Lightology
The Science of Your Home Lighting Selections
August 17, 2011
Upon entering the magnificent 20,000-square-foot showroom of Lightology in Chicago, the magical illumination of thousands of lighting displays transports one into a transcendental state of electrical bliss. For an interior designer, taking a client to any lighting showroom – let alone one this size – can be a daunting task. We need to be well prepared to guide them expertly through the myriad decisions that need to be made for a new home or renovation, since most consumers never really anticipate the sheer number of fixtures needed to put the interior – and the exterior – of their home in its best light. At Lightology, the aesthetically pleasing recessed lights, surface-mounted lights, sconces, pendants, chandeliers and freestanding lamps encompass every inch of wall, ceiling, floor, mezzanine, corridor and room in the hopes of dazzling you with the latest and greatest options since the invention of the light bulb from the electrical deity himself – Thomas Edison.
However, as exciting and simple as lighting may appear from the outside, the truth is that the majority of fixtures have to be hardwired into your home’s electrical system. Working with a licensed interior designer who has the necessary skill set of interpreting and implementing the technical jargon of cools and warms, foot-candles and lumens, and incandescents and halogens from electrical/lighting blueprints will save not only time but most importantly, dollars. The know-how of using lighting to accentuate the positive and camouflage the negative is paramount, as once drywall is hung and electrical wiring is concealed, budgetary parameters will inflate should something get overlooked by the novice.
And in the unlikely event that even in a lighting store as comprehensive as Lightology, you fail to find that one-of-a-kind conversation piece that you’ve been dreaming of, consult with one of the many knowledgeable sales associates to further your search online at www.lightology.com, or put the digital era aside and browse through their thousands of catalogs. If you still have no luck, than you can do what I always do in such a situation as an interior designer – have it custom made. Oh, and Lightology can assist you with that too!
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