Lighting choices important part of condo living
Luxury high-rises offer spacious interiors, high ceilings, panoramic windows, and state-of-the-art kitchens and bathrooms, so finding the appropriate lighting and fixtures for various living spaces can sometimes be a challenge.
Gabrielle Serriere, a key contributor with Soraa Inc.’s digital lighting community, said there are numerous factors to consider when approaching condos and their lighting situations. Soraa Inc. manufactures LED products made from gallium nitride substrates and offers LED lamps, snap systems, and optical light engines.
Paying attention how lighting comes together in the building process is the first problem to address. Finding manufacturers that can provide quality lighting and can also meet lead times in a very fast-paced industry is one of the challenges, but there are others to consider as well.
“Also, there’s choosing product that will blend in seamlessly with the architecture and won’t compete with floor/table lamps the resident might add to the space. Finally, using warm color temperatures with high color rendering that won’t muddy the condo materials,” Serriere said.
In the Kitchenbathdesign.com’s article, HighRise Design, they address the “aesthetic challenge” if there are spaces with not much natural light. The article stated that to compensate for limited natural light, homeowners may use LED lighting systems in multiple locations to increase lighting levels.
Serriere also has suggestions for when the homeowner comes to reside in their new highrise. Getting versatile in different spaces is the key.
“I like to suggest pendants over dining tables and living spaces that complement the room materials while remaining relatively see-through so that they don’t interrupt views,” she said. “Glass and acrylic in either clear or translucent colors can provide interesting reflections on walls without upsetting the flow of the space. It’s nice to find a theme that works well for the client and work off of that so decorative pieces remain consistent.”
Whole Building Design Guide, a program of the National Institute of Building Sciences, stated in their online article, Lighting Design that when it comes to lighting an interior, it’s important to note the dramatic impact surface finishes can have on a system, and its ability to make a space feel bright.
It explained that dark wood finishes require more light to brighten spaces than light-colored spaces. These elements are vital when considering lighting options.
Solutions aren’t hard to come by, said Serriere.
“The kitchen absolutely needs under-cabinet lighting that is mounted, contrary to popular belief, at the front edge of the cabinet, hidden by a small fascia. Using a powerful, high color rendering, 3000K-3500K white, this placement allows for the light to be distributed toward the backsplash and counter with enough breathing room, avoiding the creation of hot-spots,” she said.
The overall goal, according to Whole Building Design Guide, is that lighting systems should illuminate the architectural forms and surfaces in addition to being well integrated whether in the form of coves that uplight the ceiling or walls or judiciously chosen luminaires.