By Walter Ang
Sept. 7, 2011
Philippine Daily Inquirer
To provide more choices in lighting design for Filipino home owners, Gonzales led the launch of a new range of home lighting solutions from Philips Lighting and Electronics.
The company's new collections combine energy-efficient lighting technology with designs that appeal to different lifestyles and can be used to create different moods and atmospheres.
"Through 'Philips Home Lighting Solutions Made Simple' showrooms in different home supplies stores like Wilcon Filinvest, you can shop in realistic home environments and be easily guided through different options. We aim to enhance Filipinos' lives with light. We want to help you see your homes in a new light."
Tips
If given the opportunity to create a room's lighting plan from scratch, ensure plenty of electrical outlets in each room to prevent future need for unsightly and accident-causing extension cords.
Place wall switches at the entrance of each room for accessibility and group them together in a general switch for easy operation of all of the room's lights from one place.
When selecting lighting fixtures, note that functions can be divided into general, task and accent.
General lighting allows for even illumination throughout the home. Task lighting is essential for specific tasks like reading or cooking.
Accent lighting, usually three times brighter than the room's general lighting, draws attention to prized possessions like paintings or a showcase.
Aside from functional purposes, light can also be used to affect intangibles inside a home. Dining rooms and bedrooms can be equipped with dimmers or colored lights for creating different moods.
Wall-mounted lamps that throw beams of light onto the ceiling can create an illusion of expanse, making a narrow corridor feel wider.
Set the mood
The EcoMoods line uses T5 fluorescent lamps and consumes 20-percent less energy than conventional T12 lamps. The EcoMoods floor light has an integrated dimmer for flexibility in setting different ambiences, while the EcoMoods ceiling light has special color filters such as white, red or blue.
The Ledino line features energy-efficient indoor lighting options: ceiling, pendant, spot, wall and desk lights. This line uses light emitting diodes (LED), providing gentle, natural lighting comparable with a typical 40-watt halogen light bulb, yet consuming only 7.5 watts, therefore saving 80 percent of energy consumption. The minimum lifespan of Philips Ledino is at least 20 years.
The LivingColors lamp can be used to shine colored light onto a wall or corner of a room. It has a built-in dimmer and can produce up to 16 million colors with the use of a remote control.
"It puts endless colors at your fingertips through its touch-sensitive color wheel, personalizing your immediate surroundings in any color you want, when you want, and as often as you want," Gonzales said. The LivingColors lamp comes in a sculptural semi-spherical case in four colors: copper-gold, silver, glossy black and glossy white.
Decorative
A room's visual motifs, such as shapes, colors and textures, can be tied together or complimented by decorative lighting.
The Roomstylers line has fixtures and free-standing units in coordinated sets of ceiling, floor, table and wall lights, all using energy-saving CFL lamps.
Its Decorative category features solid, geometric lines with a sleek industrial feel. Its Classic category has warm colors (rust, brushed bronze, gold), soft silhouettes and ornamental patterns.
The Kidsplace line uses non-toxic materials that are safe for children and comes in a variety of whimsical and colorful designs such as sunbursts, flowers, caterpillars, honeybees, airplanes and rocketships. One model features tiny mice propped out of the holes of a Swiss cheese lamp cover.
This line comes with child-specific features, including switches that are easily accessible and operated by little hands, construction that withstands rough handling, high insulation, no small removable parts, and well-secured covers.
Waterproof
Outdoor lights can be used for both security (illuminating the perimeter of the home) or for atmosphere (creating pools of light in the garden, perhaps spotlighting a water feature such as a fountain).
The OuterStylers line is designed to endure all weather conditions. Most varieties use powder-coated technology to ensure that paint does not corrode when exposed to weather elements.
The Aquafit bathroom collection is specifically made for the dampest rooms in the house. The line strictly follows safety standards of water resistance.
The line includes wall-mounted lighting that illuminates the face evenly and provides crisp, glare-free, virtually shadowless light suited for delicate tasks such as shaving and applying makeup.
"There are also fixtures for indirect lighting to soften the ambiance for the times you want a relaxing soak in a hot bath tub," he said.
Also published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/12625/new-and-different-ways-to-illuminate-the-home