Central Keystone Living - Fall 2017 - 22

Contemporary Lighting

Can Make i
Big Difference in Home Decor
he lighting you choose can have a big effect on the mood of your
home and helps to create an atmosphere that reflects your tastes.
"It's kind of the jewelry of your home," said Charlotte Couch, an
account manager for appliances and lighting with Fromm Electric.
"If you have a great kitchen but don't have the right lighting, you're
missing a chance to really set that room apart."
Trending right now in lighting are LED lighting, streamlined fixtures, and lighting that can be controlled from a smart phone or
other device.

LEDs are Much Improved,
Less Expensive than Previously
Just in case you don't know, LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are
devices that produce light when an electrical current is passed
through them. LED bulbs and lamps last longer and are far more
efficient than traditional incandescent products.
Incandescent lighting has already been phased out in commercial
buildings, a trend that now is moving to homes, according to Couch.
"There's no incandescent left on the commercial side of things, and
now that's starting to flow into residential," she said. "Most people
want to switch with LED because it's energy saving, but when they
first came out they were expensive and they were horrible because
the color looked blue. But they've come a long way, and the price
has come down, as well, so it makes sense now for homeowners
to consider LED."
Existing lighting often is able to be repurposed into LED, saving homeowners money by lowering wattage while maintaining
light output.

Central Keystone Living // FALL 2017

While no one can argue that LED lighting makes sense from an
efficiency standpoint, some homeowners aren't quite ready to give
up the look of good, old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, explained
Kim Musser, Harrisburg showroom manager with Yale Lighting
Concepts & Design. Edison lights, LED lights that resemble vintage
light bulbs, are popular.
"There is a sense of nostalgia for the dying out of the incandescent
light bulb, so we are seeing a lot of LED Edison-type filament
bulbs," Musser said.

Clean, Streamlined Fixtures
Fussy, brass or crystal chandeliers and bulky table
lamps have fallen out of favor and are being replaced
with lights that come with simple lines and, in some
cases, an industrial look.
"People are looking for lights that are streamlined,
with simple lines," Couch said. "Even if it's not an
industrial look, it might be something that incorporates
a lot of wood."
Wooden chandeliers have replaced brass, and also popular is a
lantern look.
"The rustic/industrial look is being sought after and sometimes paired
with mid-century modern designs or design elements," Musser said.
Lighting manufacturers are using raw materials like wood, shell
and seedy, clear or mercury glass. Black, warm brass and muted
silver metal finishes also are very popular this year.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Keystone Living - Fall 2017