LIGHTING DESIGN TRENDS WITH FAITH ASHLEY
Whether statement-making or understated, lighting is a critical component in the design of a home—but it can often be neglected or overlooked. When remodeling, fundamental elements like paint, furniture, window treatments, etc. tend to take precedence, but lighting can have just as significant an impact. Imagine, for instance, the difference replacing a single light bulb with a bold chandelier can make; it affects not just the brightness, but the overall ambiance of the room.
Clive Daniel Home interior designer Faith Ashley knows this better than anyone. As an ALA (American Lighting Association) certified lighting consultant, she is an expert in all things lighting-related and loves incorporating the newest lighting trends into her designs. Below, she sheds light on the most important aspects of lighting design and what she’s loving most right now.
What’s the #1 mistake you see designers make when it comes to lighting?
I would say scale, i.e. how big or small a fixture should be. There are mathematical formulas for establishing the correct scale that work 99% of the time. There are exceptions to this, however, since some designers might want to over-scale a fixture to create drama.
What’s the most important thing to know before choosing new lighting?
When using LED lighting in your home, it’s important to have the correct Kalvin temperature and Lumen output. If these two things are not taken into consideration, then you may not get enough light for the room. The best advice for LED lighting is to keep the Kalvin temperature the same throughout the home. To be on the safe side, I would suggest using LED with a Kalvin tempertature of 3000K and CRI (color rendering index) of 90. Lumen outputs will vary according to the fixture but can be controlled with dimmers.
The next important thing would be to use dimmers to set the mood and create ambiance. You wouldn’t want to sit down to a romantically-set dinner table with bright white lights over your head!
What is one of your favorite lighting trends right now?
Right now I love the LED linear recessed lighting from WAC Lighting (below, left). These cassette strips of light can be used on walls and ceilings alike to create endless lighting designs.
Do you have a favorite fixture in the showroom?
Yes, I really like this large LED pendant (above, center/right). The fixture is very sleek in design and shoots light up for overall ambiance and down for task lighting on table/counter surfaces. It’s also available in several beautiful finishes.
To see Clive Daniel Home’s exclusive selection of chandeliers, pendants, sconces, and more, or to work with one of our lighting specialists like Faith, visit us in Naples or Boca Raton Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm or Sunday 12pm- 5pm.
