Cool Ways to Use LED Lights

One of the biggest trends I spotted at the recent National Kitchen and Bath Association's (NKBA) Kitchen and Bath Show is the way we light our spaces... in the smallest of places where the sun doesn't shine.  Illuminating hard to reach areas is now made possible by LEDs (light-emitting diodes).

 

[caption id="attachment_820" align="aligncenter" width="617"] close up view of LED chips. Each LED manufacturer has its own proprietary phosphorous coating on the microchips to give them illuminating power and quality[/caption]

These tiny microchips pack a lot of light power (measured in lumens) and they are cool: cool to look at and cool to touch. That's because LEDs don't heat up your living space like other heat-producing bulbs such as incandescents, halogens and xenon lights making them great for kitchens.

[caption id="attachment_776" align="aligncenter" width="560"] LED Tape lighting by Kichler illuminates under the upper cabinets, under the base cabinets for toe kick lighting and under the kitchen island, available in a range of Kelvin temperature options for both dry and damp indoor.[/caption]

We've all experienced how hot it gets in the kitchen when all the lights are on and the oven and cooktop are operating. LED Lighting Expert Jim Morrison says that regular light bulbs run at 200 degrees above room temperature, so you can imagine how quickly a room heats up when the lights are up full blare. Just think about how the heat index in your kitchen rises when you throw a party. People tend to gravitate around the kitchen creating a sort of greenhouse effect. But sweat no more, LEDs are here to light up AND cool off your living space. The NKBA's recent Kitchen and Bath Show offered some ingenious ways to light up your space with LEDs. Here are a few of the more unique ideas that I discovered:

LED Lit Cabinets Inside, Out & Under:

[caption id="attachment_797" align="aligncenter" width="560"] In cabinet LED lighting by Hafele keeps you from hunting around in dark spaces for the contents in your kitchen cabinets. LED Tape, Strips of Panels work well.[/caption]

 

LED Lit Decorative & Functional Accents:

[caption id="attachment_799" align="aligncenter" width="560"] LED lit Corbel by Hafele provides an integrated source of light under the cabinets.[/caption]

 

LED Trim and Baseboard Lighting:

[caption id="attachment_777" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Kichler lighting recently launched an LED decorative baseboard that provides night lighting and illuminates the pathways.[/caption]

 

LED Lit Closet Rod:

[caption id="attachment_810" align="aligncenter" width="560"] LED lights are integrated into this closet rod by Hafele to cleverly light the clothes.[/caption]

 

 LED Color Changing Tape:

[caption id="attachment_779" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Color changing LED lights make this bathroom vanity glow. The lighting design was created by Alan Zielinski, CKD
2013 Immediate Past President
National Kitchen & Bath Association[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_780" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Invisiled LED Color Changing Tape Light by WAC creates a rainbow of different hues in this bar, painting the space with light[/caption]

For a more in-depth look at some of the LED lighting tools available, check out my published article on Houzz entitled  The Lowdown on High-Efficiency LED Lighting

The Lowdown on High-Efficiency LED Lighting

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How to Get the Light Right in Your Living Space

[caption id="attachment_764" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kichler Lighting using LED tape in the kitchen[/caption]

Ever struggled over how to make your furniture and decor look great in the light of your living space? Most of us have experienced bad lighting, not the ghastly fluorescent kind you experience in office and commercial settings but the kind that makes your stuff look different at home than when you bought it in the store. You can blame it on the color temperature of light. The way your eye sees the object and interprets color will vary depending on whether you are using a warm colored light or cooler colored light. The color of light is measured in Kelvins, the higher the Kelvin number, the cooler or bluer the light appears. Lower Kelvin temperatures from 2700K to 3000K emit a warmer light.

[caption id="attachment_766" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kichler Lighting using LED tape in the bathroom.[/caption]

I recently returned from the National Kitchen and Bath Show in New Orleans where I met with Lighting Expert Jeff Dross with Kichler Lighting and he sums it up best:
"The advice I would give for the selection of light bulbs is to look for something 2700K or 3000K. If your decor uses  beige neutrals or warmer colors, then go with a color temperature of 2700K. For a cooler color scheme with gray neutrals, I think a color temperature of 3000K works well." Dross also advises consumers to select a light bulb that is Energy Star Qualified because it guarantees a minimum CRI of 80 (CRI is the ability of a light bulb to accurately render color). Any light bulb with a CRI of 80 or above is decent quality. Energy Star rated bulbs also guarantee a minimum operating time of 6000 hours.



In my quest to understand the ever-elusive subject of lighting, I have interviewed numerous lighting designers and manufacturers to distill the information down in a way that makes sense to us all. So here's a look at how to get the light right in your living space.

As a writer for Houzz, I have put together this lighting ideabook below that can be your guide.

How Lights Can Make Your Stuff Look Better

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Award-Winning Bath Goes Baroque

I just returned from the 2013 Kitchen and Bath Show in New Orleans giddy with so many great design ideas and product developments to share. As promised, I want to show you the winners of the 2013 Design Competition. I had the honor of attending the Awards Night and meeting the fabulous and talented kitchen and bath designers in person and talking with them about their design inspiration and challenges with their wining projects. This year more than 500 designers entered the competition in a variety of kitchen and bath categories. In this post, we'll meet Interior Designer Shea Pumarejo who won this year's Best Bath Award. I sat down with Shea at the Award's Show to learn more about the project.

[caption id="attachment_750" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The "Forward Fashionista Bath" winner of the 2013 NKBA Best Bath Award. Designed by Interior Designer Shea Pumarejo at Younique Designs www.YouNiqueinteriorDesigns.com[/caption]

Interior Designer Shea Pumarejo calls her winning bathroom, “The Forward Fashionista,” drawing inspiration from her stylish teen-age clients’ shoe and handbag collection to create a space that feels as if you stepped into a Beverly Hills boutique.

A hand-cut, stained glass wall displays a hand-drawn pattern of ribbons in red, silver, and white complimenting a serpentine red hand-blown sink and faucet. “I love the way the light plays off the different textures of glass to give it a 3d effect,” says Pumarejo, who works with Younique Designs based in Helotes, Texas.

The vanity itself was custom made with a fuchsia metallic finish, and Swarovski crystal drawer pulls that were repeated in the towel holders, toilet paper holder and drawer pulls on the closet drawers. The sink and faucet are both hand blown glass in a custom color to match the wall behind them.

[caption id="attachment_749" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The "Forward Fashionista Bath" winner of the 2013 NKBA Best Bath Award. Designed by Interior Designer Shea Pumarejo at Younique Designs www.YouNiqueinteriorDesigns.com[/caption]

Artist, Jim McKelvey created the glass sculptural sink that sits upon a vanity finished in pink metallic with a Thassos marble top. “ I just couldn't see using a metal faucet in the space, and needed something with more fluid lines and couldn't believe my luck when I found this faucet by Jim McKelvey. The acrylic piece behind the display shelves was custom colored to match as well, and adds enough color to balance out the space,” says Pumarejo.

The white lacquer Baroque-style mirror is announced on each side by Swarovski crystal pendant lights. Bling also appears in the white bedroom with drapery crystal tiebacks and an upholstered headboard with crystal buttons. “I wanted the bedroom to be peaceful and tranquil in contrast to the vanity of the bathroom that would become the Wow factor and focal point of both spaces,” explains Shea. The white bedroom has splashes of fuchsia.

[caption id="attachment_753" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The "Forward Fashionista Bath" winner of the 2013 NKBA Best Bath Award. Designed by Interior Designer Shea Pumarejo at Younique Designs www.YouNiqueinteriorDesigns.com[/caption]

Inside the closet, Pumarejo backlit the pink acrylic open shelves with LED strips in bright, white light to highlight her client’s shoes and handbags. “I came up with the idea of the glass display shelves to show off the shoes and bags. The lighting design incorporates recessed cans with LED bulbs giving off a white light. LED strips also illuminate the closet’s acrylic panel. In the bathroom, Shea used pendant lights with halogen blubs and so is the MR16 in the middle of the arch. She installed dimmer switches on the recessed can lights in both rooms that are switched separately from the display shelves and vanity so that those can be illuminated alone for a more dramatic effect.

[caption id="attachment_748" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The "Forward Fashionista Bath" winner of the 2013 NKBA Best Bath Award. Designed by Interior Designer Shea Pumarejo at Younique Designs www.YouNiqueinteriorDesigns.com[/caption]

Pumarejo’s award-winning bathroom design captures all the whimsy, style and youthful sophistication of her client and makes it a standout in this year’s NKBA Design Competition.  “I really got to have fun with materials on this project. So often we have homeowners who want to keep the design ‘safe’ as to not offend any potential buyers for resale. This homeowner really wanted the space to be personalized just for her.”

In my next posting, you'll meet the designer of the Best Kitchen Award in this years NKBA Design Competition. So check back soon. For a look at all the contenders, I invite you to browse through my Kitchen and Bath Contenders Ideabooks on Houzz and sign up to follow my regular posts and contributions on Houzz as well.

Award-Winning Bathrooms To Emulate

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Kitchen Contenders in 2013

The Equivalent of the Oscars in Kitchen Design Takes Place This Week.

Here's a Sneak Peak at the Contenders:

This week, The National Kitchen and Bath Association reveals the winning kitchens and baths in its 2013 Design Competition. The competition is the equivalent of the Oscars in kitchen design and I’ll be there for the big announcement at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in New Orleans. In advance, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at the contenders.

We’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about kitchens with transitional style, that blend of classic and contemporary design that’s trending big time in the home. However, these entries depart from that popular script with their own fearless take on color, form, fixtures, and finishes. Perhaps their work will inspire your own kitchen couture.

Diner Darling

[caption id="attachment_684" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Retro Kitchen by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

This retro kitchen riffs on the whimsy of a 50s diner.  Color pops of turquoise, charcoal and red come into play with Formica surfaces and a blue framed oven and microwave.

[caption id="attachment_689" align="aligncenter" width="560"] kitchen designed by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

The kitchen's 1950s aesthetic marries a modern sculptural piece of artwork as an unexpected focal point.

[caption id="attachment_690" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

 

I adore the stove range.  It looks like something straight out of  "The Jetsons" with its futuristic-industrial feel.

[caption id="attachment_688" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens[/caption]

 

Cork floors, restored rare 1940s plywood and Formica countertops infuse Americana iconic materials that remain authentic to the home's mid-century modern design.

 

Kitchen with a Personality:

[caption id="attachment_679" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Rhonda Knoche Design[/caption]

 

I love a kitchen with a sense of humor because the kitchen should be a place for laughs, good conversation, and making memories. This kitchen achieves all of the above with its swirling metal pulls, fun, red sculptural wall elements and a copper backsplash as if to say: "Hey, relax, don't take yourself  so seriously. Let's have a laugh and some good grub."

[caption id="attachment_683" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Rhonda Knoche Design[/caption]

 

Boldly Blue:

[caption id="attachment_662" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail Interiors[/caption]

 

How about forgetting all the rules on neutral palettes and just painting your kitchen your favorite color? There's no color off-limits because any hue strategically applied and properly accented can work. This kitchen is a great example of being brave with color- unafraid of using bright, happy, strong colors. The turquoise island, backsplash and interior cabinet walls work together in crisp contrast with the kitchen's white canvas, creating what the designer calls "a contemporary twist on a beach cottage."

 

[caption id="attachment_664" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail Interiors[/caption]

 

The graphic printed window shade brings in the cool factor pulling together the porcelain floors, black walnut counter section with prep sink, and geometric backsplash.

 

Sleek & Stylish:

[caption id="attachment_652" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Jonas Carnemark, CKD[/caption]

This kitchen's uber-sophistication reminds me of those Euro-Italian inspired kitchens many homeowners aim to emulate with its stainless appliances, gray flat-panel cabinetry with sleek long handles, thin slate counters and a splash of color in painted-glass backsplash that pops against a neutral palette-very chic.

 

Pearly Whites:

[caption id="attachment_655" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Karen Swanson, New England Design Works[/caption]

All white kitchens are synonymous with contemporary style but this kitchen goes pearly white with a pop of lime to keep you  guessing. You can't box it in as certain aesthetic which makes it all the more powerful visually. The dark floor contrasts with white custom planked walls and an unexpected color pop appears from the red butler’s pantry.

[caption id="attachment_660" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Karen Swanson, New England Design Works[/caption]

 

Warehouse WOW:

[caption id="attachment_707" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Bryan Reiss, CMKBD, Distinctive Design[/caption]

This kitchen feels as if it has a storied past, another life as a once bustling warehouse now renovated and retrofitted by homeowners who respect its roots.  Antiqued, hand-painted finishes, a brick wall, copper hood and vintage looking hanging pendants hint at an aging structure restored to its former glory.

[caption id="attachment_708" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Bryan Reiss, CMKBD, Distinctive Design[/caption]

A large antique Chinese print on the wall over the stairs give the kitchen's contents a collected quality while  oversize cabinets contrast with dark countertops and the hefty details on the island. The original heart pine floors, large arched windows and exposed beams add to the unique character of the soaring space.

Rustic-Eclectic:

[caption id="attachment_711" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Wendy F. Johnson, CKD, CBD, Designs for Living[/caption]

This kitchen's style defies conventional labels so I invented its own term, Rustic-eclectic. To me, it describes an ingenious amalgamation of  rich natural materials such as the wood barrel ceiling and copper range hood juxtaposed with an edgy diamond-pattern floor with a translucent island counter.

[caption id="attachment_716" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Wendy F. Johnson, CKD, CBD, Designs for Living[/caption]

The double tier island mixes a futuristic translucent material with traditional stone while a recycled tile backsplash and colorful glass panels keep the kitchen uncontrived looking.

Keep It Simple Kitchen:

[caption id="attachment_720" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Brigitte C. Fabi, CMKB, Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio[/caption]

The designer of this kitchen references architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a champion of the Arts & Crafts movement and Art Noveau. Simple forms and natural materials such as mellow, toned quarter-sawn oak cabinetry, intermixed with black hickory cabinets are punctuated by a stainless steel hood.

[caption id="attachment_721" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Kitchen designed by Brigitte C. Fabi, CMKB, Drury Design Kitchen & Bath Studio[/caption]

I invite you to check back with me this week as I head to the National Kitchen and Bath Show in New Orleans where I'll be trendspotting and speaking with tastemakers about the latest in kitchen design. Plus,   don't you want to find out which of these kitchen contenders takes home the winning title?

Time to Take it Outside

The Latest Products for Outdoor Living Mimic Life Indoors

 

Recently I attended the 2013 Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Expo (HPB Expo) to check out what was trending in outdoor living. These days, homeowners aren’t settling for a simple patio slab and grill pit. Many homeowners want to increase their functional square footage by extending it outside. Here’s a look at some of the latest products from the HPB Expo aimed at taking everything you can do indoors, outside.

Infuse Fire Outside:

[caption id="attachment_597" align="aligncenter" width="560"] O.W. Lee line of outdoor furniture[/caption]

A fire feature is a must-have for today’s outdoor living space. It pulls together the outdoor  kitchen and outdoor great room, making fire the center of conversation.

[caption id="attachment_586" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Firepit by Ecosmart that is powered by BioEthanol fuel. This one is featured in the New American Home in this year's International Builders Show in Las Vegas[/caption]

There are many ways to infuse fire in your outdoor living space: firepits, fireplaces, chimineas, and fire walls.

[caption id="attachment_596" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Furniture by O.W. Lee, The Santorini collection[/caption]

 

Most are either fueled by gas or wood and contain the flames for visual enjoyment and simple cooking, which is why the latest incarnation of the outdoor fire feature is raising eyebrows. It sets the table on fire.

Tables on Fire:

[caption id="attachment_580" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Fire table by Firetainment allows you to cook much like a stovetop and provides ambiance as a decorative element.[/caption]

Fire tables are hot properties in outdoor home design right now. So why would you want flames on the table?  “Combining the fire experience with the dining experience is the next in thing. With a fire table, there's no need to look off to the side at the fire, it's in front of you. Flames will go up to 18 inches high to roast marshmallows after dinner. You can turn the flame up and down while eating,” explains Rick Jones, Vice President of Pacific Living. The company introduced a new line of fire tables made of solid stone at the HPB Expo. The line features coffee tables, dining tables and benches.

[caption id="attachment_577" align="aligncenter" width="714"] Firetainment's firetable comes with a cook mount allowing you to cook a variety of dishes. On the griddle, quesadillas are cooking.[/caption]

Besides turning flames into the table centerpiece, some fire tables have cooking capabilities. Firetainment has a line of fire tables that double as stove tops. The fire table comes with a cooking mount allowing the use of a griddle, wok, Dutch oven and salt stone. “You can cook quesadillas on the cast iron griddle, sear tuna on the salt block, serve cheese fondue or roast marshmallows,” explains Renee Rigley, Firetainment Account Executive.

[caption id="attachment_581" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Gas fire table by The Outdoor GreatRooom company[/caption]

Walls on Fire:

[caption id="attachment_609" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Pre-Fab Wall of Fire feature by American Fyre, a Division of R.H. Peterson Company, allows the homeowner to easily install a fire feature without the expense of hiring a contractor.[/caption]

Maybe you don’t want to cook or converse over a fire. Instead, perhaps you want to just admire its beauty and wow your guests with a wall of fire. The fire wall is a concept that inspired several new product lines at this year's HPB Expo. R.H. Peterson Company announced its new line of American Fyre pre-fabricated fire features including the DIY fire wall.

[caption id="attachment_608" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Pre-Fab Wall of Fire feature by American Fyre, a Division of RH Peterson, allows the homeowner to easily install a fire feature without the expense of hiring a contractor.[/caption]

“The products stack together and bolt with a household wrench. You can have can an outdoor fireplace or outdoor bar in 20 minutes without hiring a contractor,” explains Elaine Remy, Director of Marketing, R.H. Peterson Company. The American Fyre pre-fabricated exterior fire features include fire tables, fire urns, fire pits and fire walls.

Outdoor Kitchen Goes Gourmet:

[caption id="attachment_591" align="aligncenter" width="322"] Ciao Pizza Oven[/caption]

Today’s outdoor kitchen isn’t just for grilling. Homeowners are transforming the grill area into a gourmet kitchen, fully equipped with any cooking capability possible indoors. You can grill pancakes, boil water, bake cookies and pizzas, sear steaks and cook chicken rotisserie style. Just about any dish is possible to prep and cook outdoors.

[caption id="attachment_602" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Cold Storage by True[/caption]

It’s a lifestyle trend outdoor appliance manufacturers are responding to with product lines that allow anything you would prep and cook inside, to be done outside. “I think people want to replicate their indoor kitchen outdoors with a sink, storage, griddle, power burners, an oven, everything a gourmet kitchen contains,” says Remy.

Bake Pizzas Poolside:

[caption id="attachment_582" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor pizza oven that can handle most baking projects. This one is from Morsona.[/caption]

“Why heat the house up in the summer when you can bake outdoor? Bake cookies while kids are in the pool; make pizzas at your next pool party. The pizza oven embodies the outdoor lifestyle,” says Jones.

[caption id="attachment_635" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Pizza Oven by Pacific Living[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_592" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Alfa Pizza Oven[/caption]

The pizza oven also can double as a decorative element. Alfa Pizza has a stylish, sculptural line of wood fired ovens for the outdoors that combine function with artistic form.

Robot Grill Cleaners:

After all that gourmet grilling with your tricked out, outside kitchen, it’s time for a little elbow grease to clean the grill. No worries, The Grillbot has got you covered. This was one of the most original products I discovered at this year’s HPB Expo.  The manufacturer claims The Grillbot works like those roving robot vacuum cleaners. The battery operated gizmo, scours the grill. Just turn it on and let it go. The Grillbot retails for $69.95 and you can check it out at www.grillbots.com

[caption id="attachment_595" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Outdoor Living Furnishings by O.W. Lee[/caption]

 

May is officially designated Barbecue month as it rings in the summer vacation with Memorial Day  marking the start. If you need to up your grill game, then you’ll be at no loss for options. Check back for my next blog posting where I highlight the latest in grill technology just in time for Barbecue Month.