesMost 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.

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Posted by Emily Widle on March 17, 2010 at 3:52 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,

The Pegasus Lighting Roundup for Feb 15 to Feb 19

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Feb 192010

Eco friendly Olympics The Pegasus Lighting Roundup for Feb 15 to Feb 19In lighting news…

Vancouver is setting the stage for more eco-friendly Olympics in the future by using LEED-certified buildings, energy-saving light bulbs, and hydrogen-fueled buses during the events.

In lighting tips…

These seven design decorating tips reveal how to make your home look expensive without a huge budget.  Lighting is one of the essential factors: “your furnishings will look brighter and bolder in appropriate lighting, giving you a richer look home-wide.”

If you’re curious about current home design trends, check out this article on the top 50 features that home buyers love.  Under cabinet lighting, wall sconces, and dimmers all made the list.
Continue reading »

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Posted by Emily Widle on February 19, 2010 at 1:30 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,

Lighting Tips Arranged by Lighting Product

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Jul 012009
Dimming Systems Pendants
Fluorescent Lighting in the Home Track Lighting
Halogen Lighting, Low Voltage Under Cabinet Lighting
Indirect Lighting Xenon Lighting

DIMMING SYSTEMS

Today’s dimming systems enable you to do several positive things: lower light levels to conserve energy and increase lamp (light bulb) life, vary the mood of a room, and alter the intensity of the light to suit the activity.

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING IN THE HOME

Cool Light Source
Fluorescent lighting is, without question, the coolest of all of the light sources that are presently available and modern, high quality fluorescent lamps provide excellent lighting with very good color rendition.

T8 Electronic Ballasts
When selecting fluorescent fixtures for the home try to select those that have instant start T8 electronic ballasts. This will ensure that the fluorescent lamp will turn on without flickering, that the fixture will not give off much heat, that the ballast will not emit an annoying humming sound, and that the fixture will accommodate the new energy-efficient T8 fluorescent lamps.

T8 Lamps
When selecting fluorescent lamps for the home try to select T8 lamps with a color rendering index greater than 80 and a color temperature of 3000K or less. This lamp will provide very good color rendition and provide the kind of “warm” light that most people like in their homes.

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LOW VOLTAGE HALOGEN LIGHTING

Value of Low Voltage Halogen Lighting
Low voltage halogen lighting offers a very white, crisp kind of light source that has excellent color rendering capabilities and often makes crystal and jewelry “sparkle”.
Continue reading »

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Posted by Tom Farin on July 1, 2009 at 9:25 am Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Lighting Tips for Residential Kitchens

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Jul 012009

kitchen Lighting Tips for Residential KitchensGuiding Principle
“Light is the first element of design; without it there is no color, form, or texture.” – Thomas E. Farin

General
If the kitchen isn’t lit properly, who will notice it? Who will care to notice it? Who will even want to be in it?
Lighting can add depth and/or excitement to a kitchen. Let’s face it, the kitchen is where you and your family will spend a lot of time, so take the time to light it well so that it becomes an inviting and pleasant space to be in.
Bad lighting can be expensive and good lighting does not have to be expensive.

Accent Lighting
Accent lighting adds drama to a kitchen by creating visual interest. As part of the decorating scheme, accent lighting is used to spotlight paintings, house plants, sculpture, and other prized possessions, or to highlight drapery or the texture of a wall. House plants can be accented by aiming an uplight at the wall behind the plant, creating a dramatic silhouette of the plant against the wall.
Continue reading »

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Posted by Tom Farin on July 1, 2009 at 9:00 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Lighting Tips for Residential Interiors

Lighting Tips No Responses »
Jul 012009

Guiding Principle
“Light is the first element of design; without it there is no color, form, or texture.” – Thomas E. Farin

General
If the interior isn’t lit properly, who will notice it? Who will care to notice it? Who will want to notice it?
People are generally drawn to light like moths to a candle.
Lighting can add depth and/or excitement to an interior.

Accent Lighting
Accent lighting adds drama to a room by creating visual interest. As part of a decorating scheme, it is used to spotlight paintings, houseplants, sculpture, and other prized possessions, or to highlight the texture of a wall, drapery or outdoor landscaping.
House plants can be accented by aiming an uplight at the wall behind the plant, creating a dramatic silhouette of the plant against the wall.
Continue reading »

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Posted by Tom Farin on July 1, 2009 at 8:10 am Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,
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