How would you like to cut your lighting bills by as much as 75%, yet still have an attractive lighting scheme.

Here are some tips from Sally Storey, (Design Director at John Cullen – Britain’s leading lighting company) to help you avoid possible pitfalls.

If you are thinking of redecorating, then now is the best and cheapest time to install more efficient lighting before you start.

The future of energy efficient lighting lies with LED fittings, which can last for as long as 20 years. They appear more expensive than regular products, but over their lifetime will more than make up for the initial outlay with energy savings.

John Cullen’s brand new, next generation Polespring LED downlight, sets new standards for energy efficient lighting. It uses just 12w of energy and gives you the equivalent of a traditional 50w halogen bulb at a fraction of the running costs. With its improved colour rendition and clarity, it is suitable for lighting throughout the home – even for paintings and other artwork.

If you don’t like compact fluorescent light bulbs, then replace traditional light bulbs with energy saving IRC (infra-red coated) bulbs. They come with all the usual fittings and give out the soft and attractive light we all recognise and love. A 40w bulb will give you 60w of light output – still helping you to keep your bills down.

Make sure all your lights can be turned off with the flick of one switch; if you have to turn lamps off individually, you will end up leaving them on even when you are not in the room.

Sensors are also an effective way of ensuring that lights are only used when they are needed. They are particularly useful in corridors, bathrooms and gardens, as well as in areas in the home where children (or adults) regularly forget to turn off the lights.

Good task lighting, such as a desk lamp or reading lamp by your bed, means that you don’t need to have the whole room lit up just to work or read. The new floor-standing 4w LED Pocket of Light floor lamp provides a well-directed beam of light, which won’t dazzle the person next to you. It is ideal as a freestanding task light by a bed or a sofa.

Finally, don’t think energy efficiency is all doom and gloom. For the first time ever, you can transform a roof terrace for as little as 7w, or bring your garden to life at night time with just 60w – no more than just one traditional light bulb! So get planning before the summer!
Prices: LED Strip Streamer, £72 per metre; Polespring LED, from £110;
Plaster Flat, £132.

For further information about John Cullen Lighting, please visit the website.

Stockist Enquiries: Tel: (020) 7371 9000

Kandabi is a lighting design studio in Edinburgh, specialising in mood lighting, just right for those wishing to make a space statement in home lighting.

Mood lighting is a term now widely accepted in the interiors world inspired by cinematography:

Just as in film production, it involves the composition of a scene and addition of special effects, to achieve the images desired by the director – so mood lighting for interiors is a critical lighting layer used to create a desired atmosphere in a given space.

“Mood lighting is the indescribable stardust, the ’special something’ that allows an interior lighting scheme to become more than the sum of its parts.

It is all about injecting extra character into a space through visual drama, a sense of calmness and relaxation, an element of frivolity and fun, a quirky individual touch, or a combination of any of the above.”

Character and individuality is precisely what Kandabi stands for” commented Eva Hammerson, Head of Design, Kandabi.

Perhaps more than any other type of lighting for home interiors, mood lighting has the potential to create a true delineation point between one interior and the next.

Unlike most conventional lighting, mood lighting’s true reason d’être is perhaps less functional and more aesthetic and emotional.

As the interiors world moves into the age of personal interior design, the Kandabi statement wall lighting, (Five star rated by the UK Lighting Magazine) is designed to take centre stage and created to capture the eye, engage the mind, and put a big smile on your face.

From the pop art iconic “LOVE”, to the Japanese philosophy centred “The 4th Monkey”, there is a Kandabi design for everyone out there.

For further Kandabi home lighting inspiration, please visit the website.

Last year IKEA launched, LEDARE (meaning ‘leader’) light bulbs, which are made with Light Emitting Diode technology, which use up to 85% less energy than incandescent bulbs.

Now the company has created an LED bulb that looks just like the old light bulbs we know so well:

• This reduced usage makes a marked difference on electricity consumption and if you save energy, you save both your own money and the earth’s resources.

• If you decide to replace your bulbs with the new LEDARE E27 8W bulbs, it’s estimated that you won’t have to replace them again for another 20 years. That’s a long time, but it also means big savings!

• IKEA believe that high prices shouldn’t put you off saving resources, therefore, they are offering the LED 8W bulbs at the lowest price in the market at £10.99 each.

LED lighting also has great benefits such as, energy efficiency, longer lifetime, mercury free, instant start-up, natural colours and of course better design.

LEDARE bulbs will be available from IKEA online in October 2011.

For further information about IKEA’s LED energy home lighting and bulbs, please visit the website.

A new range of accessories for the home has been introduced by Peacock Blue, some of which would also make ideal gifts.

The vintage style Silvered Candlesticks in our picture, are made from glass and have an antique silvered finish. They are available in two sizes: H20cm priced at £15 or H27.5cm at £26.

The Posy Cushions have an antique inspired print. These linen scatter cushions are woven in a linen mill in Scotland and printed in England, so are a real British product. Available in Old Blue, Ivory and Duck Egg with a natural coloured reverse.
The cushions measure 45 x 45cm and are priced £45 each.

The collection of luxurious velvet Ribbons are wrapped around an old fashioned wooden bobbin. They are great for gift wrapping, sewing projects or just as decorative accessories.
The ribbons are available in: brown, blue/turquoise, natural/grey, violet/pink and green.
Available in two sizes: W5mm x L20m (£18) and W10mm x L10m (£20).

To view the entire new Peacock Blue accessories collection, please visit the website
Tel: (08450) 17 55 66

Boon UK has introduced the smart new GLO - an ultra-modern children’s night-light.

The multi-coloured, interactive GLO night-light has removable, illuminated Glo balls that are coated in a phosphorescent glow-in-the-dark coating.

There’s nothing electronic in them, so they don’t get warm and they won’t break - just ideal for picking up and guiding you to the bathroom in the dead of night, or even tucking into bed with your child to help them feel safe during the night.

The glow gradually fades to dark after 30 minutes, helping little ones to fall asleep calmly and naturally.

The peculiar alien-like design has three stems each containing its own detachable glowing orb, which can be set to change through 6 different colour spectrums; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.

Great for providing a chic contemporary aesthetic in your home, these lamps are the ideal centrepiece for any family oriented home, and the detachable balls even make for a fun evening game of catch, to help tire the kids out before bed!

Main features include:

• Colour changing night-light.
• Select your favourite colour with sliding lever, or keep them circulating.
• Portable Glo balls charge quickly.
• Phosphorescent balls glow for up to 30 minutes after removal from base.
• Low energy L.E.D. base.
• 9volt power adapter included.
• BpA-free, Phthalate-free and PVC-free.
• Recommended age: All ages.
• Dimensions: 8.2″ x 8.5″ x 9.8″

The GLO night-light is priced at £69.99 and launches in September 2011.

To view the complete collection of innovative Boon products, please visit the website.

Tel: (07792) 230836

Fancy refurbishing your home lighting to stylish and professional effect?

When decorating your home, how you light it can be one of the most important, and most difficult, areas to address.

Look no further; here are top tips courtesy of Jim Lawrence for successful shade buying:

1.Size - Size really does matter! In most cases the best look will be achieved if:
The height of the shade is approximately ¾ of the height of the base (in the case of a table lamp).
The width of the shade is approximately equal to the height from the bottom of the base to the socket and the shade is wider than the widest part of the base.

The shade also needs to be deep enough to cover the fittings, but not so deep that it covers the main body of the lamp.

2.Shape - Try to echo the shape of the base in the shade. For example, a geometric base works best with a square or rectangular shade, whilst a curved base suits an oval or cylindrical shade.

3.Style - Consider the look you are trying to achieve. An empire or tapered shade is a timeless classic that fits any theme, whereas a cylindrical or half shade gives a modern twist.
Also, don’t let the shade and base compete – if there’s a lot going on with the base, the shade should be quite simple. Conversely, a patterned shade can look amazing on a simple base.

4.Space - If you haven’t got much room around the lamp you need to select a narrower shade.
A rectangular shade for instance, is a practical solution if you need to position a lamp close to a wall.

5.Colour - The colour needs to suit the lamp base and the room – both lit
and unlit. Request a swatch and try it in situ. Bear in mind however that a big block of colour at wall height, will have much more impact in the room than a small swatch of fabric.

6.Light - If you want to use the lamp for reading, go for a wide shade that will allow plenty of light underneath the shade. Conversely, diffusers are great for softening the light from a ceiling shade or standard lamp shade.

7.Bespoke - If you can’t find exactly what you want, why not have a shade custom made? That way you can really put your own stamp on your room.

8.Experiment - Finally, swapping shades around is a great and relatively inexpensive way to refresh a room, and as long as you follow the above guidelines you can’t go too far wrong.

Jim Lawrence handcrafted home furnishings have a huge selection of lighting ideas, from wall lights and pendants to table and standard lamps.

To view the extensive range of Jim Lawrence home lighting products, please visit the website.

Tel: (01473) 826685

Here are some additional home lighting tips from Sally Storey, Design Director of John Cullen Lighting:

Fireplaces

• A fireplace can resemble a gloomy large black hole in the summer without a cheerful fire to light it, but all you need to bring it back to life is two plug-in highlights that can also create an immediate uplifting impact all year round. (Square Highlight, £93 from John Cullen).

• Fireplaces with architectural features look particularly good when up lit, so consider using a 5 amp circuit, so that the lights can be switched on by the door.

• Also recommended is to add two small 1w LED up lights in the hearth. (Lucca, £97 from John Cullen).

• If up lights aren’t recessed into the hearth, make sure they blend in as much as possible with the fireplace.

• Up lighting a fire surround works particularly well when you have a painting hanging above it that is lit with a down light, which helps to balance the overall effect.

About
John Cullen Lighting, founded in 1981, is Britain’s leading lighting specialist and offers a complete service for all aspects of interior and exterior lighting.

Sally Storey took over as Design Director from John Cullen in 1986. She is one of the world’s leading lighting experts having written three books on the subject. She has since been joined by fellow Design Director Lucy Martin and is supported by a team of ten designers.

All John Cullen light fitting designs are manufactured in Britain.
John Cullen Showroom Address: 561-563 Kings Road, Fulham, SW6 2EB.

To view the truly inspirational John Cullen lighting designs, please visit the website.

Stockist Enquiries: (020) 7371 9000

All Up and On have introduced Kaigami lampshades to their lighting collections, which are based on a form of origami.

Taking his inspiration from shapes and forms found in nature, from marine life and seashells, to the flowing lines of an orchid, designer Guillaume Lyons has created eight beautiful lampshades.

For example, the Delicosa pictured here is elegant and flowing, its fronds tumbling around a central bud.
Nautica, however, is tight and orderly, the languid curve of its form broken up by segmented ribs.

Guillaume Lyons has perfected the Kaigami style using his innate understanding of how to mould, sculpt, bend and shape the eco-friendly plastic, which is used to make each shade.

Not only are these remarkable lampshades statement pieces that occupy the main focal point of the room, they are also beautiful works of art with a clear vision, fashioned from simple materials.

Kaigami lampshades are a reasonably priced way to add a statement piece to any room in your home and appropriate for any indoor space, particularly bedrooms, living rooms, lounges and dining rooms.
Prices range from £19.95 to £64.95 online from the AllUpAndOn website.

The Delicosa lampshade is made of translucent white polypropylene, giving it a brilliant inner glow. It presents delicate, whimsical twists and curves that create a flowing, graceful silhouette. These arcing fronds tumble from a central bud organically and energetically.
It measures 460mm length x 460mm width x 460mm height. Priced at £43.95.

For further information or to view the full range of Kaigami lamp shades, please visit the website.
Tel: 01462 349 060

Sally Storey, Design Director of John Cullen Lighting kindly offers her top tips for lighting your kitchen:

Of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen has the widest range of functions and needs the most versatile lighting scheme. It needs to provide a bright, general light for the day – especially in dark kitchens.

To create an intimate and more atmospheric light for evening meals, it is essential that you can control the mood with dimmers.

Exposed light fittings tend to collect the grime which cooking creates; so, if possible, opt for recessed or semi-recessed fittings.

In areas where you do the most work, you should aim to create shadow-free task lighting. Under cupboard lighting is ideal for lighting work surfaces, use small compact fluorescents or LED Under Cupboard Lights.

A down-light, such as the Polestar, gives a warm glow to the smallest galley kitchen and can be used to great effect to bounce light off fitted cupboards, accentuating colour and helping to create a feeling of space. To be energy efficient, use the AmibDim LED Polestar, which is 8 watts.

Always light the centre of an island unit with recessed down-lights, or simple decorative pendants. To make it easier to control the mood, put them on a separate circuit to your perimeter lights.
For mood lighting, LED Cazalla lights built into the plinth of the central island will provide a gentle wash of light across the floor. If the unit is on legs, use LED Contour underneath it, so that the island appears to float.

Individual LED Footlights and LED Eyelid Under-cupboard Lights are a good way to light shelves. They are a particularly useful solution when it isn’t possible to fit a recessed light, or the shelves are under a skylight.

For high ceilings, using up-lighters on top of the kitchen cabinets works well – adding to the general light, while reducing the number of down-lights needed.

It is perfectly possible to change an area from being a great environment for working in, to an intimate setting for supper at the touch of a button. The more circuits your lights are on the more control you will have.

The key to any lighting scheme is the design. When it comes to positioning your lights (down-lights in particular), forget about grids and symmetry and think about the key areas where light is really needed.

Finally, remember that the best time to install a new lighting scheme, is before you start to redecorate and don’t be afraid to get a lighting designer to help.

• Light fittings used in our featured kitchen are, Metal Cube £98, LEDEyelid Under Cupboard Light, £53 & Contour £131 per metre.

To view more inspirational John Cullen lighting schemes, please visit the website.

Stockist Enquiries: (020) 7371 9000,

A new entirely wireless remote control light switch (RTS 2020W) is announced by Retrotouch, the manufacturer of innovative lighting solutions and home automation products.

The Wireless 2 Way Touch light is simply fitted to your wall with concealed fixing screws, without the need for any live wires, and you get an additional light switch anywhere you wish to put one. Priced at £84.99.

• Just the thing for placing a light switch in your conservatory, porch, loft, or wherever you need a switch, but formerly thought to be tricky -without expensive re-wiring.
• The wireless switch can also be a great benefit for disabled people, who may find existing switches in their home difficult to reach.

• The 2 Way Wireless Touch switch needs to be paired with a wired Touch & Remote switch, making it work in the same way as a remote control, with a range of up to 20m.

The Wired Touch & Remote switches (priced from £41 each), are also easy-to-install - a DIY job that uses existing wiring, to create a remote-control switch in any room of the house.

You can use up to four Wireless Touch switches or mini remotes, by pairing with only one master remote switch.

The new wireless switch is available in full glass and chrome trim versions. Match with stylish, co-ordinating Retrotouch plug sockets and accessories.

The Wireless Touch switch is offered in 1, 2 and 3 gang versions, enabling you to have up to 3 lights connected to it; it retails from £84.99 inc VAT and comes with a 1 year warranty.
Available direct from the Rerotouch website.

RTS 2020W Features:

Remote controlled light switch - a completely wireless solution.
Switch can be used through walls (RF).
Anywhere solution (Does not use any Live, input/output wires)
Glass surround with chrome trim
Microlite touch panel (Patented Technology).
Blue glow for easy night use.
Quick and easy installation
Modern design and easy clean.For further information about the Retrotouch wireless light switch, please visit the website.