Category: News

Some people prefer to cruise through life without a care in the world; “don’t sweat the small stuff” they say, “chillax”… whereas others need to have a tight handle on every, single detail of every, single thing. And you? Somewhere along that scale, I imagine.

Lighting control is quite similar – there is a range of options to choose from depending on your preference, budget, the size of the lighting installation and its technical complexity. And yes, it also depends on how much control you want to have: little / some / complete control. So I ask again: are you a control freak?

For simplicity, let us divide lighting control solutions into two main categories: manual and automated.

Largely speaking, manual lighting control will involve a switch that operates lights. It may be a dimmable switch (to increase and decrease the brightness) and it may control more than one light fitting. But that is pretty much the extent of functionality we get – the lights come on and go off. Very simple.

By contrast, an automated lighting control system will have more components including some sort of “brain” which will do most of the control work in the background for us. All we need to do is press a button to recall the settings. Also, simple. The reason for having the “brain” is because there can be a whole lot of things that happen in the background, both relating to lighting as well as integrating with other systems, so the automated lighting control system becomes essential to simplify the operation for us.

There are no hard and fast rules about when to use one lighting control solution verses another, however from our experience you might want to ask yourself the following questions as a guide:

• Do you want lights to dim in each space or are you happy for just on/off operation?
  • Dimming has many great advantages however there are instances where it may not be necessary.
• Are there any special lighting features in your project, for example colour-changing or sequencing lights (=two or more lights operating in a pre-defined pattern)?
  • An automated system is likely to optimise such features and make them easier to operate and enjoy.
• How many lighting circuits are in each space and across the project?
  • Large circuit count often makes manual control cumbersome, ineffective and unsightly. Even 4x lighting circuits in a space may be too much for manual control.
• How many floors and rooms are there in your project?
  • Large projects often benefit from an automated system because it centralises control. This makes it easier to control multiple spaces (with multiple circuits as above) with a touch of a button, for example being able to turn off all the lights when you leave the house.
• Do you want certain “smart” options such as to control lighting from a wireless device (like your phone or tablet), incorporate motion detection and astronomical time-clock or for the lighting to interact with other systems?
  • Only an automated system can offer such additional functionality, including integration with other systems such as AV (=audio/visual), security, temperature control etc.

There is a lot to think about, and one solution rarely fits all, so we talk with our clients through their thought process to better understand what is truly needed.

We are often asked for “simple” lighting control, because in truth life is complicated enough sometimes. However, if certain functionality is needed then an automated system may end up being the simple solution because it is the right solution. In our experience, “simple” is sometimes a reaction to a negative experience with an automated control installation in a previous home or workplace. And the root of the negative experience can be varied, for example: over-specifying a system that ends up being too complicated and ill-suited for its purpose; poor setting up during the commissioning period; poor handover – not taking sufficient time to explain and teach the client how to use the system.

The projects we are invited to work on at Light House Designs are a mix of both manual and automated control solutions, and they may not split as obviously as you might expect.

For example, we have some very large private country houses, with multiple floors and rooms including sizeable external spaces which suggest the use of an automated lighting control system. However, some of those are entirely manually controlled. A considered selection of non-dim and dimmed switches are located in particular places to control rooms, corridors, staircases and the exterior lighting.

By contrast, we also have a much smaller, dual-level city project comprising an open-plan living/dining/kitchen, master bedroom with dressing room and bathroom. Such a contained space is unlikely to have a large circuit count and therefore lends itself to a manual system. However, the client asked for an automated control system because of its added benefits.

So, whether you are a control freak or not, hopefully you will not freak-out by lighting control anymore.

Once upon a time, there was a boy; he was young and quite a lot shorter than most kids, but he was clever, kind and had lots of friends.

One day a parade came to town and all the people ran to the main road to watch. The boy ran there too, but when he got to the road, he realised he was stuck behind all the taller people and could not see a thing.

So, the boy called his friends and asked them for help; one brought a large basket, another a long rope and the third took them all to his house which had a walled garden with a tall tree right by the main road.

Together they tied one side of the rope to the basket, and the other side they flung across one of the tree’s strong branches. The little boy climbed into the basket, his friends pulled the rope together, and the basket went up the tree. The boy could watch the parade over the fence whilst sitting comfortably in the basket. Later, the friends took turns in the basket, so they all enjoyed watching the parade.

* * *

There are many forms of collaboration all around us; between countries, between companies and of course between individuals. We also know that there are wonderful examples of collaboration in nature too, between animals and even plants.

A construction project is a great example of collaboration; the client wants to build something, but they do not know how, so they contact an architect. The architect designs the shell of the building and in doing so contacts various specialists to collaborate on different aspects of the design, for example; structural engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers etc. The client also wants to design the interiors, so they contact an interior designer. The interior designer considers each space in terms of the walls, the floors and the ceilings as well as the furniture. As part of their design, they contact a lighting designer to design the lighting scheme. The lighting designer will consider the building’s exterior shell and interiors, the furniture, the mood etc and will contact various lighting manufacturers to understand more about their light fittings and what would best suit the project.

All these professionals, and more, are referred to as the design team, and once they have agreed on the design for the building, they contact the construction team.

The main contractor, even if a large and capable company, will contact various sub-contractors to offer specialist building knowledge in various trades that may be required to make the design a reality.

A building site is another excellent example of collaboration: lots of people from different places gathering and bringing their different skills in order to realise the design put together by the designers, who in turn crystallised the vision and dreams of the client. One could not work without the other and even if they could, the result would not be half as good as it is through the contact and collaboration of all these people.

At Light House Designs, we place great value on collaboration; internally we enjoy sharing ideas, suggestions, thoughts and experiences. Externally we value our collaboration with our many partners – designers, architects, engineers, installers, manufacturers and of course our clients. You can see some of them on Our Collaborators’ page on the website. We learn and grow from all these interactions to become better designers and better collaborators.

Congratulations, you are starting to work on a construction project. This could be anything – a house, an office building, a shop or a restaurant, and in any case, it is going to be amazing!

Who are you?

You might be a professional, a business owner or a homeowner; you might have a personal investment in the project, or you may be appointed to it by someone else. Regardless, there is going to be a lot that needs to be done in order to make your project a reality. You will need help.

The A-Team

You will need to put together a team to help you realise your project.
For example, you are likely to need a contractor to build your project. They will need to know a vast amount of information about what to build, where to put it, what to make it out of etc so you are going to need a professional team to advise (design) that for you. That is usually an architect or an interior designer depending on the project. In addition, there may be a need for additional input from other professionals regarding planning permission, structural, electrical and mechanical engineering and (if you are lucky) landscape design, audio-visual etc.
You might be thinking – “that sounds like a lot of people to pay, and it all adds up!”. You are right, but in order to do things properly, and only once without having to pay more money for fixing problems, it is worth it. Besides, you may not need all these people all the time.

What about a lighting designer?

“Thanks, I’m already paying all these people, I don’t need another designer. I’ll get one of the people I’m already paying to do this too.”
Sounds reasonable, certainly sounds cheaper, but is it right?? A lighting designer is a specialist profession; it requires the perfect combination of creativity, highly skilled technical knowledge, project management and people skills. There are many factors to consider about how to light a space both qualitative and quantitative, spatial, visual and psychological. There are countless light fittings to consider, each with numerous related components to specify to make it all work.
Therefore, as you are unlikely to get a decorator to design your furniture or a doctor to check your car, why ask an electrical contractor or an architect to design your lighting scheme!?

Good lighting design has many benefits, and a professional, independent lighting designer is the best choice to help you realise them all. It starts with enhancing the space and everything inside it after dark (why buy expensive floors, paints and furniture if they are not lit properly?), but there is so much more to it.

Well-being

Recent research has shown that light has a profound effect on our bodies. Getting it right has never been so important for our physical and emotional sense of well-being. A professional lighting designer will be up to date on the latest technologies to advise you.

Cost saving: lower your energy bills

It is much more than simply “energy saving bulbs in your cupboard”. A holistic approach that considers fittings, controls and how you use your space can have a real impact on your bill. This is especially true if you have an old property. A professional lighting designer will assess your space, learn your needs and provide expert advice based on a multitude of factors to offer the most suitable solutions.

Mood

Your space can be so much more with the right light! Focused and productive, relaxed and cosy, inspirational and meditative, fun and crazy?! All of this and more. It can be achieved with lighting, and we have plenty of ideas for you to choose from.

Working from home

Whether a spare room turned home office or a state-of-the-art back garden GCHQ, the right lighting is essential to get you productive and at the top of your game.

Professional, independent

Years of knowledge and experience are put in service of your project. We call upon many different lighting suppliers across the world to find the most suitable products on a budget that is right for you.

Cost-effective

Our initial quote is free-of-charge, so you have an idea of how much our fees are likely to be. On a project, we charge hourly and only for time spent, plus we have different rates for different levels of designer, not a blanket charge. Most importantly we offer a flexible and tailor-made approach to suit your needs.

So why do you need a lighting designer? Because it is the right thing to do for yourself, your project and your investment.

Bulbs, not the kind you plant in the garden but light bulbs or lamps.

With recent climate change legislations announcements hitting the news, the ban on sale of halogen lights is to be enforced by 2023 within the UK, it is now time to understand their alternatives.

The professional lighting industry currently drives LED technology, pushing for better performing lights in terms of energy efficiency and physical lighting attributes. This however does not always immediately transcend down into the consumer market and LED lamps for retro fitting within our homes.

Within the consumer market there are plethora of lighting lamp manufacturers, brands, re-sellers and distributors each with their own specification of LED lamps, and each with pros and cons. The unregulated or standardised market for LED lamps creates a huge variety of lamps in all shapes, sizes, costs and importantly specification, this can often become a minefield in selecting the right lamp for the right job and it is down to the detail.

Here are some key points to look out for on LED lamps:

• Lamp base & type – Is the lamp GU10, MR16, E27, B22, G9?
  Making sure you have the correct lamp base and lamp type to fit the application. Many a times as lighting designers we have seen E27 PAR lamps, a directional, controlled beam reflector lamp used in decorative shaded light or an E27 GLS lamp, typical an omni globe lamp used within an accent spotlight.
• Colour temperature – What colour tone of light do you require?
  Measured on the Kelvin scale ranging anywhere between 1500K warm candlelight, through to 6000K+ cool direct sunlight. The colour temperature plays a huge part in the visual aesthetic of an environment. Warmer 2700K – 3000K would typically be used for a cosy home environment, whilst a cooler 4000K could be used in a working environment.
• Colour rendering – How accurately does the light depict the physical colours of an object or artwork?
  Measured on a colour rendering index (CRI) between 0-100 Ra, with 15 sample colours. Often in many LED products, the R9 value which represents the red value, is lower than desired and hence the light source fails to reproduce red tones. Aim to buy lamps with CRI 90+ with high a R9 value 80+
• Colour consistency – How many lamps are seen in situ together?
  Not all lamps are created the same, the standard deviation in colour matching (SDCM or MacAdams ellipses) determines the number deviation steps along the black body locus. Even when two lamps state they are 2700K, the ‘colour and appearance’ can differ. Select lamps with a lower number of MacAdams ellipses to minimise the difference.
• Dimming – Is the light dimmable?
  Not every application requires dimming, but if you are replacing lamps in a circuit that was previously dimmable, you will want to ensure the new LED lamps are also dimmable. A dimmable lighting circuit can help dramatically changing the atmosphere and use of a space. Also benefiting from potential energy savings and prolonged lamp life.
• Compatible dimming – Will it dim effectively?
  When opting for dimmable lamps, check its compatibility with your existing dimmer control. Older rotary dimmers that worked with traditional lamp sources like halogen, operated with leading edge dimming. Many modern LED lamps will favour trailing edge dimming so ensure your dimmers are up to date. Each lamp manufacturer will use different LEDs, electronic components and drivers so they all perform very differently, always check with the manufacturer or distributor.

For more information on how we can help with your home and commercial environment, please get in touch at, enquiries@light-housedesigns.com or henry@light-housedesigns.com

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