by Lights On

It is very often that the visitors of our store, while admiring the beautiful play of colors on our crystal chandeliers, ask – how do you clean crystal?

Many think that cleaning a crystal chandelier is at least a very tedious task. Let us assure you – that is a myth. In reality, if you clean the chandelier the right way, then you will not need to spend much time on it at all and the process will seem easy.

It is just as easy to clean any regular lamp as it is a crystal one, but the effect of cleaning a crystal chandelier is much more noticeable.

The surfaces of a regular crystal are indeed attractive to the bits of dust, but in the surfaces of the Swarovski crystals the natural attractive force of the crystal is neutralized, using a special refining method made by Swarovski. Capillary forces do not allow water to hold on to the surface of the crystal in the same way they don’t allow dust. The dust may only lie on the surface of the cover, while water contracts itself in drops of dew, dripping from the surface without leaving a trace.

Lighting fixtures with Swarovski crystals do not require special care. You don’t have to untangle the numerous knots of suspended crystal strings, nor do you have to take off individual crystals.

A dry antistatic wipe and a brush are enough for you to quickly clean thin dust layers without any consequences.

In order for you not to leave fingerprints on the crystals (sadly, this type of stain is the one that most often worsens the appearance of the chandelier and is the hardest to remove), we recommend to go through this process in white gloves.

But what to do if your chandelier has crystals of another type, not Swarovski ones? A little dishwashing liquid, diluted in warm water, will help conquer very dusty or very dirty crystals. In this case, it is best to use microfiber wipes, even though it is possible to use a lint-free cloth made of cotton. The thinner the cotton, the better. The cloth should be moist. Then each suspension should be wiped, from top to bottom. After wiping, we recommend drying the crystal with a clean dry cloth.

After this procedure, you will see that crystal looks like a brand new one in the hand of a master craftsman.

ADVICE: Do not leave the suspension in a moist condition for too long – this may cause the corrosion of metal parts and connection parts of the lighting fixture.

Recommendations:

• Dry cleaning: dry cleaning is the way of cleaning your lighting fixture from dust using an antistatic duster brush

• Wet cleaning: If the structure of the fixture allows for crystal suspensions to be taken off, that will simplify the cleaning – just carefully wash them in cool water with special cleaning agents for crystals, then dry it with cloth. If it is impossible to take of the crystal suspensions, then carefully and without pressure, wipe the crystals with wet cloth

• Aerosol: we recommend rinsing instead, since many aerosols contain a multitude of solid particles which may leave a trace on the crystal

Also we would like to note, that if you are using any special cleaning agent for crystals, do try to make sure that the agent does not get on the armature of the chandelier, as it may be affected negatively by its chemical components.

ADVICE: Another good approach is a “dual-gloves” one. Take a pair of white, cot-ton gloves, and wet one of them with a liquid used for cleaning glass. Spray the chemical specifically on the glove, not the chandelier itself, otherwise it will for sure get into some part of the armature and cause corrosion. Wipe the crystal using a wet glove and immediately wipe it with a dry one right after.

Careful care and compliance with these easy recommendations will help you enjoy the beauty of lamps, crystal chandeliers, sconces and floor lamps for long, long years.

by Lights On

When designing a room it is essential to pay attention to the lighting. Both the quantity and quality of light can have a dramatic effect on how the room will appear. Quantity is fairly simple, the more light you have the brighter the room. It also helps the room to feel larger. For example a bedroom with small windows will be very dark and close. The same room with larger windows will feel much less intimidating and gloomy. The quantity will be affected by how large your windows are and what artificial lights you have available.

The quality of the light is such factors as the colour and intensity. Both artificial and natural light can affect this. A classic example of different quality lights would be mood lighting as compared to spot lighting. A more subtle example is the effect that the direction that natural light comes from can have:

• North facing rooms will only get reflected sunlight meaning that light often has a cold flattening quality caused by the large amount of blue light reflected into the room.
• East facing rooms get direct light in the morning as the sun rises but far less light in the evening.
• South facing rooms get the benefits of direct sunlight on them for most of the day making them warmer and better lit than others.
• West facing rooms will be dark in the morning but brighten up as the sun moves to the west. They will often get the most heat as not only does the early afternoon sun tends to be the warmest but the setting sun will often shine directly into them. Wooden Venetian blinds offer a great way of preventing glare whilst still allowing light in.

When deciding how to light a room you should consider its size and shape as well as the amount of natural light available. For example a square room will have a different pattern of light and shadow compared to an L shaped or rectangular room. In general the larger the room the more ambient lighting you will need. Ambient lighting is the light we use just to see and perform standard tasks. It can easily be provided by the natural light available during the day as well as a few lamps or ceiling lights.

Rooms like a kitchen or study will benefit from task lighting that allows specific tasks to be performed. For example if you are drawing or painting then having a bright task lamp such as an Anglepoise can be a huge help by providing light exactly where you need it. A similar example is lights fitted so that they shine directly on your oven hobs so that you can see what you are cooking.

The last type of lighting to consider is accent and mood lighting, which can be used to highlight artwork and other decorations. The typical example of this would be a small bulb in recess directly above or below a work of art. However you could also include candles and Christmas tree lights within this.

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This is a guest post on behalf of Wooden Blinds Direct, online suppliers of quality blinds at discount prices.

Bellacor announced the launch of its members-only private flash sale site, www.Olume.com. Beginning today, customers can sign up to view and purchase a limited quantity of highly desirable home products priced at up to 75% off retail.

“The needs of our consumers are changing. We’ve adapted to these changes by continuing to offer our customers high-quality pieces for their home but at insider prices,” said Chris Fowler, Director of Marketing for www.Bellacor.com.

Olume showcases frequent new sales featuring a curated selection of home furnishing products from some of today’s most sought out brands such as Quoizel, Kenroy Home, and Southern Enterprises. Each sale will include a limited quantity of items from various categories such as lighting, furnishings, and decor. The pieces will be available on the site for a limited-time and sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Unique to Olume is the specialized knowledge of the furnishings industry that Bellacor’s merchandising department brings. “We have a decade of experience in this space and an equally long history with great brands. Using this knowledge, we offer our Olume members special access to an extremely large selection of product from over 800 brands—all at drastically reduced prices,” said Fowler.

Olume is also leveraging the social element of shopping.  Bellacor will offer members who refer friends (friends that also sign up to become members) to receive a $15 credit towards their next purchase. Additionally, members are able to use the Facebook “like” functionality within Olume to communicate preferred brands and products for future sales.

Home design enthusiasts can sign up for a membership at http://www.olume.com or check out Twitter (http://twitter.com/olumecom) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/olume) for new sales events.

About Olume
Olume is a private flash sale website offering members special access to in-demand brands at insider prices. New sales are launched every other day, with a curated selection of home furnishings. Discounts offered are up to 75% off retail.

About Bellacor
Bellacor is a one-stop showroom that promises a new way to shop the entire lighting and home furnishings industry from the comfort of your home by providing superior personal service and access to the largest collection of lighting and home furnishings on the web.

There are over 300,000 products at Bellacor.com, which boasts one of the largest and most impressive online inventories of home lighting. Bellacor showcases luxury home furnishings from brands including: The Minka Group, Murray Feiss, Quoizel, and many others.

By BISSELL

Okay kings and queens of clean, it’s that time of year again. It’s time to get out the serious cleaning supplies, stretch your scrubbing muscles and tackle those hard-to-reach places you ignore most of the year. In other words, it’s time to start spring cleaning.

Use our spring cleaning guide below to navigate through the different parts of your home and achieve the highest level of clean. Need a guide for each room of your house? Click to view the Spring Cleaning Checklist or download and print the PDF.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Floors:

Whether it’s carpet, hardwood, linoleum or vinyl, all of your floors need to be thoroughly cleaned to get rid of deep down dirt and germs. You may vacuum your carpets and sweep your floors weekly, but chances are you don’t deep clean them very often. Tackle this project by doing the following:

Carpet

• Start by going over all carpets with your regular vacuum.
• Remove as much furniture from the rooms as possible. Any furniture that can’t be moved needs to have plastic placed beneath it.
• Use a carpet deep cleaner to extract deep down dirt and leave carpets fresh and clean.
• PLEASE NOTE: If any carpets do not have backing, they require professional cleaning.

Floors (sealed hard wood, vinyl, linoleum, etc):

• Sweep or vacuum the floors thoroughly.
• Remove as much furniture as possible.
• Use a steam mop to clean and sanitize the floor. (Steam mops use electricity to heat water and then release steam into cleaning pads that pick up dirt and sanitize the floor when used as directed)

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Walls and Windows:

Your walls and windows take a beating throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning each spring. You may not even notice many of the stains they’ve accumulated, but this regimen will get them sparkling in no time:

Walls:

• Dust from the top down, making sure to get the corners and other hard to reach places.
• Use a solvent-free degreaser to get rid of grease stains, food splatters and fingerprints (test the product in a small area to make sure it won’t damage your walls).
• Pay special attention to light switches.
• Take this opportunity to also dust down any light fixtures and ceiling fans, as well as bookshelves, pictures, and other furniture pieces located against your walls. A damp cloth works well to remove dust without spreading it around the room.

Windows:

• Wait until there is not direct sunlight to begin cleaning.
• Remove the screens and dust down both sides with a soft-bristle brush.
• Create a cleaning solution with one part white vinegar and one part hot water.
• Clean the window frames by wiping them down with a cloth that’s dampened with an all-purpose cleaner and water. Then wipe the solution away with a clean water cloth and dry the frame thoroughly.
• Clean window treatments in your washing machine if possible, or dry clean if necessary.
• Wipe down blinds with a damp cloth and fabric shades with a dry cloth.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Furniture:

Your furniture is in constant use all year long. Get rid of the dirt that has built up by using this effective cleaning regimen:

Couches and Chairs

• Gently beat cushions outside to remove dust and surface dirt.
• Check for stains and treat appropriately according to the care labels.
• Use a vacuum with a powerful hose to clean under seat cushions and in hard-to-reach crevices.

Beds

• Turn over your mattress to evenly distribute wear
• Machine-wash your pillows to get rid of and bacteria or odors. Make sure you give them several hours to dry before putting them back on your bed.
• Replace cool-weather bedding with lighter warm-weather items.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Cabinets, Countertops & Sinks

Cabinets, countertops and sinks are in constant use in any home or apartment. Even if you wipe them down on a regular basis, they still need an extensive cleaning a few times a year to get rid of built-up dirt and stains. Follow our steps to get these areas sparkling:

Cabinets

• Use warm water and soap on a sponge to clean off fingerprints, food stains and other unsightly markings
• If grease is present, use a solvent-free degreaser to target those spots
• Don’t forget the areas in and around handles, since those often get the most use

Countertops and Sinks

• Use warm water and soap on a sponge to wipe away dirt and stains.
• Use a glass cleaning formula to shine any metal fixtures
• Target any mildew build-up with a powerful cleaner
• Take this opportunity to de-clutter your countertops. Put away and organize as much as possible and leave only the bare necessities on the counter itself

Miscellaneous Spring Cleaning Tips:

• Remove light fixtures and wash them carefully with soap and water.
• Replace batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Clean out your freezer and refrigerator, throwing away expired food and wiping down all surfaces with soap and water.
• Sweep and mop underneath your refrigerator and dust the coils (AFTER unplugging it).
• Vacuum and machine wash all doormats and area rugs.
• Replace your shower curtain liner.
• Update your first aid kit and throw away expired medicine.
• Clean shower tiles with an mildew fighting agent and purchase an after-shower spray to be used daily.
• Replace toilet scrub brushes and clean all toilets thoroughly.
• Clean out your closet. Give unused items to charity and store cold-weather clothing in the attic or basement.
• Put storage boxes in your basement on concrete blocks to prevent damage in case of flooding.

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This article was provided by BISSELL. For more information visit http://www.bissell.com/spring-cleaning-guide/.

by Guest

As is the case when selecting lighting for any room in your home, an important thing to consider is the design and layout of that space. The illumination of a room affects our perception of space proportions as light reflects from various surfaces including the walls, floor, and ceiling. Most often for bathrooms, we want to make the space seem larger or wider.

To create the illusion of a larger bathroom using lighting, select décor and furnishings with reflective surfaces. Keep in mind that a substantially lighter color on the ceiling (compared to the walls) visually lifts the room, creating the illusion of a higher ceiling. Dark floors create the illusion of a dropped floor, instantly lengthening the room. By directing lighting upward and keeping light saturation on the walls, you can visually expand your bathroom.

When choosing lighting for your bathroom it’s important to remember that optimal lighting has 3 layers: general/ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Layering light creates a tranquil atmosphere while having a function and purpose.

The first layer is general light. This layer of light illuminates a wide or general area. Ceiling lighting or overhead lighting is typically used to create this first layer. With ceiling lighting, keep in mind that the farther away light is, the larger the surface area that’s illuminated. For recessed lighting, consider a spotlight bulb as opposed to a floodlight bulb for a more even distribution of light. If ceiling height is not an issue, consider creating a chic or luxurious feel in your bathroom by adding a chandelier over the tub. The width of the chandelier should be twice the width of the room, but in inches rather than feet (a 12 foot wide room should have a chandelier no wider than 24 inches in diameter).

Task lighting is the second layer of light to consider for your bathroom. It illuminates specific areas as opposed to the general area. The most popular type of task lighting for the bathroom is vanity lights. When selecting bulbs for your vanity, keep in mind that the amount of light released into the bathroom is directly proportional to the clarity of the bulb. Frosted bulbs will cast less light than clear bulbs (depending on the paint job in your bathroom that might not be such a bad thing).

The final layer of bathroom lighting is accent lighting. This layer sets the mood of a room and can be used to draw focus toward its pleasant features while making the room seem larger. As an example, indirect or accent lighting could be used to highlight crown molding on the ceiling.

By choosing a light ceiling color and directing light upwards, you can instantly add length to your space. Layering light is multifunctional as it helps create a soothing environment while providing task specific illumination. Be mindful of small and large details of your bathroom’s décor, as this can affect our perception of space proportions.

Bellacor is a one-stop showroom that promises a new way to shop the entire lighting and home furnishings industry from the comfort of your home by providing superior personal service and access to the largest collection of lighting and home furnishings on the web. Bellacor offers access to over 500,000 products from 700 manufacturers.

By Guest

It is vital that you clean your ceiling fan and wall sconce carefully. Most people do not take the time to properly clean these fixtures. If not cleaned the right way then you may slowly damage your expensive lighting fixtures. It is important to use the right type of cleaning products and tools. Take you time and do not rush your way through this task. It is important to have a sturdy ladder or base to stand on. This will help avoid harm from falling to the floor. Try to have someone near by to help you stay safe and stable. Following the cleaning instructions given to you at the time of purchase it the best way to preserve these fixtures.

Metal parts of your lighting fixtures should be cleaned with a soft cloth. Moisten it with lukewarm water and a mild soap solution. Carefully go over all metal parts very slowly. This will help avoid any unwanted accidents to the glass of your wall sconce. Take you time to look over your work and then dry all metal parts. Use a dry soft cloth to dry and buff your wall sconce. It is important to never use a metal cleaning solution on a wall sconce or ceiling fan. These polishes contain abrasives that may harm the finish on these delicate lighting fixtures.

If you ceiling fan or wall sconce has any wood components then wood polish is fine. Avoid getting any of the wood polish on the metal part of the fixture. Wipe away any residue that is left behind from the polish. This will help avoid any damage to the glass and metals surfaces. Glass surfaces can be cleaned carefully in a sink. Lay a thick towel at the bottom of the sink and fill with warm water. Next add a bit of mild cleaning solutions and wipe carefully. Quickly dry and reattach all glass fixtures.

Your ceiling fan and wall sconce will look just like new after using these cleaning methods. Cleaning should be done weekly to monthly depending on the amount of dust that normally accumulates in its environment.

This article has been provided by Julia Ritzenthaler, owner and founder of several online boutique home furnishing stores including http://www.UniqueLightFixture.com/ visit or call 1-866-526-1843 for more information.

by Guest

If you have a dark room that you are trying to light, you probably already know that it isn’t an easy task to accomplish. It’s important to understand how different light fixtures illuminate a space differently. This way you are sure to get the right lighting combination for your needs.

Some things to consider when choosing your lighting…

Paint and furniture color: If your room has very little natural light, you may want to choose a lighter color for the walls since they will reflect the light from the light fixtures better. To bring warmth into the room, and to help offset the brightness of the wall color, consider using furniture or carpeting with warmer tones.

Ambient Lighting: To be sure you have adequate overall lighting in the room; it’s good to install overhead lighting—for example, flush mount fixtures, track lighting, recessed lighting, etc. These lights can be hooked up to a dimmer switch so that they can be used brightly for tasks and entertaining, as well as dimmed for a more relaxed setting.

Accent Lighting: For when overhead lights aren’t enough, or maybe aren’t needed, we turn to Accent Lighting. Whether you are ready to settle in for the night, or want to highlight a certain part of your room, I suggest strategically placing Accent Lighting in your space. Many types of lighting fixtures can be used for Accent Lighting, depending on your needs. To highlight a picture, or maybe a shelving unit—wall lighting or picture lighting might be what you are looking for. For something more task-oriented like extra light for reading—you may consider table/floor Lamps or wall lighting.

Task Lighting: Sometimes the overhead lights and accent lighting aren’t enough. Instead, you need some lights that directly illuminate a workspace. This is especially useful in a kitchen, over a counter space, or in an office at the desk and computer. Under-Cabinet Lighting could be what you need. These lights are usually small, and can be unseen, and are very useful in illuminating a space directly. You could also use a desk lamp or pendant lighting for this purpose. It depends on the room you are working in and which fixture would make the most sense for the activity.

As you can see, lighting a room is not as easy as buying a lamp and plugging it in—especially if your space is dark. To lighten the room, you can start by picking well-illuminating paint and furniture, but it doesn’t stop there. You need to use different lighting for different activities. If paired together properly, you will have taken a dark space and will have made it a very functional, well-lit space instead.

Bellacor is a one-stop showroom that promises a new way to shop the entire lighting and home furnishings industry from the comfort of your home by providing superior personal service and access to the largest collection of lighting and home furnishings on the web. Bellacor offers access to over 500,000 products from 700 manufacturers. http://www.bellacor.com.

by Guest

A sunny personality. A dark comedy. A bright smile. Simple phrases, yet they show the huge influence light has, defining the world around us even through the words we choose.

It seems simple, but most people never realize that how much light they get affects their mood, emotions and productivity. Understanding the ways in which light affects people has major implications for designers and the lighting choices they make.

The end of the year brings shorter days to the northern hemisphere, which means less natural light from the sun. With less light, people experience changes to their moods, their emotions and even physical reactions like fatigue and lowered immunity to colds and diseases.

Depression, insomnia and fatigue may result from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – also called the “winter blues” – and is commonly treated with light therapy to increase exposure to bright and full-spectrum light, thereby curing the symptoms.

While most people may not experience extreme depression with reduced lighting levels, they may still feel some effects. In earlier studies on light, results showed positive and negative moods were affected by the color of light, illuminance and color rendering index (CRI) levels. These results also varied depending on gender and age.

While natural sunlight is the best source of lighting, it is not always available in an interior space. Take into account how much natural light is in a room when selecting the color and intensity of lighting fixtures.

Adding bright lights or changing the color of bulb in a fixture could be an option to consider for a room’s lighting scheme. Building in the flexibility to change light levels with a dimmer switch is also a good idea for a space where natural sunlight amounts vary with the season.

While most lighting research has focused on how much light is visually seen, recent studies suggest that light may also impact non-visual processes such as physical performance and mental tasks.

For residential lighting, this could mean adding bright lights in rooms requiring alertness and mental sharpness, such as a kitchen or home office. For non-residential lighting, the effects of light levels must be considered for irregular work hours (such as second- and third-shift workers) as well as the effects bright lights have on long- and short-term memory.

Here are just a few findings from the latest lighting research:

• Men performed poorest on long-term memory tasks in the artificial ‘daylight’ white lighting; women performed better than men in the artificial ‘daylight’ white lighting.

• Use ‘warm’ white lighting in areas where individuals will be performing short-term recall and problem solving tasks.

• Be aware that people whose sleep/wake cycle has been interrupted (such as people working a swing-shift schedule) report being more alert for a longer time when exposed to high (3,190 lux) or mid (230 lux) light levels than people exposed to low (23 lux) light levels.

• Consider the potential effects of light levels on alertness and performance for people that work at irregular times (night shift, etc.).

Humans live on a natural rhythm of light and dark. Our bodies are attuned to the light, responding to sunlight as well as bright indoor lighting. Whether you see yourself as a morning person or a night owl, you and everyone around you will have a natural reaction to how much light is in the environment
SAD Light Therapy

Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder consists of a lamp that is specifically designed to simulate bright outdoor light. Sitting a few feet away from this light source for 15 to 20 minutes a day is said to change the chemicals in your brain to help treat some SAD symptoms. Be sure to check with your doctor prior to any treatment of SAD.

For more information on seasonal affective disorder and SAD therapy lamps please visit the Mayo Clinic website.

This article was provided by Bellacor, leaders in lighting and quality home décor. Bellacor offers SAD lights such as Rise and Shine SAD Deluxe Natural Alarm Clock Bedside Lamp and the HappyLight Deluxe Sunshine Supplement Light System as well as access to over 500,000 products from 700 manufacturers.

by Chris Johnson

With energy-efficiency gaining in popularity among consumers and businesses, Pegasus Associates Lighting has created a new section on its website dedicated to its energy-efficient lighting products. This new section makes it easier for visitors to find the energy-efficient LED light fixtures, fluorescent fixtures, metal halide light bulbs, and air tight recessed housings that the company offers. Additional energy-efficient lighting offered by the company includes metal halide light bulbs, air tight recessed lighting housings, California Title 24 compliant lighting products, and a number of ENERGY STAR® light fixtures.

LED lighting is probably the most discussed energy-efficient lighting product on the market today and for good reason.  Dr. Thomas E. Farin, President and founder of Pegasus Associates Lighting explained how switching can make an impact . “LED lighting is really exciting. For example, the 6-inch LED downlight module uses 85% less energy than a conventional incandescent downlight, and 50% less energy than comparable fluorescent downlights. This, obviously, amounts to considerable savings on an electric bill.”

While LED lighting may be the most discussed energy-efficient lighting product, fluorescent is still a very good choice for many applications and uses. Fluorescent lighting is currently the most energy-efficient for the given amount of light that the fixture produces. Moreover, fluorescent lighting has made great strides with light bulbs that provide warmer color temperatures and good to excellent color rendering, very efficient, instant start, electronic ballasts that turn on instantly with no flickering, and lower profile fixtures that generate very little heat.

Dr. Farin and his company are committed to providing homeowners with similar products, “We look forward to offering our residential and business customers an ever growing line of energy-efficient lighting in the near future.”

About Pegasus Associates Lighting
Founded in 1993, Pegasus Associates Lighting is a lighting distributor with a strong Internet presence selling “unique lighting products for your special needs.”  The company, based near Pittsburgh in Beaver Falls, PA, attracts both individual and corporate shoppers who value a learning experience in lighting, competitive pricing, and an easy-to-use, intuitive website.  For more information, visit  www.PegasusAssociates.com.