When you move into a new house or apartment, and before you even think about painting walls or the placement of furniture, you search for the light switch and you illuminate your space. Without adequate lighting, it’s pretty much impossible to get a good look at what you’re working with. But as you plan the interior design of your home, don’t forget to tackle your light fixtures and tie them into the overall design.

Lighting gives you the ability to transform the atmosphere of your home. It is functional, of course, but the warmth of a bulb or the style of a fixture can create intimacy and reflect your personal style – which can change as quickly as trends do. Sometimes updating your lighting is as simple as a choosing a new lightshade or a different bulb type. 

“Trends for 2019 include open and glassless style lanterns and chandeliers,” says Susan Oliver of Concept Lighting in Burlington. “The market is demanding low maintenance fixtures that are easy to clean, and that have a more modern streamlined appearance. These fixtures also allow for fun vintage style bulbs that are trendy right now. Both brass and black metals are very popular and many manufacturers are combining multiple metals in pieces, making the transition to other metal finishes much easier for the consumer.”

When it comes to saving energy — an issue at the top of many homeowners’ minds — Susan has some suggestions as well.

“Customers are looking to save energy and LED bulbs have been super-hot for the past few years,” she says. “Our vendors are coming out with the popular vintage style bulbs in LED, which are flying off the shelves.”

She also suggests adding dimmers to regular incandescent light bulbs as a great way to save energy. LED dimmers are required for LED bulbs and they also allow you to control the light and save energy. A 4-watt LED bulb is equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb, so if you have multiple chandelier bulbs, it can be great for energy saving as well as cutting down on heat output.

Judy Beckett at Gerrie Lighting in Oakville says open or exposed lighting is popular with her clients, and round ball shapes are also something many people search for.

“The trend in colouring is mixed,” she says, “with two-toned metal, brass, polished nickel, black, and chrome. We see a lot of these.” 

Soft gold lighting fixtures come in a variety of styles and designs and can bring attention to specific corners or areas of a room. Modern retro lighting can create a unique look, particularly in the kitchen, above the dining table, or as wall lighting. Industrial styles are hot right now, and they are no longer viewed as brutal and “unfinished”. Another popular design is the vintage Edison-style bulbs, with their rounded cone shape, that fit in living and kitchen areas and enhance a retro/industrial style.

Bigger fixtures designed to be a focal point are also popular when placed in the centre of a room, over the kitchen island, over the dining table, or in the foyer. Balancing these with smaller fixtures keeps everything in harmony.

Both traditional and modern styles are popular choices at Living Lighting in Oakville, says owner Sam Hong. “Gold and black colours are coming back, and are very popular,” he says,” along with brushed nickel.” For saving energy at home, he stresses that LED is definitely the way to go, and it is available in a variety of different shades. Warm white or yellow work better in a home setting, and you want to avoid anything that resembles bright, glaring commercial lighting.

“You will pay more for LED, but they’ll last much longer and are better for the environment in the long run,” he says.

Whether you’re looking to make your home beautiful through light style and placement, or simply save on your electrical bill, there are many options that will not only make your living space stunning but save you some money as well.

by Allison Dempsey

Local Links

Concept Lighting, Burlington & Oakville
conceptlighting.ca

Living Lighting, Oakville
livinglighting.com

Gerrie Lighting Studio, Oakville
gerrielightingstudio.ca

Sescolite Lighting, Burlington
sescolite.com

Elm Ridge, Stoney Creek
elmridgelighting.com

Vibrant and versatile. Bright and beautiful. Functional and fabulous. These aren’t exactly the words that come to mind when I think of my basement – how about you?

An unfinished basement is a place that tends to collect clutter. You know, those baby items you just can’t get rid of, those furniture pieces you plan on refinishing, or my personal favourite, those sealed boxes you – read: spouse – moved from your condo to your townhouse to your forever home. Ah, the basement. Whether it’s the land of forgotten toys or a time capsule of the 80’s, this space tends to hurt for an overhaul. 

When it comes to a basement renovation, the goal is to take the dark and dreary and remodel it into a functional, cozy, multi-purpose space. Determining what you need? It all starts with a wish list. What do you have and what elements do you hope to include? For some families, this means an extra bathroom or maybe a guest bedroom. For others, it could be remodeling a basement laundry space into a dream laundry room, adding a wet bar for entertaining, or maybe even a media room, bringing the theatre experience home for movie fanatics.

Cynthia Boyer, the in-house designer at The Basement Store in Oakville, says she finds wish-lists vary throughout the year. On the lead-up to Christmas, there is a focus on increasing space for entertaining: this means warming basements with a cozy fireplace, adding a bar, media room, or games room with a pool table. In the spring, demands tend to focus on adding more functional space such as bedrooms and bathrooms. The goal is to make-up for what is missing in the remainder of the house, making it an extension of your home.

When asked about current basement design trends, Angela Hansen, Designer at Opal Bath & Design in Burlington, says many people are including the luxury of heated flooring for comfort in basement bathrooms and creating the illusion of more space with the use of floating vanities and reflective surfaces. It’s also not uncommon for saunas and steam rooms to be included within a basement bathroom renovation.

Twenty nineteen trends are bringing open-concept to the basement, in order to maximize square-footage while adding the perception of additional light and space. Family-friendly multi-tasking spaces are also at the top of many wish lists, allowing separate “grown-up” space and “kid” space.  These spaces tend to include a playroom, library, and TV area. If you want to add a walk-out, pre-reno is the time to do it – and yes, it can be done!

While a wish list all seems well and good on paper, it’s not always easy to make your vision come to life – that’s why it’s important to hire a qualified contractor.

First, begin by moving your possessions offsite to get a clear idea of the space you’re working with. Be aware that drywall, mudding, and sanding can get fairly messy – so you’ll want to keep your hunny’s unopened (and well-travelled) boxes safe…. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of flexible storage options. Places such as Ultrastor in Burlington can help! 

Next, you’ll want to confirm your basement is free of dampness and water. Any evidence of mould or seeping water can mean there are problems with your waterproofing. It’s important to be sealed and dry before any drywall or flooring goes down. By hiring a professional such as Bosco Home Services, you can address any concerns and potentially save a costly repair in the future. 

A basement reno is also the perfect time to think about other upgrades to your home such as the furnace and HVAC system. Do you want to include home audio systems and automation? It’s best to install those before walls go up. Also, if you have future plans for main floor renovations such as kitchen and bathrooms, you may want to tackle those first. Before you close in the basement, all of these elements can be installed or roughed in.

Other practical considerations to make your basement comfortable, warm, and dry are the addition of spray foam insulation and subfloors with a raised moisture barrier. Luxury vinyl plank flooring, with a wide range of colours and wood grains, is now a very popular choice; it’s a highly durable and cost-effective solution for a busy family. Inspired Flooring in Burlington has a fantastic selection to choose from.

Whatever your wish list entails, if it is a full-scale finishing of a basement or an update to the shag carpeting, there are many ways to expand your home below ground. It all starts with a vision. 

by  Deborah Richmond

Local Links

The Basement Store, Oakville
Basementstore.ca

Opal Bath & Design, Burlington
Opalbaths.com

Bosco Home Services
Mybosco.com

Ultrastor, Burlington
Ultrastor.ca