DESIGN LINE: Light Up Your Home For Cozy Autumn Nights

A little light grazing the edges of stone steps not only brings the material to life, but gives you a little something warm to smile about on the cold pathway to your front door.

Photo: kichler.com

A simple sconce beside your door can at once be a burst of warmth on a snowy night and an excellent way to make sure you can see the keyhole of your door. Side-lighting is far more warm and inviting than a porch light overhead.

Photo: boydlighting.com

This pendant light provides a sparkling welcome and while I can’t say for certain, I can imagine that the light bounces between the pieces of glass and onto the surrounding walls in a lovely dance.

Photo: restorationhardware.com

Too often, we forget that one light never looks as good as three! Don’t reserve your multiples for the kitchen island only. Three lights spanning a dining room table is a fresh look, but is also functional, as the entire table can be lit evenly, even when dimmed.

Photo: urbanelectricco.com

While dimmable recessed lighting is always a nice plus in a living room, it’s important to remember that the ceiling is typically the most naked of all interior space. This makes it a good place to add a wide, wirey chandelier, which draws the eye up and out without being overbearing.

Photo: curreycodealers.com

Every kitchen is different, but these days almost everyone has some kind of bar or island. Keeping in mind that those island lights are going to be very close to eye level, I like pendants that direct most of the light down (instead of out into the faces of the people sitting there). Also, I love the idea of hanging them at slightly different levels.

Photo: leucos.com

We struggle with finding appropriate bathroom sconces on a daily basis, which brings me to share a secret: I just don’t like bath sconces very much. I much prefer hanging pendants in the bathroom. To date, I have managed to convince only two clients to actually do this, but neither has been disappointed.

Photo: Nat Rea

Design: KTID

Do not underestimate the power of lighting inside cabinetry. Not only can you showcase objects on shelving, but also, as seen here, the inside of drawers can be illuminated the second they open. You’ll never fumble in the dark again.

Photo: hafele.com

There are plenty of ways to spotlight a beloved piece of art. If your collection is large, it’s important to have a variety of track or single adjustable recessed lighting to highlight the image. However, for the one or two super-special pieces, my favorite way is a modern take on a rather traditional fixture.

Photo: Nat Rea

Design: KTID

While there are many ways to add accent lighting, the easiest way is with table and floor lamps. This affordable series of table lamps from www.westelm.com will allow you to turn off the overheads for a little more ambiance and add to the texture of your home.

Photo: westelm.com

Kelly Taylor has 15 plus years of experience in the field of interior design. She is the 2012 recipient of New England Home magazine’s “5 Under 40” award for excellence in design as well as Rhode Island Monthly magazine’s 2012 and 2013 Gold Awards for residential interior design. She practices residential and commercial interior design in Providence, Rhode Island. Find her on twitter at @ktidnet, visit her website at www.ktid.net or check her out on Facebook at http:// www.facebook.com/KellyTaylorInteriorDesign.