Depending on the product and location, lighting replacement can be relatively straightforward. By way of example, let’s say you’re looking not only to replace the old light above your kitchen island, but also looking to move it over a foot or so, where it can be centered. After all, the point of a task light is to be able to see what you’re doing as you cook for your family and guests.

First, as always when working with electrical equipment, the breaker for the circuit serving the light must be switched off at the electrical panel. Next, the old light will have to be detached from the ceiling joist.

Depending on the light, there might be a cover that has to be removed before the electrician can reach the screws holding the fixture up. Your electrician will then remove the wire nuts connecting the fixtures wires from the house wires. If you are moving the light, the wire may not be long enough to reach the new location. Your electrician will then have to run a new wire to power or splice wire in the existing electrical box to reach your new light.

Home wiring has three different kinds of wires. The black wire is the live wire, which is considered “hot”. If you hold it and touch anything that is grounded, you will get shocked. The white wire is the neutral wire and while there should be no current, it is possible that bad wiring in other places in your home might accidently lead to this wire having a charge. It is always a good idea to treat this wire as if it were hot. There is also a ground wire, which is usually uninsulated copper. The fixture wiring is much the same, except the ground wire is usually green. When connecting a new light, your electrician will simply connect like to like.

Depending on the model, a hole may need to be drilled in the ceiling sheetrock (or plaster) to make room for the electrical box. The body of the light will then need to be properly secured to the electrical box.

Finding the right light for your home is only the first step. Making sure it is in the perfect location and installed correctly is just as important. Replacing the lights in your home will make it brighter and more beautiful, and a professional installation will make sure is shines for years to come.

This information is courtesy of Electrical Connection, a full service Hartford electrician providing electrical installation, maintenance and repair to the entire state of Connecticut. Please check out their blog for more electrical tips and information.

• Gray color schemes
• Transitional-style kitchen and baths
• Quartz finishes
• White painted cabinetry
• Glass backslashes
• LED lighting

How are you incorporating these styles in your home?

Gray color schemes and transitional designs are growing in popularity this year.

• Tight inventory of homes on the market is causing prices to rise
• Fewer homes are being sold as foreclosures, and more through conventional sales
• It’s still cheaper to buy than rent
• Financing is still a challenge for many buyers

Are you considering buying or selling a home this spring? If so, what makes this season better than others from your perspective?

Selecting the right home builder is the most important decision you will make when considering your new home. What are you supposed to look for? What qualities are important? What should you avoid? In this blog series from Toll Brothers, “What to Look For in a Home Builder,” you will find topics that are crucial to consider when the time comes to make your dream home come to life.

There are two important qualities to consider when selecting a home builder.

• The first, which may appear obvious, is the quality of construction.
• The second , which may not be immediately apparent, is the quality of architectural design.

Your home builder should go to great lengths to design efficient, logical floor plans where everything from a graceful flow from the Foyer to the Family Room to the work-flow in the Kitchen is highly (and repeatedly) scrutinized. They should also strive for good-looking, well-proportioned exterior designs that neatly fit in with regional and local architectural styles. The interior and exterior of your new home should be detailed and reviewed repeatedly to avoid awkward finish conditions.

With respect to the quality of construction, no one wants to be constantly doing repairs on their “new” home. The quality of design and construction affects everything from how energy efficient your home is to the amount of money you are going to have to put towards repairs years from now. You home builder should oversee all aspects of the building process so that the construction of your home is constantly being monitored.

To learn more about choosing the right home builder, check out the original article from Toll Brothers.

Check it out for yourself, and let us know what you think! http://www.amazon.com/l/3039329011#

Imagine illuminating your home with beautiful chandeliers, pendants, bath fixtures and outdoor lanterns that fit perfectly with your decor and are also Energy Star qualified. With Progress Lighting’s more than 200 qualified fixtures from multiple product families, this vision can be a reality.

Be sure to visit our Energy Star page regularly. We also recommend reading our Guide to Green Lighting to learn more about efficient options for your home.

Gather five-light chandelier

Wisten hall & foyer fixture

Promise outdoor lantern

Wisten one-light bath & vanity fixture

Avalon close-to-ceiling

North Park ceiling fan

• Kitchen cabinets with a clean, simple contemporary look
• Countertops made of quartz composite – the closest thing to no maintenance
• Hardwood floors of pre-finished and engineered wood for installation time savings
• Glass backsplashes will replace glass mosiac tile in popularity
• Stylishly simple sinks with deep single bowls
• Color palette with charcoal tones
• Bathroom stone with the white background and bold grey veins of Calacatta marble
• Texture and sparkle with bold colors and Polished Nickel finishes
• Living in your home longer by incorporating aging-in-place designs
• Healthy home, healthy living with green and sustainable elements

Hanging lanterns from our Gather collection feature a Brushed Nickel finish that sparkles

]]> http://progresslighting.com/blog/index.php/archives/1432/feed 0 http://progresslighting.com/blog/index.php/archives/1429 http://progresslighting.com/blog/index.php/archives/1429#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:35:41 +0000 kbanks http://progresslighting.com/blog/?p=1429 Our Archie collection, Equinox pendant and new Lighting Solutions catalog were hot items this week! Missed our posts? See our favorite links here:

• Pinterest – Progress Lighting’s Archie collection
• New Lighting Solutions catalog introduction
• InStyle – Five tips to glam up your lighting
• Houzz – Progress Lighting Equinox pendant
• Builder – Progress Lighting’s Archie collection

You’ll notice each family in our catalog is specifically labeled by Lifestyle. Based on your home design preferences, choose one of Progress Lighting’s five color-coded style palettes – Loft, Transcend, Relax, Elements and Grace. Mix and match collections within your Lifestyle to create the perfect medley of lighting for a cohesive look throughout your home.

We have also introduced a new “Outdoor Living by Progress Lighting” catalog section. As outdoor rooms become increasingly popular as a way to extend living space, we offer a full range of exterior and landscape lighting solutions to seamlessly transition between the areas of your home.

Check out the new Lighting Solutions catalog online, and let us know what you think!

Visitors to our booth were impressed by our LED offering (such as the P8071 and P8080 downlights), bath and wall sconces, outdoor lanterns and more. We even hosted several product tours focusing on lighting for the ages.

Check out all of our photos from the event on our Progress Lighting for Builders Facebook page!