Pot Lights
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New and updated for 2012!
Halogen lighting controlled with dimmers can add a beautiful ambiance to any room. It will bring out the true colours to Artwork, ceramic tiling, Granite and hardwood flloring. At the same time providing a reduction in electricity. This a far nicer option than using compact fluorescent.
*Recessed pot lights, can open up a room, with a clean look.
Before
After
We use "Contrast" pot lights.
Contrast is a Canadian company, their proucts are made very well and are the best. From Contrast, the most common Fixture we use is from the 2000 series. Low voltage magnetic transformer, holding a 35watt or 50watt MR16 Halogen bulb. Comes standardly with a nice 5" white directional trim.
The company also offers a wide variety of other units and trims. You can custom order to compliment your room.
Before
After
Halogen Pot lights holding 50 watt MRIG or GU10 Type bulbs are approx. 1.5 inches in diameter and are commonly held in a 5" directional trim, recessed in the ceiling. The light trajected can be beautiful and provide a warm abiance to any room, however...the areas outside the light zone can be shadowy. This is an acquired taste, these shadows do not sit well for some folks.
If more light and less shadow is your desire, (but you like the recessed look) then you simply have to install twice as many pot lights.
As you can imagine drastically driving up the cost of the process.
Alternative
As opposed to littering a ceiling with pot lights which can also become as unsightly as they are attractive. You can simply install recessed octagon boxes and pick out a couple of surface mount fixtures that hold the same halogen bulbs. They are available in a variety of styles. ie: round, pendant, floating or flush mount track style. These types of fixtures have greatly improved their looks over the years.
Installing any surface mount lighting fixture can provide a lot more bang for your buck. It's just a matter of preference.
When designing lighting for your room, as you can see, personal preference is important.
Consider what it is your trying to achieve. What you can live with or without. If you like Halogen, and wish to use it for task lighting, make sure the bulb is in front of you. For the same shadow reasons.
It is also important to consider resale.
Here is an example of a basic retro conversion of an existing octagon box/surface mount light fixture, to a new recessed pot light.
The most common install of ours using the IT2000M model, with white swivel trim. (The 7000 series is nice for more wall scope to highlight art work. It allows the bulb and trim to protrude at 90 degrees).