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Category: Lighting Design

Lighting Checklist for Holiday Entertaining

Tuesday, November 18th, 2014

The year has flown by and the holidays are almost upon us! It’s time to get your home ready for holiday entertaining. As you consider your holiday decor, be sure to think about your lighting! The right lighting creates a warm and hospitable welcome for your guests.

Photo courtesy of Kichler Lighting

Photo courtesy of Kichler Lighting

Outdoor lighting becomes even more important with the shorter days in the fall and winter. Make sure your guests have the proper lighting as they approach your home at your main entrance. The facade of your home should have general illumination to highlight your home’s exterior and light up any dark areas that guests may need to pass through. Landscape lighting in and around trees, shrubs and walkways creates a welcoming effect. If possible, add path lighting to guide your guests to your front door.

The light in your foyer is also an important one for setting a warm and inviting mood. As your guests enter from a dark exterior, it is best not to have the foyer light too bright and intense, but to use a dimmer to control the light intensity. This will reduce glare and discomfort and will help make the transition from the darkness outside  to the interior light of your home.

The color temperature of your lighting is also important to creating a warm and cozy feeling in your home. The most popular is the 2700 color temperature since it is the closest to outside lighting from the sun. Choosing light bulbs can be tricky, so let our lighting experts at Legend Lighting share our knowledge with  you and assist you in selecting the best light bulbs for your lighting needs.

There is still plenty of time to spiff up your lighting for the holidays! We can help you with the best lighting solutions to get your home ready for holiday guests and entertaining. Call us today at 512-251-0000 or come by our showroom at 15342 N. IH 35.

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Posted in Landscape Lighting, Lighting Design, Lighting Tips and Technology Tuesday, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Learn More About Dark Sky Outdoor Lighting

Monday, 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

Monday, 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!

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Posted in LED Lighting Technology, Lighting Design | No Comments »

2013 Dallas International Lighting Market Report

Tuesday, 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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Happy New Year!

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

Happy New YearLegend 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!

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

Winter is the perfect time to think about Landscape Lighting

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013
Landscape Lighting

Photo by Hinkley

It might come as a surprise, but winter is the perfect time to think about Landscape Lighting for your home! With shorter days, it gets dark before most people get home from work, so it is a great time to consider lighting up some the areas around your house.
One of the best reasons to add landscape lighting is for increased safety and security.

Path and step lights illuminate your traffic areas and a well-lit home helps to discourage any unwelcome visitors to your home at night.

Another great reason is to increase the use of your outdoor living spaces after dark. Our Texas weather allows us to enjoy the outdoors year round, so why not make your back yard a beautiful, well lit space to entertain? Additionally, landscape lighting will add beauty and value to your home. Just as your indoor lighting creates a mood inside your home, landscape lighting can also create a warm, inviting feel for the outdoor spaces surrounding your home. Let our experienced Legend Lighting sales associates assist you with the perfect landscape lighting plan for your home! We are happy to schedule evening consultations and demonstrate what can be achieved by placing a few landscape lighting fixtures in your flowerbeds and trees.

Here are a couple of informative videos from two of our landscape lighting manufacturers to help you get started!

Hinkley Lighting

Kichler Lighting

Posted in Landscape Lighting, Lighting Design | No Comments »

Lighting Design Trends: Retro Contemporary

Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

Retro inspirations mixed with the clean lines of contemporary styling is definitely trending in 2012. This design style is ideal for the Austin buyer who is looking for funky chic or vintage but still trends toward modern design.

The Winton, pictured here from Hinkley Lighting,  is a retro-inspired design updated for today’s contemporary decors.  The heavy, rectangular tube construction has forged details and a unique fitted glass panel design. It is open at the top for relamping, lensed on the bottom and is available in chrome and brushed nickel.

The Winton from Hinkley Lighting














Jonathan Adler’s Havana Triple Pendant is full of retro chic style. Three cocktail shaker style metal shades in a white powder coated finish are offset by polished nickel accents.

Havana Triple Pendant by Jonathan Adler for Robert Abbey





















The Sea Side ceiling fan from Savoy House is a sleek retro style design in satin nickel.

Savoy House Sea Side Fan


















Visit our showroom for more Retro Contemporary style ideas!

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Traditional & Contemporary Lighting & Ceiling Fans | Custom Lighting Designs | Energy Efficient Solutions | Landscape Lighting
Architectural Downlighting | Cabinet Lighting | Turn-key Installation Services | Table & Floor Lamps | Home Décor | Light Bulbs