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Advice from Designers:

How a Lighting Designer Can Add Value to Your Home

By Deborah Lausé

Deborah Lausé *

One of the most overlooked aspects of remodeling and new home construction is proper and creative lighting. A well-thought-out lighting scheme is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can make. Whether the project is a low-budget basement renovation or a completely new home, the time to think about lighting is before you drive the first nail.

So how do you start? In many projects a professional lighting designer can provide the services you need to ensure that your home takes full advantage of all of the creative possibilities that a good lighting scheme can provide. Following are answers to some important questions for you to consider.

What is a lighting designer?

A professional lighting designer is a person with a degree in architecture, interior architecture, or interior design with advanced studies in lighting design, or an engineer with a degree in the art and science of lighting.

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What is the scope of service a lighting professional can provide?
A professional lighting designer should provide the following services for the homeowner:

A specification binder with written description and related information provided on all of the lighting fixtures chosen for the residence, including lamps
A reflected ceiling plan or lighting/electrical plan of the project
Specification of dimming and switching for lighting fixtures
Structural details for installation of fixtures where necessary
Observation of lighting installation
Follow-up with homeowner after completion of the project

What benefit can a lighting designer provide the homeowner?

If your lighting and switching control requirements are addressed from the planning stage of a project, it will save you time and money as the homeowner. A lighting designer can advise the architect or general contractor of structural elements that can impact the installation of lighting fixtures. The lighting professional knows the products available and can suggest designs and select fixtures within your budget. Additionally, if cost is a major concern, the lighting designer can design a lighting/electrical plan that can be implemented in phases. This involves prewiring the home for lighting and electronic equipment to be installed at some future date determined by the client's growing needs.

What should I expect to pay for the services of a lighting designer?

A good professional will probably charge between $150 and $250 for the initial consultation and gather enough information at that time to give the client an estimate of fees. The fees may be billed either on an hourly basis or on the projected scope of services for the project.

Profile:
Deborah Lausé * is the principal at Deborah Lausé Lighting Design Firm, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Deborah has more than 10 years of experience in lighting design, specializing in residential and commercial lighting design. After graduating from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco with a degree in interior architecture, Deborah pursued graduate studies in lighting at the University of California, Berkeley. Deborah is a professional member of both the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the American Society of Interior Designers and is a Certified Interior Designer. To contact Deborah you can send her an email to: dl_lighting@earthlink.net

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