Lighting [antikvár]

Lighting is one of the most critical factors in the way a home looks and works. From the welcoming porch light to the reassuring nightlight, from the kitchen task light to the angled desk lamp, we rely unthinkingly on lighting for efficiency, safety and security in every sphere of our lives. All it takes is a blown fuse or a power cut to remind us how lost we would be without it.But lighting is much more than this. Good lighting makes all the difference between a room that is bland and dull and one that is sparkling with life. It can soothe and relax, create intimay and points of interest, heighten atmosphere and enhance decoration. In short, lighting can transform your home at the flick of a switch.Everyone accepts the practical importance of lighting, but few appreciate its creative potential. Choice of lighting is often one of the last decisions made when decorating or designing a room, when in fact it ought to be one of the very first. Treating lighting as an afterthought can limit the options unnecessarily, or even cause disruption ond odditional cost. And even within an existing scheme it is easy to overlook those simple, inexpensive alterations that can vastly improve our perception of space.Many people choose lights on the basis of the appearance of the fitting alone, and a surprisingly large number do so without even bothering to switch on the light to see what it does. Light fittingsIntroductionshape, direct and control light in different ways; many are suited to certain tasks or locations but not to others. Different light sources introduce another set of parameters and radically affect our perception of colour and form. At worst. Installing the wrong fitting or light source for a particular context can frustrate and impede the performance of everyday activities to the point of danger; at best, it can be the decorative equivalent of a passion-killer, undoing the most sensitive attempts to generate atmosphere and convey a sense of architectural distinction. Good lighting means thinking primarily about the quality of light itself, its colour, direction and intensity.Recently, the range of options for domestic lighting has broadened considerably. Technical solutions have migrated from retail, commercial and industrial spheres, while sculptural shapes, brilliant colours and inventive use of materials characterize the work of contemporary lighting designers. The scope for creating lighting effects has never been greater.Despite this increased potential, lighting is often perceived as a difficult, obscurely technical subject, rife with jargon and complexity. As a result, many people cling to safe, expected solutions or blindly follow basic lighting formats that date back to the early days of electrification. The purpose of this book is to demystify such technicalities and introduce Inspirational ideas and practical strategies for bringing a new quality of light to your home.