Lighting Design
At Hermitage, we understand the value of a great lighting design. Whether you’re building or renovating a house, or you want to update a commercial space, lighting plays a very important role. Our team of professionals can help you create a cohesive and comprehensive lighting plan that will make every room look and feel like it never has before. We can help you choose fixtures that match your personal style preferences, as well as provide the lighting you need for comfort, ambience, and everyday tasks.
LIGHTING STYLES
There are a number of lighting styles to choose from when creating a new design, and it’s important to consider not only what you like, but what will look right in your home or business. Perhaps you’ve always been fond of Art Deco lighting and decor, and you want a statement chandelier in your dining room. At Hermitage, we can make that happen!
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary lighting, sometimes referred to as “modern” style, offers clean lines that trend towards a minimalist feel. You can find finishes of varying metals, including chrome and nickel. Contemporary fixtures can often be sculptural in design, with the function of the light coming before the form. These lights aren’t flashy or elegant, but they can provide the perfect touch to any room.
TRADITIONAL
Traditional lighting tends to hearken back to previous centuries, when ornate and elegant designs were in high demand. Traditional fixtures feature brass, gold, and other finishes, as well as additional elements such as crystals. These lighting options tend to retain their appeal throughout the years, as they are inspired by history. If you’re looking for something more lavish and luxurious when it comes to lighting, traditional styles are the way to go.
TRANSITIONAL
Transitional lighting refers to those fixtures that borrow from both contemporary and traditional designs. These fixtures straddle the line between modern and historical, combining clean lines with well-placed ornate embellishments. Transitional lights can be used in any room of your home, providing adequate illumination and comfort where you need them.
CRAFTSMAN/MISSION
Craftsman or Mission lighting styles are instantly recognizable. The straight lines and warm finishes make these fixtures ideal for outdoor lighting, but you can find a great selection of indoor lighting options as well. This style was inspired by both Art Deco design and Spanish architecture of Southern California.
COUNTRY/RUSTIC
For those who love the look of Country or Rustic lighting, the first thing that pops into their heads is often a small cottage in the woods or a cabin in the mountains. Distressed wood and metal are hallmarks of this lighting style, and you can find fixtures for both inside and outside your home. Natural elements such as branches and leaves are also often incorporated into the design.
ART DECO
Art Deco is another lighting style that’s easy to recognize. Inspired by the glitz and glamor of the 1920s, Art Deco can still be found in architecture and design throughout the world. With lighting, you’ll find bold, geometric lines and shapes that evoke the grandiose, industrial ideas of the ‘20s. Putting Art Deco lighting in your home or business can be a great way to create focal points in any space.
ART NOUVEAU
Art Nouveau design is somewhat the antithesis of Art Deco, even though it appeared before Art Deco. This style features curved lines, hand blown glass, and natural elements such as flowers and leaves. The fixtures truly are pieces of art, and while you may not see them in too many homes these days, there are those who still look for them when updating their home. Tiffany lamps are perhaps the most popular of the Art Nouveau styles.
TIFFANY
Speaking of Tiffany lamps, they definitely deserve their own recognition when it comes to lighting design. These table, wall, and floor lamps have been lighting staples for more than 100 years, and you can also find ceiling lights that can be added to your home. A symbol of style and sophistication, you simply cannot go wrong with a Tiffany light fixture.
ASIAN
Asian-inspired lighting can involve many different influences, but the main influences come from Chinese and Japanese design. These fixtures often have clean lines and right angles that evoke balance, harmony, and stability. Fabric and paper shades are key elements in these lights, helping soften the brightness of the bulbs. You can find orbs and curved shapes in this style as well, with natural hues that draw their inspiration from the earth.
TROPICAL/NAUTICAL
For Tropical or Nautical lighting, you might think you need to own a home on the beach in order for it to fit your aesthetic. While that’s perfectly acceptable, there are ways to include this lighting design into your urban or suburban home. Many people love putting Nautical fixtures in their bathrooms, but the metallic finishes can also be perfect for the kitchen. With inspiration from ships and the ocean, these lights often have a lantern-type feel to them, and also include palm leaves and other natural elements.
INDUSTRIAL
Industrial lighting features clean lines, bare bulbs, and a minimalist feel that makes it perfect for many settings. Modern office buildings and workplaces often choose industrial lights because of their ease of installation and maintenance, but these lights also evoke a sense of simplicity and efficiency. Industrial styles draw on the past, with Edison-style bulbs, while also appearing extremely contemporary. This style can be used at home as well, with Industrial fixtures being used in the kitchen, home office, and many other rooms.
RESIDENTIAL LIGHTING DESIGN
When it comes to residential lighting design, the first step is to decide which style (or styles) you want for your home. Hopefully the sections above have helped you narrow down your choices, but if not, the team at Hermitage is here to help. We can show you the various items we have in stock, as well as answer your questions on lighting placement, installation, and more.
HOW MANY ROOMS DO YOU HAVE?
In a standard home, you’re going to have bedrooms, bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. You’ll also need to think about your outdoor lighting design, on top of all your interior rooms. The number of interior rooms will vary, but that doesn’t mean your lighting design has to be overwhelming or challenging.
BATHROOM LIGHTING DESIGN
For bathroom design, it’s best to think of each room as its own palette. For the master bathroom, you might want Art Deco or Contemporary lighting. As for the guest bath or powder room, a Nautical theme might be best. You can also opt for the same lighting design in every bathroom, keeping the theme cohesive throughout the house.
BEDROOM LIGHTING DESIGN
With the bedrooms, you can separate each room into its own design, as you may have done with your bathrooms. For the master bedroom, you might want a Transitional chandelier or ceiling fan, while the guest room has beautiful Art Nouveau fixtures. If you have kids, their bedrooms can be designed with unique themes and touches.
DINING ROOM LIGHTING DESIGN
There’s likely only one dining room in your home, and while you may not use it formally on a regular basis, you still want it to have the perfect lighting design. Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of having a Traditional chandelier, complete with crystal accents. You can install this fixture, along with matching wall sconces, and create an amazing dining room atmosphere.
KITCHEN LIGHTING DESIGN
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and it requires many different lighting options. As for style, you might be leaning towards something with an Asian or Industrial feel. You want the kitchen to feel sleek and sophisticated, and having the right lighting from the island to the breakfast nook can create that feeling.
LIVING ROOM LIGHTING DESIGN
Your living room, family room, home theater, and other common spaces offer many opportunities in the way of lighting design. A large Contemporary ceiling fixture can provide ambient light, while matching table and floor lamps provide accent and task illumination. If you prefer Tiffany lamps for your seating and entertainment areas, then we can help you find the right options for your living spaces.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING DESIGN
Depending on the design and architecture of your home, your outdoor lighting can include Craftsman/Mission, Country/Rustic, or Asian-inspired fixtures. It’s important to consider how each style will look on the exterior of your home, including the front porch, the backyard, and around your sidewalks and points of entry. You’ll also want to think about the color of your house and which fixtures will look best based on their finishes.
There are a number of options to choose from when creating your home’s new lighting design. You may want something different for each space, or you may want consistency throughout the house. Whichever you choose, Hermitage will be here to help!
COMMERCIAL LIGHTING DESIGN
Commercial lighting design presents its own challenges, mostly based on the scale of the space that needs to be designed. Office buildings, hotels, and restaurants are all much larger than the average house, and they require a specific approach when it comes to choosing and installing new light fixtures.
WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS DO YOU OWN?
Before you begin shopping for new lights, think about what type of business you own. Is it a company where employees come to work every day? Is it a cafe where customers come and go all day long? The type, size, and purpose of your business will inform what type of lighting you will need.
HOTELS AND HOSPITALITY
For hotels and other businesses in the hospitality industry, the focus is always on comfort and accessibility. You want people to feel at ease when they walk into your establishment, and with the right lighting, you can create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. As for style, that will depend on the design and architecture of the interior and exterior of your building, as well as what type of feelings you want to evoke. Do you want multiple Art Deco pendants in your hotel lobby, or a brilliant modern chandelier in the dining room? What about your guest rooms? Those spaces will need to be consistent in terms of light fixture size and style.
RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
With restaurants, cafes, and other eateries, the focus should also be on comfort. People come in and out all day long, and you want them to be able to see as they read the menu board or sit down at a table and order a meal. As for lighting style, you might want something modern that includes Industrial fixtures, or you may prefer fixtures with Asian influences. The type of restaurant or cafe you own can also inform which lighting is best, since Rustic lighting can be perfect for a steakhouse, but can feel out of place in a sushi restaurant.
OFFICES AND MANUFACTURING
For large office spaces and manufacturing facilities, the lighting focus is often on function over form. You need lights that improve productivity and efficiency, and you’re not so concerned with how a fixture looks or feels within a space. Simple, contemporary lighting can be great for front lobbies and conference rooms, while standard fluorescent lighting is often best for workspaces and factory floors. If you’re looking for new lighting for the executive suite, we can help you find that as well.
BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS
When it comes to lighting styles, it’s good to be open to new ideas. You might know what you like, but there may be a style that you’ve never seen before or that you’ve never considered adding to your home or business. At Hermitage, it is our mission to help every customer find the lighting they need so that they can create a design they will love for years to come.
Visit our Nashville showroom today to see all that we have to offer, or browse our online catalog to see which styles catch your eye. We’ll gladly answer any questions you have, and are always ready to assist you anyway we can.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON!