This morning on twitter I asked if anyone had any ideas for the morning blog post.
I don't usually do that, but I had a few items on my list and none of them were jumping out at me. When I got this tweet:
So I thought about a few ideas and while there are a number of ways to replace recessed cans, I decided to focus on cove lighting. Cove lighting is one of those little details that, when done right, can completely transform a room. While there is a place for recessed lighting in accent applications, as a rule the fewer holes in the ceiling the better. So finding ways to use cove lighting in an architecturally sound way enhances ambient light of the room, without breaking the plane of the ceiling.
Here's a quick concept sketch of how cove uplighting works.
There are several benefits to cove lighting versus down lighting.
- Highlights ceiling making the room feel larger and more open.
- Bounce light from the ceiling creates complimentary shadows.
- Cove lighting feels softer and generates fewer hotspots, which is really ideal for ambient light
- Cove Lighting better utilizes LED for moresaving energy and better balancing of heat loads.
Concept Sketch - Recessed down lighting
Notice the holes in the ceiling and the shadowy direct downlight angle.
This is the kind of super-villian shadowing recessed down lights create.
Compare that concept with the concept of cove lighting...and you get something like this...
Cove Lighting - notice the bounce light filling the space.
And here's what happens when you bounce light. Even on my mug the shadows are complimentary.
So consider uplighting as a gentle alternative to recessed down lights. Thoughts? Questions?