On Location: Accent Lighting

Posted on: March 2nd, 2012 | 6 Comments



In our recently completed case study house, there are two interesting accent lighting details that we would like to share with everyone. The first is a new, low profile LED light designed specifically for millwork applications. In this house, we have used this LED light in a display niche and a shelving unit to light the objects that will be placed there. The nice thing about this LED light is that it is extremely low profile, it fits within a 1″ shelf depth and it does not emit any heat so there is no concern about ventilation requirements or heat damage that can be issues with halogen puck lights.


The second accent lighting element is a rope lighting detail in a cove ceiling that we created in the kitchen. We made a shallow depth drywall return on two sides of the kitchen ceiling and installed a long section of rope lighting. Rope lighting has been around for a very long time and is an excellent and inexpensive way to create a soft mood light along a linear plane like a ceiling cove, under a wall shelf or along a millwork edge.


Today’s Slides:

  • BradW

    I had the unique opportunity to visit Bora Bora in French Polynesia during February. We stayed at a resort which features over water bungalows. Among the fascinating details featured were the light wells cut into the bathroom floor of the bungalow. Both the shower and water closet also had a light well at 42″ above floor level. As well as being an innovative source of light, the reflection of the water would dance on the ceiling for an interesting effect.

  • Li-Na

    What brand is that LED puck light? :-)

  • Matthew North

    Hi Li-Na – the LED light is from Hera. 

    http://www.heralighting.com/

    We love them!

    MN

  • Matthew North

    Hi BradW – you rare pretty lucky to have had the opportunity to stay in those bungalows! What a cool light detail – makes sense given the reflectivity off the water. Great photos too by the way……interesting how modern the interiors of the bungalows are given the fact that they are thatched huts from the exterior. I’ve always wondered if the roofs are thatch from the inside? Also, are they air conditioned or passively ventilated? I’m also looking for the electrical and service conduits under the huts but can’t see them in the photo….my mind always goes to the technical details!

  • BradW

    Matthew, 

    Here are some additional pictures to help answer some of your questions. 

    The bungalow is a three bay design with living area and entrance on one side, the bathroom/spa space in the middle and the bedroom on the other side. Both the living area and the bedroom have vaulted ceilings as shown here whereas the ceiling over the bathroom is flat. The space above the bathroom ceiling provides room for services. To the left of the bungalow entrance is a bench. The bench houses the air conditioning units. Interestingly, when you open the patio doors at the rear of the bungalow the air conditioning will shut off. Electrical and plumbing infrastructure is discreetly placed under the walkways used to access the bungalows. The bungalows where placed at angles from one another along the curved walkway/pontoon to maximize privacy for each guest. Finally, the bungalows would gently sway in the wind or when a service cart (ie. like a golf cart) would drive by. 

  • BradW

    One other thing, pocket doors surround the bathroom allowing it to be completely closed off if desired…it is possible to swim off the back deck of the bungalow…some of the largest bungalows also had a private plunge pool…