Page 7 - Home Lawn and Garden Spring Three Rivers 2015

HOME, LAWN & GARDEN • THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE
SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 7SSS
Task lighting shines direct light onto a surface, illuminating it thoroughly, and can be turned off when not needed.
Steve Ward’s SRW Construction of Searcy builds between five and 10 custom homes per year of varying sizes, and Ward said he’s seen numerous lighting trends come and go.
“Fluorescent lights used to be the thing,” Ward said. “[Customers are preferring] a lot of decorative pendant lights.”
Lights over a counter for tasks are very common, he said.
Task lighting is generally placed above counters and areas where one will be slicing vegetables and preparing food. There may be lighting over the sink to illuminate dirty dishes. If a kitchen has a desk area, lighting above the desk will make that area more functional. Many task-lighting designs in- clude lights under cabinetry to shine down onto counters and eliminate shadowed re- cesses. Under-cabinet lighting to illuminate countertops is a relatively inexpensive add- on for existing kitchens.
AMBIENT LIGHTING
Ambient lighting is another name for all- over lighting that fills a room. During the day,
ambient light may stream in from windows and skylights. However, at night, ambient lighting is created by various light fixtures in a room. In the kitchen, overhead fixtures are a popular choice for ambient lighting. A blend of hanging pendant lamps, chandeliers and recessed lighting can create the amount of light needed. Homeowners should pay spe- cial attention to the bulbs and fixtures they choose, as not all produce the same amount of light. Those concerned about energy effi- ciency also must give mind to whether the bulbs will use a lot of energy or last a long time. Compact-fluorescent bulbs and LED lighting are long-lasting and do not use as much energy as incandescent bulbs.
Indirect ambient lighting softens shadows in a room, creating a warm, inviting glow. It is an important layer of light that is often overlooked in the kitchen. Setting ambient lighting on a dimmer enables homeowners to cast a mood that is desired when the kitchen isn’t being used for prep work.
ACCENT LIGHTING
If there are key elements in the kitchen that a person would like to highlight, such as a china set, accent lighting can do the trick. Spotlights can be used to show off
collectibles, while a subtle strip of lighting can illuminate a wall of artwork. Many people like to install accent lighting inside cabinetry to create dramatic focal points.
Some homeowners may want to incor- porate decorative lighting in their kitchens. This is the use of ornate chandeliers, hanging pendants and other eye-catching fixtures.
“Breakfast-table lighting is usually a more decorative piece, such as a small chandelier,” Brewer said.
Decorative lighting should be consid- ered in proportion to the size of the kitch- en. Therefore, smaller kitchens will have smaller fixtures and vice versa. Decorative lighting may be the most expensive type of kitchen lighting, so some homeowners pre- fer to plan ahead by having the wiring ready and adding the fixtures over time.
Lighting can be just as important as which appliances and other accessories homeowners choose for their kitchens. Without the right mix of lighting, the kitch- en may not be functional or inviting.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative Services, with contributions by Bruce Guthrie, special sections writer