Austin Interior Designers • Spotlight: Interior Selections-Austin

July 10th, 2013

Austin Interior Designers: Lori Andersion and Roxanne Gutierrez

Austin Interior Designers

Meet the dynamic duo of Austin Interior Designers, Lori Anderson and Roxanne Gutierrez of Interior Selections-Austin. It won’t take long to experience their enthusiasm for interior design and the personal connection that they make with their clients, vendors and friends. Specializing in residential design, they enjoy working on both new construction and remodels and following a project from the planning stage through to the finished product.

Lori Anderson

Lori is an original founder of Interior Selections-Austin and has over twenty years experience in residential interior design in Austin. She loves to exceed her clients’ expectations and to make the design process fun and exciting. She enjoys getting to know her clients and strives to reflect their personality and style in their decor. The most rewarding aspect of design for Lori is pulling everything together at the end with the finishing touches. Lori is happy with the trend toward cleaner, fresher looks as an alternative to the Tuscan style that has dominated the last few years. Orange and hot pink are her favorite colors to work with and Currey & Company and Cyan Design are among her favorite lighting lines.

Roxanne Gutierrez

Roxanne joined Lori in 2012 and has over ten years of experience in residential interior design, having worked with several architects, builders and design firms in her career. Roxanne enjoys the technical aspect of her work, such as tile design and layout in addition to AutoCAD. The blend of old and new and mixing finishes without making everything “matchy” is a priority for Roxanne. She enjoys creating a focal point and conversation piece for her clients. Classic looks, Hollywood glam, and silver and chrome finishes are favorite looks for Roxanne. Grays and blues are the colors she enjoys working with, and her “go to” lighting lines are Hinkley Lighting and Cyan Design.

Both Lori and Roxanne expressed that one of the new challenges to their design work is that current popular TV home makeover shows can create unrealistic expectations for their clients. They stress that quality interior design is a process and it takes time and patience to get great results.

Legend Lighting has had the privilege of working on several projects with Interior Selections-Austin. Our ALA Lighting Specialist Cathy Shockey teamed up with Lori and Roxanne on the lighting design in the photos below.

For more information on Interior Selections-Austin, go to their website www.interiorselections-austin.com, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Interior-Selections-Austin, and check out their Houzz at www.houzz.com/pro/interiorselectionsaustin.

Pendant Lighting from Cyan Design

Pendant Lighting from Crystorama

Bar pendants from Eurofase

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Revolutionary New Ceiling Fan Design Arrives This Fall to Legend Lighting

July 9th, 2013

The new Ariel ceiling fan model from Savoy House in partnership with SleepFans will be on display and available for purchase this September 2013 at Legend Lighting. Aside from its stunning aesthetic design qualities, this revolutionary ceiling fan is 20% quieter, moves 20% more air, and uses 20% less electricity than traditional ceiling fans thanks to its design characteristics that borrow from aviation technology.

The Ariel fan will be available in a bronze and nickel finish with real, carved wood blades in a two-blade, three-blade and five-blade design. To learn more about the technology behind the design, watch this interview in the video below with David Furnace of the SleepFans company.

And for those of you who think the name SleepFans sounds familiar, Legend Lighting was proudly the very first lighting showroom in the world to display and sell the original SleepFans Quiesco model. These pedestal fans were previously featured in our blog, and are now available in a wall mounted and table top design. For a refresher about the original SleepFans design, check out this video.

While the Ariel ceiling fan model being launched by Savoy House doesn’t feature the “red noise” benefits of the SleepFans pedestal, wall mount and tabletop models, other nifty attributes are rooted in the original SleepFans design. The most obvious is the curvature and shape of the blades themselves, which very much resemble and indeed are based on the design of an aircraft propeller.

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Five LED Lighting Products Every Home Should Have

May 13th, 2013

With increased interest in LED lighting and the continuing trend toward energy efficiency, we are often asked where LED lighting makes the most sense in residential applications. LED lighting is a great option for cabinet lighting, landscape lighting, outdoor lighting, recessed lighting and light bulb replacement.

LED Cabinet Lighting

One of the easiest ways to incorporate LED technology into your home is by changing out your old fluorescent under cabinet lighting to LED. WAC Lighting manufactures two of our favorite and most popular under cabinet lighting products.

InvisiLED tape light from WAC Lighting

LEDme Light Bars from WAC Lighting

LEDme Light Bars from WAC Lighting are an excellent choice for kitchen counters and under cabinets. Available in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 lights, and in bronze, satin nickel and white, they are dimmable to 10% with an electronic low voltage dimmer. LEDme Light Bars have a true one inch profile and are rated to last 50,000 hours.

InvisiLED Tape Light, also from WAC Lighting, is one of the most flexible LED products on the market and can be used as accent lighting, in coves, under counters, bars and in toe kick areas. It is very easy to install and is a quality energy efficient light source. InvisiLED is available in 2700K, 3000K, 3500K and 4500K color temperatures, can be dimmed with an electronic low voltage dimmer and rated to last 50,000 hours.

LED Landscape Lighting

If you spend a lot of time and energy creating a beautiful landscape, you will definitely want to light it up at night to show it off. Artistic illumination of the landscape is very popular right now and can be accomplished with a variety of down lights, spotlights, path lights, and floodlights. The versatility and energy efficiency of LED make it the perfect choice for landscape lighting. LED bulbs last much longer than standard low voltage lights, and as a result, require much less maintenance.

Kichler Design Pro LED Landscape Lighting

Kichler’s Design Pro LED with Radiax Optics offers more lumens with less wattage, multiple kelvin temperatures and multiple lumen outputs. These features create design flexibility and the capability to precisely deliver light right where it is needed. The versatility, finish options, beam angles and brightness make Kichler an excellent choice in landscape lighting.

The Nexus series from Hinkley Lighting

Hinkley Lighting’s LED landscape lighting fixtures are engineered with an integrated LED light engine. Hinkley continues to stay in the forefront of LED technology with sleek fixtures such as their Nexus series. Nexus is a clean, contemporary energy saving system, which is designed to blend into the landscape. It is a dimmable system and will work with any 12V transformer and will complement a wide range of residential applications.

LED Outdoor Lighting

Consider an update to your outdoor lighting and get a great new look along with the energy efficiency of LED. There are many beautiful choices available to enhance your home’s exterior. The LED fixtures shown here from Hinkley Lighting are engineered with a high efficiency LED panel and built-in driver. Hinkley also makes GU24 fixtures that are equipped with an energy efficient socket that accepts LED and fluorescent lamps. Select lanterns can be fitted with the LED DSL-40 to convert to Dark Sky and LED.

The Atlantis Series from Hinkley Lighting

The Aria Series from Hinkley Lighting

LED Recessed Lighting

If you are remodeling your home or even as an economical alternative in new construction, consider using LED retrofit modules in your existing recessed cans. They use 85% less energy than a 65 watt incandescent lamp, producing 77 lumens per watt and last an average of 35,000 hours. The 6″EP Series shown here from American Lighting is available in 2700K and 3000K with a high color rendering that works well for general lighting. They are dimmable with most standard incandescent dimmers, can be used in damp locations and have a five year warranty. Trim colors available are dark bronze, brushed steel and white. These are very easy to install with a few simple, easy steps.

EP 6″ LED Retrofit Module from American Lighting

LED Light Bulbs (Lamps)

The quickest and most convenient way to add LED lighting in your home is to replace some of your light bulbs with new LED lamps. Toshiba manufactures high quality LED lamps in a variety of color temperatures and lumen outputs, so there is sure to be one to fit your needs. Their powerful PAR 30 lamp, shown here, provides 800 lumens and is available in three color temperatures and three beam angles. These lamps can replace the halogens in your recessed cans and are rated to last 40,000 hours. Consider replacing the light bulbs in your table lamps with the Toshiba 8A19, also shown here. This omni-directional 40 watt equivalent A-19 produces 450 lumens of warm natural light. All of the LED lamp products from Toshiba are highly rated and are an excellent choice as a replacement for your incandescent light bulbs.

Toshiba A19 LED Lamp

Toshiba LED Par 30 Lamp

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Designer Lighting from Visual Comfort

April 18th, 2013

New Designer Lighting Arrives In Austin Showroom

Arch Top Lantern

Legend Lighting is proud to announce that we now offer designer lighting from Visual Comfort. Known for their high end, high quality designs, Visual Comfort’s designer lighting collections include a wide array of ceiling, wall, and outdoor lighting, along with a beautiful group of table and floor lamps.

Caged Lantern

Founded in 1987 in Houston, Texas, Visual Comfort has worked with some of the most influential names in design to become one of the premier American resources for signature designer lighting. The first products introduced from Visual Comfort were pharmacy lamps. Through the years they have expanded their line to include lighting fixtures for every style and taste. Well known names such as Thomas O’Brien, Barbara Barry, and Alexa Hampton are among their elite list of designers.

Experience Exceptional Quality

Quality and craftsmanship are evident in every item and their designs range from traditional to contemporary styles. Outstanding finishes create a custom character to their brass, bronze, nickel, silver and chrome. Materials incorporated into their designs include classic enamels, ceramic and porcelain, forged irons and honed woods, handblown glass, rock crystal and alabaster. Shades in elegant parchment papers, silks and linen also contribute to the uniqueness of their designs.

Visual Comfort in Magazines

Veranda September 2012 Cover

House Beautiful Cover June 2011

Visual Comfort is regularly featured in some of the most popular design publications including Veranda, Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Traditional Home and others. Their popular Apothecary floor lamps graced the cover of the September 2012 issue of Veranda, shown here. The Morris lantern was featured on the front cover of the June 2011 issue of House Beautiful. Visual Comfort designer lighting ideas and inspiration are also found in Houzz ideabooks and Pinterest boards.

The company is growing quickly and has plans to expand in Houston. At this month’s High Point Market in North Carolina they will introduce 150 new designs. Visual Comfort lighting exudes a “timeless” quality with an extraordinary sense of style, which has made it one of the most popular lighting choices among interior designers.

Visual Comfort at Legend Lighting

With so many fabulous choices, it was difficult to make the selections to put on display in our showroom. We narrowed it down to our favorites and will give you a sneak peak below. Visit the Legend Lighting showroom soon to learn more about designer lighting from Visual Comfort! Illuminate the possibilities with Legend Lighting!

Ring Table Lamp

Percival Chandelier

Sloan Double Shop Light

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Simple Elegance – Classic Hand Forged Lighting From Hubbardton Forge

March 21st, 2013

Hand forged lighting fixtures blend art and function

The oval Mackintosh pendant from Hubbardton Forge

Hand forged lighting fixtures are truly pieces of functional art and can make a statement and create a focal point in any setting or décor. One of our favorite lighting lines at Legend Lighting is Hubbardton Forge. Not only do they have wonderfully unique designs, the Hubbardton Forge story is a true American success story merging creativity and business. Founded in 1974 in Vermont, two college students set out on an artistic and entrepreneurial adventure in the business of hand-crafting metal. For nearly four decades Hubbardton Forge has been manufacturing top quality hand forged lighting fixtures. They are the oldest and the largest commercial forge in the USA. Their innovative designs and renown quality has made them one of the most respected brands in the lighting industry. The Hubbardton Forge showroom at the Dallas Lighting Market is always a treat. We love selecting our favorite new designs and bringing them back to the Legend Lighting showroom.

Beautiful and unique finishes

The Link pendant in the new 2013 vintage platinum finish

Hubbardton Forge is well known for the depth and beauty of their finishes. Their translucent finishes show the distressing of the metal by the heat as the piece was made by the craftsman. The opaque finishes provide a full covering of the metal and are the more traditional way to finish and protect metal to keep it from rusting and marring. They introduced four new finishes in 2013. We love the new Vintage Platinum, an aged chrome that has been burnished and polished to a vintage sheen. The new Link pendant is shown here in Vintage Platinum. Hand-rubbed Smoke, Hand-rubbed Mahogany and Hand-rubbed Pewter are the other new finishes.

Quality made to last

A new Limited Lifetime Warranty was also unveiled in January, 2013. The warranty is in effect for the lifetime of the original purchaser and is for residential use only. If a fixture should fail, it will be repaired or replaced with the same or a similar product at no charge to the customer. This warranty is very rare in the lighting industry and speaks to the quality and commitment of the company. Click here to read more about the warranty.

Staying true to the durability, quality and innovation that defines Hubbardton Forge, they have thoughtfully incorporated LED into their lighting designs. They partnered with a local Vermont LED company to give them the control over the quality of LED’s that go into their fixtures. One example of a new fixture with an LED light source is the Ethos sconce shown below (right).

The Ethos LED sconce from Hubbardton Forge

Make Your Lighting Unique

Customization is also available on most of the Hubbardton Forge lighting products, allowing for custom metal finishes and glass and shade colors. For those customers in a hurry, a quick ship program has also been developed featuring the best selling products in the most popular finish and glass options. These products ship within two days of the receipt of the order.

The only way to fully appreciate these beautiful hand forged lighting fixtures is to see and touch them in person. We have an extensive display of Hubbardton Forge products in the Legend Lighting showroom. We always welcome the opportunity to show and tell what we love about the line. Let our lighting designers help you choose the perfect piece of Hubbardton Forge art for your space!

Illuminate the possibilities with Legend Lighting!

Tags: Hand Forged Lighting, Hubbardton Forge, Wrought Iron Lighting
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Learn More About Dark Sky Outdoor Lighting

March 4th, 2013

If you live in or near a major metropolitan area, have you ever stopped to consider what the sky looks like at night? In the 24-7 world we live in, our cities and towns are so brightly lit, when we look up into the night sky, all we often see is a blank haze. This artificial illumination has created light pollution, which hides the beauty of the stars, interrupts the natural rhythms of animals and insects, impacts human health, and wastes millions of dollars.

Light pollution is classified into three categories. Sky glow is the light that shines into the night sky and creates a glow over urban and suburban areas. Glare is the light that shines into people’s eyes as they drive or walk. Light trespass is unwanted light that shines into a neighbor’s property or home.

The movement to preserve the night sky started many years ago with ecologists’ concerns about wildlife on the east and west coasts, specifically the sea turtles that breed on the coastlines. Over time, and as consumers have become more energy conscious, dark-sky issues have gained momentum. Many cities and towns across the country are adopting various ordinances to limit light pollution and some have implemented dark-sky codes and regulations. The International Dark Sky Association evaluates and awards lighting fixtures that meet their requirements with a seal of approval. About 75 lighting manufacturers have outdoor lighting fixtures that have earned the designation and the number is expected to grow. To earn the seal of approval outdoor fixtures must comply with the following:

1. Designed and installed to be fully shielded (full cutoff)

2. Have a maximum lamp wattage of 25 watts HID (or lumen equivalent) for commercial lighting, 100 watts incandescent, and 26 watts fluorescent for residential lighting (or approximately 1,600 lumens).

3. In residential areas, light should be shielded such that the lamp itself or the lamp image is not directly visible outside the property perimeter.

Here are a few of our favorite dark sky fixtures:

Hinkley Lighting’s Atlantis collection, shown above, is available in seven sizes with finish options in bronze, titanium and satin white. Atlantis is a chic solution for the eco-conscious homeowner.
Hand forged in Vermont, the Airis collection from Hubbardton Forge is available in three sizes, five finishes and with either seeded clear glass or a stainless steel mesh tube.

Airis collection by Hubbardton Forge

Franceasi is a beautiful traditional dark-sky collection from Kichler, available in four sizes in an Olde Bronze finish.

Franceasi collection by Kichler Lighting

Regulations and ordinances regarding dark-sky compliance vary among municipalities. For more information about dark-sky requirements and to see dark-sky outdoor lighting fixtures on display, visit our showroom and speak with one of our knowledgeable lighting specialists.

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Shine Some Light On It: Inspiring Solutions That Light Up Your Space

February 18th, 2013

Legend Lighting is introducing a new blog series, “Shine Some Light On It: Inspiring Solutions That Light Up Your Space”. In our lighting showroom, we have opportunities daily to solve lighting challenges for our customers. We decided that this would be valuable information to share with our readers on our blog. So, in this new series, we will be writing about solutions that we have come up with to real lighting problems. Maybe these examples will inspire a lighting project in your home!

Recently, two of our customers wanted to light up a built-in entertainment center in their living room. Their shelving was stained dark, and they knew they wanted to add accent lighting but didn’t know where to start. They contacted our showroom, and Resa Russell, lighting designer at Legend Lighting, went to work to find a solution. To simplify the process, the homeowners were given some homework. We asked them to provide some photos (shown here) and take some preliminary measurements. The couple had expressed that they wanted it to be bright enough, but not overwhelming.

LED tape light from LED Inspirations was the perfect solution for these homeowners’ dark shelving. Lighting the shelving with tape light could be accomplished in one of two ways. Tape light could be installed around the perimeter of the interior of the cabinet box, but they wanted each individual shelf to be illuminated. One of the benefits of tape light is that the low profile allows it to be easily hidden in a channel, which was used for this installation. With no lip on each shelf to hide the tape, the channel was an easy solution.

Resa came up with the best layout and made a visit to the customers’ home to determine the desired color and brightness. LED tape light is available in both Inspire Bright and Inspire Super Bright and comes in color choices of 2700 kelvin (matches incandescent), 3000 kelvin (matches halogen) and 4000 kelvin (matches fluorescent). Our LED Tape Light kit allowed Resa to show the homeowner all their choices and exactly how the light would look in their space. This customer wanted a warm accent light, so the Inspire Bright 2700 kelvin tape was determined to be the best choice, installed in the bronze channel. A transformer would be needed, and could sit in the center above the cabinet, with the wiring traveling down each side of the cabinet box. A dimmer was also installed, adding even more flexibility. Our sister company, Powerhouse Electrical Services, provided the installation. A photo of the finished project is shown below. Our customer was very pleased with the results.

LED tape light is a great solution to many lighting challenges that otherwise were more difficult and more expensive to solve before LED tape light was introduced to the marketplace. It can beautifully illuminate coves, niches, bookcases, toe kicks, steps and cabinets.

If your home has a shadowy spot, and you need to Shine Some Light On It, come see us at Legend Lighting. We will find the right solution to light up your space!

Tags: Shine Some Light On It
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2013 Dallas International Lighting Market Report

January 29th, 2013

We returned from the 2013 International Lighting Market in Dallas last weekend full of excitement and inspiration about the lighting industry! The new lighting designs and styles were impressive, and we were wowed by the incredible new products that we saw on display. We are currently choosing our favorites to bring into the Legend Lighting showroom so we can bring you new design inspiration for your next lighting project!

While some of these lighting fixtures are available as a special order right away, many will be arriving over the next few months, so for now, we will give you a little taste of what we saw…

Zanadoo chandelier by Arteriors Home

Brass is definitely staging a comeback. We started seeing it in 2012, and we will see even more of it this year. Burnished brass, antique brass, modern bronze, retro brass and antique gold are just a few of the finish names, but all of them offer the timeless, warm tones that blend nicely with both the oil-rubbed bronze and satin nickel hues that have been prominent these last few years. The Zanadoo 12 light iron chandelier from Arteriors Home, shown here in antique brass, is a great example. This show-stopping fixture was featured on the front cover of the October 2012 issue of Real Simple magazine.

The Hamlet sconce by Hinkley Lighting

Incorporating natural materials into lighting fixtures continues to be a popular trend. Natural elements can relax a modern space and help create an open, calming ambiance, adding texture and interest to a room. Regardless of style, whether it’s traditional, transitional or contemporary, almost every manufacturer offers fixtures made of wood or wood accents. Natural rope accents were also seen, as shown here in Hinkley’s Hamlet sconce, with chain wrapped rope alternating with strands of amber crystals.

The Middleton chandelier in bronze gold by Currey & Company

Lighting fixtures in geometric shapes or with geometric shaped accents are also very trendy. Spheres continue to be popular, along with ovals, squares, triangles, rectangles and hexagons. Modern, Retro and Glam styles are all the rage, and geometric shapes are right at home in these decors. The Middleton chandelier from Currey & Company with interlocking rectangles is shown here in bronze gold.

Structure by Savoy House

Another trend that continues to evolve is Modern Industrial decor. Made popular with the emergence of loft living and the conversion of commercial warehouse spaces to residential use, this look gives an edgy nod to the past. Rough wood, wire cages, burnished metals and fixtures with Edison bulbs are integrated into light fixtures to give them a modern twist. Shown here is Structure from Savoy House, a four light chandelier in aged steel with metal mesh shades.

Albert wall sconce by Robert Abbey

Additionally, the Albert wall sconce, shown here in patina nickel, from Robert Abbey, and the Everly pendant from Kichler, shown in olde bronze, are both are shown with Edison bulbs. These reproduction antique light bulbs have become very popular for restoration looks. We have these fun, trendy light bulbs available at Legend Lighting.

The Everly pendant by Kichler

Stay tuned for more exciting news about new lighting trends and designs! And visit our showroom soon to see some of these new introductions on display, or make an appointment with one of our knowledgeable lighting designers to learn more.

Illuminate the Possibilities with Legend Lighting!

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WAC: Straight Edge – LED Light Strip Product Review

January 29th, 2013

Images provided by WAC.

WAC is known for introducing innovative products that offer new solutions to many common lighting issues. Measuring less than an inch wide and a half inch deep, the Straight Edge LED Light Strip is the answer for under cabinets, coves, display cabinets and other areas where space may be a factor.

Offering two color temperatures, five lengths and several mounting options, there are many options to customize any job.

The Straight Edge has an average of 48 lumens per watt, making it an energy efficient light source for task lighting. One of the most interesting mounting accessories available is the adjustable mounting clip, which allows the fixture to pivot and direct light exactly where it is needed.

For a job that needs continuous light with some flexibility in mounting, the Straight Edge may be the product for you. The Straight Edge is on display in the Legend Lighting showroom. Come in soon and take a look!

Posted in Energy Efficient Solutions, LED Lighting Technology, New Products | No Comments »

Happy New Year!

January 29th, 2013

Legend Lighting would like to wish all of our valued customers a very Happy New Year! We are looking forward to a great year in 2013!

The lighting industry is changing rapidly with new products and technologies being introduced to the marketplace at an extraordinary pace. We want to be your resource in Austin, Texas for lighting fixtures, chandeliers, ceiling fans, cabinet lighting, landscape lighting, and much more! Whether helping you find the perfect style, size and finish for your decorative lighting, or educating you on the latest in LED technology, our designers can help!

This year we plan to offer several educational and DIY classes, so be on the lookout for those in our newsletter and posted to our website. Also, our website will soon be updated with new photography, a new Legend Lighting Gallery with a portfolio of our projects, and a Design Inspiration gallery with photos from our manufacturers.

On our homepage we also have links to Facebook, Pinterest, Houzz and our blog. Follow us on Facebook and check out our boards and idea books on Pinterest and Houzz!

We’ve recently returned from the International Lighting Market in Dallas where we previewed the hottest new styles and trends in residential lighting, and we’ll be bringing these new lighting designs to our showroom in the coming months. Come visit our showroom soon. Illuminate the Possibilities with Legend Lighting!

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