Beautifying by Electricity

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 45, 23 May 1930, Page 35

Beautifying by Electricity

How the Lounge, Drawingroom or Sittingroom may be improved by Schematin Lighting

OR the attainment of good artificial % lighting, it is highly necessary to recognise and understand the important functions that a lamp is called upon to perform, viz., decoration and illumination. Contrary to widespread ideas, all beautiful lamps can be useful, and all useful lamps can be beautiful, if a discreet sélection be made. Attention is focussed upon lamps at night because they become vitalised by light, and the lamp in good taste will become such a harmonious part of its surroundings, that one is not conscious of the lamp itself, nor even of its subtle artfulness in providing the necessary and desirable illumination. The lounge, sitting-room, or living-room is probably that in which most consideration is called for and rewarded, and the number of lamps is necessarily fixed by the size of the ’ yoom and the purpose for which it is used. Lamps, although useful adornments, should never dominate. IGHT is needed at times around the entire . room, as well as lesser or more concéntrated Nights for reading, sewing or card-playing; and

in a good-sized room, if wall brackets are employed over or near the mantelpiece, the central light can often be dispensed with. During winter, especially, it aids in forming an hospitable group around the fire-place. Used in conjunction with one or more mirrors, these wall brackets form a most effective addition to any scheme of decoration. A standard lamp that can be placed behind or at the end of a sofa, is a definite asset toward both illumination and decoration; and ong or more tablelamps fulfil a very useful as WWM as decorative ‘purpose. It will therefore be seen that any number of lamps from two to eight can be employed to advantage. Where a centre fitting is desirable to light the entire room, the best form is that of one or more lamps enclosed in a fitting, through which a portion of the light is directed upward toward the ceiling. The lamp is covered by the texture of the fitting and is not itself visible. Part of the light is, of course, directed downward through the bowl or fitting, but the greater portion strikes the ceiling, and is again reflected back into the room in generous, softly-diffused quantities. This is known as semi-indirect lighting, and

its value lies in the absence of irritating glare, owing to the bulbs being invisible. NE of the simplest means of improving light and avoiding glare is to use only "obsecured" or frosted bulbs. "Obscured" is a mis« leading term, because the light from the. bulbs is better diffused, and therefore seems actually brighter than that of clear glass bulbs. The introduction of opal glass bulbs is a great step forward, for they emit a light that casts no shadows and eliminates all danger of eyestrain, even for close work. ; In many rooms, we fear, there is still only one chair or one place in which anyone can see comfortably to read, write, sew, or enjoy any .other occupations which require close (Concluded on Page 40.)

Beautifying by. Electricity.

(Continued .from :Page. 35:) lighting. With only a single source of light in'the room, usually on or over a centre ‘table, rigid’ and’ either insufficient ‘or so shaded as to be a source of glare, the inhabitants of the room are forced to gather round like moths. It is the more deplorable, since a little foresight enables good and suitable lighting at several points, with the comfort and convenience of. inter-change, , Wise is he, who, when building, inL eludes a generous number of outlets for lamps and other conveniences, for they cost much less to install then than after completion. An admirable arrangement is to have power wires laid round the entire room behind the skirting board. These can then be tapped at any time and at any point to provide an.extra outlet. (IN OW about the form and _ position lamps are to take. Where rooms are furnished according to a period, this factor will naturally be taken into account, when ,making: a choice, and there is not the slightest difficulty in obtaining designs to accord perfectly with Jacobean, Tudor, . Futurist or Oriental schemes. The ideal arrangement of the average room of any pretensions is to provide a central fitting, of which beautiful specimens are ob-

tainable.at from .£3 to £7 a standard lamp. . It. is, of . course, possible, -but not necessary, to pay . much more, These lamps arereally things of beauty in natural woods, bronze, dull gold or colours-at:from £3 to £5; wallbrackets at perhaps a couple of guineas each (éither eandle fittings, futurist, or other design, according to the room they are destined to adorn), and one or more table lamps, which begin in price as low as less than a pound apiece up to a few pounds. Table lamps are now exquisite in design, coming in the form of vases and ornaments in coloured pottery, woodwork, Satsuma ware, and eyen delightful little statuettes. ; One’s fancy can therefore be indulged to the utmost at a cost of from £10 to £15, or even less, and it must be remembered that by the expenditure of such a sum, furnishing needs as well as lighting facilities are being met very largely, and the cost should not be begrudged any more than in providing handsome curtains or cushions. Beautiful lighting is a ‘ permanent source of joy and delight to the artistic sense, Efficient lighting-sufiicient without glare-is a preventative of eyestrain and wear of nerves, all too prevalent in these days. AMP-SHADES, too, play an important part in both illumination and decoration, and the choice of a colour needs discrimination, because lighted — —

colour behayes differently to unlighted. Yellow, nearest to light itself, possesses greater lumiziosity . than any other colour-so much so, that those artists in verbal description, the Chinese, call it "the elder daughter of light." Then follow, in order of merit, orange, green, red and blue, and lastly purple. This, of course, applies to the colours in their THTTTTTTEETT REE TUEREEEUPEPEEPELEEEEETEULELEO PEELE GE

full strength, but the principle applies throughout. For instance, a yellowishgreen is found to be more luminous a bluish-green, or than a _ full green, by reason of the added proportion of yellow. For the same reason, 2

bright orange-brown is . better than green, red or blue; and tan’ and buff; being neutralised shades of yellow or orange, come fairly high in the scale . of luminosity. Both blue and purple .,. are apt to be disappointing shades at " night. Certain tones of yellowy-green and brick-red or henna make good lamp-shades where it is desired to illuminate a particular spot, and if shades for reading-lamps are lined with white, any colour can be chosen for the outer side, the object in this case being to prevent, not to assist, the diffusion of the light. A room lighted on these lines will be well but softly illuminated, will strike a definite note of invitation and hospitality directly it is entered, and give a real if silent welcome to the incomer,