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Types of Outdoor Accent Lighting

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:05:12 +0000

Outdoor accent lighting provides a way to truly bring an outdoor environment to life. Accent lighting focuses on specific features in the yard and brings them out to prominence. Unlike the harsh light sources pre-installed into many homes, accent lights are more subtle and surreal. The addition of accent lighting turns a cookie-cutter home into a personalized haven.

Outdoor accent light fixtures come in many forms which have different uses around the yard. Path lights are a common and widely used type of accent light. Path lights are used to border walkways and line edges, increasing safety and providing a wonderful accent effect to a yard. These lights use a stake to sit securely in the ground. The light pod on top shines down to make interesting patterns below. Physical features like rocks, bricks or plants can be accented using path lights.

Flood lights are another type of light that can be used to accent physical structures in the yard. Flood lights project a wide beam of white light onto a specified area such as a patio or flower bed. They increase safety by making everything easy to see. Flood lights are a no-fuss type of light that is purely functional in nature. To use them for accenting, some people like to put them on the ground in their gardens and point them upward to create random pockets of light among the fauna.

Water features like ponds and pools can be accented with floating or submersible outdoor accent lighting. Floating lights are placed on the water surface where they float around with the current. A waterfall feature enhances this by pushing the light around in the ripples. Floating accent lights are safe to use in water because of their waterproof casing. LED lights project their light into the water, onto the sides of the water feature or in the form of a soft glow beyond a colored opaque cover. Submersible lights are used in ponds to light up features under the water. They usually consist of several wired lights in a set which are pointed upward from the bottom of the pond. Aquatic plants, fish and decorative objects can be accented with ease.

Outdoor accent lights such as the spot light can be used to target a specific area or object. Features in the yard such as a support column, palm tree, fountain or furniture piece can be accented using spot lights. Unlike flood lights, spot lights focus their light on a tight area. They are usually placed on the ground and pointed upward at the object.

String accent lights consist of a long powered cord with a series of light bulbs across their length. String lights are quite flexible in where they can be placed. They work well when hung from hooks or when wrapped around trees. String lights are a great way to add some quick and unexpected color to an outdoor space.

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The World Of Minka Lighting Fixtures

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:45:58 +0000

Countless homeowners are looking for home accessories that break the barriers of the common look. Home designs seem to have fallen into a limited variety of designs. While not many groundbreaking innovations may be on the horizon, the outdoor lighting company Minka Lavery has already mastered what they do. Minka is a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing high quality light fixtures. Most of their designs are so unique that they can’t be found anywhere else. Their products range from ceiling and wall fixtures to more exotic chain mounts. Design considerations for everything from the paint to the glass have been carefully thought out. Minka takes pride in satisfying customers with exactly what they want, plus some. To truly get a feel for these remarkable products, let’s look at just a few of their many styles.

Mossoro Walnut Fixture

For a rustic look, Minka uses colors like bronze and rust on the exterior of their fixtures. A couple examples are their Antique Bronze and Vintage Rust styles. The antique bronze style exhibits a high quality textured style with silver accenting to simulate areas that have been worn. This work is carefully hand finished to produce a unique fixture every time. Unlike some mass-production companies, Minka Lavery gives each item a human touch. For a more colorful look, the Energy Star line is for you. This line depicts a bold yellow star-like structure for light to shine through. On the darker side is the Dark Sky Energy line which has bold black colors in a variety of forms. Each one of these design forms has many mount shapes within the group. The Mossoro Walnut line, for example, has both wall and post mounts, allowing consumers to purchase mating mounts for a variety of situations.

Speaking of mount types, you are probably wondering what kinds of mounts are available in Minka Lavery outdoor lighting and where they are meant to be placed. Minka lighting fixtures come in wall, flush, post and chain mounts. The wall mounts are designed to be used at doorways so visitors can see. Flush mounts attach to ceilings for lighting a large area under an awning or porch. The post mounts are perhaps the most flexible and easy to set up of all the mounts. They can be placed anywhere that an electrical outlet resides. Their weatherproof design allows users to place the mount outside without fear of damage. And finally, the chain hung mounts are designed to be placed under any overhang for a real neat effect. Sometimes called an outdoor pendant light, they can even replace conventional wall mounts if desired. Minka lavery light fixtures are truly a wonder in the outdoor lighting industry.

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Selecting Outdoor Minka Lights

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:50:09 +0000

Unless your creative juices are flowing, choosing the right outdoor lighting for your home can be a challenge. Styles and quality of outdoor lighting fixtures can vary widely even among individual manufacturers. However, you really can’t go wrong when choosing a fixture from a company called Minka Lavery. Their product line is so lush and unique that it’s hard to make a poor choice. Every fixture has been given special attention, both during the design process and during manufacture. Not only do they have excellent aesthetic appeal, but they are completely safe to be used outdoors. While their product line is extensive, we will talk about a couple specific mount types in the Minka Lavery outdoor line.

Post Mounts

Mounts of this variety are reminiscent of lights used to border streets in towns of the past. Their quaint charm is amplified by the exacting detail put into each one of these mounts. Post mounts are free standing units that can be placed at any desired location. They are UL approved for wet locations, so you don’t have to worry about water damage. A post mount goes well next to seating areas or placed in a garden. The posts can have one or more lights, depending on the style. The Rust Ardmore style features two separate light modules that “hang” from an elegantly curved metal mount. The soft Scavo glass mutes any sharp tones given off by the light bulb and turns it into a soft glow.

Wall Fixtures

Wall fixtures by Minka are brimming with both style and functionality. So many designs are available that it could take a day or more to look at them all, much less decide on which one you like most. When choosing a wall mount, consider the style around the outside of your home and try to match the fixtures color and design with it. If you are starting from scratch with a new home, think about the overall style you are trying to achieve. Striking features are iconic of the Minka lights brand, which is why they stand out so well. Wall fixtures are designed to light entryways or hallways. Since these versions will be used outdoors only, they can be placed at a doorway or on each side of a window. The fixture should be placed just out of reach, as to avoid tampering or accidental damages. Unlike post mounts, Minka outdoor wall fixtures will require some electrical work during installation. It doesn’t take long for one to develop an appreciation for Minka Lavery outdoor lighting, even though their products can be on the expensive side.

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Minka Outdoor Lighting

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:17:09 +0000

Quality outdoor lighting solutions can be few and far between. In a world where many goods are manufactured overseas, the quality seems to lack. To ensure that you get what you pay for, it is important to seek out quality manufacturers that stand by their products. This is exactly the case with a company called Minka Lavery. They are a manufacturer of high quality outdoor lighting products, ranging from wall mounts to outdoor lamps. The instant you set eyes on one of these quality pieces, you know that it has been expertly designed. Everything from the textures to the hand blown glass has the feel of quality. Minka outdoor lighting designs are absolutely unique when compared to other brands.

Wall Mounts

Their wall mounts are designed to attach to any vertical wall surface. You commonly see these types of mounts above front or back doors to light the way. Minka lighting fixtures will feel right at home sitting prominently out front for all to see. Each wall mount is assigned a unique name to identify its specific design. For example, the Vintage Rust Harrison style features a charming silver toned rust exterior which looks like it came right out of a story book of days past. The range of amazing designs is truly spectacular, ensuring that anyone can find a great fixture to suit their tastes.

Ceiling Mounts

A ceiling mounted light, often called a flush light, serves a slightly different purpose. These Minka lights attach to an outdoor ceiling such as a patio or archway above a door. Flush mounts often use several light bulbs inside to provide ample lighting to the area. Flush mounts are perfect for lighting up an outdoor dining area or sitting space. Minka Lavery often makes use of a special glass design technique called seeded glass. It gives the appearance that the glass has tiny grains of rice or seed inside. This type of glass gives a very unique touch which is exclusive to Minka Lavery outdoor lighting.

Chain Mounts

The outdoor pendant, or chain mount as it is called, hangs from the ceiling for a very unique look. The chain allows the mount to be brought down to a height that would be more effective. Down at this level the lights can mark the entrance of a door or be placed at the corners of a patio overhang. The power cord is fed discreetly through the chain loops as to not take away from the effect. As usual, you can find a plethora of amazing styles in this Minka outdoor lighting.

Minka Lavery fixtures are designed to be powered through eletrical lines in your wall. If the electrical wiring has not been established in the area you want it, an electrician can do this job for you. At this point in time, Minka Larvery has not branched out to solar lighting, but may do so in the future.

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