Good lighting may not ultimately “ sell ” a house — but it is arguably one of the most important aspects in design . Why do you think that is ?
If there is a home being built in my neighborhood , I want to see what kind of lighting is inside . If it only has recessed fixtures and they ’ re not LED , that doesn ’ t say “ luxury ” to me . It makes me wonder if the home is being built to today ’ s standards and specifications . Today , if you are building a home , you need dedicated LED , which is the most up-to-date technology . It ’ s costlier but worth it to get the right color temperature . In the past , people shied away from LEDs , because the technology changed so often and you couldn ’ t get the right color temperature . In the early days , many of the LEDs had a cooler , blue color — not warm , like a traditional incandescent . That ’ s not the case today . Nowadays , too , the size of the LED element is so small , and when you combine that with the use of optics and reflectors , you can install fixtures with 1- to 3-inch apertures to light even a large space . Many of the recessed LED fixtures are also trimless , which creates a really clean , sleek , high-end look . I think that adds a massive amount of value to any house .
How does home automation factor in today ?
Home automation is really something to be considered , especially when building or remodeling luxury homes . If a potential buyer is looking at a residence , the fact that it includes home automation adds a lot of value . All of these different types of lighting — cove , outdoor , recessed and decorative — can be controlled by home automation and tied together with window shades and other features . It saves a tremendous amount of energy .
Your friends and guests won ' t say , “ I love your recessed lighting .” With decorative lighting , it ’ s what everyone talks about . It ’ s an expression of your personality and style .
Can we assume the same is true for outdoors ?
Yes , in particular , the lanterns used on the outside of the house . Worn-out fixtures cheapen even a high-quality luxury home . This is your first impression , and if you ’ re already turning people off , it ’ s time for a facelift .
New lighting is a huge upgrade to a home . The right style and proportion are the most important factors . And , of course , you want to make sure that you are selecting the right outdoor fixtures for your specific city or state , which may have special Dark Sky or energy efficiency standards .
Why do you think lighting is like “ art ” in a home ?
We look at lighting as functional pieces of art . You can select a fixture for a particular home or property that fits the architecture or style of the home . People are looking for a more eclectic touch these days . With decorative lighting , you can achieve this more eclectic look , adding a product or fixture that is a contradiction to the predominant style . That creates an attention-getter .
In the Corbett line , every fixture is designed to be a piece of art . It turns decorative lighting into an asset instead of just a form of illumination .
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