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
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
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
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?
