Light Up My Life

If life is a stage then I want better lighting! Can you relate to that adage?

According to the American Society of Interior Design, lighting is an integral part of interior design yet often overlooked. The National Safety Council attributes the leading cause of falls to inadequate lighting. How do we combine proper lighting and design elements in our homes?

Urban Home asked lighting expert Debbie Hanson, a Certified Lighting Consultant at Unique Lighting Showplace. She said, “I love to come up with the best lighting solutions and have people calling and saying how they love it!” Debbie’s lighting plans are aesthetically pleasing while improving task performance, a true balance of function, customers’ needs and preferences. With an Interior Design degree, Debbie has been designing residential lighting plans with homeowners, interior designers and homebuilders for over 31 years. Her office at Unique Lighting Showplace is filled with certificates and design awards.

Memorable lighting projects for Debbie included Shelton Vineyards, the largest family-owned winery in North Carolina. She planned the lighting for the cheese shop, restaurant, and outside lighting as well as the Shelton families’ private homes. Debbie also recalled a two-year project with an interior designer who meticulously restored the former Governor Hodges’s century-old mansion in Columbia, South Carolina. Everything down to the fabrics and chandeliers had to be historically reproduced. “We had fun working with various committees and Rachel Hodges, the first lady!”

So what’s popular right now? ”Pendants for kitchen islands are very hot,” said Debbie. Pendant lights dangle from the ceiling, filling empty space either vertically or horizontally. There are mini pendants, bowl pendants, island pendants, and large pendants that resemble works of art. Adding dimmable pendants as additional lighting for specific tasks can dramatically enhance any space. Popular choices include Asian Fusion, Retro, Tuscan/Mediterranean styles and colored glass pendants. Today’s homeowners desire unusual fixtures that are functional and are conversation pieces.

Cindy Covill, Interior Designer for Regal Custom Homes, praised Unique Lighting, “We work exclusively with Debbie on spec homes and 90 percent of our custom homes. Fun to work with, she is service oriented and has incredible product knowledge.”

“At Unique Lighting,” Debbie explained, “establishing a professional relationship with our customers and providing quality products and service comes first.” Family owned and operated for 28 years, Unique Lighting sits beside sister company Frye Electric, offering one stop shopping for electrical and lighting needs. Unique Lighting boasts 8,000-square feet of distinctive ceiling fans, hanging and table lamps, art and decorative mirrors. Whether you need bathroom sconces, a jaw-dropping chandelier, retro ceiling fans, or adjustable mini pendants, Debbie and the entire knowledgeable staff are there to help you.

Lighting Tips
• Put recessed cans in living areas to better balance the light.
• Install track lighting above areas you want to highlight.
• Use picture lights to showcase photos and artwork.
• Add pendants when you need to showcase a small area.

Unique Lighting Showplace is conveniently located at 8916 South Blvd. in Charlotte. Call them at 704-553-1341.