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
Many upscale restaurants offer diners an outdoor area in which to relax and enjoy a meal. In order to strike the right balance between functional lighting and ambient lighting, the lighting consultant must have a keen eye for design, landscaping, and exterior architecture. Everything from the height of the ceiling, the material build and proximity of adjacent walls, and decorations influence the type of fixtures and levels of light for outdoor areas of the restaurant.
Because these fixtures are continually exposed to the elements, it is strongly recommended that restaurant’s never use retail grade materials in their outdoor garden lighting designs. Commercial grade materials are designed to bear the brunt of the elements and are only available through licensed, professional installers. Hiring a lighting design firm like ILD may cost a little more than a do-it-yourself job, but it pays for itself in two years or less when you consider the benefits of minimized replacement costs.
A variety of fixture types can be used to light the outside of a restaurant.
Outdoor lighting systems frequently use wall sconces, patio lights, rope lights, step lights, and path lights around the perimeter of the restaurant. These lighting fixtures save money in many cases because almost all of them are available as low voltage devices. Some use LED lamps that make them even more energy conscious and almost impossible to break.
Decorative lights such as these can create a perimeter of artistic lighting that separates dining space from the surrounding landscape. Keeping illumination to a low, ambient level eliminates glare that can interfere with a clear view of an urban landscape or scenic resort locale.
Lighting creates mood and romance around table areas.
For romantic dining at small, two-person tables, LED tea lights are becoming very popular restaurant lighting fixtures. They resemble ornate candles and can be adjusted to different lighting levels. They are perfect for romantic moments.
For larger tables made for groups, pendant lights and chandeliers can hang suspended from the patio ceiling to provide down light over the table. These lights tend to create a “wash” of light that descends gently to the table, giving everyone plenty of light to see. Some restaurants will then position LED decorations on the tables for added color. Lighted ice buckets can grab the attention of potential guests as wine is served or to announce a birthday or anniversary. Low voltage recessed lights may also be used in certain instances for feature lighting of sculptures or fountains.
In some cases, where tables remain static, well-placed pin spots can illuminate tables with attractive dots of light. This does not work in a fluid setting, but it is well worth discussing with a lighting consultant if your patio features a static table layout.
Vegetation around a restaurant is actually a key part of its outdoor lighting design.
It is absolutely necessary to pay close attention to surrounding vegetation. A great many patios are built on, or even around, large trees. Well-placed tree lights and path lights configured with lighting controls can be used to set many moods and create different layers of light for outdoor restaurant areas in conjunction to a variety of events and special occasions. This requires working with a vendor like ILD that has experience in environmentally friendly tree lighting, garden lighting, landscape lighting in Houston.
Multi-Specialization Is the Key for Outdoor Restaurant Lighting
Working with an organization like ILD can ensure that outdoor restaurant lights are not only manufactured and installed with the highest level of commercial grade quality, but also configured in a way that truly compliments every unique element of the dining area.
Click here to read about Illuminations Lighting Design and our five specialized disciplines and how each of these brings something unique to the table in the world of high-end and five star restaurant lighting. We invite you to call toll free 800-863-1184 or visit our lighting blog to see how lighting can set the mood.
Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, Outdoor Architectural Lighting, Outdoor Restaurant Lighting
The front facade of the River Oaks Country Club preeminently defines the evening sky for all those who travel along River Oaks Boulevard at night. Rising into the darkness like an edifice of light, it serves as a monument to the eclectic sensibilities of architecture and lifestyle that has made River Oaks premier among the world's finest neighborhoods. It is a matter of historical fact that River Oaks Country Club played a pivotal role in the development of the surrounding community, which quickly earned its reputation as prime real estate located around one of the finest golf courses in the nation. When it came time to remodel the clubhouse, River Oaks Country Club awarded Illuminations Lighting and Design an exclusive landscape and architectural lighting design contract. We implemented a plan of action that resulted in clearly showcasing the many fine points of River Oaks Country Club building design, decorum, and exquisite landscaping that would otherwise become invisible after sunset.
Conjunctive to the clubhouse remodel, we illuminated the entire facade of the building so that the angles and physical structures of the clubhouse stand out from all angles of approach along River Oaks Drive. Whenever River Oaks Country Club members and guests attend nighttime events, the very first thing they see as they approach the facility is the illuminated edifice of the building inviting them to an evening of luxury and relaxed entertainment. To create this effect, the ILD consulting team drew upon years of training and experience in advanced commercial architectural lighting techniques. Using only the best equipment from major manufacturers with whom we have solid, ongoing relationships, we minimized the physical appearance of the lighting fixtures to better enhance and highlight the aesthetic of the building itself. Our team has cross-trained with many architectural firms to learn these subtle installation techniques that are absolutely essential to successfully light a main facility like the one at River Oaks Country Club. The outcome has been pleasing to all who now visit the facility, who feel the enhanced, unobstructed view of the building helps to set the mood for sophisticated, relaxed evening entertainment.
River Oaks Country Club also requested that our team provide accent lighting for their outdoor decorum. River Oaks Country Club lines the walkways of the property leading too and from the clubhouse with groupings of urns, flowers, and benches. People can enjoy greenery, flowers, and outdoor seating under the shade of large trees whenever they move between the clubhouse and the outdoor facilities. Illuminations Lighting installed accent lights that allow River Oaks Country Club members and guests to clearly see the walkways and decorations whenever strolling outside during evening visits and nighttime gatherings. This is very important to the world of country club lighting, as many evening events that occur at the clubhouse may also coordinate with other events involving outdoor dining, lakeside gatherings, pools and spas in certain facilities, and of course, sporting events—all of which require proper lighting both for the safety and the sensibilities of their membership.
From within the clubhouse itself, members and guests can enjoy a relaxed evening free from stress of Houston's busy streets and growing parking problems. They can see clearly through the clubhouse windows onto the River Oaks Country Club Vista and enjoy the ornate landscaping, decorum, and fine greenery of the golf course. Using environmentally friendly equipment and installation methods, we enhanced the view of the River Oaks Country Club Lake with moon/shadow lighting techniques that cast pools of illumination downward from fixtures hidden within the trees. To accentuate the physical tree line surrounding the grounds, we selectively employed tree canopy lights to up light the trees themselves, thus giving a sense of natural perimeter to the ground by uniting indigenous vegetation with human engineering. The result is a blended experience for the diner where art, design, architecture, and nature become one singular, fine, memorable event.
Illuminations Lighting and Design is proud to have partnered with the many fine people of River Oaks Country Club to create a landscape and architectural lighting experience complimentary to the tastes and expectations of both the members and the surrounding community. ILD consultants will travel to any location to complete similar design projects for country clubs, hotels, and resorts throughout the United States looking to showcase their amenities both day and night. Contact us today at 713-863-1133 for a complimentary, in-depth consultation.
Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, houston landscape lighting, Houston Texas Contractors, Landscape Community Lighting, Resort Lighting Design, River Oaks Country Club
Yeehaw - It was a excellent evening to party in Houston! Select members of the upscale Houston architectural, building and design community gathered at Goode's Armadillo Palace for a "Goode Time".
Jim Goode knows how to throw a party. As Houston gets more and more international and cosmopolitan, it's all too easy to forget we are, in fact, still in Texas. As Goode likes to say, we should all give some serious thought to thanking our lucky stars for that, and the Armadillo Palace will make it all the easier.
This social was designed to bring together members of the building and design sectors to meet, share best practices and a cold beer, and lay the foundation for future collaborative efforts in Houston's home and garden markets. The evening was hosted by some of the best residential contractors in the growing upscale Houston home market:
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
Moss Landscaping is a full-service landscaping company, specializing in landscape design, drainage irrigation, plant installation, lighting and maintenance programs. With over 20 years experience, Gary Moss leads a team of over 80 landscaping professionals, foremen and support staff.
Schenck & Company is widely regarded as the best wood floor company in Houston, Texas. Greg Schenck works closely with architects, contractors, interior designers, and homeowners to provide a full range of custom design, installation and restoration services.
Spear Paint Contracting is a full service Texas painting contractor, primarily serving the greater Houston area. Spear Paint Contracting specializes in the repainting of fine homes/estates. Our commercial division participates in selective new construction, but is primarily focused on the repainting and maintenance of high end commercial facilities.
Texas Pools is recognized as one of the most innovative pool builders in the industry, the talented Texas Pools professionals have designed and built award-winning custom pools and spas for over 20 years. Many of our creations can be seen along with the custom homes featured in annual 'Showcase of Homes' presentations located throughout the Houston area.
Tile Roofs of Texas is a specialty roof tile and slate installation company. We have installed a wide variety of Spanish clay tiles and slates throughout Texas for many years. We continually strive to improve our installations methods. We insist on using the highest quality materials with proven installation methods.
Ann's Events is a professional party planner who specializes in fundraising and event services. For more information regarding this event or future events contact annsevents@sbcglobal.net or by phone at 832-673-0860.
Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, Houston Exterior Lighting Design, Houston Outdoor Lighting Maintenance, Houston Texas Contractors, Residential Landscape Lighting
We have lived in our current home for over 4 years. The previous owner had installed a low voltage lighting system on the house. However, our trees are quite large and we would like to consider a moonlighting system in our back yard. Will you make house calls to another town?
Of course we will travel! A proper landscape lighting system using moonlighting fixtures is the best way to illuminate your property. As specialists in the landscape lighting industry, we have a thoroughly understanding of fixture selection, fixture placement and electrical techniques.
Here at Illuminations Lighting Design
we specialize in outdoor landscape lighting using mercury vapor lighting fixtures. Under the supervision of
professional lighting designers, our tree climbers mount lights to create magical lighting effects and our electricians hide the equipment for a finished look.
We have been illuminating fine homes, country clubs, hotels and mansions for years here at
Illuminations Lighting Design. Our
customer roster is second to none. If we can help you with your home or office please give us a call toll free at 800-863-1184 or online at
http://www.illumuninationslighting.com/. Don't be fooled by electricians who say they do landscape lighting. It is an art form that requires a special talents and skill set.
Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, houston landscape lighting, Houston Outdoor Lighting Maintenance, Outdoor Apartment Community Lighting, Residential Landscape Lighting
Illuminations Lighting Design launches new landscape lighting campaign to promote outdoor lighting 24/7 in Texas. Don't go inside when the sun sets! Ask your
pool contractor,
landscape architect or
home builder about a quality landscape lighting system from Illuminations Lighting Design.
Texas residents usually have very little time during the daylight hours to enjoy the scenic splendor of their surroundings. By the time people get off from work, evening has usually settled in. Beautiful accents that were noticeable by day are now hidden under the darkness of night.
Landscape lighting can change all of this. Whether mother nature is pouring sunlight on your property during the day or hidden landscape lighting fixtures illuminate your property at night, you can enjoy your outdoor living space 24/7!
Houston, Texas is a wonderful place to live and an even better place to decorate. The vast landscape of this sprawling city gives residents and businesspeople alike the opportunity to shape their environment into a beautiful work of art. However, no outdoor design is complete until you can enjoy the fruits of your labor after sundown. Illuminations Lighting Design wants to expand your viewing pleasure into the evening time with our superior landscape light fixtures. All Houston residents deserve to see their colorful outdoor universe any time they choose, and ILD is ready to illuminate your life.
Since 1980 Illuminations Lighting Design has been designing, installing and maintaining landscape lighting throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast.
Contact Us today for a cost study and no obligation consultation. 800-863-1184.
Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, Exterior Landscape Lighting Plans, houston landscape lighting, Houston Outdoor Lighting Maintenance, Planning Residential Lighting
Ever notice that when you look out your windows at night you see...yourself? When the inside of your house is lit and the outside is dark, your windows become like mirrors. Many people will spend much time, effort, and yes, money to construct their yards and their landscaping, but then lose the views and the functionality of the space as soon as the sun goes down. This scenario is all too often the case for most homeowners, but it doesn't have to be. By bringing lighting into the garden, you can not only make it functional at night, you can maintain your view from the house year round.
Lanterns, porch lights and exterior floodlights can create glare and do not, on their own, constitute well designed landscape lighting. These lights serve a distinct purpose and should not be the only light source in the garden. They should be kept at a very dim level so as to not create overwhelming glare. Proper landscape lighting, used in conjunction with other light sources can transform your garden into a nighttime extension of your home and enhance your outdoor investment.
One popular way to add a soft blanket of light to a property is through a technique called "Moonlighting." Like a full moon, lights mounted high in the trees and aimed back through the branches will create a dappled display of light and shadows across your property. This effective landscape lighting technique is perfect for soft, even illumination of the property from the aesthetic view and well as providing a security function. One of the main benefits of mercury vapor tree lighting (the type of lamp used most often in moonlighting) is that the fixtures are out of your normal field of view and the color of the light is very close to natural moon light. This type of equipment has a tremendous lamp life and requires very little maintenance.
Moonlighting should be done by lighting professionals who are trained in fixture selection, fixture placement, wattage requirements and tree preservation, since controlling glare, light level, aiming, and understanding the needs of the tree are very important to a successful installation.
To compliment the tree lights, professional lighting designers typically illuminate small ornamental trees, sculptures, fountains, pathways or structures with a contrasting color of light. Lighting architectural elements of the home, such as columns or entry ways, or even washing the facade, can also add huge amounts of beauty, function, and security to your valuable investment. This layering effect of different light sources, intensities, and textures produces a very dramatic effect.
Finding a company you trust to do the installation should not be taken lightly. Besides the inherent design pitfalls of glare and intensity that can be challenges for outdoor lighting, there are the issues of safety and respect for your existing landscape. Installing electrical fixtures and wiring outside where it will be exposed to the elements for years to come is serious business and should only be handled by experienced professionals. It may be tempting to try to save money by staking some solar lights (that, by the way, don't put out ANY usable light) along a pathway or hire a landscaper to put in some low voltage lights, but the lack of appropriate fixture and/or the lack of true electrical and lighting design expertise will most likely leave you sorely disappointed and spending more money in the long run.
So how should you evaluate the different companies in your area? Do you homework and ask questions. Request to see a company's credentials, insurance, press releases and portfolio. Ask for references, pictures or testimonials. This highly specialized art has been mastered by Rick Luberger, landscape lighting designer, and the trained staff at Illuminations Lighting Design. For over 25 years, Illuminations Lighting Design has worked on both residential and commercial projects to create some of the most elegant and tasteful creations in the industry.
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! For more information regarding professional landscape lighting services contact Rick Luberger by email at or by phone at 800-863-1184.
Labels: Commercial Landscape Lighting, houston landscape lighting, Mercury Vapor Tree Lighting Houston, Outdoor Architectural Lighting, Outdoor Restaurant Lighting, Texas Lighting Design
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
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
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, Mercury Vapor Tree Lighting Houston, Tree Lighting
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?
