How to enhance your home’s natural light

How to enhance your home’s natural light

Natural light is essential in any home. It boosts energy efficiency, improves mood and makes your interiors look and feel more comfortable and inviting. In this guide, we will explore practical strategies to efficiently increase the natural light in your home without the added stress.

Make the colours of your walls and ceilings lighter

Opting for light colours for your walls and ceilings can make your overall living space appear brighter. Change your interior walls’ and ceilings’ colours to white or lighter shades, and avoid painting any of your rooms with dark-coloured hues. There are also different shades of white you can explore if you’re not fond of pure white. The brighter your ceilings and walls are, the more natural light your home can receive.

Optimise windows

Optimising your windows is another way to bring more sunshine into your precious home. Take time to assess your windows, focusing on their size and placement. Larger windows or strategically placed ones can significantly improve the amount of natural light that goes into your home. Make sure to clean your windows regularly, as unaddressed dirt, dust and grime can block sunlight or reduce its intensity.

Check the condition of your windows and replace them if they are beyond their lifespan or if you see notable signs of damage. Find a trusted window provider locally, as they generally offer competitive rates and are more familiar with your location’s climate and local building regulations. If you’re in Nashville, choose a window replacement company that provides quality replacement windows Nashville at affordable prices.

Invest in skylights

Investing in skylights is a fantastic way to bring more sunlight into your home, especially in areas where wall windows may be limited. Since they face directly towards the sun, skylights tend to be more effective in securing light compared to wall windows.

Do not attempt to install skylights on your own, as doing so can lead to damage, leaks and other safety hazards. Leave this task to professionals, as they have the necessary experience, expertise and tools to ensure the skylights are installed correctly.

Use proper window treatments

Choose sheer or lighter materials for curtains and blinds to allow more natural light to filter through while maintaining privacy. Light-filtering blinds can effectively soften incoming light, without blocking it, offering a more versatile approach in regulating light.

Incorporate more mirrors or reflective materials

Mirrors or reflective materials can help bounce light, making rooms feel brighter and more open. Place your mirrors opposite or near your windows to double the light entering your living space. Opt for larger mirrors and consider turning them into focal points of your home.

Aside from mirrors, decorate with furnishings or materials with reflective surfaces, such as kitchen tiles, hardware and light fixtures. In addition, consider upgrading your floors to lighter ones, as they contribute to a brighter atmosphere by reflecting light rather than absorbing it.

Conclusion

Increasing your home’s access to natural light need not be complicated, stressful or expensive. By implementing these strategies, you can create a home that feels welcoming and light-filled.

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What is the purpose of a ceiling fan pull chain?

What is the purpose of a ceiling fan pull chain?

A ceiling fan pull chain may seem like a simple feature, but it plays a crucial role in enhancing the functionality and convenience of your ceiling fan. Understanding the purpose and benefits of a ceiling fan pull chain can help you make better use of this often-overlooked component. Here’s a detailed look at what a ceiling fan pull chain does and why it’s important.

Adjusting the fan speed

A fan comes with a pull chain and when pulled multiple times, the fan will cycle through its three speed settings. This feature facilitates adjusting airflow to personal preferences and requirements of the room. The pull chain is easy to operate at any speed.

Operating the light fixture

The pull chain controls many of the integrated light fixtures in ceiling fans. This feature is used to turn the light on or off, and sometimes you can also set the brightness or change the light level. Tug the chain to adjust the lighting in the room and let your luxurious conveniences change the atmosphere.

This is also helpful for when you want just the fan and not the light or vice versa. The built-in pull chain operates both functions and eliminates the need for a wall switch or remote control.

Reversing the fan direction

Some ceiling fans come equipped with a reversible motor feature, which allows the fan blades to rotate in both directions. This capability is beneficial for improving airflow depending on the temperature. The ceiling fan pull chain can be used to reverse the direction of the blades, changing the airflow pattern in the room.

In the summer, the fan blades typically spin counterclockwise to create a cooling breeze. In the winter, reversing the blades to spin clockwise helps circulate warm air that collects near the ceiling, promoting more even heating throughout the room. The pull chain provides a straightforward way to switch the fan direction, making it easy to adapt to seasonal  and temperature changes.

Simplifying control without a remote

For those without a remote control, the pull chain will be the primary way to control your fan. This is a straightforward way to change the fan speed, turn on or off the light and reverse the fan. In times of lost remote controls, dead batteries or if you prefer a more tactile medium as opposed to high-level menus and systems, a pull chain comes in handy.

Its pull chain mechanism is user-friendly and self-explanatory in case you have other users not familiar with ceiling fan control.

Enhancing the aesthetic appeal

The ceiling fan pull chain is an accessory that can be almost as utilitarian as it is a decorative piece. The pull chain can be purchased in multiple different styles, and even become a significant part of decoration inside the room.

Choosing a pull chain that matches or accents your fan will also help make your fan blend into the room decor aesthetically, allowing it to serve not just as an appliance but fashionable interior décor.

Although a basic component, the ceiling fan pull chain plays an essential role in making your ceiling fan more functional and user-friendly. With features such as fan speed and respective light settings among others, the pull chain offers an efficient tool to control your fan. The pull chain ceiling fan is versatile, convenient and practical with a touch of control that allows homeowners to control the lighting and ventilation with just their hands.

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Why you should choose gas neon over LED

Why you should choose gas neon over LED

Introduction

In our basic chemistry classes, we learned that neon is a noble, inert gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere. However, neon’s significance extends beyond the periodic table. Neon gas has played a crucial role in the development of lighting technology, particularly in the creation of neon lighting. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the history of gas neon lighting, its various forms, and the factors that make it a popular choice over LED neon.

The invention of neon lighting

Neon lighting was invented by French engineer Georges Claude in 1910. Claude discovered that when an electric current is passed through a tube containing neon gas, it produces a bright, glowing light. This discovery led to the development of neon signs, which quickly gained popularity due to their vibrant colours and eye-catching appearance.

Animated gas neon 'bang' light

Gas neon lighting

Gas neon lighting is achieved by encasing neon gas within shaped glass tubes. The colour created by true neon gas is a vivid red-orange. However, other colours can be created through the use of added elements such as argon and mercury. The process of creating these colours involves mixing neon with the other gases, which alters the wavelength of light produced when an electric current is passed through the tube.

LED neon lighting

LED neon, on the other hand, uses perspex to create a similar effect. LED neon lights are made by bending perspex into the desired shape and attaching LED strips to the inside of the perspex. This method produces a similar effect to gas neon lighting, but with the added benefits of being more energy-efficient and easier to install.

Animated gas neon 'vase of flowers' light

Why choose gas neon over LED?

Despite the advancements in LED technology, gas neon lighting still maintains several advantages over its LED counterpart. These advantages include:

1. Durability: Gas neon lighting is known for its durability and long lifespan. The glass tubes used in gas neon lighting are less susceptible to damage and can withstand harsh weather conditions, for prolonged periods of time, making them the ideal choice for outdoor use.

2. Quality: Gas neon lighting is renowned for its high-quality workmanship and light/colour quality. The vibrant colours produced by gas neon lighting are unmatched by LED neon lights, making them a popular choice for interior designers, businesses and advertisements. A case in point is the range of lighting designs produced by Smithers.

3. Safety: Gas neon lighting is considered safer than LED neon lights due to the absence of toxic materials. LED neon lights contain phosphor, which can be hazardous if inhaled or ingested.

4. Price: While LED neon lights may be more energy-efficient and easier to install, gas neon lighting is often more cost-effective in the long run. The initial investment for gas neon lighting may be higher, but the quality, durability and longevity of the product make it a more economical choice over time.

In conclusion

In conclusion, the history of neon lighting is a fascinating tale of scientific discovery and innovation. From its invention by Georges Claude in the early 1900s to its continued use in modern times, neon lighting has left an indelible mark on the world of advertising, art and design. While LED neon lights offer a couple of advantages, gas neon lighting remains the popular choice for its durability, quality, safety and price. And it just looks more attractive than its LED cousin.

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Auction alert: Contents of an HNW executive home

Contents of music room

This week, we’re featuring a fairly unique sale. It’s the entire contents of an HNW executive home – to include designer furniture, lighting, cinema, gym, snooker table, garden furniture & more. It takes the format of a timed auction, that ends from: 28th September 2023, 1pm.

As the ‘Through the Keyhole‘ catchphrase goes, “Who would live in a house like this?”. I had to Google the term, ‘HNW’; it’s short for ‘High Net Worth’. I’d guess at the owner being a premiership footballer, international pop star, London banker, Oligarch or member of the Saudi Royal Family. It’s the kind of home that would grace the centre spread of Hello or OK Magazine.

Anyhow, the top-end fixtures & furnishings are being sold off, room by room. If you’ve just bought yourself a new mansion, you could furnish it in one fell swoop. But don’t expect to get anything dirt cheap – most of the 95 lots already have hefty bids on them – but none have even reached the reserve prices.

I’m shocked at the slushy drinks machine; bidding is already up to £600 (a figure that’s still below the reserve). How much does one of those cost brand new?

On top of the winning bid amount, there’s a buyer’s premium of 20% (not including VAT). The auction is to be held in North London – therefore, you need to ensure that you can get there to collect if you are a winning bidder, and have the knowledge and capacity to break down and carry away your purchases if necessary:

Collection is strictly by appointment. You must book your time slot to collect. It is the buyer’s responsibility to arrange for decommission, dismantling, removal and loading of items within the timescale specified. We do not offer a Delivery or Decommissioning service unless it is specifically stated in the individual lot description

Contents of kitchen

Lot 1: Contents of kitchen

Includes all appliances shown: GAGGENAU 5 burner range, double sink, wine cooler, double fridge, ovens, coffee machine, dishwasher, marble worktop, glass surround extractor, faulty hot tap. EXCLUDES ceiling lights. To be dismantled and removed by the buyer
Current bid: £8,500

Licht Im Raum Stilio 10/7 glass chandelier

Lot 10: Licht Im Raum Stilio 10/7 glass chandelier

The basic elements of the Stilio collection can be stringed together like a string of pearls and combine playfully our system concept with refined light that never dazzles. The long success story of our Stilio-family has started 2005 with the beautiful basic module. Each light head is equipped with dimmable LED filament lamps. To be disconnected, dismantled and removed by the buyer
Current bid: £200

Vitra soft pad chair EA 219 by Charles & Ray Eames Plus 5 x chairs in the style of Vitra & meeting table

Lot 15: 1 x Vitra soft pad chair EA 219 by Charles & Ray Eames

Plus 5 x chairs in the style of Vitra & meeting table
The model EA 219 are the office swivel chairs in the Soft Pad Group by Charles and Ray Eames. Their dignified aura makes them especially suited for management areas. The extraordinary comfort of the chairs results from the combined effect of their tilt mechanism, which can be adjusted to the user’s weight, and the soft upholstery. Signs of general use. To be dismantled and removed by the buyer
Current bid: £1,600

Tom Dixon copper pendant light

Lot 25: Tom Dixon copper pendant light

Intended to create an extravagantly proportioned spotlight that could warm the greenish hue of early LEDs and create a more appealing luminosity, Copper shade is an over-sized, blow moulded and perfectly reflective globe that kick started the recent craze for copper in interiors the world over. To be removed by the buyer
Current bid: £300

Minotti Still side table in glossy gold nickel

Lot 30: Minotti Still side table in glossy gold nickel

Light and fine quality draw your attention immediately. Yet Still can also boast a profound dimension, minimal elegance as linking up six identical circles in the cube. Nor does the interplay of reflections, of full and empty spaces, avoid Baroque echoes. Design beyond design. Metal Ornament. To be removed by the buyer
Current bid: £300

Slush machine

Lot 50: Slush machine

Untested, 240v. To be removed by the buyer
Current bid: £600

Contents of utility room

Lot 58: Contents of utility room

Appliance unit H 266 W 135 D 71
Current bid: £1,000

Contents of music room

Lot 62: Contents of music room

Includes: Diesel stud stools, Ingo Maurer Campari lights, acoustic panelling. Excludes: CDJ’s, mixers, vinyl/CD’s, bass guitar
Current bid: £800