HOME & GARDEN :: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2007
Dispelling Lighting Rumors Helps Make Your Shopping Experience Illuminating!
After 10 years of working in the lighting business I’ve seen and heard many things. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will be able to expel some of those damaging myths about lighting and be able to create a lighting solution that is functional yet stylish, and most importantly reflects you!
A time-honored way to add grace and elegance to a dining room, chandeliers are
now being reprised in living rooms and bedrooms throughout the home. Down lighting
in chandelier fixtures also provides task lighting for homework, projects, and
family recreation. When selecting a chandelier for the dining room, remember
that it is the focal point. A chandelier should hang 30"-36" above
the table top and be 6" narrower than the table on both sides.
Myth #1 – Just because the fixture was installed by a builder does not mean it is the correct dimensions for your room. Many customers come to us after building a newer home and they are ready to replace the builder’s grade fixtures that came with their house. Great! However, you must realize that the builder wants to spend as little money as possible on fixtures and therefore settles for sizes that are much smaller than what should be used in order to save money. If you are replacing a two-story foyer chandelier, chances are the builder installed 12 in x 24 in brass and glass cage when in reality, depending on the width of your foyer, you may be able to go up to sizes exceeding 30 in x 40 in. This may seem daunting at first but when installed the fixture will be more proportionate to your room.
Myth #2 – You don’t have to sacrifice quality for price. Almost all of our customers come into our store with a budget. That’s fine! It helps to have a realistic idea of what you can and can not afford. It’s our job to show you the best possible lighting within that budget. Lighting is made from all different kinds of materials; therefore, it is possible to have a wide range of prices. Solid brass is more expensive than steel, casting is more costly than stamping, and alabaster glass is rarer than factory made glass. But most importantly, anything that is purchased through a lighting retailer most likely has a warranty on the electrical parts and sometimes on the glass, even if you break it yourself! As a result, you are covered if anything you have chosen should eventually have a problem.
Myth #3 – Shopping for lighting is difficult and stressful. It doesn’t have to be! One of the biggest challenges today is a customer that does not come prepared. When shopping for lighting or lighting accessories, it is essential that you have the measurements of the space you are trying to illuminate. For example, if you are trying to choose a chandelier for your dining room, it is helpful to have your room dimensions, including the ceiling height, and also the dimensions of your table. I’ve helped many customers that say “Well, it’s taller than me…” Unfortunately, that can mean anywhere from standard 8 foot ceilings up to 18 feet! Another way to make your shopping experience less stressful is to have an idea of the style you are looking for. For example, tear out pictures from magazines or bring in fabric samples to help you choose style and color. Lighting is a very important part of the decorating process. It can often make or break a design scheme, especially when it comes to creating the right feel in the room. If you are remodeling, you need to make sure that when the job is completed you have budgeted enough money for the lighting. Many people spend thousands of dollars on a remodel and when finished they are not able to see in their beautiful new room! So, regardless of your budget, space, or time constraints, Sunlighting, Ltd. will be able to provide you with service and quality that will last you many years to come!
For more information, contact Sunlighting, Ltd. at 302.998.7779 or stop by their showroom at 115 Kirkwood Square, right off Kirkwood Highway entrance to Delaware Park in Wilmington, DE. Sunlighting is open Mon-Thurs 10-6, Fri 10-9, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5.
