Art gallery lighting should be low voltage when at all possible. Low voltage recessed art light fixtures use less power than high voltage equivalents and can save a gallery a small fortune in power costs. Low voltage fixtures exist in many forms, giving the curator a complete freedom of choice in selecting what will work best for particular showings and art types. Low voltage framing projectors, recessed ceiling lights, track lights, pinhole lights, and eyeball lights are becoming increasingly common for corporate art consultants, interior designers and architects.
It is also very important that the equipment feature commercial, specification grade quality. In most instances, such equipment can only be sourced through a professional art lighting firm such as ILD. General specification equipment, which many freelance electricians or end users can buy through retail channels, is less reliable and often features a shorter lamp life which will compound replacement costs. Commercial grade lamps are far more likely to fulfill their predicted lifespan and typically have a much better manufacturer warranty in the unlikely event they do not.
Something else that curators should always be mindful of is the amount of heat produced in art gallery lighting. Without an initial investment in the very best equipment, it is unlikely that less expensive fixtures are going to satisfactorily perform in a high-end setting. This goes back to what we just discussed in reference to commercial grade quality and how you plan lighting. The more reputable and established lighting manufacturers are making it a priority to engineer equipment with technology that dissipates as much forward throw heat as possible. Not only does this better protect rare art against damage; it also helps keep the building cooler and contributes to lower HVAC operating costs.
Along similar lines, lighting for paintings should also be manufactured with advanced filtration mechanisms that block ultraviolet and infrared radiation. These are two very dangerous wavelengths of light that no gallery can afford to allow near any painting—especially historical or rare pieces. Canvases will dry and colors will fade in a relatively short period of time unless UV and IR radiation are blocked completely. In order to accomplish this, fixtures must be manufactured with reliable filtration mechanisms that block these frequencies and ensure that only visible wavelengths reach the canvas.
All this being said, we have to also take into consideration most art galleries are lighting a wide variety of painting sizes, photography, and sculpture. Any given showing will more than likely group various pieces according to artist, historical period, culture, or genre, but beyond this, there is a great diversity in individual works. Sometimes more eclectic showings will feature a mixture of art types that bring even more diversity and subjectivity to the display and interior lighting design. Gallery lighting in either instance must consist of a diversity of fixture types, luminance intensity, and fixture mount positioning in order to appropriately illuminate both individual works and provide enough general lighting in the room for viewer comfort.
If you are interested in a fine art lighting system or art gallery lighting, we invite you contact us at 713-863-1133 or us our online request design consultation form.
Since 1980, Illuminations Lighting Deign has grown to include a team of over 50 talented and dedicated employees. Specialty divisions have been created to focus on such disciplines as lighting design, electrical contracting, landscape lighting and home automation. Having specialists in each of these disciplines, while remaining true to the mission of offering home owners the "complete picture" of lighting design, is key to continued success at Illuminations Lighting.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and house lighting plans in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Art Gallery Lighting, Fine Art Lighting Consultants, Houston Fine Art Lighting Experts
An apartment complex must have quality community lighting to maintain its business and its reputation. People will not stay around for very long when they cannot see well at night and do not feel safe. Property managers who are constantly wrestling with high turnover might want to pause and consider that it may be for this reason that so few tenants are choosing to renew their leases. These same managers may also want to consider as well the many liabilities that could result if inadequate lighting in the community contributes to an injury or criminal attack. Managers who leave it to maintenance to purchase and install lighting fixtures from retail sources are a great financial risk by placing short-term savings over long-term gains. Both the quality of equipment and design are always better when developed by a firm who specializes in community landscape lighting.
One of the most important places to light correctly in an apartment community is the leasing office. Burglars often target this building to steal money orders to cash on the black market. One burglary can literally result in an entire month’s rent being lost. Burglars can also use the rear entrance to the leasing office to gain access to a gated community if the lighting behind the building is poor or lacking. To prevent this, it is necessary for the entire structure to be surrounded by a perimeter of home security lighting, usually generated by a combination of building lights and motion-controlled sensor flood lights.
Common areas around laundry rooms, swimming pools, pet areas, and walkways leading through the apartment community are particularly vulnerable places because they are usually covered by the shadows of nearby buildings. Attempting to light these areas with cheap fixtures usually creates glare that disturbs residents. Managers often settle for leaving certain areas dark to avoid getting complaints. However, this does not need to be the case. Professional firms like Illuminations Lighting and Design install only specification-grade fixtures that are manufactured with special glare and light pollution control technology. These luminaires will only light specific areas in the community without spill light shining into people’s living rooms and bedrooms.
For high-end properties where aesthetics is an absolute must, community lighting must be superb and professionally done without cutting corners on equipment or installation procedures. This is particularly the case in high-end luxury apartment complexes that have invested heavily in professional landscaping. Water works like ponds, fountains, and waterfalls need special underwater outdoor lights that only trained professionals can install. To properly accent vegetation and outdoor sculpture, selective lighting blended with shadow is needed in order the three-dimensional forms of objects and plants. Otherwise, too much brightness distorts and flattens their appearance. Special up lights must be used in gardens, flowerbeds, and shrubbery areas. Large have to be lit with special tree-friendly outside tree lighting fixtures professionally installed in concealed places in their branches. At the same time, any scenic pathways in the apartment community need lighting for security and safe visibility that blends harmoniously with the decorative elements surrounding it.
Striking such a difficult balance between décor and safety is something that our commercial lighting projects have been doing in apartment communities, corporate office parks, residential neighborhoods, and private residences for over 27 years now. With a skillful blend of science and art, Illuminations Lighting and Design can help any apartment community light its world with the highest level of quality and the best energy saving equipment available in today’s market.
Illuminations Lighting Design is the only “One Stop” destination for lighting design, engineering, landscape lighting services and installation in the state of Texas, and remains unrivaled by any lighting firm in the United States for lighting that is art. As homes grow larger and needs become more complex, having a single resource provides home owners with peace of mind. This translates into a smoother process, reduced costs and a better product.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and house lighting plans in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.Labels: Apartment Community Lighting, Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Outdoor Community Lighting, Outdoor Landscape Community Lights, Residential Community Lighting
Why is den lighting so important?
Den lighting design sets the mood and adds comfort and quality to all activities conducted there. Large, dark rooms appear less attractive, and even intimidating in some cases, to guests. How you plan good lighting in the den opens up the room to conversation and activities. It can also function as a part of more advanced home entertainment such as home theater.
What does den lighting control add to personal use of my den?
Den lighting control allows you to create the desired mood or necessary level of light that the occasion requires. Dens are multi-functional rooms, and adding lighting controls allows you to call up different lighting themes and make fine-tuned adjustments to separate elements of room lighting. You can raise or lower general lighting at will based on the nature of the gathering and the number of people in attendance. You can also adjust accent lights for home entertainment such as music or movie watching for designing lighting in high end homes.
Can den lighting be sequenced with other home features?
Yes, your whole house audio system would be an example as your lighting themes can mimic the rhythm of your musical selections. If you are watching movies, you do not want to do it in total darkness. You need some lighting to allow people to get up and move around if necessary. Den lighting controls can be automated to bring the general room lighting down and turn on accent lights in the room that function like the theater lights in cinema. The same controls can also be programmed to close window blinds and other items.
When are wall box dimmer switches advisable?
Wall box dimmers are either rotary or sliding switches that replace flip switches. Dimmer switches are advisable when more light is needed for overall comfort of a large group and less light for a smaller group to feel more intimate. A wide variety of decorative wall box dimmers is available to match the interior lighting themes of your den and to make it convenient to adjust the lighting instantly when you enter the room.
Doesn't getting up to adjust the wall box dimmer distract and disrupt the mood of the occasion especially if done several times?
Wall box dimmers are only one option in home lighting control. Wireless remotes can be connected to a lighting control or home automation network that allow you to control your den lighting just like you control your television and whole house audio.
Can I install the lighting control system in my den?
It’s not a good idea. The installation of automation and lighting control systems should be done by a licensed home automation contractor with experience in lighting control technology. It also helps to use a company like ILD that has knowledge of interior home design lighting and interior home architecture. This will ensure the system installed works safely and can systematically integrate as much of your home’s functionality as possible.
Illuminations Lighting Design is the only “One Stop” destination for lighting design, engineering, landscape lighting services and installation in the state of Texas, and remains unrivaled by any lighting firm in the United States for lighting that is art. As homes grow larger and needs become more complex, having a single resource provides home owners with peace of mind. This translates into a smoother process, reduced costs and a better product.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and house lighting plans in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Lutron Homeworks Lighting Controls, Residential Lighting Control Systems, Vantage lighting controls
ILD creates custom house lighting plans for the eclectic homeowner who is looking to transform his or her home interior into truly exceptional living space. House lighting plans are always unique and very personalized because they are meant to function as an extension of the homeowner’s mind and a reflection of personal taste. This requires extensive consultation to understand the desires and needs of the homeowner, and it takes a great deal of professional know-how to transfer the purely conceptual elements of a client’s "wish list" into a workable house decorative lighting plan that blends function and form. It also requires superior grade lighting fixtures that are designed with energy efficiency and extended lamp life in mind. This keeps operating and replacement costs to a minimum and allows for a network of interconnected subsystems to be linked together so that each element of home interior lighting design compliments and contributes to the success of all other elements in the overall scheme.
The lifestyle of the homeowner is the foundation of the entire house lighting plan.
Some custom homeowners see their home as a sanctuary to which they can retreat at the end of the day to get away from the stress and worry of busy urban life. Many of these people save their money and eventually move into a large custom home at the end of a long narrow street, or in a rural area just outside of a major city and require outdoor tree lighting. Such a home needs sophisticated layered lighting effects that can be dimmed at will to create a more relaxed mood and feeling of retreat from the outside world.
Other homeowners see their house more as a hub of entertainment and socializing. Sophisticated lighting themes, home automation systems, and one-touch controls are essential, supportive elements to high-end media systems such as whole house audio and home theaters. Dedicated circuitry is often required to power the lights and the equipment in these systems, and our licensed electrical service personal can provide this service as a part of your house lighting plan.
The homeowner’s decorative tastes define the aesthetics of any home lighting system.
No custom home can be complete without new home wiring, high-end decorations and fine furnishings. House lighting planners have to remain ever mindful of interior decorating and make certain that they isolate the major motifs in the home’s interior decor. Accent lights are critical components in almost every house lighting plan. They have to be concealed as much as possible, and they must feature the very best in optics and glare shielding so as to place just the right amount of lighting in key portions of the home’s interior.
Fine art and specialty lighting constitute sub-disciplines unto themselves, and require specialized equipment found only through a professional firm such as our own.
House lighting plans must never lose sight of practicality.
The successful blend of function and form for which our firm has earned great renown is due largely to our expertise in home wiring and electrical service work, and also to our extensive knowledge of residential architecture. Our lighting designers clearly understand the simple fact that no matter how ornately decorated a custom home is, at the end of the day, it is still essentially a functional living space where all the practical needs of daily life are attended to. While there are many consultants who can achieve amazing effects in specialty lighting, art lighting, and accent lighting, few companies like ours can do all of these things and at the same time create a house lighting plan with photometric lighting calculations that provides general and task lighting for the basic activities of home living.
Where is your lighting design studio located?
We are located in the heart of Houston just west of Downtown at the corner of Durham Drive and Blossom Street, which is located between Memorial Drive and Washington Avenue in the Rice Military Subdivision.
Although we are located in Houston Texas we provide lighting and design services in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.Call us today at 713-863-1133, visit our lighting blog or request a consultation online using our contact us form.Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Art Lighting Consultants, Home Lighting Plans, House Lighting Plans, Houston Home Light Plans, Texas Residential Lighting Plans
Does ILD offer a free photometric analysis to every caller?
We offer photometric analysis for a marginal fee to clientele seeking just a report, and complimentary analysis to clients who hire us for lighting design. Lighting is an art form that requires careful consideration from a seasoned lighting professional.
What software do you use to generate photometric reports?
We use AGI32, a lighting design, a 3-D modeling suite that calculates light levels and renders electrical lighting systems. The capabilities of this photometric analysis software are amazing. By generating 3-D model of the room, home, or building, the software allows us to input hypothetical figures to determine where best to install recessed lighting fixtures and what angles of lighting incidence to incorporate in the overall design of the system. It can be used to determine the best possible lighting levels for any residential or commercial lighting environment.
Why should I have a photometric analysis done rather than just hiring a freelance contractor to install lighting fixtures I buy myself?
The human eye cannot always see every potential problem area of darkness and shadow. Every outdoor or indoor environment contains physical objects that will cast shadows when light strikes them from certain angles. Shadows are cast not so much by inadequate amounts of light, but rather by inaccurately calculated angles of incidence that send a beam of light straight toward a solid object which blocks luminance completely on the other side. Many times, these areas are very hard to find from an eye-level perspective, but later become all too evident once low voltage recessed lighting fixtures have been installed and shadows suddenly spring from out of nowhere.
The 3-D modeling aspect of our photometric analysis software allows us to literally move around these objects from any angle, height, or perspective to see where best to locate a ceiling light, lamp, recessed fixture, recessed art lighting, pendant, or chandelier. We can also try different wattage and bulb hypotheticals to determine the most efficient lumens per watt ratio once the optimal angles have been located. In commercial environments, this goes a long way toward saving businesses a great deal of money.
What aesthetic benefits does a photometric analysis offer my company?
We can conduct a room by room photometric analysis of floor space and vertical cube space to determine precisely where to install lighting equipment and exactly how much power each light will need to do its job. This is very similar to the way interior design partners and space planners work—creating individual sub designs within the overall design of the facility. This enables our team to develop a much more energy efficient, Spartan system that relies much more on design, light distribution, and precise lighting angles than it does on excessive numbers of fixtures using more power than necessary. Another benefit you gain from a photometric analysis offers is better fixture concealment. Because the report tells us exactly how many watts and lumens we need for each fixture, it is often possible to use smaller, more concealable lights for a more aesthetic compliment to the overall environment.
What lighting manufacturers do you represent?
Essentially, we act as a design build contractor for all of the major manufacturers headquartered and operating here in the United States such as Lutron Radio Ra dimmer controls. Choosing the right manufacturer for your needs is again accomplished in part through tools available in AGI32’s photometric analysis software. AGI32 actually contains manufacturer’s spec sheets and engineering documents on specific fixtures in different categories. We can use this database to generate a luminaire comparison report instantly that details optics, lumens per watt efficiency, and expected lamp life. By comparing and contrasting necessary and fixture placement recommendations with specific data on each luminaire, we can pinpoint the best possible quality and energy efficient luminaires to use in commercial, residential, and high-end lighting design.
Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting, electrical service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters, emergency generators, surge protection systems, phone systems and lighting control systems.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide lighting and design services in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Lighting Designers, Independant Residential Electrical Contractor, Lighting Consultants Texas, Lighting Design Services Houston, Photometric Analysis
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Ceiling lights are most effective when they produce multiple layers of light that provide a sense of sourcelessness to both task and decorative lighting types. Ideally, ceiling lighting should minimize the physical appearance of fixtures and create an even distribution of general lighting that maintains at all times appropriate levels of light necessary in whatever environment they are located. With very few exceptions found only in purely decorative, aesthetic applications such as museum or public display lighting, ceiling lighting should disperse illumination with the intent of eliminating all visible pockets of shadows in the room. This is especially true in commercial lighting projects, but it is also very necessary for quality living space in residential settings. Likewise, while bright light is often necessary both in a home and a workspace, ceiling lights should be used that feature specification grade fixture designs and advanced optics and reflectors when appropriate. This optimizes the photometric capabilities of the lamps housed inside the fixtures, and it eliminates glare that can cause discomfort to human eyes. Finally, almost all ceiling lights should compliment function with form by adding a decorative touch to the room.
There are many different ceiling lights from which you can choose that conceal themselves as much as possible above the line of sight. Concealment, as we define it, is actually a matter of degree and never and absolute. No architectural custom lighting in the ceiling is completely invisible if you stare straight up at the ceiling, so it is not necessary to waste time or money in an attempt to go to extremes of concealment. It works much better to find ceiling lights that take a “low profile” position in relation to the normal angles of view that people standing, walking, through the room or sitting in the room normally perceive. In order to correctly determine what types of fixtures you should use, whether they should be low voltage or line voltage in nature, and what number you will actually need really requires the assistance of a trained lighting consultant familiar with the many new technologies now available that can help your home or business save power, look better, and achieve new levels of décor previously unavailable even in purely decorative lighting. Working with professionals also gives you access to US-manufactured, specification grade ceiling lights that will last longer and perform much better than foreign equivalents and retail quality fixtures.
Glare and shadows are the two main enemies that work against you in virtually any interior lighting design, and ceiling lights play a crucial role in the elimination of both. Like we mentioned earlier, there are SOME settings (such as statuary and 3-D abstract art lighting) where shadows are deliberatively generated by lighting specialists in order to create special effects. In most cases, however, the opposite is almost always the rule. Shadows and glare have to be eliminated at all costs. This is where ceiling lights can shine at their brightest, so to speak. Unlike lamps and wall art lights that can often be very focused and intense, many varieties ceiling lights work to create a general “wash” of indirect light that cascades down the walls and over the central areas of work and human traffic. This will eliminate the glare that is often caused by overly relying on singular, bright ceiling lights that shine direct lighting only down onto the room. Because this light resembles a soft, ambient field more than a direct beam of bright luminance, it also dispels shadows more effectively by shining light on all points of the room at once. When objects are “surrounded by light” in this manner, shadows have no place to linger.
After this general field of light has been created in the room, brighter, direct-lighting ceiling fixtures can then be added to selectively shine additional, brighter light on work areas, artwork, aisles, kitchen counters, and special rooms within a home. While commercial and residential lighting are two separate disciplines, ceiling lights used in one discipline are commonly found in the other. Furthermore, installing ceiling lighting fixtures controlled by one or more Lutron wallbox dimmers or lighting control systems can exponentially multiply their effectiveness both functionally and aesthetically in both commercial and residential environments. Light control systems for homes and businesses can use the same set of ceiling lights to create multiple lighting effects and themes. Because there is always a practical element within aesthetic lighting, and some level of aesthetic sense intrinsic within task lighting, you can now adjust the "mix" of these two factors to become your own lighting designers simply by turning up one group of ceiling lights and turning down another. That’s sophistication at its finest and most convenient, and it is available to you now through Lutron distributors like Illuminations Lighting and Design to businesses and residents throughout Houston and Greater Texas.
Illuminations Lighting Design is the only “One Stop” destination for lighting design services, engineering, landscape lighting services and installation in the state of Texas, and remains unrivaled by any lighting firm in the United States for lighting that is art. As homes grow larger and needs become more complex, having a single resource provides home owners with peace of mind. This translates into a smoother process, reduced costs and a better product.
Like fine wine, Illuminations has matured and become a classic for those clients with a discriminating palate for comfort, mood and ambiance. Click here or call 1-800-863-1184 for an free consultation now.Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Ceiling Lighting, Decorative Ceiling Lighting, Low Voltage Lighting, Recessed Accent Fixtures
Restaurant bar lighting requires focusing on a number of essential elements that come together to create an effective, appropriate sensibility for this special place within your business. Fixtures used in restaurant bar lighting need to be energy efficient and avoid filling the room with too much light. Also, a number of interior design concerns must also be considered when lighting your restaurant bar. What shape is the bar itself? What is the total square footage of the bar area? What type of clientele does the bar attract, and at what time of day?
Answering these questions first will help you determine an effective strategy for creating a truly sophisticated, unique restaurant bar lighting system that is easy to control and customize to different seasons, occasions, and groups of people. Working with a licensed, professional lighting design and electrical service firm such as ILD also helps you achieve the very best results. Firms such as ours have access not only to the full gamut of traditional lighting fixtures and high-end lighting controls, but also to specialty lighting equipment and LED technology not available on the open retail market.
Lighting Fixtures
Restaurant bar lighting fixtures can range from the simple to the ultra-modern and classically ornate. The interior architecture, design, and overall theme of the restaurant will play a big role in determining what types of fixtures you select. In most cases, restaurant bar lighting fixtures tend to output lower than normal levels of light and tend to be low voltage devices installed with the intention of reducing power costs.
ILD will design you a system that is both practical and decorative at the same time, ranging from contemporary ceiling and recessed lights for high-end facilities, pendant lights and chandeliers for refined environments, and small specialty lamps for cozy, traditional settings.
Practical Concerns
Although the styles of fixtures employed in restaurant bar lighting tend to vary a great deal, the same practical considerations have to be taken into account in virtually every facility. Down lighting is a must for both patrons and staff because it provides the most effective and even source of task light that provides enough light to see without overwhelming the eyes. Incidentally, humans need only minimal amounts of light to move around, so lights over a restaurant bar and surrounding floor space can be very Spartan in their output and still produce optimal results.
Bartenders, however, need to see to make the drinks. In order to avoid disrupting the atmosphere, our designers often install low profile under cabinet strip lights that provide bright task light for mixing drinks and washing dishes. The only light the patrons might notice coming from these fixtures is a gentle radiance that emanates from behind the counter and actually works toward contributing to the mystique environment.
Very often as well, bars will have a mirror spanning the length of the back wall. This mirror helps visually expand the environment and merchandise wine and liquor. Lighting here represents both a challenge and a very high reward if you contract a firm that has the skills necessary to angle dimmable light indirectly at the mirror so as to avoid reflecting it back into patron’s eyes.
Lighting Control
Due to the large amounts of money generated by most restaurant bars, lighting controls are strongly recommended. A trained lighting control and automation expert can assess your interior architecture, calculate the necessary luminance to adequately light all of your floor space, and program different lighting themes into a central Lutron Grafik Eye, Vantage, or AMX control unit.
These controls are extremely easy to operate from concealed touch panels or wireless hand held remotes. They will allow you to use your lighting to set the mood specific to different crowds, occasions, and seasons of the year. Everything from Happy Hour, conventions and corporate events, and personal birthday parties can be augmented and accentuated with a lighting control system by ILD.
Special Equipment and Techniques
A final advantage to consider when thinking of installing your own lighting system or hiring a lighting design firm is the access to special equipment and lighting techniques that only a professional firm can offer you. Working with a multi-specialist firm such as ILD gives you access to lighting design strategies and equipment you may not have been aware of or considered.
For example, if your restaurant has a wood structure bar on the patio, patio lights normally used in outdoor settings can also be used for overhead and accent lighting of the eaves and beams. Any number of design themes can be implemented as well; from a decorative festive look using rope lights, to a tropical island look using LED signs and decorative candles.
Keep in mind too that LED technology of any kind represents both a high-end technical advantage and a low-end cost to the restaurant owner. LED requires only 20% the electricity of incandescent lighting, and sophisticated commercial equipment like Traxon panel lights can be substituted for a back wall mirror to create a multi-colored spectrum of changing lights. Our lighting control and automation team can also synchronize these panels with music, so that when the songs change, the lights change with them.
Multi-Specialization Offers our Clients More Options
ILD has worked for 25 years to become a leader in not just one, but five major lighting design and electrical service disciplines. As a result, we can offer our clients in hospitality, high-end resort lighting, commercial lighting, bar and restaurant lighting, hotel, and residential landscape lighting more options and more equipment than retail sources can provide..
We headquarter in Houston and work throughout Texas in Austin, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, Dallas, Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, San Antonio, Texas and all surrounding areas.
Contact us now toll free at 1-800-863-1184 for a free consultation. Please visit our lighting blog to read more about lighting controls, home automation, and specialty restaurant lighting and hospitality lighting design by ILD.Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Landscape Lighting, Hospitality Lighting Designers, Outdoor Restaurant Lighting, Restaurant Bar Lighting
Illuminations Lighting Design is proud to be a member in good standing with ASID’s Industry Partner program. As a reputable, professional vendor, we shine brightly as one of Houston’s top lighting design consulting firms. ILD systems are built with the very best commercial grade equipment that blends practical functionality and decorative appeal engineered into every lighting design. Our lighting arrays not only look better, but also work better than competing, cheaper equivalents.
ILD specializes in five major lighting design services. More information on each of these services can be found at Illuminations Lighting Design.
Landscape Lighting Design Services
ILD is the only design firm in Houston to use four layers of light and completely “green” technology that ensures the future life and growth of trees and indigenous vegetation.
Lighting Design and Consultation Services
Home and architectural lighting systems by Illuminations Lighting and Design are intended to create a whole house lighting experience both within and around the structure.
Fine Art and Display Lighting Services
From private collections to museums and galleries, ILD’s fine art and display lighting features proprietary technology and superb levels of glare free, magical lighting effects.
Lighting Controls & Home Automation Services
Automation and on- touch control give the home user total command of his indoor and outdoor lighting. We operate as an installation vendor for every major lighting control manufacturer, including Vantage, Lutron, and AMX.
Electrical Contracting Services
Much of the equipment we install requires an electrical license to install. Our clients benefit from the one-shop convenience of a firm that can design the most sophisticated of systems and install all the necessary components.
Each area of service is staffed with outstanding experts that understand the impact their efforts have on your home. No other lighting firm is able to provide such a well-rounded service line. But do not just take our word for it. Just ask Lance Armstrong, George W. Bush, or dozens of other commercial establishments or residences, large and small, across the State of Texas who have enjoyed our services and provided lighting testimonials.
We are located in Houston Texas but provide hospitality lighting design services and outdoor landscape lighting maintenance in Austin TX, El Paso Texas, San Antonio TX, College Station Texas, Beaumont TX, Dallas Texas, Midland Tx and points beyond.
In Texas, there is only one name for professional, functional and artistic lighting: Illuminations Lighting Design.
Contact us today at 1-800-863-1184 to schedule a consultation.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, ASID Industry Partner Houston, Austin Texas Lighting, Houston Lighting Design Company, Independant Residential Electrical Contractor, Texas ASID Industry Partner
We are in the process of designing a swimming pool and wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary with the lighting. My pool and lighting contractor has suggested we consider fiber optic lighting as well as LED lighting fixtures. What are your thoughts on these light sources?
The lighting designers at Illuminations Lighting Design welcome opportunities to step outside the box and create new and unique lighting effects. Certainly, fiber optic lighting is an excellent way to border the pool under the coping as well as illuminate any water features that you are considering. We recently completed a swimming pool project that incorporated fiber opting lighting and extensive outdoor landscape lighting.
We used side emitting fiber optic lighting under the pool coping to follow the contour of the pool edge that changed colors. The built-in color wheel allowed the client to vary the colors or select one particular color depending on his mood. Because the fiber optic light originates from a remote box, it's fairly easy to maintain and requires very little landscape lighting maintenance.
In the fountain area, we introduced aeration or bubbles into the jet nozzles. The aeration is what reflects the light and shows off the colors. Clear water does not accept lighting as well and is much less effective.
LED pool lighting is becoming quite popular. New retrofit LED lamps are showing up as an alternative to standard incandescent pool lights. These new LED lamps provide color options and have tremendous lamp life in excess of 50,000 hours.
Illuminations Lighting Design is the only “One Stop” destination for lighting design, engineering and installation in the state of Texas, and remains unrivaled by any lighting firm in the United States. As homes grow larger and needs become more complex, having a single resource provides home owners with peace of mind. This translates into a smoother process, reduced costs and a better product.
Contact us today 800-863-1184 for a complimentary lighting consultation or just to provide you some lighting information. We would be delighted to assist you.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Home and Garden Landscape Lighting, Pool Lighting
Every house in Texas has light, but few houses have lighting designs that add aesthetic preeminence to the physical dwelling itself. The universal nature and psychological power of light make it the most effective decorative element available to man when layered proportional to architecture, landscaping, and indigenous vegetation surrounding the residence. The complexity of truly impeccable house lighting requires a level of expertise and sophistication simply not available through retail channels or online superstores that push bargain products without any corresponding design or installation services. However, when installed correctly by a professional firm such as Illuminations Lighting and Design, fixtures remain hidden and glare disappears altogether. All that remains is a house enveloped by light as if magically illuminated from a powerful, unseen source.
The term house lighting differentiates from home lighting by referencing proprietary methods of architectural and landscape lighting that distinguish and compliment the physical structure of the house and the aesthetic elements of the surrounding property. Because our team cross trains and partners with a number of architectural and landscaping firms, we are able to synthesize outdoor lighting elements with architectural lighting themes so that every aspect of our design points at least a portion of the light back toward the house itself—making it appear the central, dominant feature of the landscape.
The architecture of a house distinguishes it as a unique residence of a distinctive individual style, design, and nature. Because of this fact, effective architectural house lighting constitutes an absolute design requirement upon whose quality the success of the entire project depends. To meet this challenge, we position special fixtures at key points on roofs and along walls so as to keep them hidden from viewers on the ground. We utilize advanced CAD software that enables us to customize beam spread and “wash” the entire surface of the house in light. We then accentuate gables, window shutters, balconies, and ornamental fixtures with additional uplighting or downlighting fixtures that add a second, more prominent layer of light in select places. Many custom home clients have remarked that from a distance their house now appears to be almost made out of light.
We then compliment the lighting of the house with additional layers of illumination positioned and distributed throughout the property. One of the many ways we do this is to turn darkness into a servant of light by creating moon shadow effects on the ground. Mercury vapor lights carefully concealed in trees cast pools of light downward onto the earth so as to combine soft light with shadow and to form moving patterns that enhance vegetation, water features, pathways, patios, porticos, and Southern-style porches. We can then add accent lighting to landscape and house lighting by giving extra emphasis to decorative elements that homeowners most desire to showcase, bringing out the rich color and texture of outdoor sculptures and structures and making the greenery, garden, and resident water features clearly visible at any hour of the night.
As every house and yard require a clear sense of boundary to set themselves apart from neighboring properties, tree canopy lighting envelops the entire perimeter of the property in an intimate circle of illumination that delineates the property line, highlights the wood and foliage of the trees, and balances the house light with outdoor lights that work toward completing the project with a unified theme. Up lights positioned on the ground shine illumination onto branches and leaves above with beam-spread proportional to tree growth, age, degree of foliage, and general form. This helps make the illuminated house appear in harmony with nature. Further harmony develops by lighting the larger trees (if present) that stand next the house itself and partly overshadow the roof. With a combination of up lighting and down lighting, trees immediately adjacent to homes can dual function as decorated compliments to building style and simultaneously house mercury vapor lights that scatter moon shadow movements along hedges and flowerbeds next to the walls.
Our award-winning professionals have worked for many years throughout Houston and greater Texas in all of our city’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Knowing that every home is a homeowner’s castle regardless of size, we have made it a point to develop custom solutions for every home—not just homes classified as custom. Call Illuminations today to see what we can do to make your home a world of light that enhance your lifestyle with satisfaction and sophistication.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Houston Texas Contractors, Moonlighting, Outdoor Architectural Lighting
Boardroom lighting design by ILD shines the light on key elements essential to professional meetings and communications. Improperly designed boardroom lighting can unconsciously set a bad tone that puts meeting participants on edge and creates negative energy that works against teamwork and profitability. Designing effective lighting for a boardroom requires a systematic layered lighting approach where different sources, levels, and forms of light both fill the room with visibility and clarity for task-oriented focus. It should compliment task with aesthetic highlights to highlight unique features, decorations, and artwork. Designer boardroom lighting must also deliver a higher level of user control than standard office lighting because most boardrooms are used not only for meetings but also for presentations that require ambient lighting as backdrop to audiovisual presentations and keynote speeches.
Because the boardroom plays host to different individuals with varying degrees of eyesight and comfort levels, boardroom lighting design requires a field of clear, softer light disbursed evenly throughout the room. ILD lighting designers achieve this lighting effect - known as indirect lighting - by shining light onto the ceiling so it reflects downward in dispersed, albeit sufficiently visible amounts. This eliminates pockets of shadow that can create unconscious negative emotions and damage rapport between attendees. We can then enhance this field of light with task and accent lights that facilitate specific actions and showcase prominent decor. Our clients have reported that after our designers filled the entire boardroom with light and added personal touches of accent and differentiation that the general tone of meetings became more upbeat, focused, objective, and characterized by more effective communication between attendees.
While it is very important to establish appropriate tone and atmosphere, truly effective boardroom lighting design has to evolve beyond the merely emotional and psychological into the task-oriented and functionally aesthetic. Comfort and amenities play an important role in setting the tone for meetings and presentation, but focus and productivity must remain paramount if meetings are going to generate tangible results. An absolute must for truly customized, designer boardroom lighting systems is the ability to seamlessly shift illumination from meeting mode to presentation mode. Whenever Power Point or video comes into play, the bright light of meeting space has to dim in all areas of the room, leaving only enough ambient lighting to avoid total darkness and focus the eyes toward the screen. The lighting system must also enable meeting coordinators to "spotlight" the speaker in a field of light around podium or lectern, or when standing in front of a whiteboard. These effects require specialty fixtures installed with dimmer switches that allow meeting facilitators to control lighting levels both throughout the room and at individual points within the room. Our team of lighting designers brings a number of user friendly controls to the boardroom table to ensure that meetings flow smoothly into presentations without the embarrassment of having to fiddle with lights for minutes at time.
Organizations from a wide range of industries turn to Illuminations Lighting for boardroom design solutions that utilize light as a functional design element with a purpose that also conveys a pleasant and sophisticated aesthetic due to our proprietary methods of layering the light in precise proportions to a specific room and the activities therein. Chambers of Commerce, executive meeting areas, and hotel and resort planning committees can all benefit from the psychological and practical elements brought to the boardroom table courtesy of ILD. Call today to begin the process of lighting your facility for maximum performance, teamwork, and communication.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Boardroom Lighting, Commercial Lighting Designers, Executive Office Lights, Hospitality Lighting Central Texas, Houston Texas Lighting Designers
Architectural lighting design continues to grow in popularity as increasing numbers of homeowners and commercial builders utilize innovative and creative architectural strategies in their many projects. Almost any professional developer will readily admit that a key element to aesthetically superior architectural design is light. This is due to a number of reasons; preeminent of which is the level of detail the right amount of light can bring out in a structure. Illuminations Lighting and Design knows this fact and consequently cross-trains our technicians in the basics of landscaping, construction, and architecture. This multi-disciplinary knowledge base enables us to closely partner with home and building owners, architects, and general contractors to design an architectural lighting system that seamlessly integrates into the form and function of the building itself.
As a vendor of the world's top manufacturers, we compliment architecture with lighting designs consisting of the finest commercial grade wire and custom lighting fixtures. We take a two-pronged approach to partnership in our consultation and preliminary design process. First, we carefully assess the needs and desires of the homeowner prior to procuring equipment or laying out initial wiring. Secondly, and specifically valuable to new construction projects, we work closely with architects, builders, and general contractors for the duration of the project, making certain that architecture and lighting design flow together into a seamless, desirable outcome. To ensure the effectiveness, quality, and regulatory compliance of our work, we also conduct a complete Houston energy code analysis of the premises and determine which lamp types will be required to meet government standards. Architectural lighting design by ILD not only guarantees a high level of aesthetic quality, but it also guarantees safety and functionality in compliance with all municipal codes.
Many times custom homeowners and progressive commercial builders will call us with equal amounts of interest and concern. They know the value of architectural lighting design and are willing to make the investment provided we can insure there will be no damage to either the structure or appearance of the property. We are happy to both reassure and satisfy these customers with a thorough and systematic process developed specifically for meeting the full spectrum of challenges that face the consultant working with difficult lighting and architectural designs. We plan each step in detail using advanced CAD software that we then publish to the client. This level of detail and planning allows home and building owners to better understand and participate in designing their own architectural lighting theme with full confidence in both process and outcome. Furthermore, as many of our clients often express key interest in security and emergency lighting solutions, we have developed architectural lighting design methodologies that deliver superior results in both arenas. We frequently deploy specialized security site lighting in order to both deter crime and to compliment structures and buildings. Commercial clients especially value this aspect of our service, as is protects both commercial investment and property while showcasing their building space impeccably to their clientele. In the event of a weather-related or municipal power outage, we can utilize battery-powered lighting fixtures in hallways and stairwells for egress lighting that will not go out if the power fails.
Imagine the many practical and aesthetic compliments architectural lighting design can deliver to any structure. Think of how many ways homes and office buildings can be transformed by simply complimenting the innate beauty of the structure with the universal beauty and freedom of light. As the up lights push the building into the night sky, the subtle nuances of the building architecture take shape, bringing every detail into true clarity and overall aesthetic unity. Let Illuminations Lighting Design do this for your home or office building. Call now for a no obligation consultation that will enumerate the benefits you will receive and develop a solution that is one of a kind and light years ahead of everything that surrounds you.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Lighting Designers, Houston Exterior Lighting Design, Texas Landscape Lighting Designers
Do you have any before and after pictures of landscape lighting that shows facade lighting on a two story home? I have had several lighting companies come out and I am just not satisfied with what I have seen so far. Your name was given to us recently by a friend who has used your lighting services. Do you have any pictures that I can show my husband before we schedule a time to meet? Thank you.
Here are the before and after landscape lighting images that you requested. I would be happy to meet with both you and your husband to discuss the many benefits of outdoor landscape lighting for your home. Illuminations Lighting Design has been illuminating fine homes for over 25 years. Our experienced team of LANDSCAPE LIGHTING PROFESSIONALS are experts in selecting the right landscape lighting equipment for your home or office. Special consideration is given to the the size, type and wattage of the lights, as well as mounting techniques to protect trees and shrubs. We use only tree friendly landscape lighting equipment and take great pride in concealing the lights, wires and junction boxes visually, while allowing for tree growth and expansion.
Illuminations Lighting Design is a FULL SERVICE DESIGN BUILD FIRM specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting installation, service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters and lighting control systems.
I have a complete portfolio showing all types of exterior and interior lighting installations that we can review at our meeting. Please give me a call at your earliest convenience to schedule a no obligation consultation. I can be reached at 713-863-1133 or by email at tom@illuminationslighting.com. I look forward to meeting you and bringing your garden to life!
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, houston landscape lighting, Mercury Vapor Tree Lighting Houston, Outdoor Architectural Lighting, Outdoor Lighting Jobs, outdoor lighting maintenance
Lighting fine art is not as easy as attaching a picture light on the frame or putting a light in the ceiling. It involves careful consideration of the type and style of art, temperature and humidity as well as how the light will affect the piece over the long run. All light bulbs emit ultraviolet and infrared radiation that can cause the temperatures on the surface of a painting to rise when the light is on and back to normal when the light is off. Over time, this can result in fading, cracking, and derogation of materials such as textiles. This is particularly true when using over the picture lights. So let's take a look at various light sources, light fixtures and learn how they might affect your art:
Infrared Heat & Ultraviolet Radiation
IR or infrared heat is an electromagnetic field capable of transferring energy from a source, such as a light fixture or fireplace, to a destination, such as the surfaces within a room like a painting. Radiation does not require an intervening medium; it can occur through a vacuum. It is responsible for the warming of the Earth by the sun. The sensitivity of paintings to ultraviolet and visible radiation varies, but illumination should not be excessive, nor should paintings be hung in direct, unfiltered sunlight. All light, particularly that in the ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) regions of the spectrum, induces chemical changes which age materials by degrading them. The most pernicious photochemical damage is caused by UV rays. IR radiation will cause chemical changes, and it accelerates the destructive effect of both UV light and visible radiation. Although not as profound in its destructive capacity as IR or UV, visible light can cause fading or darkening of some pigments. Photochemical deterioration, which occurs in organic objects such as works on paper and textiles, is cumulative and cannot be reversed. Extremes of temperature and humidity are also bad for paintings and they should be stored at temperatures within the range of 68-72 degrees F. The overall wattage of a light source is the main determinate of how much infrared and ultraviolet radiation is emitted. Remember, using low wattage lamps, the better off you are in protecting your art.
Types of Light Sources
Incandescent Lights
Standard incandescent light bulbs create a warm color that brings out the yellows and reds in art while flattering the blues and greens. They do generate some heat, however, and must be placed far enough away that the heat doesn't affect the artwork.
Halogen Lights
Halogens cast the purest white light, making them ideal for illuminating most art. They do generate a lot of heat, however, and must be placed far enough away that the heat doesn't affect the artwork. The halogen light source produces a pure white color of light which enhances all colors acrosss the spectrum.
Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lighting distorts the color of artwork, and the high level of ultraviolet rays emitted by fluorescent lights damage works of art by causing accelerated fading. Fluorescent light sources are not recommended for lighting artwork.
Fixture Styles
Picture lights
Surface mounted picture lights hang directly over a painting or are attached to the frame. These lights, due to their close proximity to the art, are the most likely to affect the art. Works of art on paper, which include prints, drawings in all media, pastels, photographs and works on related materials, are among the most vulnerable to excessive light and fluctuations of temperatures and humidity. They should not be exposed to direct light, unfiltered fluorescent lamps, or the heat of incandescent bulbs. The ultraviolet rays from fluorescent tubes will cause structural damage and oxidative reactions. Limiting light exposure protects paper and pigments from chemical and physical deterioration.
Adjustable Accent Lights
Recessed adjustable accent lights are available in primarily incandescent and halogen sources. In today's lighting fixtures, the MR16 halogen accent light is the preferred fixture for lighting art over traditional incandescent sources. The small size, high output and dichroic characteristics of the light bulb emit a cool beam of light that is art friendly. In case you are wondering, dichroic is a lighting term for a type of reflector that allows the infrared heat and ultraviolet radiation to exit the back of the lamp. Used in conjunction with a UV filter, the MR16 light adjustable accent produces hardly any damaging light and can be used on even the most sensitive and priceless works.
Framing Projectors
Recessed optical framing projectors are available in primarily incandescent and halogen sources. One again, the MR16 halogen accent light is the preferred light source for lighting art over traditional incandescent sources. The Phantom Contour Projector, for example, produces no harmful light rays or heat that will damage art. For this reason, many museums, private collectors and art galleries use projectors to enhance their art. Another advantage to using a Phantom optical framing projector is the unique ability to shape the light to the exact contour of the object without unsightly shadows created on the wall by the frame. The result is a magical "lighted from within look" that can only be appreciated when seen in person or by photography.
Position and Intensity of the Light
Reduce Glare
Place the light at a 30-degree angle to the work of art to minimize glare. Add 5 degrees to the angle for a larger frame, to avoid casting a shadow. Subtract 5 degrees from the position to accent the texture of a painting. You can offset the light in the ceiling to counteract glare from the normal viewing angle.
Avoid Heat Damage
Place lights far enough away from a painting to avoid possible heat damage. Heat can crack oil paintings. Take special care when using hot halogen lights. To test the heat from your lights, put your hand between the art and the light source. If you can feel heat from the light, it could potentially damage an oil painting.
Intensity
A general rule of thumb for accenting a piece of art is to light it three times brighter than the rest of the room. So if you have other lighting in the room it is best to install dimmer controls.
Summary
The professional lighting consultants at Illuminations Lighting Design are well versed in all forms of art, accent and display lighting for museums, private collectors and commercial applications. Illuminations' understands 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.
Illuminations is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting installation, service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters and lighting control systems. For more information, please call 800-863-1184.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Cove Lighting Specialists, Fine art lighting, Lighting Sculptures, Optical Wendel Projectors, Phantom Contour Projectors, Picture Lighting Solutions
It can be difficult in today's construction environment to find a qualified electrician who specializes in high end residential homes. That's because most electricians jump between companies and never really find a home or build a loyal following of clients that they serve. At Illuminations Lighting Design we consider our electrical staff to be like family and work with them to develop long term careers here at Illuminations. We have electricians you can depend on, not only for their expertise, but also for their utmost professionalism and respect for your home. We welcome the opportunity to serve you.
Today's custom homes can take many, many months, often even years, to complete construction. When you've invested that much time, effort, and money in your home, you need to be assured that your construction team is there for the duration. The last thing you want to be worrying about is finding a replacement electrician because the other guy didn't show up, went out of business - you name it! After all, this guy knows where the wires are run, how to get from point A to point B and how to quickly fix a problem when it occurs.
Having been in business for over 25 years, one of the hallmarks of Illuminations Lighting Design is the ability to find and keep quality residential electricians who are familiar with the latest equipment, light fixtures, building techniques and electrical codes. Our electricians will be there to serve you from day one through the life of your home. Our workers are polite, courteous and will respect your privacy and belongings. They are even available for special events such as parties, where it would be a disaster if something went wrong, or the power went out. What's a party without the Margarita machine!
Our electricians are trained to work on any project from a simple faulty switch to the city's most high-end lighting, control systems and electrical systems. And the job need not be new construction, or whole house. Much of our work involves enhancing existing homes. They are skilled at adding lighting fixtures in finished rooms, often without having to cut the ceiling. Read what people have to say about us!
Sometimes you may not even be having an electrical issue - often a fine tuning of your existing lighting can bring your space to life in a way you'd never imagined. Our service teams are available to aim adjustable accent lights, accounting for beam spread, lensing, and aiming angle so that your home, artwork, and furnishings are perfectly illuminated.
All our electricians are licensed in the State of Texas, Houston, surrounding communities and the villages around the city of Houston, under the supervision of Louis Torregrossa, Master Electrician. Our crews, consisting of a Journeyman and helper, have the support and depth to handle just about any situation or electrical emergency that you might have.
Illuminations Lighting Design is a full service design build firm specializing in residential and commercial indoor lighting and outdoor lighting installation, service and maintenance as well as home automation, home theaters and lighting control systems. For more information we can be reached locally at 713-863-1133 or toll free at 800-863-1184.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Electrical contractor Houston Texas, Home and Garden Landscape Lighting, Independant Residential Electrical Contractor, Independant Residential Electrical Work
Founded by Tom Kretzschmar and Jim Stephens back in 1980, Illuminations Lighting Design was formed as a subsidiary of Rulon Electric Company to focus on the art of lighting.
Tom became interested in the idea of specialty lighting and saw its potential in the Houston area, especially among customers of the family business. His grandfather, Eldred Otis Rulon, at the end of World War II, started the electrical service company that bears his name, catering to the city's upper economic echelon. Tom's father, Gary, who had married Otis's daughter, May Lee, was eventually handed the reigns of the business and set it on a path of aggressive growth.
After attending Southwest Texas State University and joining the family business, he met Jim Stephens who also had an interest in lighting. Stephens had taught theatrical lighting design at Syracuse University and later was head lighting designer at the famous Alley Theater in Houston. After his career with the Alley, he and Kretzschmar teamed up to created what is now know today as Illuminations Lighting Design.
As a unique two man team, Tom and Jim, quickly honed their skills and created a growing list of loyal clients who appreciated their passion for lighting. Interestingly, twenty five years later, with a staff of 45, Illuminations Lighting Design is still the only game in town doing what is does and is the largest as well. This includes almost everything related to lighting, encompassing consulting, designing, installations, sales and maintenance for interior, exterior landscape lighting as well as home automation services.
To continue the dream and expand the company services, new design and engineering talent has been added to the war chest of talent at Illuminations. Rick Luberger heads the Landscape Lighting division of the company. Louis Torregrossa, master electrician, heads the Electrical Division of the firm. Tom Kretzschmar continues to be a driving force behind the synergy of talent and maintain contact with their precious list of loyal customers.
Illuminations Lighting Design has evolved into a "one stop shop" for everything electrical in your home or office. Our clients live mostly in River Oaks, West University and Memorial and a few other upper end neighborhoods. They also extend to commercial developments and private homes such as Wyoming ranches, Colorado resorts, New Mexico retreats, Oklahoma mansions, Louisiana plantations, and New York lofts to name a few.
For more information regarding the services from Illuminations Lighting Design, visit our web site at www.illuminationslighting.com or contact us toll free at 800-863-1184.
Join us in celebrating our 25th year of business by viewing our Client Testimonials to see what people are saying about our services. Like music, lighting sets the mood!
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Electrical contractor Houston Texas, Home and Garden Landscape Lighting, Home Automation Specialists, Houston Electrical Construction Experts
Don't you deserve the same or better quality of cellular service inside your building as outside? Are you tired of saying.................
"CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW"?
Isn't it crazy that you can use your cell phone in your parking lot or driveway, but not inside your own home or office? Our Cell Antenna Building Repeater solutions will bring in those weak cellular phone signals reducing dropped calls and allowing you to use cell phones ...even deep inside a building. Our system works with all types of cellular phones, regardless of your service provider or brand of phone that you have.
We are not a cell phone provider, but a Home Automation Company that finds solutions to everyday audio video and communication problems. If you are sick and tired of dropped calls or the fact that you can't take advantage of your free cellular air time from the comfort of your own home, give us a call today.
For more information regarding cellular signal solutions, contact Illuminations Lighting Design. We are located in Houston, Texas and have been serving Texans since 1980. We can be reached at 713-863-1133 or toll free at 800-863-1184.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Home Automation Jobs
What do the initials IALD signify after your name? I've heard that is an important designation to look for in a
lighting designer.
You are correct that that is an important designation, as it tells you much about the person's knowledge, experience, and dedication to your needs as a client. IALD stands for International Association of Lighting Designers. The over-700 lighting designers around the world who are members of the IALD hold a position of distinction and authority in the lighting design profession. The IALD sets forth a strict code of ethics for its members and strives to set the global standard for lighting design excellence by promoting the advancement and recognition of
professional lighting design services.
There are many different grades of membership, but in order to list the letters after your name you must be voted in as a Professional Member. The voting process is a rigorous one in which an Associate member, who has taken a lead role in practicing lighting design for four or more years, puts forward a portfolio of their professional work to be judged by their colleagues. The portfolio and application are literally passed around the world to select international members and voted upon as to whether the applicant demonstrates the knowledge and design ability to uphold the standards of the organization.
Not just anyone that works in lighting can even apply to be a Professional Member. The IALD is an internationally recognized organization dedicated solely to he concerns of independent, professional lighting designers. In practice that means that means that factory representatives, lighting showroom salesman, and many other professionals that work in lighting cannot be considered for Professional Membership. Keeping the membership purely to independent consultants insures that an IALD member will be working in the client's best interest, with knowledge and experience, and without any ties to individual manufacturers or sales quotas.
The experienced lighting designers of Illuminations Lighting Design understand the elusive science of lighting. They also know their tools--the world's best lighting products--and how to effectively harness them. By working with architects, interior designers, builders, and owners to create custom designs and specifications, consistently high quality is assured.
For more information regarding the
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIGHTING DESIGNERS please contact Illuminations Lighting Design at
713-863-1133 or toll free at
800-863-1184.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Lighting Designers, IALD, Lighting Consultants Texas, Residential Lighting Designers
Unfortunately there are just too many factors that affect the number of lights needed to give a straight answer to this question. Factors include: the interior finishes of the room (Dark woods? Light colored walls? Large mirrors?), the type and size of recessed fixture used (4" aperture, 6" aperture, 2" pinhole aperture, black baffle or diffuse reflector?), the type and wattage of light bulb used (Reflector lamp? Diffuse A-Lamp?), and the intended function of the room (Is it a busy kitchen? An office? A circulation space? A bedroom that needs soft reading light?)
As lighting designers, when we look at a room, it is rare that we are looking at it to figure out simply "how many fixtures" it will need to give it a blanket of light. Instead we are considering all of the above questions as well as "Where can we add accent lights? Would the architecture benefit from an indirect cove or up lights? Would decorative sconces or a pendant enhance the interior design? Will specific task lighting aid in the function of the room?" More often than not we draw from several of these areas when compiling a lighting design - combining light types, intensities, and functions simply makes for the best design both aesthetically and functionally.
For lighting design assistance for your home or office contact Tom Kretzschmar at
Illuminations Lighting Design toll free at
800-863-1184 or locally at
713-863-1133.
Labels: Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Commercial Lighting Designers, Custom Home Lighting Designs, Designing Lighting Plans, Independant Residential Electrical Contractor, Lighting Consultants Texas
Yes it is! When dimming incandescent or fluorescent loads you can expect your energy savings to be roughly equal to the amount you dim the circuit (For example if you dim a circuit 10%, you will use 10% less energy than you would if you kept it on full). In addition, there is another really great reason to use dimmers throughout your house, and this is one most people don't realize: Dimming incandescent loads drastically increases lamp life (while you still get energy savings dimming fluorescent, there is no impact to it's lamp life by adding a dimmer). If you dim an incandescent load just 10% (a difference that would be barely noticeable to the human eye) the lamp life on those light bulbs will double. If you dim the lights 25%, the lamp life quadruples, and if you dim the light level 75% your lamp life extends more than 20 times! With the typical residential incandescent light bulbs having one of the shortest life spans out there (an average of 1-2000 hours), this can be a huge help, especially in hard to reach areas. Besides these great functional reasons to use dimmers, they are also key for adding flexibility to a space, giving the ability to set mood, and giving the ability to control aesthetics. Those are just some of the reasons that we recommend that our clients employ dimmers THROUGHOUT their home!
Illuminations Lighting Design has developed into Texas’ first full-service specialty lighting company over twenty years ago by producing a fusion of ideas, science and art that began to change the way people see and experience their environments. We have developed a stellar client roster, which includes some of America’s finest homes, museums, offices, hotels, resorts and country clubs. In conclusion, we hope that you will consider Illuminations Lighting Design for Fine Art Lighting, Display Lighting, Landscape Lighting, Decorative Lighting, Lutron Control Systems, Chandelier Installations, Residential Generator Systems, Home Remodeling, Electrical Remodeling, Home Automation, Home Theaters and New Home Wiring.
For more information regarding Lutron Dimming Controls or a Vantage Lighting Control System please contact the lighting professionals at Illuminations Lighting Design. We can be reached at 713-863-1133 or toll free at 800-863-1184. We welcome your call.
Labels: Advanced Electrical Installations, AMX Lighting Control Systems, Architectural Lighting Houston Texas, Dimming Control Systems, Independant Residential Electrical Work, Lutron lighting controls
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, Planning Home Lighting Designs
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, Commercial Lighting Designers, Houston Energy Codes, Houston Lighting Design Company, Outdoor Restaurant Lighting
We have been blessed since 1980 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, Austin Landscape Lighting, Beaumont Landscape Lighting, 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, Art Lighting Consultants, Christmas Lighting Designs, Commercial Lighting Designers, Houston Lighting Design Company
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
