Nothing adds ambiance to a home like a chandelier, but finding the right one can be difficult. This shop in Greenpoint is here to help.
Lydia Rosenberg’s lamp-as-sculpture series explores the intersection of narrative, physical objects, and the act of describing them. Her latest work, lamp store, uses a familiar format to challenge the commodification of art.
Lighting
If you love the idea of creating your own store that specializes in lighting fixtures, it’s important to have a thorough plan for getting started. This includes identifying the best location, securing financing and setting business goals. You should also review regulations and standards for your area before launching.
Depending on your budget, you may want to consider working with a consultant to help you create the right kind of lighting for your space. This will ensure that your shop meets local codes and is safe for customers.
Lightology is a great place to find sleek chandeliers and other modern pieces for your space. The site has a huge inventory to explore, including ceiling lights and even commercial lighting.
Design
For more than a century, the Oriental Lamp Shade Company has been helping its customers to light their homes with the perfect shades. The store provides an infinite selection of designs, sizes and shapes to meet every requirement, no matter how unique it is.
At Metropolitan Lighting in Soho, shoppers can find sleek lighting fixtures, from recognizable high-design pieces to task, floor and table lamps. The store also features an extensive collection of elegant lampshades, from custom-made in New York and Connecticut to ready-made designs from designers like Patricia Urquiola.
At FloraLuce, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Mr. Karnell has built a shrine to his passion: cool-looking lamps. Ask him about any one of them, from a fluttering stingray-shaped shade to a set of rectangular lanterns with Art Deco bird designs, and he turns into a human encyclopedia, eager to share details and history.
Light Levels
Whether it’s shopping, a concert or a sporting event, people need sufficient light to see. This is called lighting level or illuminance. It’s measured in foot-candles (fc) or lux, which are calculated or, in existing spaces, measured using a light meter. The IES recommends certain lighting levels for different types of commercial space and uses.
In addition to quantity, lighting must be evaluated in terms of quality. This means that it must be free of glare, shadows, extreme contrasts and correct direction and distribution.
There are several metrics that are used to evaluate light quality, including luminance (light output), color and fixture efficiency. Color is rated in terms of a standard, known as the CRI index. Electrical efficiency is a measurement of how well the fixture converts electrical input to light output. Light levels are based on the amount of light available at a workplane, which is an imaginary horizontal or vertical plane. This can be the floor, a shelf or a display area.
Shadows
Shadows add life to your room, making objects and materials appear more real. They also help define spaces and create a sense of depth. By working with different lighting levels, you can create a more dynamic effect.
Shade size is important because it determines how much heat the shade generates and how many people can use a lamp at once. The higher the wattage of the bulb, the wider or taller the shade must be.
The shape of the shade also influences the look, with bell-shaped shades best suited to traditional settings and coolie shapes complementing contemporary designs. Finally, the color of the shade should be considered, with grasscloth, scalloped raffia and classic parchment offering options for traditional and modern styles.
Changing out lamp shades is a great way to breathe new life into your space, and Pottery Barn’s selection offers the colors, textures and silhouettes you need. Just be sure the shade is large enough for the bulb strength, and always follow a few basic safety tips.