Page 35 - Indulge August/September 2015
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hting can be as creative and transformative an lighting more broadly. Versatile, energy-saving LEDs
element as any in a home. These days, there’s rich and sophisticated control systems are widely available.
change afoot in technology to illuminate home interiors — Glen Hill, whose house in Summit Lawn doubles as
but many of the essentials in home lighting still hearken headquarters for his home automation business, Current
back to classic home design. Concepts, says today’s lighting capabilities enable closely
controlled lighting for practically any home space.
Ward Van Haute, director and curator of the Bethlehem
House Contemporary Art Gallery, strives to light the pieces Hill uses a variety of lights and fixtures, depending on
in his gallery to maximum effect. Bethlehem House is the specific requirements of the space involved. Spots can
arranged like a home, with several representative rooms be carefully placed at multiple points throughout a room,
served by pipe grids overhead to mount fixtures. providing the means to match lighting to whatever activity
is at hand, from the bright working light of a weekend
If asked, Van Haute also will help his customers place cleanup to the warm, low light of a romantic dinner.
and light their purchases in their homes. It’s a skill he’s
had ample opportunity to develop, having learned more From recesses disguising rope lights, attractive indirect
than a few tricks working on theatrical and TV sets in a glows may emerge at floor level or elsewhere. Sconces,
previous career. decorative in themselves, also spread light appealingly
on walls. The simple choice to put small lights inside
“Artwork wants light,” Van Haute says. “It will always cupboards with glass doors can produce a dramatic look.
look better in the closest thing to natural light you can
provide. Recessed lighting and track lights are good Hill’s lighting palette is complemented by the
options for lighting art in the home.” remarkable capabilities of contemporary residential
automation. A variety of systems are available to manage
“If you have a point of natural light, that’s where to lighting, integrated with broader home controls if desired.
put (an artwork),” he says. Where there’s more balanced
lighting, you might put it anywhere in the room. It’s now possible to arrange every room with effective,
attractive lighting for nearly any purpose. At a touch, the
“A pin spot placed directionally on a sculpture can scene may be dimmed or brightened, changed by bringing
highlight it nicely,” he says. Sculpture may also look an array of individual lights up or down, altered by adding
especially good when placed in or near a window. or reducing daylight with remotely controlled shades.
Frequently used lighting patterns in system memory can
What Van Haute doesn’t like is the little light that clips be recalled on demand. For the homeowner who desires
on above a piece of artwork. it, the lighting of a space can be keyed to the season, the
time of day, a passing mood, the activity happening there
“That’s an outmoded approach that can actually — or just a moment’s whim.
detract from it,” he says.
Far beyond the specialized demands of illuminating
artwork, technological advances have revolutionized home
on the By Jack Romig the
art of lighting
lighting of art
element as any in a home. These days, there’s rich and sophisticated control systems are widely available.
change afoot in technology to illuminate home interiors — Glen Hill, whose house in Summit Lawn doubles as
but many of the essentials in home lighting still hearken headquarters for his home automation business, Current
back to classic home design. Concepts, says today’s lighting capabilities enable closely
controlled lighting for practically any home space.
Ward Van Haute, director and curator of the Bethlehem
House Contemporary Art Gallery, strives to light the pieces Hill uses a variety of lights and fixtures, depending on
in his gallery to maximum effect. Bethlehem House is the specific requirements of the space involved. Spots can
arranged like a home, with several representative rooms be carefully placed at multiple points throughout a room,
served by pipe grids overhead to mount fixtures. providing the means to match lighting to whatever activity
is at hand, from the bright working light of a weekend
If asked, Van Haute also will help his customers place cleanup to the warm, low light of a romantic dinner.
and light their purchases in their homes. It’s a skill he’s
had ample opportunity to develop, having learned more From recesses disguising rope lights, attractive indirect
than a few tricks working on theatrical and TV sets in a glows may emerge at floor level or elsewhere. Sconces,
previous career. decorative in themselves, also spread light appealingly
on walls. The simple choice to put small lights inside
“Artwork wants light,” Van Haute says. “It will always cupboards with glass doors can produce a dramatic look.
look better in the closest thing to natural light you can
provide. Recessed lighting and track lights are good Hill’s lighting palette is complemented by the
options for lighting art in the home.” remarkable capabilities of contemporary residential
automation. A variety of systems are available to manage
“If you have a point of natural light, that’s where to lighting, integrated with broader home controls if desired.
put (an artwork),” he says. Where there’s more balanced
lighting, you might put it anywhere in the room. It’s now possible to arrange every room with effective,
attractive lighting for nearly any purpose. At a touch, the
“A pin spot placed directionally on a sculpture can scene may be dimmed or brightened, changed by bringing
highlight it nicely,” he says. Sculpture may also look an array of individual lights up or down, altered by adding
especially good when placed in or near a window. or reducing daylight with remotely controlled shades.
Frequently used lighting patterns in system memory can
What Van Haute doesn’t like is the little light that clips be recalled on demand. For the homeowner who desires
on above a piece of artwork. it, the lighting of a space can be keyed to the season, the
time of day, a passing mood, the activity happening there
“That’s an outmoded approach that can actually — or just a moment’s whim.
detract from it,” he says.
Far beyond the specialized demands of illuminating
artwork, technological advances have revolutionized home
on the By Jack Romig the
art of lighting
lighting of art
