Interviews

n2n: Is lighting design frivolous?

Jill: Intangible & mysterious yes, frivolous no. Lighting is as essential a design element as color, texture, and form. As technology advances we will all reexamine the way we look at light. For example, LED’s have a life of 70,000 hours, equaling 36.45 years of lamp life. Residential hardwood floors and light bulbs will soon share the same category: building materials.

n2n: Can you talk about how you approach a living space in terms of light?

Jill: Coming from theater lighting, I am always interested in the story of the space and how people live in it. When I first talk to clients, I find it striking that even though they inhabit their space every day, they are invariably unaware of the impact light has on mood, beauty and function. I am here to show them the light.

n2n: What techniques can you recommend to a homeowner who wants to enhance the lighting of their home?

Jill: Lighting is as individual as each person. Everyone feels different or has a different experience around light.

That said, there are two techniques I would recommend to enhance residential lighting: add dimmers, or install a home lighting system. Both solutions allow the client to control light output according to the task at hand. Cooking in the kitchen, for instance, requires bright light for safety. But one doesn’t need this same amount of output when tiptoeing into the kitchen for a late night snack.

Installing dimmers or a home lighting system will extend the lives of your lamps and lower your energy bills. You can set dimmers at 5% below full output--for most people this reduction is imperceptible. You can also program a home lighting system for 10-second fades when turning lights off and on, saving the life of the lamp and dollars on your energy bill. Some compact fluorescents are even dimmable (check the box before you purchase).

n2n: Can you tell us about some of the practical benefits of lighting design?

Jill: A well-designed lighting system is effortless to operate, reduces the homeowner’s carbon footprint, and saves money. A lighting designer is educated on high efficacy and low energy consumption lamps and fixtures. Homeowners can save considerably utilizing our expertise. Not to mention the inevitable increase in their home’s resale value.

Planning for the future also comes into play with lighting design. Age affects visual acuity, and a middle-aged client may be living and working in their home for years to come. Placement, lumen output, the number of fixtures--these are all essential considerations...

n2n: What do you recommend to clients concerned about their impact on the environment?

Jill: LED’s, fluorescents (they’ve come a long-way-baby!), dimmers, home systems, and proper recycling of lamps. If you use fluorescents they must be recycled properly as they contain mercury and are considered hazardous. Repackage in the box they came in, be careful not to break them, and do not put them in your recycling bin. Most exciting is that today you can drop them off at most Home Depots, Lowes Hardware, and even some Whole Foods grocery stores free of charge.

n2n: Do issues of safety play a role in lighting design?

Jill: Yes, on so many levels. For example, a woman living alone can easily see the boundaries of her well-lit garden. Or an elderly client can walk on an illuminated footpath without stumbling. We just added some beautiful light to a client’s backyard to deter teenagers from hanging out and tagging the outer walls of their garden.

n2n: What do you most love about working with light?

Jill: Lighting is paint, and the canvas is infinite. What’s not to love?