The Home Beautiful

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 338, 25 April 1928, Page 10

The Home Beautiful

Lighting the Dining Room

SOME POPULAR LAMPS

Hanging the Fixtures The dining-room in the modern home is used for but one purpose, as a general thing, and that is eating. It differs in this respect from the livingroom, and from the bedroom. The former may be in use for the greater part of the 24 hours that go to make up our day, and the sleeping room is used for dressing as well as for its major purpose. Even the kitchen, primarily used for cooking, is often the scene of light laundry work. Since the dining-room has this one general pu-nose, it naturally follows that the illumination provided should center on the dining table, where this function is carried out. The table is therefore the centre of interest and the major portion of the lighting should be directed at it. The best way to accomplish this flooding of the table with light is the centre ceiling lighting fixture, suspended directly over the centre of the table.

The dome is the most popular of this type and when it is adjusted to its proper height will throw the main portion of light on to the table and a smaller portion on the faces of the diners. The light handled in this manner will bring out the whiteness of the linen and the sparkle in silver and glassware without leaving those sitting about the table in comparative darkness. The sketch in connection with this article shows how this correct hanging works out in actual practice. If hung too close to the ceiling it will throw a direct glare in the faces of those sitting around the table, and if hung too low will be in the line of vision of the diners, obstructing their views of one another. The shade of such a fixture may be of silk or glass, the choice depending upon the preference of the purchaser. The selection should be influenced to some extent by the type of the room, its furnishings, hangings and other factors. If silk is selected it should be with a view to its harmonising with the other decorations. The modern dome should be hung from 24 to 26 inches above the table top, and where, a high intensity of light is desired should be equipped with a 100-watt lamp, inside frosted. If there are several sockets a 25-watt lamp in each will provide ample lighting and at the same time supply illumination of a decreased intensity should it be desired. The shower fixture is another that will provide direct light on the table. This is a popular fixture and comes in a variety of styles. One type, very good from a lighting standpoint, is that having four or five lamps connected by brackets to a centre portion which is suspended from the ceiling by a chain. Another very attractive style has five lamps, each on a chain which is attached to a metal base at the ceiling. Both types of shower fixtures should be well shaded, and the fixture should be hung so that the bottoms of the shades are about 26 inches from the table. The candelabra is another type of fixture that is efficient from a lighting standpoint and attractive in appearance. It should be equipped as a general thing with a 25-watt lamp in each socket. The shades may be of glass, silk or parchment. The candelabra fixture should be hung about 45 inches above the table top and should never be used without shades. There is still another type of fixture that is effective in the dining-room, one commonly known as a semi-direct unit. This throws the light on the ceiling, whence it is re-directed to all parts of the room. The ceiling, oE course, must be light in colour to obtain the best results. A great many people prefer this fixture because of the soft, shadowless light obtained from it. This fixture should lse hung so as to illuminate the entire ceiling.

In addition to its use for purely utilitarian purposes, light has its decorative value as well. Bracket fixtures on the walls and candlesticks on the buffet or serving table may be used to add decoration provided they are well shaded. A note of distinction to a home is soft, colourful light radiat-

ing from artistic shades and shields. Wall bracket lighting has become such a vogue in the dining-room that some even go so far as to eliminate the centre fixture over the table. Such practice, however, is questionable and

makes it necessary to use larger bulbs whose brightness may be annoying. Wall brackets are usually placed at eye level and lamps powerful enough to give adequate light would prove too much of a glare and cause eye-strain. Wall brackets similar in style to the centre fixture and used with small lamps, 15 or 25 watt, are excellent to add a decorative touch when used :n conjunction with the ceiling fixture.