MANSION GLOBAL: Designing for Darker Days
Mansion Global tapped Remains Lighting Co. founder David Calligeros for advice to combat winter gloom with the right lighting fixture and lamping selections for the living room.
“I prefer warmer lamps, rather than daylight lamps in a living room. Color temp is measured in degrees Kelvin. The higher the number, the closer to blue/white, the lower the number, the closer to red/orange. 2700K is a nice place to land. What’s important is performance (intensity or lumens), color temperature and color rendering accuracy (CRI, defined on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the most true to life). Most lamps in my living room would be [at least] 90 CRI, 2700K and dimmable. To eliminate glare, keep the point source of light shielded or low-intensity, or at an angle below your eye level.
Designed by Commune Design, this living room features a wall lamp to highlight the corner of the space. Stephen Kent Johnson
“Deliver illumination via a central hanging fixture or set of wall sconces—and let the unoccupied parts of the room be a little darker to contrast with the places of activity. Table and floor lights create intimate pools of light around seating or tables. That contrast between the warm/bright and shadowy areas makes things cozier. More layers give you more control over the practical benefits of lighting as well as the emotional resonance of the room.
“Ceiling lighting, such as chandeliers, lanterns or flush mounts deliver illumination and sculptural interest. In a living room, wall sconces also fall into the general illumination category. I prefer them with low-lumen clear bulbs, though most people use linen, paper or silk shades. Bookcase lighting and art lights will wash down over their specific areas.”
—David Calligeros, founder and president Remains Lighting in New York
