Most of us know the benefits of using compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of traditional, less-efficient incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescents last up to 10 times as long as incandescent bulbs and use far less energy, making them the right choice for the earth and your pocketbook.

Compact fluorescents work by passing a current through a tube filled with a trace amount of mercury and argon gas, an inert, colourless, odourless and nontoxic gas. If you’ve ever purchased windows, you know the benefits of argon gas: reduced heat loss in winter and decreased heat gain in summer.

When I was a kid I thought argon gas was some sort of Superman-strength fume that protected against, I don’t even know, aliens? Turns out I was partly right; the gas does have superhero strength, as in light force.

Luxim, a company that specializes in developing high-efficiency lighting, recently revealed its newest project: a Tic-Tac-sized bulb that gives off as much light as a street lamp but is ultra-efficient thanks to, you guessed it, argon gas, as well as a component called a “puck.” When electrical energy is delivered to the puck, the puck acts like an electrical lens, heating up the argon to a temperature of 6000 degrees Kelvin, and turning the gas into a plasma that gives off light.

Conventional light bulbs and high-end LEDs get around 15 and 70 lumens per watt, respectively. By comparison, the plasma bulb uses 250 watts, and achieves around 140 lumens per watt, making it incredibly bright and highly efficient in its light distribution.

So while you might not need such bright lighting in your home, this tiny bulb offers a brilliant glimpse into the future.

The following are sizing and positioning guidelines to help you to select the correct chandelier.
When choosing a chandelier for the dining room: It should neither overpower your table nor look too small. Measure your table (if it’s round, measure its diameter, if it’s a rectangle, measure its width), and then subtract 12″ (30 cm) from that number. For example, if you have a 42″-wide (107 cm) table, your chandelier should be 30″ (76 cm) in diameter. A properly proportioned chandelier comes to within 6″ (15 cm) of each edge of the table. Using this easy formula will help you achieve that balance. Some manufacturers offer oval chandeliers for extra long rectangular tables.

Proper positioning is very important for a balanced look. Since a chandelier is the focal point in your dining room, it should hang over the center of your table. If the electrical connection in your ceiling doesn’t match up with the table’s center, insert a heavy duty decorative hook into the ceiling above the center of the table, then attach a length of decorative chain to carry the wiring from the electrical connection to the hook. The bottom of your chandelier should be 30″ (76 cm) above the tabletop if you have 8′ (2.4 m) ceilings. If your ceilings are higher than 8′, raise the chandelier 3″ (7.5 cm) for every extra foot (30 cm) of height.

Chandeliers for other rooms - the chandelier should be placed higher than 8 feet above the floor in the middle of the room. When placing a majestic chandelier in the foyer, take into consideration the height of the ceiling and size of the space. If there’s a window above the front door, you may want to center it in the window for maximum curb appeal and aesthetics. Optimal placement would be at least 9 feet from the floor.

Information on selecting the correct size fixture

Height - The distance from the top to the bottom of the fixture, not including the chain.

Overall Height - The total length from the top to the bottom of the light, including the chain.

Extra Wire - Every hanging light that we sell comes with more wire than chain.

Diameter - The width of the fixture.

Extension - The distance the fixture comes out from the wall. Top of Fixture to Center of Outlet - The distance between the top of the wall light and where the fixture attaches to the wall.

Visit www.lightingshowplace.com for a wide selection of beautiful chandeliers.

Purchasing a crystal chandelier is similar to buying a diamond. Not all crystal is created equal. Crystal may be machine-cut, hand cut or molded. The cost of your chandelier can fluctuate drastically depending on the quality of crystal you choose. Most fixtures are available in four qualities of crystal.

Lights of Distinction - the Crystorama Lighting Group and James R. Moder are two of the largest manufacturers of Crystal Chandeliers.

Strass Crystal: Strass Crystal is considered the finest in the world. Strass is manufactured by Swarovski AG in the Austrian Alps. Strass is an optically pure crystal, clear as spring water, totally free of flaws, unique in purity and brilliance. Strass crystal is characterized by razor-sharp cutting of facets (surfaces) with the lead content in excess of 30 percent. Cutting and polishing are done by machine to achieve perfect optical clarity. Strass crystals are treated with an invisible coating, which eliminates dust attraction and makes it easier to clean and maintain. Each crystal (over 12mm) has the distinct STRASS® laser engraved signature, identifying it as a genuine STRASS® Crystal .

Swarovski Spectra Crystal: A passion for perfection has made Swarovski the world leader in the production of cut crystal. Swarovski & Co., manufacturer of Strass Crystal, has created a new alternative quality crystal. Swarovski has used advanced technology with olde world knowledge to produce a brilliant crystal with precision cutting and superior light reflection. This crystal type is designed for a crystal connoisseur demanding quality at an affordable price.

Imperial Crystal (Available only through James R Moder): Imperial crystal dressed chandeliers contain brilliant crystals created by precision cutting sourced from Austria , Egypt, Turkey and the Czech Republic. The Imperial crystal is a combination of quality crystals to achieve a great look at an excellent price point.

Regal Crystal (James R Moder) / Majestic Wood Polish Crystal (Crystorama): This crystal is cut by hand in two stages on an iron and then a sandstone wheel. Each crystal is then polished on a wood wheel with marble dust. These methods go back centuries. If you look closely you will notice faint traces of the wood-wheel attesting, the concentrated labor of the artisan. This is a mark of authenticity. Each piece is a unique and original masterpiece.

Italian Crystal: Italian crystal also known as Venetian Crystal (from the glass-making regions in and around Venice ) is molded not cut. You will notice a rounding of edges that comes from fire polishing. Molded crystal, though never as brilliant as cut crystal has a subtle charm and is an exceptional value. It is an ideal budget crystal for heavily dressed chandeliers.

A wide selection of beautiful chandeliers can be found at www.lightingshowplace.com.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs should be a part of the total strategy for energy efficiency in your home.

One of the biggest trends in the last 20 years is how to save energy through lower power consumption. And of course, lighting is one of those critical energy wasters for many homes, regardless of their size. It takes a certain amount of electrical energy to light an average person’s home and great reductions can be made. By now, most people know this is a reality with compact fluorescent light bulbs, where energy reduction can be as much a 75% with a corresponding reduction on your electric bill. But there is often some sacrifice that still has to be made when it comes to lighting with compact fluorescent light bulbs. There may be a couple of ways to better incorporate this technology into energy savings in your home in concert with other efficient lighting.

In people’s homes, lighting serves many different purposes, from reading to kitchen tasks to lighting general areas such as bathrooms or a family room. Because there are so many different activities that go on in the home, it’s important not to take the approach of one-size-fits-all when it comes to lighting. But that’s the way many people approach energy efficiency in their home, outfitting the entire home with compact fluorescent without thinking about what they might be doing in those individual spaces. It can be a tricky balancing act between what looks good aesthetically and what is a true energy-saving opportunity. Another aspect that comes into play many times is that people need to do some kind of dimming or other kinds of lighting control, which doesn’t always work well with energy-saving compact fluorescent lights. So it’s good to come up with an integrated strategy that might work best to accomplish energy efficiency in a home.

Probably the biggest thing to keep in mind when it comes to compact fluorescent lighting is that the standard off-the-shelf compact fluorescent is not a dimmable product. If you have a system that does dimming in your house, it can be difficult to incorporate compact fluorescent so that it will look as good as standard incandescent lighting. If you’ve gone to all the expense to have a dimming system with scenes and total lighting control, then almost no compact fluorescent is really going to be the ultimate solution. In cases like that, it makes sense to use that lighting control system and keep lights shut off when they’re not being used. Many times, you can incorporate occupancy sensors that will shut off the lights when nobody’s in the room and that can be used in a complete lighting control system.

If you just have a few dimmers on the wall, you can use some dimmable compact fluorescent light bulbs that will dim down to lower light levels, making it acceptable in many situations. There are some that go down to 20% of full light output, and then there are others to go all the way down to about 1 or 2%. These can be used in standard incandescent dimmers that you might have on the wall in your home. That can take care of some of the dimming that you need, while other on-off circuits can be handled by standard compact fluorescent for maximum energy savings.

It might also be a good time to think about what you are using for track lighting, or recessed lighting. If you have standard incandescent lamps, they could be replaced with halogen bulbs at a lower wattage. In many cases, this is a better way to handle energy efficiency while still getting the correct lighting effect through dimming or display. Halogen technology has improved much over the past 10 years and it’s a good solution to reduce energy, even though it won’t save as much energy as a fluorescent light bulb. Most people like the way halogen illumination looks, with its white, crisp light that really does a good job for many types of track lighting.

To put it simply, you should look for areas where you can use compact fluorescent lights without hurting the aesthetic aspects of your home. In places where you still need to have a dimming capability or greater lighting control, you may want to incorporate halogen as a part of your total strategy. You may also be able to incorporate some new LED lighting that has a very low wattage and still provides a fair amount of light for many different kinds of tasks. It may not be able to replace the higher wattage of either halogen or fluorescent, but it will provide light for an area and can be used as part of that total scheme for reducing energy. Take a look at how you use lighting in your home and think about what you want to accomplish with light, because that’s still the ultimate goal, to have your home lit in a pleasing manner. Apart from energy savings, that’s still the main purpose of light and if you miss that, no amount of energy savings is ever going to make you feel better about a lit space that isn’t quite right.

John Bolduan is President of BuyLightFixtures.com and has over 20 years in the lighting field. For lighting help, contact 866-637-1530 or via email at john@buylightfixtures.com. Also visit their web site at: www.buylightfixtures.com to learn more about color in all types of lighting.

Are you feeling uninspired by your boudoir? Is your bedroom more reminiscent of grandma’s abode than the romantic getaway you envisioned? Then it’s time to turn up the heat by introducing some spicy decor elements into your nest.

Firstly, an evaluation of your furniture and decor are in order. If your furniture and accessories are hand-me-downs, or look as if they are ready to be read their last rites, then it’s time to cast them away to your local charitable organization and go shopping for some newer and more attractive counterparts. When selecting new furniture, ensure these pieces reflect your aesthetic style, are well-built, provide ample storage and suit the scale of your room. Always purchase the best quality that you can afford.

The most notable focal point in any bedroom is, and should be, the bed. So consider painting the wall behind the bed a tint or tone of red as a dramatic counterpoint. Red is the colour of love and energy, and its use in a couple’s bedroom is perfect, provided that it is used judiciously (a little goes a long way). The rest of the walls should be painted in softer hues, such as sandy brown, mushroom grey or butter cream.

Selecting a bed must reflect your style, budget and suit the scale of your room (no king size beds in a small room). For a contemporary look, consider a padded headboard in a luxurious fabric. It will offer you comfort, style and texture. Imperative for any bed is purchasing the best quality mattress and box spring that your budget can allow. Pillow top mattresses are wonderfully comfortable and can make your bedtimes truly ethereal. Of course, buying the best quality linens you can afford is essential. Egyptian cotton sheets in thread counts upwards of 350 are fit for a king and queen and as this is your palatial suite, spoil yourselves and you’ll be thankful you did. Also, buy the best quality feather pillows in either natural feathers or synthetic (if one is sensitive to allergens). Finally, no bed is complete without a beautiful duvet and coordinating shams in the best quality cotton. Incorporate some cushions in silk, and voila! A beautiful bed that will beckon you to stay the night!

Overhead lighting should always be controlled by a dimmer switch. This allows you to set the mood and feel of the room. Task lighting is equally important; these would be the lamps that flank your bed on the night tables. Consider purchasing tri-lights, as they too allow more flexibility with the quantity of light. And lastly, nothing is more romantic than the addition of candle light. The flicker of candle flames cast a glow that is warm and inviting, but make sure that these are contained within glass lanterns. An unexpected fire is not the kind of excitement one desires in any room.

The rest is in the details. The right accessories will transform your space into a truly beautiful and inviting room. Incorporate elements that appeal to all the senses. We’ve already spoken of the addition of candles, and luxurious linens. Next add some wonderful artwork to your walls, a crystal vase for sparkle, and fill it with some beautiful fuchsia roses and tiger lilies for romance and fragrance. Add some mirrored objects for interest and lastly turn on some music and treat yourselves to a box of champagne truffles. Enjoy!

Article Provided By:
Margarida Oliveira from Chic Decor 905 337 8463 http://www.chicdecordesign.com
Posted By:
Nikki Rollins nrollins@homerenovationguide.com

Soma sits in an old Riverside building on one of the east end’s busiest — and formerly one of its seediest — corners, in a neighbourhood with virtually no nightlife (besides the hard-to-miss Jilly’s strip club, of course).

The choice of location may seem like a gamble to some, but a recent boom in activity on the Queen East strip, and a desperate need for an upscale neighbourhood lounge, has enabled Soma to pack the house almost every night since its opening.

In fact, the building had not been upgraded since 1902 and had to be completely gutted to create Soma. Previously a martial arts studio, it had no plumbing and even had an asphalt floor, making it a bit of an indoor driveway. However, despite many people’s disbelief and a year of transformation, the owners of Soma built a restaurant and lounge from scratch and have unveiled one of the Toronto’s most stunning new lounges, designed with the building’s history in mind.

An original secret passageway at the side of the room was restored and is now used for service staff, so you never see a parade of dirty dishes or encounter what would have been congestion by the washrooms and kitchen doors. The exposed brick behind the concrete bar is the building’s original, and any bricks removed during construction were saved to use on the exterior of the building.

But as old as its history may be, the new definitely comes out with the rest of the place. A sleek, modern lounge area sits in the front, with comfy black leather couches and ottomans, and tables line the back for either drinkers or diners. Most of Soma’s decor is black, grey and white except for the occasional screaming yellow wall.

WHERE: 703 Queen St. E. Toronto, ON

WHO YOU WILL MEET: East-enders desperate for an upscale place to go without having to cross that bridge into downtown. A big part of their clientele comes from the film industry from nearby lofts and studios.

TIP: Check out Soma’s stunning light fixtures. They were purchased from Italy and installed by a local Leslieviller, and kind of look like exploding silver flowers. Very cool.

If you are looking for simple kitchen makeover ideas, without having to commit to a full kitchen renovation, here is a simple and effective method to reorganize your space.

1. Start by taking everything out of your kitchen. Empty and clean every drawer and surface. This will really help you eliminate the duplicates, and get rid of items cluttering up your drawers.

2. Now that your kitchen is empty, look at the cabinets, lighting and colour. Refer to the Kitchen Renovations article for ideas on improving these with little cost.

3. Arrange your kitchen with you in mind. As the person who spends the most time there, you may want to change things like where your cooking utensils are stored, or how accessible your plates are.

4. If you have a few large mixing bowls, take one and place it in the center of your table. Fill it with lemons and other bright coloured fruit which will last a few weeks, so you are not always replacing them.

There are several ways to improve your kitchen without having to incur a great deal of cost and using only a few basic skills.

When the kitchen becomes outdated and you find yourself tired of your flooring … ceilings … light fixtures … even cabinets, it’s relatively easy to repair, upgrade or replace these individually with less cost than an entire kitchen renovation.

First, search for pictures of other kitchens that you like to get inspired. To take a look at others’ projects or get some opinions on your own, the HomeRenovationGuide has an excellent PhotoShare site, where you can post pictures of your kitchen and see what people have to say.

Some ideas to consider are:
• Changing your cabinet handles or knobs, a small but very simple change that can modernize your kitchen. If you are not interest in painting your cabinets, then ensure that the holes line up to prevent having to drill new holes and fill the old ones.

• Lighting can create a new ambiance, using elements as simple as dimmers or purchasing all new fixtures. These are easily installed, and you can ask the lighting store specialist for helpful ideas to achieve the mood you desire.

• Paint the ceiling and the walls. Don’t be afraid to be bold with the wall colours if you have a lot of cabinets.

• You can paint your cabinets as well, even if they are melamine. Prime with a specialty primer first (this is very important for melamine, so do not cut costs here). After you have primed, add two coats of paint to the cabinets and varnish for durability.

• Flooring renovations are all the rage right now. With click laminate floors, or peel and stick tiles, you can give the illusion of hardwood or ceramic tiles at a fraction of the price.

Remember to take your time and do one thing at a time.

nrollins@homerenovationguide.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: I don’t know much about lighting up my home. Where should I start?
A: Start by asking yourself if there’s a particular style you prefer for your home, whether it’s modern, contemporary, traditional, eclectic, or any other style. This helps to narrow down what can sometimes appear as overwhelming choice. Then, try to take things one room or one area at a time.

Q: I know what style fixtures I like, but I don’t know how much light I need for different applications. How do I figure this out?
A: There are a few ways to do this. If you’re unsure if something is not bright enough, it’s always better to get too much light than not enough. This is because if there is too much light, there are many ways of reducing brightness, whereas if you do not have enough light, it is much more difficult to adjust to a brighter setting. Lastly, keep in mind that kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms need more light than other rooms.

Q: Why is there such a wide variance in prices for light fixtures?
A: In one word, quality. Though we do not sell poorly made fixtures, there is still a range between economical, very good, and excellent. Country of origin can also be a factor. Despite all of this, however, the first and foremost determinant of price is quality. When buying your lighting, you may want to ask yourself how long you plan on using it for. Are you looking for something for the short term (rental unit) or long term (home owner)?

Q: I’m looking to buy a lampshade. What do I need to know?
A: Simply come into our store and we can help you select the best shade for your lamp from our selection of over 1600 shades. Be sure to bring in you lamp however, as buying a shade without your lamp is like buying a hat without your head.

*Article courtesy of Royal Lighting in Toronto - At Royal Lighting, we are very committed to and passionate about lighting. We have the best prices while always adding new products to our selection (average 100 new items per month). Our selection and service makes us the ideal showroom in Canada for all of your lighting needs. Come in and visit, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Chris Paulsen
cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com

Open House Tips
Conducting an open house is a terrific way to expose your property to many people in a short amount of time. While your real estate professional will advertise and manage the event, it is up to you to make sure that your home is seen in the best light possible. Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression, so approach the open house as your opportunity to showcase your property. Here are some things you can do to make sure that your home is prepared on the inside and out.

Start with the outside. Do a visual check of the front of the house from across the street. Does it have curb appeal? It should look inviting, with a trimmed lawn and flowerbed and a freshly painted front door. Polish door handles and knockers and replace worn items such as a rusty doorbell. Consider adding a new doormat and flowering plants at the entrance. Do the windows need cleaning? Are there oil stains in the driveway that need removing? While outside, don’t forget to check the side and back yards. Add some flowering plants to the back as well. Rearrange the outdoor furniture to look inviting. Put away gardening tools. Tidy around the grill area.

Now focus on the inside of the home where cleanliness, space, smell and lighting are key. First, get your house in tip-top condition by cleaning and clearing away clutter. Steam clean and vacuum the carpet. Make sure your floors are waxed and shiny. Touch up nicks on walls and make sure the porcelain sinks and tubs and metallic fixtures shine. Your kitchen and bathrooms should pass the white glove test. Be conscious of any lingering odors such as smoke, pets or strong-smelling foods. You may need to air out your home prior to the open house. Consider grinding fresh lemons in the garbage disposal. And don’t forget to empty out all the trash. Look at your countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms and the tops of your bureaus. Do they seem cluttered? Clear away and store as much as possible. You want your home to seem spacious.

Next, set the mood. You want buyers to be able to picture your home as their own. You may want to rearrange the furniture so that rooms look more spacious. Add accessories from rooms with too many furnishings to those that are bare. Lighting is also integral to creating an atmosphere. Bright lights provide a cheerful environment and make a small space appear larger. Pull back all the drapes and open the blinds. Turn on all the lights. Make sure all the light sockets have working bulbs and install the maximum-wattage bulb that is safe for that fixture. For rooms where you want to portray a warm, cozy feeling, use softer lights.

Don’t forget little touches such as fresh flowers, lit candles in the bathrooms, new logs in the fireplace, or a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter. You may even want to set your dining room table with color-coordinated table settings.

Buying a home appeals to the emotions. Sellers shouldn’t rely on buyers to use their imagination; they need to capture it. Remember that buyers may see seven or eight homes in a single day. The most memorable home will be the one that seemed the brightest, the most spacious and the most cheerful.

*Article Courtesy of Prudential Properties Plus - Buying or selling? Get the Prudential Properties Plus team behind you for the best in Toronto real estate services. We provide you with unparalleled expertise in Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario real estate market.

Chris Paulsen

cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com