Working with light

There are three main types of lighting . . . task, decorative and ambient . . . and most interiors need a carefully thought out mix of all three. Successful lighting depends on the main feature and task lighting working in harmony, in the same way that fabric colours and textures are chosen as part of the interior design.

"In commercial interiors, the desire is always to create the most ambient lighting possible. A system of recessed cove lighting and/or spotlights on dimming systems to adjust the lighting for various tasks such as reception and concierge desks, reading and cleaning is required, " says Barry.

On the home front, the right lighting can make or break a scheme. "An average interior can come to life with great lighting while a dramatic space can be ruined with poor lighting, " says Barry.

A typical trap is to leave lighting until the last minute when both design possibilities and budget are limited. Anyone embarking on a new build or renovation should, she suggests, sit down with the other inhabitants of the house and consider the functions of all the areas. "Think about how you live and use the space.

"Think too about what you're trying to achieve with lighting. Lighting can be used to give texture and layering to a room, " she says.

Energy efficient lighting is now a key concern, says Barry who regularly works with largescale feature lighting. "Over the last three years we have seen a big increase in the use of energy efficient lighting."

Making an entrance While we're all familiar with the dark, dingy hallway syndrome, Barry recommends making an entrance with lighting. "As transitional spaces, hallways can play host to some interesting art and amazing lighting, " she remarks. With task lighting not always required in hallways, a clever and subtle approach can be taken to overall lighting.

"A wow-factor feature piece can give a fantastic first impression and will set the tone for the rest of the interior. Table lamps in pairs can be very stylish, particularly at either end of a console table."

Step lighting can also be a clever and subtle way of adding to the illumination in hallways. Floor wash lights, recessed into the wall, offer light over individual stair treads.

Recessed lights located in the stair tread will light steps individually. In narrow stairs, soft uplights can be recessed into every fourth or fifth step to provide a wash over one of the walls, with a brighter light creating focus at the top of the stairs.

Other possibilities include uplighting a glass table from the floor; using narrow beam directional lights at the end of a corridor to create a focus on a picture, or using shallow downlights recessed into shelving to generously light different objects.

Living it large

Lighting living areas can be difficult as the tendency seems to be for one central fixture but this creates a flat, bland effect.

Barry recommends using a mix of table lamps, downlighters, uplighters and shelf lighting, all operated separatelty on a dimmer switch.

"That way you can really achieve a huge amount of different looks and facilitate different tasks from morning through to evening."

While recessed downlighters are a popular choice for new and refurbished homes, their treatment could often be a lot more imaginative, Barry contends. A common pitfall, she says, is to use too many of them and to place them in a pattern around the circumference of a room.

Instead, she recommends bunching them together in threes.

"A narrow-beamed lamp could be directed towards a painting or mirror over a fireplace, " she says. "Pinpointing a feature and lighting it directionally can work well, drawing the eye around the room."

Downlighting can also be perfect for book shelving.

"You're illuminating the room but making the most of what you have, " says Barry.

Table lamps are ideal for creating low-level lighting in a living room. "They can create a very warm, appealing ambience and give a sense of comfort, " remarks Barry.

Tungsten bulbs provide a very warm, flattering illumination that is softer and more ambient that fluorescent light.

Floor recessed uplighters can be a good way of highlighting features such as original stone walls or curtain texture, Barry says. "Rather than blasting light to the ceiling, it is bounced back down."

Wall lights can be a smart solution but there should be a specific reason for having them there. "Sometimes people overlook the fact that some slimline picture lights can be a nice way to highlight a piece of art.

The low key lighting creates more texture and adds another layer of lighting.

You're creating different points of interest and the more layered the lighting, the more effective it is."

Kitchen kudos Task lighting is particularly important in the kitchen, where high visual acuity is a must. However, because contemporary kitchens are also often used for entertaining and may be open to view from other parts of the home, care must be taken to ensure that adequate task lighting is provided without sacrificing a sense of mood and drama.

Putting lighting on separate systems will help avoid glare in open-plan kitchen/ dining areas, Barry recommends. "If you use the kitchen as a place to dine or relax as well as cook, you need to be able to dim the lights right down so that only the table is the focus.'

One or two pendants over a dining table are best backed up with a couple of directional spotlights with narrow beams placed under wallmounted units. Under-cupboard strips are generally a bright idea, especially if there is a textured floor.

Washed up wonders

As the role of the bathroom changes from purely functional to personal spa, lighting is playing a more important role than ever before. Combining effective task lighting with soothing ambient light should be the aim. "All the same rules apply.

It's not just a matter of having a single light and a few downlighters, especially if you're building from scratch, " Barry counsels.

IP rating is a critical consideration for wet areas, she stresses. Recessed downlighters work well in conjunction with other types of lighting, such as fixtures either side of the mirror to provide an even glow.

Anyone seeking inspiration for bathroom lighting should check out how it's done in leading hotel spas, Barry recommends. "They have features such as lowkey, low-level lighting, for example, recessed lighting in the floor and uplight features on walls or alternatively recessed wall lights at a very low level, sending light across the floor.

"Back-lit panels around baths are another idea that can be brought into the home.

The use of colour changing LEDs can be fun and also very energy efficient and extremely low maintenance, with a lamp life of up to 60,000 hours."

Sleep treats Sleep sanctuaries can also benefit from the right lighting treatments. "General lighting is about thinking of different ways of lighting the room from the floor up."

Ambient general lighting should be supplemented by task lighting around key areas such as the bed, dressing table and wardrobe.

Directionable halogens or LED reading lamps that can focus on the book so that partners aren't kept awake are one savvy solution.

Illuminating wardrobes as many hotels do, can alleviate the morning rush.

www. niamhbarrydesign. com; 01 833 7970