By Marshall Rimerman
How important is lighting in your home, office,
or life for that matter? Well, without it we can't work, play,
or even see when the sun goes down. Yet this basic necessity
is rarely given the design time or budget on a residential
construction project. Quite a bit of money is spent on the
marble, woodwork, and faux painting in a high-end project,
but where's the beauty if it cannot be seen properly?
Consumers are becoming more technically aware.
Consumers want the latest technology in their entertainment,
environmental, security, and yes, their lighting systems. I
am not simply referring to the means of control of their lighting,
but to the entire system. Consumers want a resource that can
recommend the right fixtures, bulbs, placement, voltage, and
control that will enhance their life in their home.
Historically, this has fallen to the electrical
contractor, interior designer, or architect. While these professionals,
as a whole, are extremely talented and competant, they lack
the specialized knowledge required to optimize a system for
a particular client. Just as a client will call upon a CEDIA
member to design and install the distributed audio/video system
or home theater, they should call upon a qualified lighting
designer to develop the lighting system.
The lighting designer will listen to the needs
of the client as well as the requirements of the other systems
and professionals that are part of the project. A system will
be designed that will provide proper illumination for the project
while complimenting the associated systems. A lighting designer
will usually charge a fee for the design that is refundable
if the specified materials are purchased through him/her.
My goal in writing this column is to educate
consumers, professionals, and other CEDIA members on the importance
of proper lighting. In subsequent articles I will discuss types
of lighting, uses, layout, control, specialty lighting, landscape
lighting, bulbs, transformers, and more. I look forward to
your questions and comments, please e-mail me at the below
mentioned address.
Marshall Rimerman is a manufacturer's representative
in the lighting industry. He has been a member of CEDIA for
over five years, and has consulted to interior designers, architects,
builders, and clients. Marshall can be reached by telephone
at (410) 363-2860/ Fax: (410) 363-2859 E-mail: torrens@erols.com
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