Book Description

This is the first and only complete resource for lighting design, giving architects and designers--as well as engineers--all the right tools to implement quality installations. Features a graphics-rich presentation full of lighting patterns, installation photos, fixtures and schemes with costs, plus color sections displaying how to mix light and color. Inside: essential safety-and compliance-facilitating code information from the National Electric Code, Energy Policy Act, and other sources. Includes hundreds of interior and exterior details from a range of project types. ... Read more

Book Description

Residential Lighting is the complete guide to illuminating single-family homes.
* Examines the "how" behind the art of residential lighting.
* Emphasizes use of "light layering"-using variety of lighting sources together.
* Features more illustrations, room-based design strategies, common lighting mistakes, and a larger color section. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Little Light Reading!
As a Design Instructor and Lighting Professional, I can attest that Randy Whitehead's book is an invaluable asset to both the beginning design professional or the savvy client. Photos, diagrams, intelligent definitions-high light the the text. The good humor and obvious talent that Randy Whitehead exhibits makes this book an enjoyable and easily accessible resource.

As a design instructor, I have found earlier examples of this author's books to be a dynamic addition to lecture presentations.

It would be a great addition to any library.

A Client's/Homeowner's Perspective
As a homeowner who has been through two major remodels in the past five years, and who has had the good fortune to work with Randall Whitehead on the lighting design and installation for both projects, I read Mr. Whitehead's most recent book from at least two key perspectives:

• an extremely satisfied client of and collaborator with Randall Whitehead on two major projects; and

• a homeowner who has learned the value of outstanding lighting design and what that brings to the totality of the home

One of the key elements that distinguishes Randall Whitehead from other lighting designers with whom I am familiar is his ability to quickly put himself inside the mind of the client in a way that immediately allows the entire design project to be collaborative rather than dictatorial, for lack of a better word. From start to finish on both projects, I had the feeling that my personal goals and tastes were understood, appreciated and treated as more important by far than the need of the designer to employ a certain new technique or some flashy new fixture. Mr. Whitehead's ability to assimilate a great deal of information and then to explain his ideas in language understandable to the homeowner is refreshing and extremely comforting in a major remodel, and he creates an atmosphere of calm in a process that nearly always stormy at best. Anyone who has been through a major remodel knows that calm, patience and dependability aren't traits that immediately come to mind when thinking of those integral to the process.

Similarly, in his latest book, Mr. Whitehead walks the reader through major elements of lighting design, using examples to comprehensively cover technical and non-technical areas, making this book accessible, informative and instructional to the layman as well as the professional.

My strong preference would be for anyone contemplating a major design or remodel project to have the good fortune to work with Mr. Whitehead on that project. Failing that, or perhaps prior to a collaborative effort, I recommend this book without hesitation as a way to rapidly enter the magical world of his lighting genius.

what a time saver!
As a partner in a residential architectural firm in San Francisco I've become intimately aware of the impact good lighting design has on a project. Through the years I've been through many books, lectures, and showrooms to gain knowledge.

One of my favorite sources is Randall Whitehead. If you've ever seen Randall speak about lighting, you already know his passion for the lighting design industry. If you missed his speaking engagements, fear not, because he has produced a new book that is as entertaining and as informative as his speaking engagements. HIs current book "Residential Lighting, A Practical Guide" is my favorite to date.

In one book, he has combined the technical aspects of the myriad lighting products available on the market, with solid design principals (in text and illustrated form) along with photographs of successful and unsuccessful installations. All this, broken down into exterior and interior applications room by room, makes up one great resource! Now, I can grab one book to determine the best lighting solution for a given situation. What a timesaver!

This book is a must for anyone faced with deciding how best to light a space. And, when it comes to our homes, everyone of us is a designer, whether we like to admit it or not! The formidable decisions existent within the lighting aspect of residential design has just been made a lot easier, thanks to Randall Whitehead.

A must for every Interior Designer and Architect's library
I own five of Mr. Whitehead's books and I use them all frequently. All are incredible sources of lighting inspiration and I share them with my clients to SEE why I am so passionate about good lighting.

What makes this book particularly exceptional is the combination of the practical necessities of lighting with helpful high-quality photographs. Like a great cookbook, I find that the graphics really drive his points home and provide the "ah-hah" that text alone cannot provide.

As an Interior Designer, I know that good lighting design is not only rare to find, but tougher than most people realize. It looks easy when it's finished, but only when faced with the "blank canvas" of a living space do most clients realize how difficult lighting design truly is. The Practical Guide presents the fundamentals necessary to analyze and solve most residential lighting situations and helps designers show why going the extra step to implement a lighting plan is essential for a successful interior design.

I have had the opportunity to attend a couple of Mr. Whitehead's professional seminars. It's usually not long before he has the room in stitches with his lighthearted, to-the-point style. Mr.Whitehead writes in a similarly engaging manner. He is not afraid to express (and defend) his opinions, even at the risk of stepping on a few well-shoed toes.

I laughed while I learned
Randall Whitehead has done a terrific job of explaining what light does and why in a way that is surprisinly entertaining. I can see that this book was written for interior designers and architects, but as a homeowner I found the information easy to understand and very practical.

The other books on the subject tend to be dry and overly technical to the point of being a big snore. This book is unlike any textbook I remember. It is funny while giving you all the 'how to' stuff. There are great photos, cartoons, and drawings throughout the book. Don't miss reading the descriptions of the "before" pictures. You will be laughing, while nodding your head in total agreement.

Anyone who wants to know more about lighting for homes and gardens should read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Enhanced with color photos of design applications and more than one hundred new illustrations, this revised edition presents step by step the lighting design process, while incorporating lighting terminology, perception, tools and equipment, general design strategies, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great teacher
While I was studying Interior Design at Parsons a number of years ago, I had Gary Gordon as a Lighting Design Instructor. He was by far one the best teachers that I had. He is very knowledgeable and has the unique ability to easily communicate the many aspects of both design and lighting. I highly recommend any publication he has authored.

Very good book for novices.
The book begins with an inspirational and somewhat simplistic insight into lighting design. Simply as a study of lighting contrasts. While this is a very important aspect of LD, it is by far one of many concepts a professional must use. The book refers to many technical aspects of lighting without giving any "meat" or more in depth information, which I would have enjoyed. If you are new to LD or are an architect or engineer who has little experience with lighting, it is a very good lauching point. If you are technically knowledgable about lighting and want some inspiration, read chapter 1 and the last chapter on Design for concepts ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Architectural Lighting
This is an excellent book. It provides a comprehensive overview while supplying specific design applications on the topics of natural and electric lighting. It illuminates many technologies and design principles with straight forward language and clear reinforcing graphics.
I teach architectural lighting at the School of Architecture at the University of Hawaii. I have reviewed many lighting books for this class and have found the Egan and Olgyay text to be very appropriate for the beginning and advanced student as well as a very useful desk reference for design proessionals. ... Read more

Book Description

* Includes design scenarios for more than twenty different commercial and residential scenarios.
* In-depth rationale for proposed solutions include lighting distribution diagrams, floor plans, and lighting installation/construction details. ... Read more

Book Description

In Light Revealing Architecture, nationally recognized authority Marietta Millet goes beyond fixtures and hardware, lumens and light bulbs to explore the timeless principles of lighting, as evidenced in architecture by using examples ranging from ancient to contemporary buildings. Providing over 400 illustrations—plans, sections, diagrams, paintings and photos—Millet shows how specific lighting effects are achieved from an architectural approach. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very EN"LIGHT"ENING book!
Any spatial experience is intimately connected with the experience of light. The author has very articulately described this phenomena in architecture, using four major themes - where light helps with a physiological EXPERIENCE, gives a building FORM, defines and enhances SPACE, and thus gives it MEANING. This is an excellent book, well written and has a good association with all aspects of lighting, studied and explained with the help of a wide range of buildings and architecture. It makes a very strong (and convincing) argument, for all designers to pay attention to the importance of light while planning and designing their spaces or buildings. ... Read more

Book Description

The crowning glory in many a classically proportioned room, the chandelier is once again enjoying the spotlight. Whether a traditional design or one found in the flea market, whether ballroom glass or galvanized steel, its shimmering beautyprevails in even the most modern interiors. This book takes the reader through the history of the chandelier from its first candle-lit forms to the innovative designs produced throughout the world today. With 200 beautiful photographs in a variety of settings, this book reveals what a chandelier can do for your home. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Shimmer and Shine
If you are a student of decorative arts or you simply love the sparkle of crystal droplets and soft candlelight in a dimly lit room, "Chandeliers" is for you. It is lavishly illustrated and informative. Hilliard offers a thorough history of the chandelier, from the most rustic wood or bronze medieval pieces to the highly refined crystal showpieces of the 18th and 19th centuries to fanciful Venetian glass creations and contemporary works. Chandeliers are shown in period settings as well as in modern homes and in unexpected settings. An excellent resource list of antique dealers and retailers is also provided complete with website addresses. ... Read more

Book Description

Beautifully illustrated with vibrant photography, The Art of Outdoor Lighting: Landscapes with the Beauty of Lighting offers inspiration and practical ideas for painting the outdoors with light.

--Presents more than 250 beautiful full-color photographs of spectacular outdoor spaces. --Features lighting ideas for a wide range of landscapes, from palatial estates to pool areas to rooftop decks. --Includes a section on lighting techniques for outdoor rooms for living and entertaining under the stars. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

If you live in a....
If you live in a 5 million dollar house, this is the book for you. If you have a 3000 sq foot cape cod, forget it. I purchased this book to learn how to light MY house. I don't have a 60 foot indoor pool, or a mountain top view of downtown LA. This book was of no use to me at all. I give it 2 stars because it has nice photos, of houses most of us will never see in person.

Great gallery of artistic lighting & designer sourcebook
This book is filled with examples from around the world of magnificent homes that are enhanced by stunning outdoor lighting effects. It is as much a gallery of artistic lighting as it is a sourcebook for the designer or homeowner looking for ways to make their home stand out.

The book is broken into sections with a brief overview of each before the many photographic examples. These include transforming a home after dark with dramatic lighting effects, creating a moon lighting effect and my favorite section on lighting pools and fountains with some really fabulous designs. There are also sections on outdoor rooms, landscape lighting and some wonderful ideas on using the view in through a window as part of the exterior design and lighting plan.

Full color, full-page photos fill most of the book. Brief descriptions are provided in captions along with designer and photographer credits. There is contact information for these designers and photographers along with some lighting manufacturers in the back of the book. This is a design book, not a technical manual. Each caption tells the type of fixtures used but there is no information on wiring or installation.

A very useful chapter on common lighting mistakes along with frequently asked questions and a glossary conclude the book. Although most of the examples in this book are of homes well beyond average means, many of the ideas and principles presented can be adapted to enhance almost any dwelling. I found it quite inspirational and enjoyable.

expert opinion
Wonderful photographs but otherwise a bit thin. This is a picture book mostly of California projects with some colder climate installations so these lush landscapes can only be envied by homeowners and gardeners outside the semi-tropics. DIYers will find this particular meal consists more of dessert than substantial fare. The clear intention of this book is as a feast for the eye and the few pages of technical information consist of an overview of techniques, common mistakes (with which I heartily concur), Q & A and a glossary. There is a helpful list of lighting designers (the first I've seen) limited mostly to the West Coast. There are plenty of good ideas here and most of the photograph captions contain a brief but useful description of how the lighting effects were achieved.

This is a very good book for my new house
Simple... this book is extremely useful to me. You know I broguth a new house and it help me alot of design stuff... it saved us alot of design fee... worth to buy this boolk. Go ahead. ... Read more

Book Description

While it may be easy to visualize fabrics from swatches and largesamples, lighting is much more complex. One cannot touch or feel it, yet it isall around and responsible for what we see. Lighting by Design takes animaginative and creative look at the potential of creating and using light bothinside and outside the home.Since skillful lighting is the balance between light and shade, the book beginswith a discussion on the nature of light and the interplay of light and shadowon buildings inside and out. It demonstrates unique ways to become creative withlight within the home to achieve varying effects from calm softness totheatrical drama. Lighting by Design also offers a comprehensive overview onoutdoor lighting; entrances and exits; roof terraces and decks; and even specialtopics, such as topiaries, swimming pools, and statues. What's more, it alsoincludes timeless advice for using colored light, patterns, and focus, anddemonstrates ways to use lighting to blend garden and interior dimensions into aunified whole.Magnificent full-color photography specially commissioned for this extraordinaryreference details amazing before-and-after effects and creative ways of usingdaylight and artificial light to create new moods. Also included are scores ofinspirational photos that feature the interiors of such well-known designers asJonathan Reed, Mary Fox Linton, Nina Campbell, and Tricia Guild. Packed with elegant ideas, superb examples, and imaginative suggestions forcreating a dramatic and changing environment, Lighting by Design offers a brand- new and innovative perspective on outdoor and indoor decor! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An impressive and inspiring variety of lighting effects
Informatively written by architecture-trained interior designer Sally Storey, Lighting By Design is a beautifully illustrated presentation filled with full-color photography by Luke White showcasing the impressive and inspiring variety of lighting effects that can be used to add a special touch to an interior design. From using light to create mood, to the skillful use of colored lights, to making patterns with lights, as well as selecting and positioning outdoor lights suitable for gardens and roof terraces, Lighting By Design is admirable in its imagery and practical in its techniques.

Look elsewhere for useful lighting techniques
This book should be titled Lighting for Luxury Homes. It would be diffficult to translate the ideas presented here into lighting technques the average reader would find useful. Although the cover looks modern, the interior decoration style represented in most of the pictures is a combination of Traditional and Classic. The photos are nice, but not particularly inspiring. Storey's other book titled Lighting is more informative than this one. I don't think this would even make a good coffee table book. ... Read more

Book Description

More than 35ew material, including more than 80 new color and black-and-white illustrations.
* Addresses new topics, such as light and health, ADA criteria and issues, value engineering, computer modeling techniques, and more.
* Covers major programming issues in lighting design and presents creative techniques for conceptualizing and visualizing lighted spaces.
* Describes a wide range of tools and methods for achieving desired lighting effects.
* Accompanying Web site offers additional material and resources. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The best explanation of the lighting design process in print
This is an excellent book. The reasons are these: the process of lighting design is explained with a thoroughness and clarity unseen in other books; the most important points are always accompanied by examples taken from real projects-the author's own or others; the voice of the author is immediate, conversational, and easy to learn from; and, the balance between technical detail and the practical business of getting the (lighting) job done is admirably struck.

Steffy explains the lighting design process in its proper order and with the proper emphasis. He begins by defining the lighting design problem as one grounded in vision-explaining just enough of that fabulously complex process to make the designer aware of the mechanisms by which we visually apprehend the world. How that world is to be seen is defined by the programming phase of a project. In this long section, Steffy shows how psychology, architecture, the requirements of visual work, and many other factors are brought together to define the goals of the lighting project. Each of these aspects is discussed from the designer's perspective and accompanied by unambiguous examples. This first third of the book is probably its strongest section-by the author's design evidently, since it is far more common to plunge into "picking equipment," rather than pause and ruminate about the purposes and goals of lighting for a project.

But the very beginning of the book does not provide much technical underpinning; and so perhaps its only weakness is that the fundamentals are treated at the start with a brevity that may not sufficiently develop a readers' understanding. On the other hand, we are spared the usual inane drawings of candles and spheres, and the often-erroneous analogies trotted out to "explain" things.

The middle third of the book deals with the more technical issues of lighting design: schematic design, daylighting, lamps, luminaires, controls, and design tools. Steffy has chosen members of the architecture and design community for his audience. As such, mathematics has a useful but circumscribed role in the process, and detailed issues managed by electrical engineers are left to those registered professionals. Given that, the coverage is thorough and sufficiently detailed for the reader to leave the text with useful information. The long chapter on lamps is up to date and more than just a recitation of data and characteristics-rather, there is always advice given and experience shared about how different lamps can or should be used. The same can be said of the section devoted to luminaires.

The rest of the book is devoted to the process of getting the lighting design specified, purchased, on the job, and installed. This includes an elaborate explanation of equipment pricing, contract documents, and the practical matters of getting the right equipment to the project. There is no more extensive or thorough an explanation of these important aspects of lighting design in print.

One of the books strongest points is the abundance of examples; there is at least one used to clarify each important point. Absent are the usual hedges and unhelpful generalities about "design;" rather, one finds a bracing, thought-provoking specificity: "do this, not this;" and, marvelous to read, there is nothing imperious about this, for reasons are always given. The examples are particularly important and helpful in the long sections that explain programming and construction documents. In each of these two cases, Steffy offers specific and detailed examples from his own projects. The annotation is extensive and adds the detail that often brings home the point.

Steffy writes in a direct, conversational style that draws the reader into the topic. (The first word in his preface is "Yikes!") The effect is that of being in the presence of someone willing to help, willing to explain things, and who knows what they're doing. This is very important point, since it is a good bet that the book will be used most often for self-study. The modernity of the process by which we learn is acknowledged in the book: there is a continuous sprinkling of Internet addresses where one can find more information. The style, detailed examples, and mechanical layout of the material promote direct understanding. There are none of the usual unsupported recipes and vague injunctions. The directness of Steffy's conversation with the reader helps convey what he knows and how he has applied it to lighting design. And Steffy knows a great deal-he is an internationally recognized lighting designer.

Steffy's book can be recommended without reservation to those who are serious about learning the technology, craft, and process of lighting design-reading it is a close approximation to an extended conversation with a successful and seasoned expert who is willing and capable of sharing what he knows. ... Read more

Book Description

11 1/2 x 9 240 color illustrations US Distribution only architecture The Transformations series takes a look at architectural projects that center around existing buildings and other constructions that have been "transformed." This informative, entertaining guide delves into the subject of Light-be it natural or artificial-and how it is being used by architects, interior designers, and lighting designers to revitalize structures. Packed with individual case studies and hundreds of sophisticated photos, Light features a diverse array of projects from around the world, including examples from such renowned "lighting architects" as England's Jonathan Speirs, Germany's Ingo Maurer, and Japan's Motoko Ishii. ... Read more

Book Description

Complete with checklists and forms, this step-by-step guide tells everything the facilities management professional needs to know about conducting lighting surveys and audits in a commercial or industrial facility. Lighting audits are required when companies undertake lighting retrofits and related projects in order to improve their lighting systems. The best way to ensure maximum performance of the new systems, maximize return on investment, and prove energy savings (in order to qualify for financial assistance or meet government targets) is to start with a comprehensive lighting audit. Public and private incentives along with recent energy saving advances in lighting technology have motivated companies to turn to energy saving solutions. Written by one of the nation's leading authorities on lighting and the education of lighting professionals, this practical handbook provides the auditor with the solid, useful information needed to accomplish accurate surveys and audits. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great field book of practical info for lighting audits.
For ESCOS, Lighting Management Co's, and facility personnel, this practical handbook has all you need to perform faster, more efficient lighting surveys and audits. Written for auditors to use in the field thishandbook contains a wealth of tips and techniques developed by the authorwho has performed hundreds of lighting surveys and audits. Specificapplications for a wide variety of facilities from large industrial plantsto banks, nursing homes, and offices are covered. Easy to follow checklistsand forms in 8.5 x 11 format may be copied to use directly or modified asrequired. Separate chapters cover the use of audit tools (such as lightmeters and loggers) and computer programs. Fact sheets on a host oflighting issues that surface during audits and an extensive glossary areprovided. The book is currently used to prepare auditors in LightingEvaluation and Audits workshops provided by Effective Lighting Solutions,Inc. and taught by the author for the University of Wisconsin-EPD and forthe ADVANCE Transformer Five-Star ESCO Program, as well as in-housetraining for private companies and individuals. ... Read more

Book Description

The right light makes the room. It sets the stage for our lives, creates a comfortable environment, and enhances home décor. Bring a new brilliance to your home with this expert guide that demystifies all aspects of lighting your home.

The Right Light examines a wealth of lighting sources, types, and styles. It shows you how to find and use the best light fixtures, how to create mood with lighting, and how to balance the functional and aesthetic aspects of lighting throughout your home on a room-by-room basis, and even outdoors. Read The Right Light and discover hoe to custom-design your own lighting to decorate your home.

-Detailed lighting plans for your home, and inventive ways to use the lighting resources you already have in place.

-Decorative tricks on how to use lighting to enlarge your space, make it more intimate, and give it more height.

-Lighting design tips on working with color and light, designing concealed lighting, and turning a garden into an outdoor room.

-Eight beautiful handcrafted lamp projects to help you make your own lamps and light fixtures. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Well presented but shallow
I know 'nothing' about lighting in the home, so I decided to gather some knowledge before redoing the appartment.
The book is well presented and organized, with chapters covering the usage of light in various areas of your home. I noticed straight away it only describes the tradional house, but I gathered lots could be applied to my appartment.
What's good is that it describes what light does to us, how it works around the house, how to utilize different types of lights, tips&tricks, etc., and for the light-dumb this means one can learn a lot from this book, and I did. It does not cover technical installation issues, such as installing built-in ceiling spots or hiding wiring. The book delivers knowledge and ideas, from there you're on your own.

Now for the bad, this is a 140 page book so one expects lots of content. At least half of the book is photograps. It would have been excellent if things described in the text where illustrated by these photographs. Alas, the photographs are 'stock' photos an employee gathered from media-libraries and the like. They looked for photos to go with the current subject. You get nice pictures of living rooms and such, where lights happen to be installed, trying to be relevant, but they usually fail. They look like photographs you see in magazines at your hairdresser.

The usage of fonts and line spacing is from hell, really. They start a chapter with big letters, then the next line with slightly smaller letters, and so on (Star Wars anyone?) to the default font size. But between every line, everywhere, there's a blank line. I'm sure they'd claim it's 'design', but I think this is how you get a 140 book full: fill it with blank lines and useless photographs. To make it worse, 16 pages are covering 'do it yourself' plans to make really ugly lamps no one would ever want. Not only this example, as a man it could be noted for fellow men this is a very feminine book. As with the lamp making, some things might not appeal to you.
What's left could be fit in 15 to 20 pages of information in a 'normal' book, some of which is iterated. That stuff is OK. Not brilliant, but OK. I give 2 stars for that.

Packed with tips, tricks and tips, great craft projects
This is a wonderful book for any individual who is decorating their home or any design professional who wants to know about as many lighting options as possible. It is packed with tips, tricks and ideas to make successfully lighting your home easy.

The book starts out by explaining natural light and then helps you develop a lighting plan. There are lots of decorative tips and tricks such as using uplights to made a ceiling look higher or washing opposite walls with light to make a room look bigger. It even discusses how lighting effects mood.

Lighting specific to certain areas of the home is covered next with sections on special lighting considerations for living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, baths, entrances, staircases, your home office and outdoor areas. Everything from built in fixtures to accent lamps to candles is covered as a total lighting plan is conceived.

The strength of this book is its coverage of both the aesthetic and the technical. Special mini sections explain types of light, minimum lighting levels, and tell all about lamps and shades. They also help you choose light bulbs, lighting fixtures, and window coverings. The final chapter addresses special lighting needs such as increasing light at night, or using light create the right mood. A quick fixes guide shows you how to correct many lighting problems with a minimum of effort and expense.

Along with decorating advice there are several craft projects throughout the book. These include a leaf and paper hurricane lamp, punched paper light string, Japanese table lantern, papyrus shade lamp, marbled hanging lantern, henna pattern lamp, pearled shell night light and sliver tea light votive. The projects are sophisticated looking, yet easy enough for anyone to make. They include step-by-step instructions and a picture of the finished project. ... Read more

Book Description

Modern lighting techniques help you showcase and beautify historic buildings! Now you can design better, more efficient illumination for older structures with Lighting Historic Buildings by Derek Philips. You'll know how to incorporate modern lighting into buildings built decades--or centuries--before flourescent bulbs, TV screens, computer monitors and OSHA requirements were invented. Whether you're renovating, refurbishing or expanding an illumination system, lighting historic buildings shows you proven strategies and designs for using both natural and artificial light to achieve outstanding results. Plus, over 200 full color illustrations show you the best lighting solutions for offices, residences, churches, industrial facilities, and change-of-use properties worldwide. Uding the expert techniques you'll find in this one-of-kind resource, you'll see how to provide modern and efficient lighting designs while retaining the original beauty and integrity of historic buildings. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Architecture of the Night
A century of architectural illumination-mostly of skyscrapers and expositions-that blooms in darkness. The development of electrical power preceded the modern movement and was brilliantly exploited in the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the 1889 Paris fair that was centered on the Eiffel Tower. But it enjoyed its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, most notably in the US and Germany, and Neumann, a professor of architecture at Brown, has chronicled both with equal insight. Many of the period images are breathtaking, and inspiring work is still being done. (Michael Webb is the book reviewer for LA Architect magazine.) ... Read more

Book Description

Exciting new daylighting techniques for architectural design!Just as natural light reveals colors in a richer, truer spectrum, daylighting opens new perspectives for architectural design. Daylighting for Sustainable Design, by noted architectural thinker Mary Guzowski, gives you practical design strategies that create a brighter, greener architecture by weaving together environmental, architectonic, and humanistic factors. Daylighting encompasses sensitive land-use, energy conservation, the use of healthy materials, and waste-reduction; design, technological and mechanical factors; aesthetics and quality of life issues. This stimulating resource helps you adapt daylighting to your own work with... *color illustrations that bring techniques vividly to life *case studies that illustrate how each principle can be implemented *checklist and design approach summaries *guides to daylighting resources, manufacturers, and specialist firms ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Execellent resource for sustainable design
This is an excellent book on Daylighting especially in the way the author discusses so many related and synergystic issues. It is an extremely informative, elegant, scholarly and comprehensive book on the subject. Beautifully illustrated with superbly photographed plates. As a daylighting practitioner and architect in the field, I find it to be both useful and interesting. My congratulations to May Guzowski who, incidentally, teaches architecture at the University of Minnesota. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A worthwhile read and purchase.
The author speaks to lay people such as myself. He illustrates and compares through photographs different effects of lighting upon the same scene, so you not only read, but get the visual idea. Through reading this book, I am able to plan a lighting scheme that works for my environment and have become my own lighting designer!

Beatifull!
A really great book. Very charming and great photos.

Innovative, concise & authoritative
Most lighting books show you lots of pictures and tell you what was done. They hardly help clueless DIY's like myself. Kevin's approach to lighting, however, is systematic and understandable. His ideas and methods are innovative yet simple. You'll be surprised at how much your room or house can be transformed with the proper lighting. Absolute must-get for new or renovating home owners. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Easy to understand and impliment, creative
This book is a quick read and packed with creative ideas for the homeowner and interior design students. It is not an indepth study of lighting but more of a useful handbook. The organization of the information by room brings the reader right to the point without a lot of information clutter.

I would also recommend this book to computer graphic artists who want the basics of residential lighting for their projects.

- jim

Good for modern-style homes, just okay for others
This book had a good overview of lighting techniques and ideas; however, all the examples and photos were of homes decorated in a very modern style, not applicable to most people. The same principles employed in Craftsman, western, or other home styles would have been useful.

Very Good, but no measurements
The book is great, very good script, pictures and general ideas, explaining thoroughly the concept of how lighting in a room works: using general, task and feature lighting effectively. It lacks though exact measurements for placing lights at certain distances from walls, only mentioning, for example, that distance from wall depends on height of ceiling.
Summary: good one to have.

Simple & Practical
I bought this book just before moving to my first owned little apartment. This is a beautiful book with many practical solutions for lighting. Well illustrated pictures with great ideas. I've applied some of the ideas to my small apartment. Besides, the beautiful pictures also provide me with some wonderful ideas for interior design. It has only 104 pages, hope there were more pages. ... Read more

Book Description

"Human beings feel a universal attraction to light. It is the source of life-giving energy . . . and where there is light there is color."

"Color is light made visible," says Donald Kaufman," and the atmosphere of the air we breathe and the quality of the light passing through it affect how we see color." A wall painted terra cotta in Santa Fe will look very different than a wall painted terra cotta in New York. By understanding the nature of the light and atmosphere in the place where you live, paint palettes for rooms can be selected that will enhance the light and create luminous effects.

In these inspiring pages filled with breathtaking rooms, Kaufman and Dahl have visited homes in different regions of the country and explored the particularities of the light and air in each to show how colors were chosen to enhance the available light. Whether it be the veiled light of the South and Northwest, the dry air and harsh light of the desert, the misted light of northern cities, the incandescent light over water, the clear light of the mountains, or the glaring light reflected from snow, each has its own way of interacting with color indoors. The reader also learns that, just as colors change with the region, they vary with the seasons and times of day. Molecules of air, water vapor, ice crystals, nearby buildings, or the tree branches and leaves we see outside our rooms all interact with painted interiors. We come to understand that the colors on our walls need not be fixed but can reflect the subtle changes that happen outdoors.

In Kaufman and Dahl's Color: Natural Palettes for Painted Rooms, the authors transformed forever the way we see colors in nature and in the paint on our walls. In Color and Light, they take us one step further to help us understand the role of the kinds of light we live with and how we can bring the sun's warmth and luminosity inside.Author Bio: Donald Kaufman and Taffy Dahl, authors of Color: Natural Palettes for Painted Rooms, are founding partners of Donald Kaufman Color, the country's foremost color consulting firm. Their work with architects and designers has included collaborations with Philip Johnson, Richard Meier, Mariette Gomez, and Stephen Sills. Kaufman is also a painter whose work is represented in the Whitney, MOMA, and Hirshhorn collections. Dahl is a ceramicist who, with Kaufman and Suzanne Butterfield, founded the full-spectrum paint line, The Donald Kaufman Color Collection. The authors live in New York City.

Dominique Vorillon is a photographer whose work appears in architecture, interior design, gardening, and travel magazines in both America and Europe. He divides his time between Los Angeles and the Loire Valley.

Christine Pittel, a contributing editor to House Beautiful, writes on art, architecture, and design. Her articles have appeared in Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country, House & Garden, and the New York Times.END ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A unique and wonderfully inspiring book
Two reasons to write this review. One is to counteract, or attempt to balance, the negativity of some of the other reader's reviews. The other is to bring to notice this exceptional book. The ideas that atmosphere, air and geographic location can influence color are not novel thoughts - Dutch master painters and the Provence of Van Gogh come to mind. But to apply such theories to the architectural and interior use of color has not been explored by enough people. Donald Kaufman was first an artist - this obviously influences his perception and methods of working with paint. The book is fascinating for the way it balances ethereal ideas with practical suggestions. The power and influence of localized light is described with excellent prose as well as lovingly selected photographs. Alongside such beauty are supremely helpful suggestions for using color and light in your own environment or in the spaces you are creating for others to enjoy. I have all three of Donald Kaufman and Taffy Dahl's books. Now I await a fourth!

The World of Color
This and the two related books (Natural Palettes and the Suzanne Butterfield book on palettes based on D. Kaufman colors)should be read attentively by anyone faced with painting a room. As beautiful as some of the illustrations are, these are NOT coffee table books to browse through. They are full of practical information for painting rooms, including rooms like mine with dark woodwork, hardwood floors, uneven walls, odd-shaped and leaded glass windows, etc. For example -- balancing cool and warm, contrasting or matching color values, using hue to stand up to strong trim, using flat paint to create a soft, smooth wall surface, what to do with dark rooms (Don't paint them white -- the resulting shadows emphasize that they are dark.), the importance of mixing paint colors without using black pigment and the importance of having the full spectrum of pigments in any paint hue, the effect that the color of light in the room will have on the wall color, and much more. The room descriptions are not prescriptions for what one must do but rather examples of the many different effects that can result using fully-pigmented paint of different value, hue, contrasts, etc. under different light conditions. The Butterfield book is a fairly simple presentation. "Natural Palettes" and "Color and Light," particularly the latter book, are sophisticated illustrated explanations of the basic "rules" of light and color through some of the myriad possible results. Read these three books with attention and be rewarded with an appreciation of color and light everywhere(in every house, apartment, store, restaurant, office, etc., on the street, the highway, in the sky, city, country -- you won't be able to help it!) Read these books and you will see, know and care about color and light forever. You'll also have no problem painting your rooms.

Useful and Illuminating
Beautiful book with great practical advice about how to choose colors for your home. I've gone gaga over Donald Kaufman's paints, and, although they are expensive, they are only a fraction of the price of Martha Stewart's line for Schreuder.

A dismal failure
I love color. I love light. So, I thought I would love this book. Wrong, wrong, wrong. This book is a borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring read. It's like a bad term paper. I dare you to find one idea to take away and use in your own life. The author talks AT you, pontificates, lectures, never asks you a question or makes room for you to react. Talk about over-intellectualizing a topic and taking the fun out of design! Bleah!

YUK
THIS IS REALLY UNAPPEALING. THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE BOOK "ATMOSPHERE FOR BEIGE ROOMS." IF YOU WANT A HOUSE WITH ALL THE CHARM OF "BUILDER BEIGE," THEN GO FOR IT. OTHERWISE, KEEP LOOKING FOR A REAL BOOK ON COLOR. (I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE I LIKE YET.) ... Read more