With everyone gathering for the Holidays the dining table is taking center stage.

Festive table linens, sparkling crystal and silverware, carefully prepared meals, friends and family - add to this wonderful combination the one thing that will round it all off and make everything perfect: the right lighting.

The power of lighting is amazing!
Just compare the bright, harsh lights of a fast food place with the intimate twinkle of a chandelier over a beautiful dining table.
No wonder the brightly lit places are called fast food places! Everybody looks hurried, tired, and the food looks - well, at best just bland.
Good lighting sets the mood for relaxed enjoyment. It makes us look great and feel good.
A dedicated light source like a sparkling chandelier or cluster of pendant lights over the dining table is ideal to illuminate the beautiful table setting as well as to create the atmosphere that invites lingering, visiting, and enjoying all the pleasures of the Holidays.

The right lighting will not only set the perfect mood for your dining experience but also provide ample task lighting. The trick to accommodating both is using a dimmer as well as hanging the chandelier or pendant light at the correct height over the table.

In my experience most people hang their chandeliers too high, probably because they are trying to squeeze too many functions out of that one light source: mood lighting, task lighting as well as general illumination for the entire room.

Big mistake! The result is a bland wishy-washy light that doesn’t really accomplish any of its many tasks.
So what is the correct height and size of a light fixture over a dining table?
As a rule of thumb the fixture should be at least 12″ narrower than the table and hang about 30″ above the table.

Instead of trying to illuminate an entire dining room with a single light source the best balance of illumination is actually achieved by using a variety of light sources. We call that “Layers of Light”.
Layers of light will create the ideal illumination that is pleasing without creating glare whereas a single chandelier that is capable of illuminating an entire room will most likely be too bright for comfort.

Try a few wall sconces, a couple of buffet lamps, a torchiere in a corner and you will immediately feel a tremendous difference in the overall atmosphere of the room.
To highlight the crystal in your china cabinet, use a halogen bulb - the bright, white light will bring out its sparkle.

The dining room of today is rarely used just for entertaining and formal dining.
Most often the dining table doubles as a work zone for homework or projects, meetings and crafts, and last, but not least as a gathering place for family and friends.
A place where everyone can unwind over a good meal and enjoy each other’s company.
With open floor plans many formal dining rooms have been replaced by dining areas that are the central hub of the home, close to the kitchen and other living areas.
The simple rules of interior lighting mentioned above will help create the right light for all activities in the heart of our home.

On a recent trip to Munich I entered a shoe store, shrieked with joy, grabbed my camera - and took a bunch of pictures of the incredible mega-sized pendant light Pierre ou Paul by Ingo Maurer.
I was so happy finally to see it in real life, and this store had not just one, but a whole row of them. An incredible display!
When I left the store after about twenty minutes I realized that I had forgotten to look at the shoes!! - It is hard to believe. Well, that gives me an excuse to go back to this great store next time I’m in Munich.
The 50 inch domes are made of hammered aluminum and steel and lined on the inside with platinum leaf or gold leaf (the real thing!) Three counterweights allow fine adjustments to the height and tilt.
The Pierre ou Paul is not only grandiose for its size, but has enormous presence and “makes” the room with its sculptural quality.

Compact Fluorescent bulbs have surged in popularity in recent years due to heightened awareness of environmental issues paired with the rising costs of energy.
Fluorescent bulbs are by far more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, but on the flip side they contain mercury, a highly persistent neurotoxin and long-lived environmental contaminant that has the potential to build up in our food chain.
Mercury is an essential, irreplaceable element in a fluorescent lamp. It is what allows the lamp to be an efficient light source.
There is no way around it, and there would be practically no danger to the environment if the bulb was handled and disposed of properly. But when a fluorescent lamp breaks, either in the house or at the landfill, the mercury content is released.

Each compact fluorescent bulb only contains a minuscule amount of mercury (about as much as would fit on the period at the end of this sentence) and is not considered harmful to operate in a home. Even if a bulb should break in your home, there is no need to panic or call the authorities.

So, you broke a CFL, What now?
First open the windows and leave the room for 15 minutes or more to let it air out. Wearing disposable gloves use a piece of cardboard and damp paper towel to scoop up all pieces. Don’t use a vacuum cleaner. Put all pieces as well as your gloves in a ziplock bag and seal it. Now you can throw it in the trash. Wash your hands. - Done.

Since each fluorescent bulb only contains very little mercury, it is more the accumulation of all the small bits of mercury in each bulbs which could become a real problem to the environment if sales balloon as expected. In spite of these facts it is nevertheless evident that a switch to compact fluorescent bulbs would actually reduce the release of mercury into the atmosphere.
Mercury in the air comes primarily from burning fossil fuels such as coal, the most common fuel used to produce electricity in the United States.
Because compact fluorescent lamps use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lamps and last up to 10 times longer, a coal burning power plant will release less mercury into the environment to produce the electricity for a compact fluorescent compared to an incandescent bulb in order to run both for the same length of time.

Light bulb manufacturers like GE and Sylvania are aware of the concerns with the mercury content in CFLs and fluorescent tubes and are committed to reducing the mercury content to less than the 5 mg standard set by the National Electrical Manufacturers.

Over the last few years we have seen such a surge of new developments within this energy-saving category of bulbs, so we can only hope that we will see drastic reductions in the mercury content in the near future.

Since we deal with customers first-hand on a daily basis we are aware of a lot of issues that cause concern or seem confusing in relation to the use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs.)

I will try to address a few of them here.
(to be consistent with the technical lighting lingo I will use the word “lamp” instead of “light bulb”, at least when I talk about CFLs.)

Why is a compact fluorescent lamp more efficient that an incandescent light bulb?
Fluorescent lamps are more energy-efficient than regular bulbs because of the different way they produce light.
Incandescent bulbs create light by heating a filament inside the bulb; the heat makes the filament white-hot, producing the light that you see. This is not a very efficient way of producing light.
Only 10% of the energy is used for light, while 90% of the energy used to create the heat that lights an incandescent bulb is wasted.
A fluorescent lamp, on the other hand, contains a gas that produces invisible ultraviolet light (UV) when the gas is excited by electricity. Because fluorescent lamps don’t use heat to create light, they are far more energy-efficient than regular incandescent light bulbs.

Can I use a dimmer with Compact Fluorescent Lamps?
Until recently CFLs were incompatible with dimmers. Not anymore!
Today, there are some CFLs that can be used with regular incandescent dimmer switches. Make sure to check that your CFL is labeled as dimmable.
Most dimmable CFLs don’t dim to zero, but shut off completely when they reach about 20% light output.

Can I use CFLs outdoors?
Most CFLs are best used indoors as they don’t operate well in cold temperatures and can’t be exposed to the elements. There are, however, now outdoor CFLs on the market that are made to operate in colder temperatures and are specifically listed as UL Wet Location lamps.

Can I use CFLs in enclosed fixtures?
Yes. CFLs can be used in enclosed fixtures as long as there is sufficient air flow to cool the ballast. If the fixture is recessed and totally enclosed a recessed shower light it is not a good idea to use a CFL, since it would become too hot.

Why do CFLs look so twisted?
Most Compact fluorescent lamps are constructed by coiling long, thin high efficiency tubes to reduce their size and increase their light output. This way they fit into regular light fixtures.

However, not all that glows needs to squiggle!
Although the spiral CFL is the one we are most familiar with, there are now many shapes available, which offer greater decorative options.
Try candelabra CFLs in your chandelier, a globe CFL in your kitchen pendant light and Reflector lamps in your recessed cans. Since there is no way around the ballast and it’s not particularly attractive, I prefer CFLs in fixtures that will conceal it. So, if you want to switch to candelabra CFLs in your chandelier they will look best in a fixture with shades or diffusers.

Finally Santa Feans will be able to dispose properly of their used Compact Fluorescent lamps.

After we called around and found out that there is no option available to recycle fluorescent lamps anywhere in Santa Fe - or for that matter all of Northern New Mexico we decided that something had to happen!

Form + Function to the rescue!

We contacted our lamp manufacturers and found out that several of them (at a cost, of course!) offer recycle bins distributed by EPSI (Earth Protective Services, Inc).

EPSI is a company that according to their website is “dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost-effective waste management for electronic products. Our processes will return recycled materials to reusable commodities, while maintaining the highest level of professional standards and integrity ensuring regulatory compliance and guaranteeing customer satisfaction.”

Form + Function has now ordered several of their bins for CFL disposal that we want to make available to the public. We will pay for the proper disposal of CFLs in Santa Fe!

Yes, that’s true: ANYTHING!
Now is the time to get that desk lamp for a Christmas present or pick out the wall sconces for your bathroom.
We offer a great selection of energy efficient models.

You can also take a look at our CFL demo display where we show the effect of different color temperatures.

Welcome guests to your home with the warm glow of outdoor lighting

Outdoor lighting has a dual purpose: You want to create a welcoming entrance to your home as well as be able to walk safely up the steps and from the inside clearly identify who’s coming to visit.
Your front door is usually what most guests approach (Or so they say. For some reason all our guests find the kitchen door first – and then never leave the kitchen!)
So, (theoretically at least) the front entrance door is THE place to choose to make a statement! It’s your chance for that great first impression and creating a mood. Lighting is one very important way to do it.
A pair of wall sconces or lanterns flanking the entryway can complete the look you want, whether it’s grandiose, contemporary, rustic or artistic.

Lighting the secondary entrances to your home, like patio and kitchen doors, follow the same requirements as the front door, but there the focus might be primarily on safety paired with a comfortable patio light for outdoor entertaining.
I’m not saying that you can ignore aesthetics and go ahead and install some of those glary security lights that will illuminate your neighbor’s back yard as well as yours. That is Light Pollution! (More about that later)
Choose lights that meet your needs for illumination as well as atmosphere and fit the style of your home.
You’ll find styles from sleek, minimal architectural fixtures to traditional lanterns or Craftsman style lights in all price ranges. The choice is yours!

Motion Sensors are great! -If you aim the sensor right, so the lights turn on from a sufficient distance.
(I am embarrassed to confess that I am speaking from painful experience: for way too long I have dealt with a hard-to-reach garage light that doesn’t turns on until I am directly under it after having stumbled my way through the dark. I’ll fix it next weekend. I think.)
Again, please don’t even think about blinding your innocent guests with a spotlight with a motion detector! It is cruel!
Motion detectors can be used in combination with regular wall lights, not only as part of a security light system.

Wall lights, lanterns, ceiling lights or pendants?
Depending on the architecture of your home it might be possible to use wall sconces or lanterns flanking the doorway or lights mounted to or recessed into the ceiling – or a combination of both.
With some minimal, clean, contemporary designs it might be tempting to choose only recessed overhead lights, but keep the “flashlight-under-the-chin” effect in mind: Illumination directly from above is almost as ghastly as from below – and it can be almost impossible to see the facial features of a visitor with this choice of lighting.
If this is still the lighting of choice, consider combining it with indirect illumination of landscape features or architectural details nearby.
The same principle goes for the must-have decorative fixture that looks wonderful at the front door, but does not shed sufficient light. It just needs a little help and can work well if you augment it with other less visible light sources.One of the most important considerations when choosing wall sconces to flank a doorway is size and proportions.

Size matters!
In our experience most home owners tend to choose entry lights that are too small for the scale of the door and the wall they are attached to. With larger homes and taller ceilings, be bold!
As a rule of thumb, outdoor sconces or lanterns should be mounted about 65” above standing level and 8’ – 10’ apart.
As for size: look at the proportions of your front entryway. Those Jelly-jar wall lights we all know all too well might look out of place next to the door in your new home, even if your parents also had them “and they worked just fine.”
By the same token, no matter how much you admire those wrought iron lanterns that would be suited for a grand entrance they might very well seem overwhelming flanking your cottage door.

Patio Lighting creates a mood for relaxing and entertaining.
Our decks and patios have become important extensions of our living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms. As we add state-of-the-art barbecues, outdoor kitchens, comfortable dining areas we want to add the comforts and feel of home we have become used to indoors.
Whether enjoying a romantic al fresco meal for two or entertaining a crowd, we want to see the food on our plate, look good, maybe feel romantic and also be able to move around without danger of tripping.

Create a safe environment with atmosphere.
One tip is to avoid glare and use as much indirect light as possible.
Inconspicuous step lights and small light fixtures positioned under a railing or a banister can help you put the light exactly where it is needed to safely negotiate stairs and dark areas on the patio.
Try to avoid the “runway-effect” of light sources lined up in a straight row unless. The trick is to illuminate an area without the light sources being the center of attention.

Patio lights don’t have to be fancy or expensive to be effective. Try a combination of wall sconces next to the entryway, some lights for areas that need special attention like changes in terrain and compliment these with twinkling strands of lights in nearby trees or indirect light sources that add atmosphere by accenting architectural features or parts of the surrounding landscape.

A little light goes a long way outdoors. 25W or 40W are sufficient in most exterior fixtures. In order to avoid glare and create atmosphere it is always preferable to use several light sources with a low wattage instead of a single one that will keep your neighbors awake.

Compact Fluorescent bulbs Outdoors? YES!
Outdoor lights tend to be on for longer periods of time and are sometimes hard to reach. Both good reasons for switching to compact fluorescent lamps.
Since not all compact fluorescents are suitable for cold temperatures check the description on the package to make sure that you choose CFLs rated for outdoors.

Take Control!
It might be practical for a variety of reasons to have the flexibility to choose the levels of light, so plan on installing dimmers to control the light levels of your outdoor lights! This way you can go from security lights to mood lighting at the touch of a switch.
Just keep in might that dimming incandescent lights cause them to shift to a warmer, more yellow tone. I love this effect around my deck because it adds warmth and the feel of flickering candles. Plants, however, take on a sickly look in yellow light, so dimming is not for landscape lighting! Some manufacturers like Kichler Lighting have come out with chandeliers as well as floor and table lamps rated for exterior use. This makes it possible to bring a feeling of “home” outdoors and extend the hours you can enjoy your patio or deck.

Form + Function represents the outdoor lights by a large number of manufacturers. We offer choices from cutting-edge Contemporary to Craftsman style or Traditional. Our criteria for choosing the fixtures is quality, integrity and form as well as function.

There is no question that Compact Fluorescents are the way of the future, but at Form + Function we still have a few questions that keep nagging us.
One is: What do we do with our burned-out fluorescents? If we urge all our clients to become good citizens and switch to CFLs before there is a effective, or for that matter any, recycling program in place (and they actually listen to us!) how is this going to affect the environment?

During the last few days the staff at Form + Function has been scouring the internet and calling around for solutions to the proper disposal of fluorescent lamps.
Remember, we just replaced hundreds of good old incandescent bulbs with CFLs throughout our Santa Fe showroom.
We didn’t want to wait until they started failing before we had a plan for their environmentally safe disposal. Ok, they are supposed to last forever, but we also know that the promised 10,000 hours lamp life is the average life span of a CFL. Some die young.

I liked one suggestion we found on the internet: “Since there is currently no nationwide recycling programs, we advice that you pack up your used fluorescent bulbs safely in a box and save them in your garage until one becomes available.”
Cute! Just like a box of Christmas ornaments to keep for your grandchildren!
Not a totally bad idea, but one that of course only really applies to you and me, who are conscientious and the good guys, all “the others” will for sure not go for this idea!

Many internet sources sternly warned that no CFLs or other fluorescent lamps are allowed in the trash, but should be brought to “Your local household waste recycling center.”
Curious to find out if such a thing existed around here we started calling around: Called the City, the landfill, the Solid Waste managers in Santa Fe as well as Los Alamos (New Mexico). Nobody wanted our dead CFLs. One waste manager suggested just throwing them in the trash! We were of course appalled!
Since we know better, we wanted a real solution. We called Wal-Mart: No recycling program, Sam’s Club: Nope, Home Depot:Will recycle at no charge as many full-size fluorescents as you buy from them. As for CFLs, “The mercury content is so minute, they don’t have to be recycled. You can throw them in the trash!”

We did find one place that would dispose properly of CFLs: Envirosolve in Albuquerque. For $1 a bulb they would do it. Albuquerque is about 60 miles from Santa Fe, so a $50 pick-up fee would be added.
Not quite tempting enough!
Form + Function is now seriously looking into the logistics of offering a recycling program for fluorescent lamps in Santa Fe.

We will keep you posted with an update when we have finalized the details for it.

One of the most common reactions we get from our customers when we try to promote a fluorescent bathroom light is “No way, I can’t stand the color, it makes me look pukey green!”

Well, while this might be the case for some cheap types of fluorescents, these energy saving lamps have actually come a long way in the last few years and there are a lot more flattering choices available.

So, how do I choose a high quality fluorescent tube or CFL?

Two scales are used to rate the “feel” and perceived quality of a light source: Color Temperature and Color Rendering.
The color temperature measures how “warm” or “cool” a tint of white appears. It is measured in Kelvin (K).
The Color Rendering Index measures the ability of a light source to reproduce the colors of an object.

A candle or the embers of a fire in the fireplace evoke a feeling of warmth and comfort.
Of all choices out there a regular household light bulb is the closest to this color temperature (2800K).
That is the reason it is so hard to let go of this energy guzzler. We grew up with it, it feels fcomfortable and inviting, we are used to reading, eating, seeing our faces in the mirror by it.
This is the color temperature most people associate with residential lighting.

Cooler color temperatures that are closer to the natural daylight are more frequently used in institutional settings and often appear clinical and unfriendly in a home.
There are, however, no “good” or “bad” color temperatures. Which ones you choose is as subjective as your color preferences for your walls. Different color temperatures might also be preferred for different tasks within a home.
You might want a lamp with a color temperature of 2800K next to your favorite reading chair when you curl up with a book or next to your bed. In the walk-in closet or the laundry room cooler color temperatures, however, generally do better job at helping you pair your dark socks, especially when combined with a high Color Rendering Index.

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a rating scale of up to 100.  Lamps with a low CRI will make objects and skin tones look dull, while lamps with a high CRI, like incandescents and halogens make colors look more vivid and “true”.

In general, a CRI rating above 80 means that a light source will render colors well. Since CRI figures are calculated for light sources of a specific color temperature, it is, however, important to compare two light sources of the same color temperature when determining which one will render colors the best.

So, when choosing between two CFLs compare two with the same degree K and choose the one with the highest CRI for better quality.

Over the last decades consumers have embraced new low voltage light sources, enjoyed the sparkle they produce and the new possibilities they offer for innovative designs and product development due to their miniscule size and almost everyone has readily adapted to the “feel” of their light.
Until not long ago the lowly fluorescent lamp, however, remained a stepchild.

Not anymore!!

With the rising concerns about our natural resources and the impact of the waste of fossil fuels among the population the lighting industry was inspired to act, and act fast!
Consumers wanted to DO SOMETHING, but then again why should they forsake the incandescent bulb if there was no real alternative?
Despair no more! After we for decades only had the choice in fluorescents between “warm white” (Miss-Piggy-Pink) and “cool white” (Shrek-greenish) there is now a wide range of color temperatures available.