Summer style…enjoy the outdoors and beat the heat!

If there’s one thing you can count on in South Florida, it is the undeniable heat during the summer!

That’s no reason to give up on spending time outside though.   There are plenty of ways to keep cool.  If you must be outside during the day, hopefully it is on, near or close to a body of water.  Otherwise, the evening sunsets and gazing at the stars and moon are a wonderful times to spend outside. 

Make you patio as luxurious as a 5-star resort.  Invest in comfortable furniture that goes with your own personal style; contemporary, transitional or traditional.  There are many options to choose from, just find the one that fits your space and is comfortable.  Add the perfect lighting and accessories and your outside can be as inviting as the inside. 

Incorporate decorative lighting to illuminate the area with a glow that won’t compete with the stars and moon.  Dimmers on every light will allow you to create the desired mood you are trying to achieve, whether you are spending time outside to read or a soft glow over cocktails.  The levels of light will help you create these moods – wall lanterns, table and floor lamps and ceiling mounted fixtures all add different dimensions.

In the heat of the Florida summer, decorative fans with or without lights will help circulate the air on those hot, still nights.  Fans for patios are available in a number of styles and finishes to coordinate with your particular look and style.

Casablanca has thought of everything by incorporating a sound system in their fan – the Concert Breeze Light Fixture is a light fixture and sound system all in one.  Now you can have light, fan and music all in one piece.

Be sure that all fixtures are “damp” or “wet” location.  “Damp” location is normally or periodically subject to condensation of and includes partially protected locations.  “Wet” location is a location in which water splash or flow on or against a fixture.

Around the pool, be sure to keep the area well lit for safety and aesthetics.  There are many options for around the pool and patio area:  deck lamps that mount directly on the side of a fence, in ground lights, recessed wall lights, and an array of landscape lighting choices. 

There is no reason to hide inside during the summer, just prepare the outside with the proper elements and you will enjoy the summer outside, even in South Florida.

Kitchen Lighting Ideas

Photo Courtesy of ELK Lighting

Now that February is here and Valentine's Day is around the corner. Many of you are probably thinking of preparing a romantic dinner to impress your loved one. So, this is the perfect moment to check the lighting in your kitchen, do you have enough light? Do you have dimmers installed?

While the kitchen is primarily a work area, it may also be used for dining or as a gathering place for family and friends. That's why it is very important to have a perfect lighting.

When we think about lighting our kitchen, we immediately think about recessed cans, but do we actually know how many recessed lights can be use to have the proper lighting?

Recessed fixtures flood a room with a lively glow that helps eliminate shadows.

Photo Courtesy of Tech Lighting

Today's recessed fixtures are available with a variety of trims, including metallic, so you can add a bit of flair as well as function. Plus, not all recessed fixtures are round! Square downlights have gained popularity with homeowners searching for a unique design look.

Did you know that the wrong color of light in your kitchen can make skin tones look gray and food look discolored?

 

Photo Courtesy of Kichler Lighting

But…what about pendants? Pendants are so popular nowadays, especially if they are placed above a counter with bar stools, but do you know how high pendants should be installed?



Generally, the bottom of the pendants should not be lower than 30-36 inches above the counter. This allows for a clear view across the room from both a seating and standing position.

While pendants are decorative, task light can help by adding an extra source under cabinets.

Place undercabinet fixtures at the front of your cabinet – not against the wall – so the light will be dispersed equally over the area below.

Also, it is a very good idea to install your undercabinet lighting on a dimmer separate from other lighting in your kitchen. The different levels of light can add intensity and a dramatic impact to your space, and dimming is an easy way to save energy.

Now... are you ready to light up your kitchen and turn up the romance in your house!

Lighting Ideas for Your Bedroom

It’s time to refresh, especially if your entire bedroom is illuminated by a single light fixture.

Courtesy of Tech Lighting

Today, our bedrooms have more use than simply sleep. This space is typically used as a television room, as a reading or study room, and most usually as a dressing room. The lighting in this room ranges from essential to daring; dimmed to dramatic.

But…the question is: what’s the proper lighting for the bedroom?

This week, Farrey’s experts will share with you great lighting tips for this special space. Keep reading!!

Lighting your bedroom is very essential because you want to create a space of relaxation while providing illumination in specific areas for reading and other activities.

Before purchasing any bedroom lighting it is very important to measure the room and know the outlet locations. It is also crucial to know the height of the ceiling. Typically bedrooms have 8 or 9 ft ceilings, so it is a good idea to choose flush-mounted fixtures or semi-flush-mount fixtures since you will be able to install it closer to the ceiling surface to interfere less on the room.

Courtesy of Lutron

Location is very important when you are talking about lighting your bedroom. Chandeliers, fan lights, recessed downlights or wall sconces can provide a great illumination to dress and see into drawers and closets.

Keep in mind that too much light in one place is unpleasant. It’s better to use more light sources of lower wattage.

A bedroom with a great dose of ambience is vital. Installing dimmers gives you the flexibility to fluctuate the light to suit different moods and activities.

Lights placed directly over the bed are not a good idea because you will have a tendency to look up at them while you are laying in bed. Instead, choose to have a soft light that is less disturbing and can be obtained by lighting your artwork located on top of the bed.

Courtesy of Sea Gull

There is nothing more frustrating than a dark closet. Closets need good light. Recessed or close to the ceiling fixtures give you good general lighting without taking up a lot of space. Installing in your closet an occupancy/vacancy sensor can be very convenient since this sensor automatically turn on and off the lights every time you enter or exit your closet. This sensor is also very useful inside kid’s closets since they always forget to turn off the lights.

Portable lamps can provide you plenty of light for reading. Replace your bedside portable lamps with a set of hanging pendants or swing-arm wall lamps. You will help draw the eye upward and free up table space.

When you are buying reading lamps make sure that they are well-shielded so you don’t see the bulb and you are able to read without bothering your sleeping partner.

Courtesy of Lutron

Wireless control systems are a brilliant plan. They will allow you to control all the room’s light fixtures from the comfort of your bed. They also help you reduce energy costs while creating a comfortable living space.

Now, get ready and use these ideas for the most relaxing, romantic and practical lighting scheme. But… if you need more ideas, visit any of our two showrooms, our experts will show you all the options available according to your lifestyle and needs.

Lighting Tips for Your Dining Room

Courtesy of Quoizel

A dining room is one of the most important areas of the house because it is used for many activities such as eating, reading and entertaining. That’s why it is essential to have beautiful and functional lighting.

Today, we are going to give some quick lighting tips on how you can renovate this space and create an immediate impact.

Having various layers of lighting is essential since it offers multiple lighting options to the room. This can be done by mixing ambient, task and accent lighting.

Having a chandelier is essential since it often becomes the central point of your dining room. A chandelier serves as a decorative element providing task lighting for the table and accent lighting for a centerpiece.

When we are talking about chandeliers, size matters a lot.

Choose a chandelier that is 12' narrower than the width of the table it's hanging over. Your chandelier should hang about 30" from the table surface in an 8' ceiling.

You also can add a visual interest and drama to your dining room with lighting fixtures that include shades.

Courtesy of Crystorama

But…if you are looking for a clean contemporary look, a few pendants over the dining table can work perfectly. Mixing pendants shades with different colors of glass or different shapes of glass in the same color can also add a touch of creativity and beauty to your dining room.

Dimmers are very useful in this area of the house because the mood often flows between intimate and animated. If you have an intimate dinner, then dim the lights; but if your children are working on their homework or you are doing some type of work, then bring up the wattage. Dimmers also give you the option of having full brightness, especially at the moment of cleaning up.

Courtesy of ALA

Adding LED recessed lights is an excellent way to accent the illumination, color rendering, texture and depth of your dining room. Choosing higher lumens per watt, offers brighter light but consumes fewer kilowatts. This is an excellent way to reduce energy consumption and be more eco-friendly.

Recessed lights, wall sconces, and picture lights are very useful because they can complement the style of your chandelier, highlighting displayed pieces located inside your china cabinet or on the wall.

If you want more bright ideas to light up your home, visit any of our showrooms; Farrey’s experts can walk you through the options to create a dining room just for you!

PERFECT SPACE: Make Your Living Room Most Livable

Photo courtesy of Crystorama

A beautifully lit space makes living and entertaining much more enjoyable. To create a well-lit space, light must be layered. This technique allows you to illuminate each feature separately to control the aesthetic focus.

Layering does more than just provide optimal lighting for reading and conversing. Lighting can draw the eye to the detail in trim work, emphasize cabinet grains, or even draw attention to the texture of flooring.

Photo courtesy of Tech Lighting

To make your living room a place for truly living, follow a few simple steps:

• Replace a large chandelier with two smaller ones, each on its own dimmer. Especially in larger spaces, multiple small chandeliers can help break up large ceiling expanses.

• Rotate shade colors on sconces and chandeliers by the season. It's a great way to freshen up a space without spending a lot.

• Add low-voltage lights as accents and spotlights. Re-positionable fixtures offer flexibility and control in directing light individually toward chairs and artwork.

For more lighting design ideas, visit Farrey's Lighting & Bath

Difference between incandescent, CFL, and LED lights

Let’s hear Farrey’s Lighting & Bath experts!

Incandescent
This is the traditional lighting that most people are used to. However, it is inefficient and more costly to use than other types of light. It is made up of thin filaments that are heated as an electric current passes through them. The filaments are inside a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas. As they heat, they produce a glow that creates the light. The lifespan is usually only 1,500 hours.

CFL
CFL stands for compact fluorescent light or lamp. This is really a modified form of the fluorescent lamp. It is made up of a glass-filled tube, sometimes referred to as a bulb, and magnetic or electronic ballast. The CFL uses a very small amount of mercury, which can be very hazardous and present disposal problems. They also tend to be more sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity. The lifespan is 10,000 hours.

LED
LED stands for light emitting diodes. These lights started out as indicator lights for electronic devices. They are actually quite small. It takes a grouping of them to create a bulb. Because they are so energy efficient, they are becoming more popular. The lights tend to be slightly less bright than other types of lights. However, the efficiency and durability is the trade-off.

Costs & Energy
On the surface, the incandescent light bulb wins the competition with the CFL and the LED. The incandescent costs a lot less that a CFL or a LED. However, an electrician will point out that there is more to this than the cost of the bulb. Energy consumption and the life of the bulb must be considered.
The incandescent uses more energy than either the CFL or LED. Also, keep in mind the lifespan. You would be buying incandescent light bulbs more frequently than with CFLs or LEDs.

As a result, CFLs and LEDs are popular recommendations for electricians. Though they have a greater upfront cost, the energy efficiency and lifespan make them more economical.

Visit Farrey's Lighting & Bath for more information. www.farreys.com

Did You Know...: Farrey's Presents The Lutron Smart to Dim Experience

Did You Know...: Farrey's Presents The Lutron Smart to Dim Experience

Farrey's Presents The Lutron Smart to Dim Experience