Author: Guest Post

This post is written by a guest blogger for Pegasus Lighting.
DIY edison bulb light fixture over a rustic dining room table

How to Build a Rustic Edison Bulb Light Fixture

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How to build a DIY Edison bulb light fixtureBy Guest Blogger, Brooke Beach

Any homemaker knows that the right light fixture can change the entire feel of a room. But light fixtures can also be very costly, especially when you are looking at custom sizing and design.

So why not make one yourself? We will walk you through, step by step, how you can create a professional-looking chandelier from scratch. The best part is that it is inexpensive and you can customize it to fit your exact size needs and style.

It’s simple – you’ll just need a few materials to get started:

Materials:

This project starts just as any quality project should…. the right materials.

  1. A piece of lumber: This specific piece of lumber was a new piece of 1×6 pine that I distressed and stained to give it a rough/distressed look. You can really use any style of wood that you like, the key is to make sure that it can accommodate the size of whatever baskets you choose.
  2. Baskets: I found the two square baskets on the outside of this fixture at the Container store and the center egg basket at Garden Ridge. Again, this is completely up to you as to the style of basket you choose.
  3. Light Sockets: I used light sockets that I found in the lamp accessory section of my local home improvement store. You will need one light socket for each bulb.
  4. Wire: I used brown lamp fixture wire for this fixture. This can also be found at your local home improvement store. Tell the associate that you are making a lamp and they will point you in the right direction. Typically they have white, brown and black colored wire in this gauge.
  5. Rope: I used ⅜ inch Sisal Rope for this fixture. Admittedly, not this best feeling rope that you could ever hope to handle, but it looks great and is certainly strong enough to support the fixture.
  6. 60 watt antique light bulb
    Antique Light Bulb

    Pulley: This is not necessary, but I really like how this finished off the piece. You can do a quick Google search for “Antique Wooden Pulley” and you will be pleasantly surprised by how many options you have!

  7. Edison Bulbs: This is easily the most important part of the fixture! The wire filament inside the bulbs show off a very cool design and the bulbs emit a warm, inviting glow. (For the first time ever, long-lasting and energy-saving LED antique filament bulbs are available!)
  8. Chandelier Canopy Kit: This is the part that will actually attach to your ceiling and cover the wiring. While you are picking up your wire and light sockets, grab this kit as well.
For the first time ever, long-lasting LED antique filament bulbs are available!)

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What is the Federal Energy Deregulation Act?

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Incandescent Light Bulb
Take back the power, literally! According to Bill Olderman (here is his LinkedIn profile), an energy expert at Titan Energy and the author of today’s blog post, you have more control than you think over your home or building’s energy supply. Whether you want lower bills, more reliable service, or a better approach to the environment, you need to know your rights…

Since the Federal Energy Deregulation Act passed in 1999, many business and homeowners still haven’t exercised their right to choose their energy supplier. The ability for consumers to lower their energy costs, protect against rising rates, and, if interested, make an environmentally friendly choice, are all benefits of Deregulation. 3rd Parties help accomplish this by strategically purchasing the energy you use, in the same way the utility previously did, in the open market.  Depending on your state and the utility which serves you, the benefits will vary.

Deregulation dictates that your local utility can’t “Profit” on the supply of energy. Therefore, they don’t compete with 3rd parties, and shouldn’t care that you choose a supplier. However, you can still see this happen in states like Ohio (in certain markets), when they choose a supplier for you if you don’t choose yourself. Your local utility still delivers, services, and bills your account, as well as responds to any emergencies. This is where the utilities earn their profits. Read More

Winning The Battle On Christmas Lights: Artificial Trees

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Stringing lights onto your Christmas tree can be a major nightmare. I mean, people have written songs about how terrible it is. Before the stress of the season takes over, check out our latest guest post from holiday expert Linda Knighton. These simple tips for lighting your artificial Christmas tree will help keep peace on earth throughout your holiday preparation.

If you’re new to owning an artificial Christmas tree, you may discover that it’s a little different to decorate. Although it generally takes more time to put light strands on an artificial Christmas tree, the benefit is that once you’ve placed them on the branches, you won’t have to remove them again. Below are some ideas for selecting the right lights for your Christmas tree, and some tips on how to decorate with them.

  • Use 50-foot light strands. According to Better Homes and Gardens, these lights are less likely to have electrical problems or burn out. If you want subdued lighting, Better Homes’ website suggests 12 boxes of 50-foot light strands for a 6-foot tree, or 20 boxes for an 8-foot tree. If you prefer a brighter look, use 20 boxes for a 6-foot tree or 30 boxes for an 8-foot tree.
  • Check the Christmas lights before you start putting them on the tree. Make sure all the strands are untangled and that none of the light bulbs are loose. Plug each into an electrical socket to ensure that they work and that none of the bulbs are burnt out. Read More

Energy Efficient Windows: Worth It In The Long Run?

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Energy-efficient windows and doors

Energy-efficient lighting is always a big topic on our Light Reading blog. Today, thanks to Jim Klossner, a home and garden writer, we are able to put a focus on another big energy-efficient topic – windows and doors. There is some great information in this post about figuring out if it is time to upgrade your windows and doors and the options available. Enjoy!

When it comes to energy costs in the home, heating and cooling are a major factor. Many of the weakest points in your home’s fight for thermal efficiency are the windows and doors. This is especially true of older homes or those with large entryways and windows. Most retailers make it sound like the only fix for this is to buy the latest, greatest doors and windows. While newer energy efficient doors and windows can offer benefits in the right situations, are they truly worth the time and cost investment?

When to Consider Upgrading Existing Doors and Windows

The benefits offered by these upgrades are largely dependent on your existing windows and doors. One of the biggest factors to consider is the current configuration and the seal of the windows or doors in question. Single pane windows and metal doors offer little in terms of insulation and thermal resistance. They are especially prone to temperature changes due to wind. Combine this with aging seals, weak frames or shoddy installation and you have the perfect recipe for a drafty home and expensive energy bills.

Advantages of Energy Efficient Doors and Windows

Energy efficient doors are often made of materials such as fiberglass, vinyl or wood. These materials reduce the thermal conductivity of the door and help to maintain separate temperature zones on both sides of the door. High-quality seals and frames help to improve these characteristics by ensuring that your heater or air conditioner is not leaking its efforts into the surrounding area. This means easier regulation of temperatures during high or low periods and lower monthly energy bills. Read More

4 Simple Ways To Improve The Exterior Of Your Home

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Nice exterior home

Today’s guest post focuses on the outside of your home. Jennifer, a staff writer for Fortified Roofing, reviews four ways to really give the exterior of your house that “Wow!” factor. I am going to go ahead and add a fifth way to this list – outdoor lighting. No big surprise there, huh? Now back to our regularly scheduled guest post.

Having a beautiful home with a lot of curb appeal requires work! That said, approaching an exterior makeover with the right priorities will save you time, money, and a ton of stress. Let’s take a look at the best ways to improve the outside of your home:

1. Landscaping

This is the first thing someone sees when they look at your home – your only chance to make a first impression. You should mow the lawn at least once every week, and make sure not to neglect edging (creating clean lines around flowerbeds, trees, sidewalks, and fences). For the hedges we usually recommend trimming after you mow, but if they hang over the lawn, you might want to reverse the order to save yourself work. This way you can mow over the clippings. Pine needles, mulch, or rocks are all great, visually pleasing options for flower beds, but don’t forget to pull the weeds! Read More

Using Dynamic Lighting Arrangements to Liven up Your Yard

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A House Lit up at Night

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. Read More