September 2016 | ` 100 | Vol. 9 Issue 09 www.insiteindia.

in

INSITE STORY

DESIGN EDUCATION
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY:
WAYS OF THINKING
ABOUT LEARNING

ANEERUDHA PAUL YATIN PANDYA

AJIT RAO S. BADRINARAYAN

B2B DESIGN MAGAZINE ON INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

34  LIGHTING INSIGHT  ILLUMINATING SPACES

ILLUMINATING
PERSONAL CHOICES

Every room in your house can be magically

transformed through carefully curated lighting. With
strategically employed lighting techniques you can
enhance the ambience of a space and the purpose it
serves. Discover below, the secret tips and tricks of
quality lighting to fit any home décor.

Ashish Bahal Surbhi Jindal

TEXT & PHOTOS COURTESY: Ashish Bahal & Surbhi Jindal

They say, you can determine what kind anywhere and it is definitely possible
of people stay in a home just by a glance. to recreate the same by ‘lighting’ – the
Proven or not, but there is a virtue in this most cost-effective, flexible, dynamic,
statement. One glimpse and while our informal, trendy, energy-efficient,
brain says “nice!”, the heart turns blue convenient and experiential building
with envy. Every one of us has a dream material. Without good lighting, the
1. A subtle combination home as one of the prime goals in life. impact of all the other well-thought out
of general overhead
or wall lighting and a While many factors play in achieving this details – sumptuous furnishings, opulent
balanced mix of table, ‘dream home’, we would like to assure flooring, and luxurious wall coverings
floor, and task lamps can
achieve a sophisticated
you that the ambience you set your eyes will be lost. This article series aims to
living room ambience on while ‘dreaming’ can be achieved en-light’en you with tricks and style
mantras to spice up your personal decks/
apartments/ bungalows.

It is not a secret any more that light

does much more than just illuminate
our surroundings or our ambience. It
links our surroundings to our psyche
and our civic, poetic as well as emotional
lives. Light also creates a series of
calming, coherent and relaxing spaces.
It’s versatile yet discrete in nature. Since
every space in your home has its own
character, the visual hierarchy/ balance,
shadow, the colour of light, sparkle, time
of day and place are conceptually woven
into the lighting. Also, interestingly the
world of lighting has taken a giant leap
with a range of technology alternatives 2
that allow us to create nearly unlimited
experiences. Hence, we now have many definition to the stair risers aiding 2. In multi-purpose
living rooms distinction
a choice how to celebrate our décor with safe transit, the clearance between in activities such as
suitable lighting layer(s). Proper layering the bottom of the fixture and watching TV or reading,
can be strategically
of light can enhance colour, texture, height of tallest occupant being created through a
space and therefore overall ambience – between 1’-6” to 2’-0”. flexible lighting scheme
involving judicious use of task, accent
(or decorative), and ambient (or overall) Living Room
lighting within each room.
• Today’s living rooms are now
Let us unravel a few style tips that address multi-purpose spaces used for
every purpose your space may serve or everything from watching TV to
each task you will accomplish in it. reading to dining, entertaining and Since every
hobbies. With a flexible lighting space in your
scheme, one can create the illusion home has its
Entry Ways & Staircase
of different spaces for different
activities, all within one room.
own character,
• An effective lighting strategy
for your entry can make your Balance and adaptability being the the visual
home look more welcoming. key to a well-lit living space. hierarchy/
To create a real wow factor, a • A subtle combination of general
balance,
statement pendant is a must. For a overhead or wall lighting, as well
traditional look try a lantern light, as a balanced mix of table, floor, shadow,
or if opulence is your thing, go for and task lamps give the flexibility colour of
fabulous crystal. to control light
light, sparkle,
• Table lamps are an excellent way • Accent lights can make a room
of adding layers of light – a table work harder and smarter. This time of day
lamp placed on either end of the can include spotlights on plants or and place are
console table adds a pleasing artwork, indirect light concealed conceptually
symmetry to the concept. behind crown moulding or above
• If space is limited, wall lights casework, even a light behind a woven into the
and recessed downlights are the chair to brighten a dim corner. lighting
perfect choice The light source itself should be
• Complimenting a well-lit foyer camouflaged, of course.
space, large statement pendants
that cascade through the air
Dining Room
provide the necessary WOW factor
on a modern staircase adding • Dining rooms are probably the

INSITE  SEPTEMBER 2016  37

38  LIGHTING INSIGHT  ILLUMINATING SPACES

rule for the height of a pendant

3 light being 35-40 inches above the
work surface.
3. The dining room is easiest rooms in the house for • Supplementary lighting can be
the heart of any home
and can be accentuated most people to light effectively. added to the underneath of wall
using a chandelier After all, most of the action mounted cupboards, cooker hoods
or pendant lights in
combination with task
happens around the table. A or at plinth level.
lamps or in-cabinet chandelier or pendant over the • In kitchens, where there is a room
lighting, keeping in
mind technicalities of
dining table does the lion’s share for a seating area, table and floor
proportion and heights of the work, but don’t forget the lights can be used to zone the space
4. Creating a lighting possibilities of a task lamp on the and create a cosy, relaxing feel.
plan for kitchens includes sideboard or in-cabinet lighting to
using a variety of lights
such as spotlights and put the spotlight on a china hutch Thing to remember – Lamps add colour
pendant lights taking filled with favourite collections or and pattern creating warm, welcoming
into consideration
multiple activities such as family heirlooms. rooms is easier with well-planned, well-
working and entertaining • In a room with 8’ ceilings, a placed lighting. Using bases and shades
chandelier should hang about to enhance your decorative scheme gives
2’8” above the table; add 3 inches your lighting another ingredient in a
for every foot above 8 feet. Keep pulled-together room. Whereby a red
your room layout in proportion shade on a wall sconce brings an accent
by selecting a fixture that is about colour up to eye level as you enter the
1’-0” narrower than the top of room, opposite wall accentuated with
your table. light injects an extra hint of personality
in the space.
Kitchen
Also, do remember to check the load on
• Kitchens are often the hub of electricity and your purse while making
the household, incorporating your choices. We would venture into
many more activities than a meal more personal spaces in the next article.
prep. When creating a lighting
plan, consider the illumination
Meanwhile, keep illuminating!! •
you’ll need for entertaining or for
working. Try a series of multi- Ashish Bahal and Surbhi Jindal are both
head spotlights allowing light to graduates in architecture with more than
be directed to key workstations. 13 and 10 years’ experience, respectively.
• Lighting on a free-standing While Ashish is an Architect + Application
island can be explored to create a Specialist, Surbhi is an Architect + Lead- ID
fantastic focal point for the room. Program at the Centre of Competence at
Consider a series of pendant lights Philips Lighting India
above a large island. The light [email protected]
source will be more diffused but [email protected]
will cover more area. The basic www.philips.com