Writers' Community!
Home News Business Science & Technology Life Style
Business Home Economy Investing Energy Employment Real Estate Industry Finance
Sponsors
Article Submission
We Need YOUR Articles!
We'll Promote Them for FREE!

Author Login

New Authors
Register Here


Now Serving 5,563 Authors
48,464 Quality Articles
& 6,325 Current Users Online!
Featured Authors
Jeff Brown (7,977)
Alf Gordon (1,365)
Nicole Beurkens (148)
David Tanguay (7,555)
Ira Coffin (897)
Joel Hendon (4,850)
Terry Mitchell (2,785)
Rob Lafferty (123)
Arlene Wright-Correll (10,108)
Jane Bullard (1,959)
Robert Melaccio, Sr. (6,499)
Avis Ward (13,445)
Richard Nicastro (2,545)
Dianne Lehmann (3,112)

View All Featured Authors
Most Recent
Estimating Building Construction Costs: Elements and Tools

The Monster Houses are Coming!

Drywall Texture: A Long Term Investment

Kefalonia - A buyer's hot spot

Safety Certification for Painting Contractors

Decorative Brackets

Green Building Projects in Jackson Hole

Budgeting For Commercial Painting Projects

When a Resale Home Just Doesn't Fit

The Benefits of Building Green

Home » Categories » Real Estate » Construction » Home Lighting - Interior Design Case Study #2, Advanced Applications » Reprint Rights » Printer Friendly

Home Lighting - Interior Design Case Study #2, Advanced Applications

Rated 5 out of 5
No Reader Ratings Available ?
Rate It  /  View Comments  /  View All Articles submitted by Ralph Pressel
Submitted Monday, June 25, 2007
Ralph Pressel (47,900)
Before The Architect
Log in to become a member of Ralph Pressel's Fan Club!


INTRODUCTION

  • This is the second of three case study articles on the interior design of home lighting as uniquely presented in Before The Architect custom home plans. 
    • This advanced applications article may better be appreciated by first studying Home Lighting - Interior Design Case Study #1, Basic Application at http://searchwarp.com/swa225152.htm
    • The other two articles individually address
      • A basic design of home lighting interior design layout in a Den herein under at http://searchwarp.com/swa225152.htm
      • An advanced application of home lighting interior design layout in a complex Masters Bath space
  • In each design case study, we'll deal variously with
    • Ceiling fans (not in the Masters Bath, Case Study #3)
    • Light flutter (not in the Masters Bath, Case Study #3)
    • Ambient and task lumens according to a unique system of lighting design for aging eyes
    • Switching
    • Circuitry
  • This home lighting design case study engages advanced applications
    • Several different areas for lighting – both task and ambient
    • Complex switching
    • Large open community spaces intersected and bounded by traffic pathways
    • Avoiding downlighting flutter from ceiling fans 

WHAT'S TO WORK WITH?

  • It's the center, crossing element to a 2-story manor house of the H-format – in this instance, a $4+ million Country French home designed by Before The Architect with guidance from the owner/builder. 
    • All-inclusive surface area – Portico, Gallery, community area, and Lanai – is about 1600 square feet. . . a sprawling, complex 1600 square feet.
      • The Dining Table is presented as the theoretically largest size according to this custom home designers metrics and methodology herein under at http://searchwarp.com/swa209125.htm 

French Manor House Crossing Element, Plan View

      • The Portico, Gallery, and Lanai ceilings are a flat 10 linear feet. 
      • The community area rise in gable form to nearly 22 linear feet, crowned with three dormers as clerestories on each plane
      • Four bare wood beam trusses are decorative
  • What makes this layout complex?
    • The number of passages
    • The distance between passages
    • The natural traffic patterns 

MAJOR TRAFFIC PATTERNS

 French Manor House Crossing Element, Major Traffic Patterns, Plan View, Scaled 

  • Now we can see functionalities more clearly
    • Natural, major pathways
    • Dining space
    • Living space
  • And we can begin to recognize more clearly all the different ways an occupant might be needing to control lighting along a pathway, sometimes 30 feet, 40 feet or a little more on diagonals 

FANS?

  • Yes, three of them on the Lanai 
  • We can discern from references such as http://www.garbes.com/inform/fanfaq.html et al. that 42 linear inches blade diameter is appropriate to the Lanai space
    • Center in-line symmetrically to all other elements and features front-to-back – both levels arches, windows, doors (and dormers)
    • Space evenly on-center in 1/6ths of Lanai length, i.e., 1/6, 2/6, 2/6, 1/6
    • Centerline on Lanai width

Lanai Ceiling Fan Layout, Plan View

  • Now we'll work from the author's reference monograph about metrics and methods to avoid light flutter herein under at "Home Lighting Design, Avoiding Light Flutter: How Ceiling Fans and Ceiling Lights Can Get Along Together" http://searchwarp.com/swa123990.htm   

Light Flutter Avoidance Geometry on Lanai's Longer Wall, 52" diameter fan blades, 12" downrod (+6" motor housing), 13'-4" ceiling, Section in Elevation, Scaled

  • No relief on the shorter wall view 

Light Flutter Avoidance Geometry on Lanai's Longer Wall, 52" diameter fan blades, 12" downrod (+6" motor housing), 13'-4" ceiling, Section in Elevation, Scaled

  • The 9 11/16 linear inches gained on long walls for downlighting is way less than ideal 
    • It's barely practical 
    • In application, it would appear odd, in this custom home designer's opinion
  • Knowing now that downlighting is not an opportunity to be seized with an 18 linear inch drop, how about 12 linear inches, i.e., a 6 linear inch downrod?

Light Flutter Avoidance Geometry on Lanai's Longer Wall, 52" diameter fan blades, 6" downrod (+6" motor housing), 13'-4"  ceiling, Section in Elevation, Scaled

  • Still no relief
  • Well, maybe the shorter wall will ease up some ceiling space 

Light Flutter Avoidance Geometry on Lanai's Shorter Wall, 52" diameter fan blades, 6" downrod (+6" motor housing), 13'-4" ceiling, Section in Elevation, Scaled

  • 1 linear foot- 4 5/16 linear inches of downlighting space is sufficient to downlight in this custom home designer's opinion 
    • And he does not mind the broader distribution of downdraft  

Light Flutter Avoidance Area, L1 Lanai, Plan View, Scaled

  • So be it drawn: the fans shall have a 6 linear inch downrod plus 6 linear inch motor housing drop from the Lanai ceiling, permitting downlighting along both long walls as indicated 
  • There are to be no other ceiling fans in this H-format crossing element

LIGHTEN UP [a little illuminating pun there]

Crossing Element Functional Lighting Footprints, Plan View, Scaled

  • Now we're cooking.
  • Functionally distinct spaces include
    • Living
    • Dining (with overlap to major, natural traffic pathways)
    • Serving (to right of Dining)
    • Portico
    • Portico steps (separately identified for traffic safety
    • Lanai
    • Closets individually
    • Major natural pathways, taken together as one functional footprint 

Comment:  This custom home designer prefers to illuminate all pathways in this crossing element at the same time.  Given the tos and fros between the six major passages, there's no telling which trek would or could predominate.  Additionally, bordering the Living-Dining abutment with distinct illumination or lack of illumination visually highlights either or both of the two individual community spaces 

Suggested Levels and Types of Illumination for Each Space in the Crossing Element

*Standalone, excluding Dining Table and Serving

**Designer prefers central pendant and downlight offset to table perimeter as in a halo effect and not to shine directly into diners' eyes.  Square feet includes 1 linear foot band around table

***Serving overlap to Dining is akin to the author's metrics and methods herein under at "Designer House Plans - Kitchen Plan Design Standards" in http://searchwarp.com/swa128976.htm, in so far as foot candle allotments in such applications shall include area 1 linear foot offset to the area, i.e., where folks stand.  This is not to direct illumination directly atop that 1 linear foot space – no lighting designer worth their piles of catalogs would do that; this is to assure that plenty of illumination by reflectivity is available to an attendant's front of body – the plate, the glass, the hands, and so forth.

    By another token, the overlap of Dining illumination area is intended to assure illumination fully-around a 65 linear inch standoff perimeter to the big table.  It is, in this designer's opinion, unlikely in extremis that the Passage luminaires thereabouts would be fired up at the same time as the Dining luminaires, and, if so, the Passage luminaires would be dimmed way down while the Dining's shined, shined, shined. 

Comment:  For metric distinctions between Ambient and Task type illumination, please see herein under "Home Lighting Design For Aging Eyes. Part 1: the Basics" at http://searchwarp.com/swa124510.htm  

SWITCHING THE SUBJECT [pretty good one, eh?]

Comment:  Note well, dear reader, that this custom home designer defined circuitry specifically along with foot candle supplies to given spaces.  The sorts of luminaires, their siting (with a few exceptions), sizes, and numbers of ‘em shall be done by others…owners, lighting pros, and, possibly, interior decorators. 

Comment:  Underlying precepts to Before The Architect's electrical switching design can be discerned herein under at "Home Electrical Design, Electrical Devices - Home Switch" in http://searchwarp.com/swa216892.htm; electrical receptacle design at "Home Electrical Design, Electrical Devices - House Receptacle" in http://searchwarp.com/swa216892.htm; electrical circuit design in "Home Electricity – Electrical Circuit Design" in http://searchwarp.com/swa219070.htm   

Crossing Element Switch Circuitry, Plan View, Scaled

Key:  CL = centerline; CLO = closet; CP = centerpoint; G = Ground Fault Interrupter-protected receptacle, boxed are weatherproof; HR = home run; LI = linear inches; lm = lumens; N = Natchez style exterior luminaire sconce by Charleston Lighting Company, Charleston, SC; NLT = not less than; P = pendant; PS = pressure switch; S = single-pole switch; S3 = three-way switch; S4 = 4-way switch; SD = dimmer switch; TYP = typical; V = Versailles style exterior luminaire sconce by Charleston Lighting Company, Charleston, SC; W = width; X = excluding

  • It's not important in this custom home designer's opinion that you, dear reader, can trace every branch leg to every switch. 
    • In .pdf, it could be done. 
    • In .jpg, given the overall size of this project, resolution is not on your side, even if this excerpted drawing is presented in sections, which it won't be.  Thankless.
  • Generally notable and recognizable presentations include, among others –
    • Dining table luminaire siting and sizing metrics, to assure table centering such that even this largest of theoretically suitable dining tables has the requisite 65 linear inches all around it for safety and  convenient walk-around.  See herein under "Home Dining Room Design Details – Dining Space" at http://searchwarp.com/swa209125.htm
  • Selected receptacle heights above default, e.g., by Serving

  • Weather-proof ground fault circuit-protected receptacles each side of every exterior door

  • 6 linear inch downrods, in order to

    • Spread the downdraft

    • Ease opportunity for downlighting, if desired in work subsequently done by others

    • Lighted passage switches between Masters Bedroom (off drawing to upper left of passage) and Kitchen passage (which is also the Dining-stairs passage to L0 sleeping areas)

    • The nearly pervasive application of dimmers
    • Two major 4-way circuits
    • Full control of all three segments of Passage lighting on the same circuit
    • Full control of Lanai fan packs, downlights, and fans accessible at the 4 exterior doors
    • Several three-way circuits
    • Local control of Dining lighting
    • Local control of Serving Lighting
    • Local control of Living Lighting
    • Sprawling control of Garage sconces 
    • Even a single-pole switch or two
    • Pressure switch in each Closet's lighting
    • Portico lighting
    • Portico Steps lighting 

Comment:  This custom home designer has laid out lighting in more complex, open spaces; however, the principals and practices applied herewith are otherwise so far elaborated and not amended or added to as compared with this home lighting design enterprise. 




This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights.
Click here to copy this article.

Reprint Rights

Log in to become a member of Ralph Pressel's Fan Club!

Comments on this article:
No comments yet.


Was this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or Question:

 

This Article has been viewed 1,562 times.
Article added to SearchWarp.com on Monday, June 25, 2007
View other articles written by Ralph Pressel (47,900)


If you found this article interesting, you may want to check out:

Disclaimer:  All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional or organization.


Today's Most Popular
House Foundation Design Detail - Slab-On-Grade Design Basics, Scored Concrete Supplement

Concrete Foundation Design - Strip Footing Foundation, T-Wall Foundation Properties

Interior Design Ideas – Wood Trim Designs, Bringing a Craftsman Home Interior Together

Unique Home Foundation Detail – Grade Beam Design and Concrete Pilasters

Concrete Foundation Design - Spread Footing, Spot Footing

Home Plan Designs - Electrical Plan Design, Lighting Control Plan Design

Home Foundation Design Details – Concrete Floor Joints, Corner Reinforcement, Slopes, Gas Curb

Home Roof Construction - Roof Framing Details

Custom Home Design Program Series – Roof Plan Design Pictures & Text

Home Foundation Design - Foundation Plan, Slab-On-Grade and T-Wall

Home  |  Page Two  |  FAQ's  |  Contact  |  Terms of Service  |  Article Submission Guidelines  |  Writers' Contests  |  Privacy  |  Mission / About
Copyright © 1999-2008 SearchWarp.com, All Rights Reserved - SearchWarp.com is an IcoLogic, Inc. Company