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Daylight
The amount and quality of natural and artificial light in a room
may be the single most important aspect of its beauty. While a room
dimensions -- including ceiling height -- are paramount, even an
ungainly space with low ceilings and unusual dimensions can be lovely
if a warm southwestern light floods in during the afternoon.
Kitchens and breakfast rooms which face east are very welcoming
and pleasant spaces as the rising sun provides new light, the character
of which is soft and cool. For early-risers, having bedroom windows
facing east create a beautiful start to the day as the sun rises
over the horizon.
A southern exposure, when the sun is at the highest point in the
sky, will create very bright light. Light streaming into a room
filled with lots of windows and/or French doors facing south can
be a little harsh, especially for those with light sensitive eyes.
This harshness can be countered, however, by using deeply saturated
interior wall colors and thoughtful furniture arrangement.
It is very congenial to sit in a living room or den with a western
exposure as the setting sun provides a gentler, yet rosier light.
As the sun sets, signaling the end of the workday, the teacart is
replaced with cocktail supplies.
Northern light is the coldest light of all, however, a north-facing
room can be ideal for an artist studio, for example, where the consistency
of light is an important factor. Other possibilities for rooms with
this orientation would be powder rooms, pantries, laundry rooms
and workrooms.
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Artificial
Light
After
the sun has set, artificial light takes over and is equally important
to the ambiance created in a room. The difference, of course, is
that man-made light can be totally changed in a room, while natural
light is harder to manipulate without expensive structural changes
to the house, such as adding windows or doors.
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Lighting
for Ambiance
Lighting
for effect, rather than general illumination or task work, is normally
accomplished by lamps, chandeliers and sconces, and candles.
Good tables lamps, which add a decorative element as well as providing
illumination, are difficult to find. We prefer having lamps and
shades fabricated, using a small bronze, or sculpted gilt wood or
stone, or terra cotta columns, or Chinese ginger jars as the lamp
base.
The lamp should be the correct size for the space on which it rests,
being neither too large nor too small. We like very simple shades,
often in a dark fabric, but always lined with gold paper to provide
a soft, sumptuous light.
Wall sconces -- either in wrought iron, crystal, or antique brass
- can provide a soft glowing light at eye level on the wall. We
love using small lampshades on sconces to further soften the light.
Sconces are particularly lovely in powder rooms, hallways and dining
areas since they add more atmosphere than illumination.
We have a friend who uses real candles in a pair of metal sconces
faced with antique mirrors. Those antique sconces add magic to her
living room.
Nothing is more glamorous in a dining room that a chandelier using
either real candles or electric bulbs, which are more practical.
By adding a dimmer fixture to an electrified chandelier, it is possible
to more closely create the softer light of real candles.
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Task
Lighting
Good
reading lamps are important in any room where direct illumination
is needed for close work. In a living room small pharmacy floors
lamps are a possible option, or a three-way bulb in a large table
lamp can be used, although it is not as easy to direct the light
in the desired direction.
In the kitchen, under the counter lighting is indispensable, in
our view. Halogen lights used here can become hot, but provide a
true light color and are preferable to florescent lighting.
For bedtime readers, we like to use wall-mounted swing lamps, which
can be easily turned off and do not necessitate getting out of bed.
They can either be feminine and shaded, or for a more masculine
or contemporary look, they can be a tube form.
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General
Lighting
For
spaces requiring a good deal of general lighting such as hallways,
bathrooms, workrooms, pantries, kitchen and garages, recessed can
lights - either incandescent or halogen, can be used. Florescent
lighting tubes can be useful in the garage or closet interiors.
Rooms where one entertains and sleeps require lighting for ambiance
and may not contain any overhead lighting whatsoever. Overhead lighting
- whether incandescent, florescent or halogen - is not particularly
flattering, since it creates shadows on the face. Dimmers should
be used on all overhead lighting fixtures in public rooms for this
reason.
Jane
Pierce Losson
Interior Design Consulting
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