Good lighting may not ultimately“ sell” a house— but it is arguably one of the most important aspects in design. Why do you think that is?
If there is a home being built in my neighborhood, I want to see what kind of lighting is inside. If it only has recessed fixtures and they’ re not LED, that doesn’ t say“ luxury” to me. It makes me wonder if the home is being built to today’ s standards and specifications. Today, if you are building a home, you need dedicated LED, which is the most up-to-date technology. It’ s costlier but worth it to get the right color temperature. In the past, people shied away from LEDs, because the technology changed so often and you couldn’ t get the right color temperature. In the early days, many of the LEDs had a cooler, blue color— not warm, like a traditional incandescent. That’ s not the case today. Nowadays, too, the size of the LED element is so small, and when you combine that with the use of optics and reflectors, you can install fixtures with 1- to 3-inch apertures to light even a large space. Many of the recessed LED fixtures are also trimless, which creates a really clean, sleek, high-end look. I think that adds a massive amount of value to any house.
How does home automation factor in today?
Home automation is really something to be considered, especially when building or remodeling luxury homes. If a potential buyer is looking at a residence, the fact that it includes home automation adds a lot of value. All of these different types of lighting— cove, outdoor, recessed and decorative— can be controlled by home automation and tied together with window shades and other features. It saves a tremendous amount of energy.
Your friends and guests won ' t say,“ I love your recessed lighting.” With decorative lighting, it’ s what everyone talks about. It’ s an expression of your personality and style.
Can we assume the same is true for outdoors?
Yes, in particular, the lanterns used on the outside of the house. Worn-out fixtures cheapen even a high-quality luxury home. This is your first impression, and if you’ re already turning people off, it’ s time for a facelift.
New lighting is a huge upgrade to a home. The right style and proportion are the most important factors. And, of course, you want to make sure that you are selecting the right outdoor fixtures for your specific city or state, which may have special Dark Sky or energy efficiency standards.
Why do you think lighting is like“ art” in a home?
We look at lighting as functional pieces of art. You can select a fixture for a particular home or property that fits the architecture or style of the home. People are looking for a more eclectic touch these days. With decorative lighting, you can achieve this more eclectic look, adding a product or fixture that is a contradiction to the predominant style. That creates an attention-getter.
In the Corbett line, every fixture is designed to be a piece of art. It turns decorative lighting into an asset instead of just a form of illumination.
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