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Lighting Design is one of my favorites in the Interior Design Discipline. But I find not to many people pay enough attention to a well planned or thought out Lighting Design in their Home, Office, Dining Room, Kitchen or Bedroom, even though we spend most of our day in these rooms with the Light on. To get to the point, I found just a couple of days ago a very interesting News Article about the opening of the new Deutsche Handelskammer in Hamburg the so called "House in House". Here a very nice Slide Show by Nimbus about Lighting Design with smdLED. The "House in a House" is one of the first buildings worldwide to be lit exclusively with energy-saving smd LEDs by Nimbus. More than 160,000 of these LEDs over all the five levels were required. 400 LEDs are in each of the 380 light-module panels suspended from the glass ceiling on each floor. Due to the uniqueness of this lighting and its interaction with the translucent, transparent and reflecting material, the building acquires an almost "immaterial" appearance. Depending on requirements, LED modules bathe individual areas in bright light for working or they illuminate individual zones only weakly so that, for example, people can see where they are going. The lighting for the building is absolutely energy efficient because it is possible to request only the level of light intensity that is actually needed. Dynamic light sequences which can be triggered when necessary provide an additional effect. When the touchscreen is touched, the LED modules emit calming waves of light which move across the ceiling and are hardly noticeable. The dynamic light control system even conjures up natural scenes in the building: light clouds which slowly drift by above the heads of visitors.
A very informative Flash Movie about the smdLED Technology
- Because I Love Green Technology.

Lighting Design with smdLED

Admittedly, the technology behind light emitting diodes - known as LEDs for short - dates back to 1962. But only 44 years later, it came that the latest generation of ultra-flat smdLED semi-conductor diodes revolutionized our understanding of light and lighting. Nimbus smdLED luminaires are a forward-looking alternative to halogen and compact fluorescent lamps. They are flat, cool, economical and safe. Which opens up entirely new dimensions to planners and builders - in design, in lighting concepts and in actual use. The benefits are obvious. The ultraflat smdLED illuminats are perfect for a slim new and previously unimaginable design. These ultra flat luminaires only require extremely low installation depths and minimum fitted heights. The Lighting Designer therefore has the advantage of completely new installation possibilities and uses. Further they are cool. Just light no heat. I personally call it where the Form follows light: Ultra-flat One other advantage one has to deal only Just light - No heat. The new nimbus smd-LED luminaires can safely be touched even after they have been in use for many hours. A patented, ultra-thin cooling plate in a special alloy cools the SMD-LED luminant. One other great Advantage: no risk to children, no source of fire. This opens up situations where one could could not use or install normal Lights. The nimbus smd-LED luminaires operate for up to 50,000 hours, so they are extremely long-lasting and highly robust. Not even frequent switching on and off or vibrations will affect the luminant in any way. They provide the full light intensity as soon as they are switched on. The risk of them failing is put at 3 to 1 million. And because they are so highly efficient, they use up to 90 percent less electricity. Less is more this is a another favorite theme of mine. The nimbus SMD-LED luminaires work without dangerous electricity and harmful UV light. They operate with safety-low voltage (24 V). The highly compact converter may be positioned almost any distance from the luminaire: anywhere, even in a wall or ceiling junction box. And the non-UV light protects sensitive and valuable exhibits. There is much more, but one would have to create a complete Website like the Nimbus Lighting Design Web Site

The Lighting in your Dining Room should be beautiful, which most lights are, but it also should be functional.
This will be a mix of general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting that will set the mood for a number of functions, including for a formal dinner, a family get-together, and other activities such as homework, hobbies, or family bookkeeping. It all depends on your own preference and life style.

A recommended must is to use dimming controls, as they will enable you to vary the light for each occasion.

The chandelier is mostly the focal point of the dining room. Suspended over the dining room table, it will serve as a decorative style element that enhances the beauty of your fine furnishings. When you dim the light on your chandelier, a soft, glowing atmosphere similar to candlelight is created. 

Recessed low voltage lighting this is my personal preference in use of my interior design projects, as they provide general lighting, while enabling you to highlight prized possessions throughout the room. A set of four recessed down lights (important to use low voltage halogen lights here) around the dining table supplement the light from the chandelier, while providing accent lighting for your tableware. The pure white light of low-voltage fixtures will make your crystal and silverware sparkle. I have tried this set up for many dining rooms and it was always a big success with my Clients.

A buffet or sideboard can be flanked with traditional wall sconces on either side. Choose fixtures that complement the style of your chandelier. Displayed objects can be accented with recessed down lights (again as before - low voltage halogen fixtures) installed in the ceiling above.

The china cabinet, breakfront, hutch, or wall niche can become a showplace for your prized collectibles by installing strips of low-voltage mini-lights under the shelves or even fiber optic lights.

One more item to pay attention too, is the right way of lighting your art work, antique displays or family portraits. They can be dramatically high-lighted with recessed adjustable accent fixtures.

Ask the experts at Final Touch Interiors on your next Lighting Design Project in helping you to choose fixtures that are best suited or have them draw up a lighting plan for your decorating needs.