If you have shopped for an LED light bulb you have probably seen the LED Lighting Facts Label on the product packaging. Five metrics are required on the label; lumens, watts, efficacy, color rendering index and correlated color temperature.
Light Output/Lumens
This is a measure of light output. The higher the number, the more light is emitted. On the LM-79 test report (more about this later) it is reported as “Total Integrated Flux” (Lumens).
Watts
This is a measure of how much energy is required to light the product. The lower the wattage, the less energy is used. On the LM-79 test report, this is reported as “Input Power” (Watts).
Lumens per Watt/Efficacy
This is a measure of efficiency. The higher the number, the more efficient the product is. On the LM-79 testing, this is reported as “Efficacy.”
IESNA LM-79-2008
This is a standardized industry test procedure that measures performance qualities of LED luminaries and lamps and allows for a true comparison regardless of the light source.
Model Number
This is the manufacturer’s unique model number for the product.
Type
This indicates the specific type of solid-state lighting fixture.
Brand
This is the manufacturer’s brand name.
Color Rendering Index (CRI)
This is a measure of color accuracy.
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
This is a measure of light color. “Cool” colors will have a higher Kelvin temperature (3600-5500 K) and “Warm” colors will have lower color temperatures (2700-3500K).
Manufacturers also have the option of also including lumen maintenance and warranty information on the label.
LED Lumen Maintenance
This metric measures the amount of light the LED light source is expected to emit at 25,000 hours at a given ambient test temperature, compared to its initial light output.
Product Warranty
The URL with the warranty information is provided on the label if the product has a warranty.
More about LM-79
When LED products were first introduced to the marketplace, since it was completely new technology, there were no existing standards in place to measure and rate these new products. Standards help manage expectations about what products can and cannot do, in addition to product safety for intended applications. New standards were written, and one of the most important ones is the LM-79. This test provides a basis for rating and understanding the performance of LED products and is also a resource for various certification programs.
Lm-79 was developed and published by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES). The full title is: “Approved Method: Electrical and Photometric Measurements of Solid-State Lighting Products.” LM-79 describes how to accurately measure the electrical input and light output of LED products. The purpose of the standard is to understand how LED’s perform in their expected operating environments.
As a consumer, you may never see the actual LM-79 report, but you will see in referenced on spec sheets and on labels (such as the ones above) and in catalogs. If you are considering a significant LED purchase, you should ask for it since it is an indicator of product quality and certification to programs such as Energy Star. A full report will include electrical information, photometric information and some will include full spectral power distribution.
It is a good idea to at least be familiar with LM-79 if you want to compare products or gain a better understanding of LED technology.
To learn more about the ever changing world of LED technology, be sure to contact our showroom. There is a lot to learn and we look forward to sharing our knowledge and helping you choose the best LED products for your application!
Hinkley Lighting won awards for Best Outdoor Lighting, Best Landscape Lighting and Best Bath/Spa Lighting, in the first ever Market Choice Awards, co-sponsored by enLIGHTenment Magazineand the Dallas Market Center. The International Lighting Market, which takes place in January and in June, typically offers more new product introductions in January. The awards were created to highlight the new product offerings that manufacturers bring out in June and promote the products that are on display during the summer market. Over 30 manufacturers participated and buyers were given the chance to vote on their favorites by category via text messages.
Best Outdoor Lighting-Sutcliffe
The Sutcliffe collection conveys chic elements of early Americana styling. The candelabra lamping, clear glass and copper reflector infuse this sleek pocket lantern design constructed of solid aluminum with a perfect blend of old and new.
Best Landscape Lighting-Luna Step Lights
Hinkley’s Luna LED Step Light offers an idea solution for any 120V outlet or switch location. Rated for indoor or outdoor use, this decorator style sized step light includes a contemporary styled radius front die cast face plate. It consumes only 4W per unit with 180 lumens and is dimmable to 25%.
Best Bath/Spa Lighting-Chloe
Chloe is a dramatic modern design with stunning Piastra glass as its focal point. A slender Brushed Nickel frame securely captures the glass allowing this versatile collection to be mounted horizontally or vertically.
To learn more about Hinkley Lighting, visit their website here. OR better yet, come on into the Legend Lighting showroom to see LOTS of Hinkley Lighting on display!
FREE copies of Lighting magazine from Legend Lighting
Lighting magazine is the only national consumer magazine on lighting and is produced once a year by the American Lighting Association and Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications. It is an excellent resource, full of informative articles and information about the latest trends and technology in the lighting industry. The 120 page magazine features current information on light bulbs and the latest designs, ideas and inspiration to light every room in your home.
ALSO, did you know that Legend Lighting is on Houzz, Pinterset and Instagram too?
We have over 150 pictures of beautiful lighting jobs by Legend Lighting designers on Houzz to inspire you!
And check out our 68 boards and over 1300 pins on Pinterest!
And we will be at the Dallas Market Center this week for the Lighting Market. Click here to follow us on Instagram for a first-hand look at our market finds!
Adding an extra layer of light in your bathroom with wall sconces can make a big difference in getting your bathroom lighting just right! Wall sconces are practical task lights for your bathroom, in addition to an extra style element for your bathroom decor. Choosing sconces is the perfect way to achieve a shadow free light at the vanity since they will cast an even light across the face. Sconces can be mounted on either side of the mirror, or on the mirror. Shades or opal glass will help to minimize the glare.
Here are some things to think about when choosing wall sconces:
Sconces should be installed at eye level, or about 66 inches from the floor.
Sconces should be positioned so that the horizontal beams overlap each other, 28 inches to 40 inches apart.
If you have a double vanity, each sink should have its own light source.
A vanity should have a minimum of 150 watts for adequate illumination, so selecting fixtures that offer a maximum amount of light is recommended. If the light is too bright, lower wattage bulbs can be used, or a dimmer can be installed. Dimmers offer the flexibility to create a mood in your bathroom, adding an element of luxury and a spa-like feel to the space.
Whether it is for a new home or a remodel, or simply updating your existing lighting, our lighting designers can help you choose the perfect wall sconces for your bathroom. With so many great styles to choose from, you can really get a unique, one of a kind look. The photos below are Legend Lighting installations. For more ideas, click here to see our Pinterest board, Great Sconces.
Home built by Seven Custom Homes, Interior Design by, Regina C. Designs.
Home built by Summit Builders, Interior Design by Interior Selections-Austin.
Home built by Seven Custom Homes, Interior Design by Regina C. Designs.
Home built by Pillar Custom Homes, Interior Design by Chelsea+Remy Design.
Home built by Summit Builders, Interior Design by Interior Selections-Austin.
Legend Lighting hosted our first annual Illuminating Design Awards on Thursday, May 30, 2014. Austin interior designers submitted favorite photos of projects featuring lighting in five different categories. Awards for Best Interior Lighting, Best Exterior Lighting, Best Architectural Lighting, Most Unusual Application, Best Use of Crystal, Partner’s Award and Brightest Luminary were presented.
We combined the award presentation with a Red Carpet Crystal Event, and BJ Ferber, our representative with Elegant Lighting, gave a short talk about specifying crystal. The Legend Lighting staff had a wonderful time putting this event together and we look forward to making it even bigger and better next year.
CG&S Design-Build won the award for Best Exterior Lighting for the Central Austin project shown below. The goal was to extend living and dining outdoors for all four seasons for their client. Sconces, copper gutter cove lighting and LED twinkle lights illuminate the space.
CG&S Design Build-Best Exterior Lighting
Chelsea+Remy Design won Best Interior Lighting for this stunning master bedroom. The vaulted ceiling is lit with rope lighting hidden behind the crown molding. Pendant lighting and overhead spot lights provide the reading light without the use of table lamps.
Chelsea+Remy Design-Best Interior Lighting
CG&S Design-Build won a second award for Best Architectural Lighting. This creekside renovation was a complete remodel resulting in the regional, rustic charm of the exterior and a sophisticated, contemporary elegance on the interior.
CG&S Design Build-Best Architectural Lighting
Robin Bond Interiors won the award for Most Unusual Application for their remodel of a 1996 Stardust Houseboat. Short pendants were chosen to reduce the amount of motion from the waves and to account for the shorter ceilings. Cabinet lighting in the wet bar, rope lighting in the ceiling alcoves and puck lights in the entertainment center were used. A ceiling fan for overhead lighting and table lamps were adhered with velcro to keep them from sliding when the boat was rocked by waves.
Robin Bond Interiors-Most Unusual Application
Michelle Thomas Design won the award for Best Use of Crystal for her Sweet Pea Nursery. Michelle wanted this nursery to be feminine, delicate and have one extra bit of extravagance. The pewter tones in the chandelier match perfectly with the restored antique furniture. All other furnishings are minimal and monochromatic, allowing the chandelier to be the “icing on the cake.”
Michelle Thomas Design-Best Use of Crystal
The Partner’s Award for this year was presented to Interior Selections-Austin. This award recognizes a design firm that has chosen to use our staff’s knowledge and resources for lighting design. Legend Lighting has had the privilege of working on numerous lighting projects with Lori Anderson and Roxanne Gutierrez and we applaud their originality and creativity.
Interior Selections-Austin-Legend Lighting Partner’s Award
Chelsea+Remy Design won the Brightest Luminary Award to celebrate the most unique, diverse, read about, heard about, seen about lighting applications from the photos submitted. The Legend Lighting team cast anonymous ballots for each lighting category. The Brightest Luminary Award is the culmination of the vote totals.
Chelsea+Remy Design-Legend Lighting Brightest Luminary Award
Legend Lighting would like to thank all of the interior designers for submitting photos and to everyone that attended our first annual Illuminating Design Awards!
For photos of this event, click here to see our Red Carpet Crystal Event and Illuminating Design Awards album on Facebook.
Cool off this summer with a Fandelier from Savoy House
With summer quickly approaching, consider an upgrade to your existing ceiling fans. One fun and interesting option is a Fandelier from Savoy House. What is a fandelier you might ask? It is a basically a chandelier with a ceiling fan built into it. Savoy House is well known for their fandeliers, which combine the cooling properties of a fan with the wow factor of a chandelier. There are several models to choose from, ranging in style from contemporary to transitional to traditional.
Shown below are Bay St. Louis, Seaside, Borea and Brisa.
Below are Alsace, Cormell, Fire Island and Etesian.
What do you think of the fandeliers and do you see them working in your decor? Leave us a comment below! And as always, we welcome the opportunity to help you choose the perfect new chandelier OR ceiling fan for your home! Call us today at 512-251-0000.
A recent article in Better Homes and Gardens Lighting magazine highlighted ten easy ways to improve the lighting in your home. We thought these were excellent ideas and wanted to share them on our blog.
1. Change out the oldest lighting fixture in your home.
Your oldest fixtures and bulbs are probably your least energy efficient. Trade them out for a product with an Energy Star rating. You will get a new look, save on electricity bills and get a three year warranty.
2. Fix your media room lighting.
Add ambient and task lighting in your TV watching areas to decrease the glare on the screen from your overhead lights.
3. Swap out the lightbulb you leave on the longest.
Energy star labeled bulbs cut your energy use and save energy costs in addition to generating less heat.
4. Add a fixture outside an unlit door.
If you have a entrance, garage or side door without adequate light, add wall sconce(s) for increased safety and security.
5. Check the height of your dining room chandelier.
Your chandelier should be about 30 inches from the top of your table.
6. Replace at least one light switch, if not more.
The newer light bulbs will work best with newer switches.
7. Pick a new shade for a lamp you love.
Changing out your lamp shade will give you a new look and a chance enhance your decor without a big commitment. A light color will diffuse the light into a wider circle, while a darker shade will concentrate the light on a surface.
8. Download a lighting control app.
Apps for smart phones and tablets may allow you to control window treatments, home temperatures and other systems.
9. Find a new ceiling fan.
A new ceiling fan will be more energy efficient and many are much quieter than the older models.
10. Swap out your holiday lights for LED versions.
During the holiday season, 2.22 million kilowatt hours of electricity are used across the country. LED holiday lights use less energy and will last about 40 years, according to the EPA.
If any of these ideas have inspired you to improve the lighting in your home, we can help! Call us at (512) 251-0000 or come by our showroom to learn more and pick up your own copy of Better Homes and Gardens Lighting magazine.
Ceiling grid is a favorite feature in HBA parade home
Living room ceiling grid in Seven Custom Homes HBA parade house
In a previous blog post we shared the plans for a unique living room ceiling treatment in the Seven Custom HomesGreater Austin HBA Parade of Homes. This spectacular home was a big hit on the tour and won awards for Best curb appeal, Best fireplace, Best lighting, Best master bath, Best master suite and Best landscape.
Legend Lighting was privileged to work with Seven Custom Homes to provide the lighting for this project and we were very honored that the home won the award for Best Lighting. Legend Lighting designer, Cathy Shockey, worked with Sheena McKnight, from Seven, to come up with a very creative lighting application for the living room. The inspiration was a photo from Houzz. Here is what Cathy had to say about the project:
“When specifying pendants, odd numbers look best in almost every situation. I would love to say that I had some grand plan for 15 pendants, but in reality, I arbitrarily picked that number! With the unique grid system on the ceiling, the key was not to overload the space visually, but have the lighting help draw your attention to the ceiling treatment. When designing the layout inside the grids, we did not use more than two pendants in a section and some sections ended up with one pendant. The pendant locations were spray painted on the floor for the electrician to mimic on the ceiling.
The height of the pendants varies slightly, as we did not want to have them all hang at one height. We started with the lowest point and worked up from there. There was some concern about the amount of light from the pendants, but I really think they provide the perfect amount of light. The pendants are dimmable, so they can provide low light for smaller, more intimate gatherings, or bright light for bigger parties.
The project turned out even better than we had imagined! It was so cool and got so much attention in the parade.”
We applaud Seven Custom Homes for the innovative and distinctive design features that are incorporated into their homes to make them so stunning. We loved working on this project and always welcome the opportunity to get creative with lighting.
For a virtual tour of this fabulous home click here.
To see more from Seven Custom Homes click here to visit their Houzz profile.
With the season of outdoor entertaining upon us, adding an outdoor lamp (or two!) will help create an inviting and cozy ambiance to your patio or porch. With the popularity of outdoor living spaces, homeowners want to incorporate design elements from their indoor decor outside. Lamps are a perfect outdoor accessory.
Outdoor rated lamps are are made of durable materials with heavy bases and come with weather-proof shades. Several of our manufacturers have new styles and designs.
Below are four of our favorites from Kenroy Home.
Outdoor Rated Table Lamps from Kenroy Home
This next group is from Uttermost. Uttermost is well known for their versatile home decor and accessories.
Outdoor Rated Table Lamps from Uttermost.
Robert Abbey offers beautiful, high quality lighting products and these outdoor table lamps are no exception.
Outdoor Rated Table Lamps from Robert Abbey
Do you have a favorite from the lamps shown here? If so, leave us a comment below.
For more ideas on how to light up your outdoor spaces and get them entertainment ready, call our lighting specialists at Legend Lighting at 512-251-0000.
Create theater style ambiance in your media room with lighting
Having a comfortable and inviting place to watch TV, movies and sporting events has become a priority for homeowners building new custom homes and is also a popular remodeling project for existing homes. There are several considerations to get the lighting in your media room just right.
More than any other room in the house, it is important to use multiple layers of light since the room will likely be used for different purposes. In addition to watching TV, you may also use the room for entertaining, reading, or working, and you will want your lighting to be as flexible as possible.
Joe Rey-Barreau, an expert in lighting, and an associate professor at The University of Kentucky School of Interior Design, recommends recessed cans for general lighting. Rey-Barreau suggests that recessed cans should be placed around the perimeter of the room and the trims should be black, instead of white or shiny metallic, so they will not create glare.
Wall sconces are a very nice addition in media rooms, preferably designs with a more opaque front so that the light will shine up and/or down instead of out. Sconces can create a cozy ambiance in media rooms.
Adding more light without creating glare is also possible through the use of cove lighting. The light will bounce off the ceiling instead of reflecting on the screen. LED tape light or rope light can be used in coves and ceiling treatments and can be dimmed.
Lighting along the steps or walls is another layer of light that can be considered. There are a variety of step and wall lights available, and placing wall lights about 18 inches from the floor would not create any glare on the screen, but still offer enough light to safely move around the room.
Hanging fixtures and lamps will create glare and are not ideal choices for media rooms.
The photo below, from Houzz, is a media room built by Zuri Custom Homes and Renovations in Austin, Texas. This media room has been added to over 7,000 idea books and includes all of the layers of lighting mentioned above, in addition to the use of LED tape light around the TV screen and a special ceiling treatment that mimics a starry sky.
For some added fun to go along with this blog post, we asked our lighting specialists at Legend Lighting to pick out their favorite sconces for media rooms.
Cathy Shockey chose the Flux sconce from Hubbardton Forge. She loves it because it reminds her of an olympic torch and she likes that it is both structured and whimsical. Cathy feels that Flux would fit perfectly in a media room in a more contemporary setting.
Michelle Palma chose the Crossroads sconce from Tech Lighting. She likes it for a media room because it doesn’t put out too much light, you can’t see the light source, and when it’s on, it shows the imperfect, rugged industrial design.
Kathryn Karkella’s favorite sconce for media rooms is the Monaco sconce from Kalco. She likes the fun style and the fact that it’s not too bright and won’t disturb the movie watching experience.
Resa Russell’s favorite media room sconce is the Burst sconce from Kenroy Home. She likes the unique way to get indirect light from the light play on the wall and says that this sconce helps create the perfect mood to complement the feature movie!
Alissa Fischer chose the Fornello sconce from Elan for her media room sconce choice. She likes the color and the way the light is cast up on the wall while glowing red. The vibrant color popping off the wall gives it great style.
Which sconce do you like best for a media room? Leave us a comment below!
