Shedding Light on the Subject of Lighting
Since the dawn of man, lighting has been a necessity. Sure, the quest for fire may have largely been fueled by the need for warmth and a more civilized form of cuisine, but its capacity to shed some light on the night opened up new pathways to the future that early man couldn’t even imagine existed. While modern lighting continues to serve a mainly functional purpose, it’s entirely possible to make it the design focal point (or at the very least a design enhancement) in any room. Consider the chandelier – first introduced in the 14th century, it stemmed from the French word “chandelle” which meant “candle holder.” While early designs were simple, it didn’t take long for them to become ornate fixtures meant to draw the eye. They were often costly and difficult to maintain (some designs had to be lowered to be cleaned and have each candle lit), meaning only the wealthy could afford to have them – thrusting them into the category of status symbol. Candles gave way to gas in the early 1800’s, followed by electricity into homes in the mid-to-late 1800’s. Then things really started to get interesting. Chandeliers became even more opulent, and a man named Louis Comfort Tiffany introduced his lead and stained glass “Tiffany Lamps” to the world – which would become a major part of the Art Nouveau movement.
“As a custom home builder, I find that lighting can make or break a room,” said Tony Pourhassan, Principal at Highlight Homes. “With industrial influences remaining strong in the design realm, I’m having a lot of fun finding truly unique lighting to incorporate throughout the home. From soft and romantic lighting in the master bath to bold and impressive lighting fixtures in the main living spaces like the kitchen to carriage house light influences on the exterior of the home. Lighting is one of those areas where form and function can unite for truly beautiful results.”
In addition to being beautiful additions to all of the rooms of your home, lighting can also serve an energy efficient function. That’s a major plus for the planet AND for your family when the electric bill shows up in the mailbox.
Whether building a custom home from the ground up or reimagining your existing home with a renovation, Highlight Homes welcomes the opportunity to work closely with you on everything from the fine details – such as the selection of lighting and all of the design elements that will make your home distinctive to your family, to the big pictures items like the home site and ideal floor plan to fit the way your family lives. To learn more about Atlanta-based Highlight Homes and take a tour of our galleries, please visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.