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There are many factors that affect the amount of light output from a cove including the light source used, the dimensions of the cove, the height of the ceiling, and the finishes of the ceiling and surrounding surfaces. That said, an average residential cove will generally not put out enough light to read by comfortably. Coves (continuous lines of light built into the architecture which allow the light fixture to be hidden from view while lighting the ceiling with indirect illumination) are excellent for accenting architectural detailing at the ceiling line, highlighting an interesting ceiling finish, and giving a room a bright, uplifting feeling, particularly in rooms with high ceilings which can look cavernous if the ceiling is allowed to go too dark. The light from a cove gives a wash of soft ambient light and can be a wonderful and valuable component in your lighting plan, but if you plan to do significant reading in the room, we suggest you add some additional task light, either in the form of down lights or reading lamps. Your eyes will thank you!
If you are interested in indirect cove lighting or custom shelf lighting for bookcases, shelves or antique furniture, give the lighting specialists at Illuminations Lighting Design a call. The local number is 713-863-1133 and toll free 800-863-1184. Labels: Cabinet Lighting Systems, Cove Lighting Specialists, Houston Lighting Design Company, Low Voltage Shelf Lighting, Rope Lights
If the lighting in your project is important to you in function, aesthetics, or both, a lighting designer will be a valuable addition to your deign team. Lighting can actually be quite a complex science, needing to take into account issues such as footcandle level, glare, lamp life, maintenance, color rendition, source type, aiming angles, fixture selections, lighting controls, and wattage and voltage constraints. In our office we have a wall 20' long and 8' high where we house the fixture catalogs for all the major lighting manufacturers (and a large majority of minor ones!). It is our full time job to keep up with what the lighting world has to offer and to relay our expertise into what is in the best interest of the client. Because we are independent consultants, not affiliated with any certain lighting brands or showrooms, we are able to recommend lighting designs and specifications without bias.
Although architects' offices, interior designers, and even engineers are often layout electrical plans, their areas of responsibility are so broad that most do not have the ability to become truly educated about lighting technologies and design. Additionally many offices will hand off the lighting plan to a factory representative or showroom that has little knowledge of the client or their needs and will be doing the design and specification based on their own employment alliances and pricing structure. An architect or interior designer that recommends using a lighting consultant is not showing their weakness or lack of knowledge. Rather it's the other way around - they are recognizing the importance of the project at hand and knowing when to call in the experts so that the job is able to reach its fullest potential!
The professional consultants at Illuminations Lighting Design understand how color, texture, form and shadow can be molded creatively to produce the effect required. This can only be accomplished with the correct equipment and a complete knowledge of lamp types and lamp performance. An Illuminations signature design is a space where every lantern, sconce, chandelier, up light and down light ideally balances a room for its precise intent, including hard-to-light spaces.
For more information regarding our lighting design services please contact Tom Kretzschmar via email or by phone at 713-863-1133. Labels: Austin Lighting Control Systems, Commercial Lighting Designers, Houston Lighting Design Company, Lighting Design Company
It's never really too early to contact a lighting designer, though it can be too late. Ideally a lighting designer should be brought in as a part of the team during Schematic Design. The client, architect and/or interior designer should have the basic layout and design of the project in plan so that the feel, needs, scope, and challenges of the project can be communicated throughout the design team. By being brought in before Design Development continues, the lighting designer will be able to make suggestions about the architecture that may affect or aid the lighting and will also be able to consult in designing architectural lighting details.
The earlier you bring a home lighting consultant in on your design meetings, the more integrated with the architecture the lighting is able to be. The later you bring the consultant in, the more the lighting system will look and act like an afterthought and the more the design will be compromised. This also holds true with outdoor landscape lighting design.
For more information regarding LIGHTING DESIGN SERVICES please contact TOM KRETZSCHMAR at 713-863-1133 or toll free at 800-863-1184. Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Lighting Designers, Home and Garden Landscape Lighting, Houston Lighting Design Company
The City of Houston energy code is basically designed for commercial buildings and structures.
Here is a quick highlight of the City of Houston Energy Code:
Scope: This guideline is to help the Houston building industry to better understand the requirements set forth in the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the 2000 International Residential Code (IRC) Chapter 11.
Purpose of the Energy Code: The Energy Code is mandated by state law in an effort to reduce the air pollutant emissions, moderate future peak electric power demand, and to help control energy costs.
Overview: The IECC specifies thermal envelope requirements for new construction, and additions and alterations to existing buildings. The Energy Code primarily focuses on the following requirements:
Building Envelope Insulation R-values, Densities, and Thickness Window & Door Area, Solar Heat Gain Coefficients, and U-Factors Heating and Cooling System Efficiency Duct Insulation Electrical Lighting Loads
There are some requirements for residential applications that must comply with the energy code for new construction and remodel situations. One is the penetration of the ceiling cavity with recessed lighting, article (502.1.3) that reads:
All fixtures shall be type IC rated, manufactured with no penetrations between the inside of the recessed fixture and the ceiling cavity and sealed to prevent air leakage, or shall be installed in a sealed box maintaining the required clearances of not less than 1" from combustible material and not less than 3" from insulation material.
Another is the electrical energy consumption for units with multiple tenants, article (505.1) that reads:
In Type A-2 residential buildings having individuals dwelling units, provisions shall be made to determine the electrical energy consumption consumed by each tenant by separately metering individual dwelling units.
And finally, all pools should have time clock controls, article (504.4) that reads:
All pools shall have time clocks installed to allow the pumps to run in off peak electrical demand periods and can be set to maintain the water clear and sanitary.
There are three types of generally accepted ways to calculate the energy code requirements: Simplified Prescriptive Approach, Component Performance Approach or a System Analysis Approach
Simplified prescriptive approach follows the simplified prescriptive requirements set forth in Chapter 11 of the IRC, which corresponds with Chapter 6 of the IECC.
Component Performance Approach allows varying insulation levels, glazing and door areas, and glazing and door U-values. (See Chapter 5 or Chapter 8, sections 801 through 805 of the IECC) In this approach builders/designers may choose to utilize a software program.
System Analysis Approach allows compliance to be demonstrated by an analysis of the proposed building's annual energy usage. The building is considered to be in compliance if the calculated energy consumption is not greater than a "standard design" meeting the minimum performance requirements of the code. Generally, this comparison uses engineering calculations or a computer simulation. (See Chapter 4 or Chapter 8, section 806 of the IECC)
For more information regarding these approaches, interpretations, calculations, or compliance with the City of Houston electric code, contact the professionals at Illuminations Lighting Design. Our staff of experienced lighting consultants are highly qualified to assist you with meeting the minimum requirements of the Energy Code not only here in Texas but around the country. We can be reached at 713-863-1133 or by email by contacting Tom Kretzschmar in the lighting design department.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Houston Energy Codes, Houston Lighting Design Company, Outdoor Restaurant Lighting
 We have a Landscape Client Gallery on our web site that contains many digital images of our Landscape Lighting work.
Our staff of Landscape Lighting designers and licensed installers are both uniquely qualified in all forms of landscape lighting techniques. Whether you are looking for a simple low voltage lighting system, or a more comprehensive moonlighting installation, the professionals at Illuminations Lighting Design can turn your home and landscaping into a nighttime masterpiece.
For more information regarding a landscape lighting design services, repairs or installation please contact Rick Luberger by email or by phone at 832-607-5200.Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, High-End Lighting, Independant Residential Electrical Contractor, low voltage lighting systems, Outdoor Architectural Lighting
CEDIA is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,000 member companies worldwide. CEDIA members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. CEDIA members include Residential Electronics Systems Professionals who have emerged as the fourth contractor in the building and remodeling industries alongside electrical, plumbing and HVAC professionals. Member classifications include Residential Electronic Systems Contractors, manufacturers, sales representatives, distributors, consultants and affiliates. Faisal Manzoor is the lead systems engineer in Illuminations' Home Automation Department. Manzoor is a CEDIA (Consumer Electronic Design & Installation Association) Certified Designer as well as being certified in both Vantage and Lutron Lighting Controls. Faisal is only one of a handful of CEDIA certified designers in the Houston area to hold this prestigious certification. His background includes a career as an Electrical Design Engineer as well as a Systems Designer for whole house integration. His areas of expertise run the full range of home convenience and entertainment systems including, but not limited to, lighting control systems, whole house control systems, whole house audio/video equipment and distribution, home theaters and HVAC equipment. For more information regarding HOME AUTOMATION SERVICES please give Faisal Manzoor a call toll free at 800-863-1184. Labels: Austin Lighting Control Systems, CEDIA, Consumer Electronic Design Installation Association, Houston Home Theaters
We have been blessed over the past 24 years to travel to many locations around the country to design and install both interior home lighting and outdoor landscape lighting. Our lighting projects have taken us to a plethora of cities in Texas such as Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, El Paso, Brownsville, Kerrville, Sequin, New Braunfels and Plano. In addition, we have also worked in Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mexico, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, Florida and California to name a few. We are accustomed to working with architects, interior designers, custom home builders, contractors and homeowners by provide professional services, from consulting, energy code calculations, CAD drawings, documentation and project management, to furnishing, installing and fine tuning all types of lighting fixtures and control systems. Wherever you live, rest assured that Illuminations Lighting Design is here to assist you with your indoor and outdoor lighting in any way! Give us a call at 800-863-1184 and we will be happy to discuss your project. Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Landscape Lighting, Fine art lighting, Hotel Lighting Design
Here at Illuminations Lighting Design we understand that not every job requires the services of a professional lighting consultant and that's why we have an experienced sales staff to assist you. If all you need is a new fixture in the kitchen or just some advice with your electrical wiring we can help you identify the problem and provide a solution.
We are always happy to meet with you and prepare a written estimate for the work in your home, typically at no charge. Estimates in some locations outside Houston city limits may require a trip charge. It generally takes about thirty minutes to survey your needs and develop a lighting solution that is tailored to your lifestyle. All our lighting professionals are experienced in indoor lighting, landscape lighting, display lighting and home automation.
To schedule an appointment you can contact us at 713-863-1133 or by email at SCHEDULING. We look forward to serving you! Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Christmas Lighting Designs, Commercial Lighting Designers, Houston Lighting Design Company
My husband and I are looking to hire a professional to install some landscape lighting. We got an estimate from a company who installs high voltage lighting... Their work looks beautiful on the photos, but the estimate was quite high. Then, we invited a company that does low voltage lighting, and the estimate was $5000 less. However, I am concerned about longevity and practicality of low voltage lighting. Will it last? And will the landscapers run over the cables and cut it? Will it be too obviously visible and unattractive? What do the experts think?
It sounds like you have a fairly large project to warrant such a discrepancy in price. This is primarily due to the equipment, method of installation and labor costs. Both systems should be installed by a licensed electrician and according to National Electrical Code. High voltage systems require the use of conduits that should be buried 6" deep for galvanized rigid steel and 18" deep for PVC conduit. Low voltage systems utilize direct burial cable and should also be buried 18" deep to prevent damage to the cable when digging in the flower beds. Most low voltage lighting contractors rarely bury the cable that deep.I suspect the first contractor recommended the use of mercury vapor lighting, which is typical for landscape lighting professionals. Lights mounted high in the trees are a very attractive way to illuminate the yard with moonlight illumination. These types of lights are low maintenance and will give you years of service. This is a much more dramatic and heavy duty approach as the price would indicate.
Low voltage lights can be a very effective lighting system when installed properly for several reasons. First of all the lights are typically small and can be moved as the garden grows. The best part is that can be easily serviced and maintained by the customer. The down side is that they do require more maintenance and are susceptible to damage if the cable is not buried properly. We rarely install low voltage lights as down lights in trees.So, I like to use a combination of high and low voltage lights in my designs. Use mercury vapor in the trees and low voltage lights to illuminate small specimen trees, paths and the facade of the house.
I would recommend that you visit some of their jobs to see the equipment and to better understand both wiring methods. There is a big diffence!
Good Luck! Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, houston landscape lighting, low voltage lighting systems, Tree Lighting
LIGHTING DESIGNERS are a valuable member of the overall design team on any residential or commercial project. They work hand in hand with the architect, interior designer and homeowner to ensure that the lighting is practical, funtional, attractrive and compliments the architecture. Lighting is pivotal in any style architecure because of it's ability to enhance colors, texture and form.
Lighting designers are also helpful in the area of LIGHTING CONTROLS and HOME AUTOMATION. From wall box dimmers to elaborate home controls systems, lighting designers can set the mood. Everything from lighting, audio video, HVAC and security can be combined into a home automation system. In fact, it is now possible to manage your automation system remotely by computer.
Illuminations Lighting Design is located in Houston Texas. For over 28years we have been the leader in high end residential lighting and design. We serve all of Texas including Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Corpus Christi.
Give the experts at Illuminations a call toll free at 800-863-1184 or email TOM KRETZSCHMAR to learn more about our lighting design and home automation services. Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Lighting Designers, Hospitality Lighting Designers, Houston Lighting Design Company
Illuminations Lighting Design
607 Durham Drive
Houston, Texas 77007-5316
(713) 863-1133 Main Line
(800) 863-1184 Toll Free
(713) 863-0044 Fax
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