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“How Many Under Cabinet Lights Do I Need?”

Feb 212011

measuring for under cabinet lights How Many Under Cabinet Lights Do I Need? If you are about to embark on a kitchen remodel and are installing under cabinet lights, follow these guidelines to determine how many fixtures you should purchase.

First, measure the length of the “cavity” under your cabinet where you are going to place the fixtures.

If you are installing puck lights…

For a 6-10 inch cavity measurement (in length), use 1 puck light.

For 11-18 inches, use 2-3 puck lights. For 19-26 inches, use 3-4 puck lights. For 27-34 inches, use 4-5 puck lights. For 35-42 inches, use 5-7 puck lights. For 43-50 inches, use 6-8 puck lights.

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5 Lighting Trends That Will Never Go Out of Style

Lighting Tips 3 Responses »

Nov 242010

PinExt 5 Lighting Trends That Will Never Go Out of Style

1. Under Cabinet Lighting:

xenon thin undercabinet light 5 Lighting Trends That Will Never Go Out of Style

Often cited as a top remodeling project in terms of high return on investment, installing under cabinet lights is always a great decision. It provides task lighting to make cooking and cleaning easier and accent lighting to highlight a beautiful backsplash or countertop. At night, the glow from an under cabinet light is particularly alluring. Check out our post on How to Choose Under Cabinet Lighting.

2. Energy Efficient Lighting:

Everyone loves lowering their monthly energy bill. Whether you’re switching out those old incandescent bulbs for CFLs, trying super-efficient LED cabinet lighting, or using fluorescent light fixtures for a closet or display case, energy efficiency is the way to go. Besides, today’s incandescent bulbs will no longer be available for sale in the US by 2014 due to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Go green! Continue reading »

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Pegasus Lighting Roundup for August 23 to September 23

Pegasus Lighting Roundup 1 Response »

Sep 232010

PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup for August 23 to September 23

Unexpected Bathroom Moves Pegasus Lighting Roundup for August 23 to September 23

Photo from the "Unexpected Bathroom Moves" post

In lighting news…

What is driving the outdoor LED lighting revolution? According to venture capitalist Jeff Bocan, factors include improving product quality, cost-competitiveness, stimulus funding, education, and the green movement.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association recently released the top kitchen and bath trends for 2010.

Did you know… outdoor lighting reduces the risk of burglary by 50 to 70 percent?

In lighting tips…

Interior design blog posts with trends and photos are always remodeling inspirations. Discover fresh ideas for remodeling the master bathroom with this post on unexpected bathroom moves, quit your gym membership and read 10 tips for designing a home exercise space, or create the ideal multi-tasking area with this recipe for great kitchen lighting. Continue reading »

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A 9/11 Tribute in Light

Lighting News No Responses »

Sep 132010

Tribute in Light A 9/11 Tribute in Light Last weekend, the night sky was illuminated in New York by two twin beams of light shining upward from Lower Manhattan.

The 9/11 “Tribute in Light” memorial is in its ninth year. The rays, which are made up of more than 40 xenon light bulbs, are the strongest shafts of light ever projected from Earth into the night sky. Each year, they evoke the shape of the Twin Towers beginning at dusk on September 11 and fading with the dawn on September 12. Each year, they honor the victims of the terrorist attacks of 2001 and illuminate the sky as a silent, symbolic tribute.

The Municipal Art Society sponsors the display each year. For more information, see the New York Times article.

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Is Your Desk Lighting Giving You a Headache?

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Aug 112010

PinExt Is Your Desk Lighting Giving You a Headache?

EyeStrain Is Your Desk Lighting Giving You a Headache? Eye strain resulting from working at a computer is extremely common. In fact, the American Optometric Association recently reported that 70 percent of people who work on computers for at least two hours a day are impacted by a condition called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS).

Our tendency to stare at a computer screen or Smartphone throughout the entire day is taking a serious toll on our eyes. CVS is also associated with fatigue, decreased productivity, and headaches.

For those in the working world who can’t avoid prolonged computer use, adequate lighting is key to avoiding the effects of CVS. If you work in an office setting, think about talking to your employer about improving lighting conditions! Here are some tips for proper desk lighting:

Bright lighting overhead should be kept to a minimum, if possible. Using a combination of indirect lights and task lights is optimal for an office setting.

If you have a desk lamp, make sure it is 15 inches above the desk’s surface. Whether your light is wall-mounted or sitting on the desk, the 15 inch rule stands.

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How to Choose Under Cabinet Lighting

Buyer's Guides 2 Responses »

Jul 152010

PinExt How to Choose Under Cabinet Lighting

If you’re only going to choose just one lighting feature to add your kitchen, make it under cabinet lighting. It provides task lighting for your countertops to make them ideal for food preparation and cooking, it illuminates the backsplash on your wall to create beautiful accent lighting, and it can also be used as night lighting for your kitchen. Once you install under cabinet lighting, you’ll never want to go back.

Many lighting designers talk about creating “layers of light” for your kitchen. Under cabinet lighting serves as a crucial “layer” for great design.

That being said, there are a ton of options to choose from. How do you know what style of under cabinet lighting is right for your kitchen? Hopefully, this guide will make it a little easier to make your selection.

It’s a good idea to choose your light source first.

1. Fluorescent, Xenon, or LED?

Microfluorescent T4 Under Cabinet Lights How to Choose Under Cabinet Lighting

Fluorescent Under Cabinet Lights

Fluorescent under cabinet lights are the most energy efficient in providing a given amount of light. Moreover, fluorescent light sources give off very little heat. This is a great feature depending on what is stored in the cabinet immediately above the under cabinet fixture or, perhaps, what is lying 12 to 18 inches below the light. While most fluorescent fixtures cannot be dimmed, they can be a wonderful, inexpensive option. In addition, our Microfluorescent Fixtures or Fluorescent Swivel Sticks are probably the easiest products to install – a definite plus. Continue reading »

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A Dimmer Shade of Green

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Jun 022010

Check out the Dimmer Energy Savings Calculator on Lutron’s new website.

It’s an interactive tool to show how much money and energy you can save by using Lutron dimmers. The calculator allows you to select a specific product, the room you’re planning on using it in, hours per day of use, dimmer level, etc. It’s pretty cool!

If you’re looking to go green, installing a dimmer is one of the easiest ways to do it. Dim an incandescent or halogen bulb by 25 percent and you’ll save 20 percent on the cost of electricity, extend the life of the bulb, reduce landfill waste, and cut back on CO2 emissions from power plants. And the aesthetic effects of dimmers pay off as well – you’ll be creating beautiful mood lighting for any room.

Think about this: if every household in the United States installed one Lutron dimmer this year, we would reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to that of 370,000 cars – and we’d save $230 million collectively in electricity. Incredible.

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Beautiful Kitchen Remodel

Lighting Tips No Responses »

May 192010

Check out those fabulous under cabinet lights! One of our customers recently remodeled his kitchen – copper & walnut countertops, cream cabinets, a new refrigerator, oven, sink, etc. and our xenon under cabinet lights. He posted pictures on the Garden Web forum of the results, but we wanted to share them on the blog as well! The xenon lights seem to bring out the warmth of the countertops, and the effect is truly fantastic.

Xenon is always a great option for under cabinet lighting because it’s dimmable and doesn’t give off as much heat as halogen. The particular model in these pictures is the Xenon Line Voltage Thin Under Cabinet Light – it’s extremely low-profile and gives off a bright white light.

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Planning Your Kitchen Lighting – 8 Easy Steps

Lighting Tips 3 Responses »

Apr 012010

PinExt Planning Your Kitchen Lighting 8 Easy Steps

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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How to Hang Pendant Lights Like a Pro

Lighting Tips No Responses »

Mar 252010

PinExt How to Hang Pendant Lights Like a Pro

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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