Lighting Designer
Information for and about residential lighting designers.
UL Lighting Listings for Lighting Explained
Randall Whitehead, IALD, explains the omnipresent UL designation and what it means for your product offering.
Q.: Randall, what is a UL lighting listing, and why is a label from UL required on light…
How to Change the Color Temperature of LED Tape Light
Q: I have a client with 4000K LED tape light on top of his cabinets. I need to make it look like 2700K, but I have never dealt with gels or colored lenses. What would you recommend and how would I…
Why Are Halogen Lights So Hot?
Q: Since halogens give off more heat, do they present a fire hazard for lamp shades? Will the halogens make the shades deteriorate faster?
A: Halogens are twice as hot as standard incandescent lamps…
Sizing and Lighting a Mirror Around a Vanity
Q: I have two questions. First, I have a 48-inch vanity. How large of a mirror do I need? Second, I have two sconces for the sides of the mirror. Is it possible to hang sconces right on the mirror…
Lighting a Two-Story Great Room
Q: I have a two story great room with an open floor plan. Currently four recessed lights, installed by home builder, provide horrible ambient light that is dim and yellow. We are planning to upgrade…
Lights for High Ceilings
Q:What type of ceiling lights should I use for a 20-foot-high family room that has very little wall space and a floor-to-ceiling fireplace? Right now there are 6-inch recessed cans in the ceiling…
Recessed Lighting in Concrete Ceilings
Q: I'm dealing with a concrete ceiling in a condominium. If I use LED recessed lighting, do I still have to drop a 6-inch soffit? Someone told me that LED cans take up less space than traditional…
Tips for Stairwell Lighting
What's the Best Way to Configure Stairwell Lighting?
Q: Randall, I still see electricians and architects placing recessed cans in the middle of stairways. It is very difficult for homeowners to…
How to Deal With an Off-Center Junction Box
Q: I can’t find lighting for over my oval dining table. The junction box is 16 inches off the side of the table and can’t be moved because the ceiling is concrete.
A: Yes, you do have a bit of the…
Accent Lighting Around a Fireplace
Q: I have a fireplace that is about 72 inches wide on a wall that is 16 feet tall on one end and 14 feet tall on the other end. What would you suggest for accent lighting of the fireplace? The room…