(no subject)

[fj]

In an effort to both be cheap and stay with the industrial look, the builder who ddi the retrofit of this office building into lofts used an alarming amount of fluorescent fixtures. Two in the kitchen area, one in the bathroom. I have removed and replaced one for halogens pointing up. But in the other two, I have made a change that has had the most impact in changing the look of this place for the buck: taking out the tube rated "cool" and replacing it with a tube rated "warm" or "soft warm".

Skin tones look great, food looks delicious, the icky green hues in the lights are gone, and getting these tubes at Home Depot costs between 7 and 5 dollars. If you have any fluorescent fixtures in your home, check if you can replace the tube, and then do so, even if it is still working. Beautoful light makes living so much better.

Comments

[bigjohnsf.livejournal.com]

I think some building codes actually sort of suggest fluorescent in the kitchen, but I really don't get how people who are outfitting million dollar homes don't get the color temperature thing.

I can see this in many of the kitchens of the jet-set pieds a terre that straddle the Bay Bridge.

I was commenting to someone tonight that no one has ever seen my taste in decoration -- except by default -- cause I've never really decorated my space. But, in every light in my house I've thought about the kind of light it casts... there is one flood in my kitchen that infuriates me, it is critical that it be just the right wattage and beam pattern...

Lighting matters a lot.

[zurcherart.livejournal.com]

Hey hey. I'm gonna take this tip to heart. And I'm gonna do it now.

[mondragon.livejournal.com]

California has strict standards for what mix of incandescents and fluorescents are required in kitchens. Might make a difference when/if you go to sell.

[bigjohnsf.livejournal.com]

He's right: http://www.mmlighting.com/californiaTitle24.html

But, replacing the tubes isn't going to affect the code.

The issue is, more commonly, people replace the fixtures. I don't think this would come up when the unit is sold, more likely the code is an issue during renovation/remodeling.

[fj.livejournal.com]

Th rest of the place is on dimmers. I am fine.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Hmm. In my last workplace, we had fluorescents that emitted a sort of yellowish color. At my request, they replaced them with something that emitted a much bluer color, and it made all the difference in the world for my mood and alertness. If I'd had a good source of natural light, it probably wouldn't have mattered, but I am leary of using yellow-tinted fluorescents now.

[fj.livejournal.com]

Well, there is "cheap blue", and then there is "daylight", another variant, which is not as red as "warm" but also does not leave things looking dead. I haven't been able to find one for a fixture that I have, though.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Well, I asked for full spectrum, but I'm not sure what they actually installed. Ours was the only office that emitted an eerie bluish glow, though. Quite different to see our office doors after walking past dozens of normally-lit office spaces.

[chucknoblet.livejournal.com]

fgt!!!

[fj.livejournal.com]

Shut up and go finish your shack.

[chucknoblet.livejournal.com]

;_;

[fj.livejournal.com]

Ok, ok, I am sorry.

[chucknoblet.livejournal.com]

haha ok ^_^

Fluorescent lighting sux!

[hgybear.livejournal.com]

There I said it. Hate em.

One (just one) of the fucked up things at my last job was the overwhelmingly BRIGHT workspace. You'd think we were in a frakkin operating room or something. I couldn't take it anymore, and removed half the tubes over my cube. Caught an amazing amount of shit over it. Apparently, the CEO (who had nothing better to do than obsess over the color scheme of the office remodel, or decided that flat screen monitors looked better, so everyone on HIS floor [but not the other 3 floors of office space we had] got new, crappy, flat screens) ragged on the facilities manager who in turn gave me shit. I put my foot down (along a few choice print outs from a web search, and a threat of a possible workers comp case) and got them to leave me alone.

Have I mentioned lately that I don't miss working in an office?