Home Appliance + Lighting Blog

Lighting for your kitchen or bath is the most difficult to plan. It's completely task-oriented. You should always plan your lighting around 4 key elements: task, accent, decorative and ambient.

Editor's Note: I am building a house. When I look at current trends, most kitchens now add one or two design elements. Like most, I was buying stainless faucets, stainless cabinet pulls, and stainless pendants. I like the mix better. It adds personality to your space. Think about it.

Can you mix finishes? The answer is an enthusiastic YES! I love the creativity it takes to use this design technique. Look at it as a "feel thing" when you are designing the lighting in a room. Today, the rules are to be broken! I will show you some awesome rule breaking kitchens I love.

The transitional style between modern and classic and is known as “New Classic.” Some elements of both can include clean lines and a quieter classic style. It marries simple and elegant elements. Transitional designs take the traditional and make it feel soft and warm.

The southwestern style starts with color, color and more color. This style is fun and lively as if a fiesta will break out at any time. 

When you think of tropical lighting, it evokes images of sand between your toes, sun in your face and perhaps a cool libation in your hand. You are probably not thinking about New England especially in the Fall or Winter.

If you are reading this in the winter, I apologize. Sincerely.

The Scandinavian lighting design lends a feeling of clean, fresh air with a Zen-like simplicity.

Brass is back everyone! Not the brass that our grandparents had in the 70’s but a softer, more aged tone of brass. It is more of an organic finish rather than an old fashioned relic.

Mid-Century décor has been making a strong comeback, and in fact, may be more popular now than ever.

Magazines like Elle Décor and television sets like Mad Men and even The Daily Show feature décor that is Mid-Century.

Neoclassical isn’t a design term that’s used around the Boston area quite as often as other, more current design terms, like Arts & Crafts, Shabby Chic, or Mid-Century Modern.

New England style is still the most traditional part of the country. Our Brownstones and Colonial homes in the South End and Back Bay lend itself more specifically to a traditional type of lighting.

Small side note: I live in the South End and renovated my place 4 years ago, adding contemporary lighting throughout. Lighting is reflective to personal taste and can be suited to almost any environment.