Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: lighting for Common House

[James Kacki (jimkacki]

A combination of lighting types is often best in an area that is 
multi-functional. Incandescent lights shining down the walls or over 
small intimate seating areas creates a comfortable atmosphere. However 
for the vaulted ceiling area I would suggest up-lights that shine on the 
ceiling and are reflected evenly back down for a pleasant general 
lighting scenario.  The lights can be positioned around the edge of the 
ceiling, hidden by a valence  so that you only see the lit ceiling.  Or 
they could be one or more central suspended fixtures that shine up onto 
the ceiling.  Some of these have a transluscent underside so that some 
light and colour shines down also.  To mirror the vault, I have seen 
some nice fixtures that are circular in plan and convex (bowl-like) in 
section with a coloured glass bowl body.
If you're starting with a vaulted ceiling you are half-way there. 
Choose lighting that accentuates the shape and beauty of the ceiling.
best of luck -
James