Loft Ceiling Lights

I reallly like what we did on this project http://www.primerenovationsnyc.com/portfolio/#levinson-residence
We built the soffits and then did more of a commercial light. It is not easy to see, if you want email me at primerenovations@mac.com and I will email you the original which is much bigger

Look at the 2nd picture

As I indicated on another topic concerning concrete ceilings, we dropped what our architect called a "cloud". This is a structure that does not entirely cover the ceiling, so it looks like it is floating from the ceiling. In our case the ceiling is painted gray and the cloud is white to create even more contrast. Indirect LED rope lighting is hidden in the top of the cloud surrounding the perimeter and shines onto the ceiling above the cloud. From the cloud I have interesting recessed lighting fixtures that have a ring around them, so the ring lights up as well. A chandelier(not up yet) will hang from the center of the cloud, and this chandelier (Artemide NUR 1618) also shines up as well as down. I'm not sure how to post a picture on this site, but if you are really interested, I could e-mail you one.

My last place was a loft, well-finished while still looking like a loft. The existing overhead lighting was too harsh in places. The setup looked cool (cutouts with direct and indirect lights), but the light didn't. Recessed lighting looks too McMansion for me, nullifying many of the nice things about a loft. Track lighting -- ugh. So, we went with soft indirect point light sources & up-lighting in soft tones, augmented by a couple of the overheads. The "problem" with a loft space is the high ceilings (this place had 20' in some areas), so you have to make it intimate with softer lighting & color. Direct overhead lighting is as harsh as you can get, and you start putting up track lighting, you start getting that museum feel.

Thanks a lot. Appreciate the feedback.

Primer, this look may be too done-up for us. Looks fantastic though.
NYRE, That seems like a great idea - a little expensive though. I like LED concept and chandalier. Nada, we are also not into recessed lights as we like more character. Like the idea of color. What is indirect point light? Does it get fixed to the ceiling?

It seems some type of indirect lighting which does not cost much (15K or less for a 2000 sq ft loft) will be our choice once we can get one of the couple of place we like.

No, I just mean lots of I individual lamps and whatnot. Soft-colored spotlights from the ground hitting a soft-colored wall. Old-style filament lamps hanging from the ceiling. You'll still want something overhead just in case, but overhead does not make for intimate lighting. The key is to get the wiring set up so that you're not turning on 7 things by hand.

There's a great lighting store near you on Broadway, Lighting Plus or something. It is an overcrowded little store full of lamps & non-fancy lighting solutions. Take a walk around to get some ideas. Also, think about restaurants and other professionally-designed spaces you've been in. What places have the kind of vibe you want to create? Go to those places and check out their lighting. You'll soon understand the relevant themes.

You want an art gallery, overhead track lighting in cold tones. You want something like Perry St restaurant, recessed lighting on dimmers with soft modern sconces. You want something like Public, filament lamps and amber spotlights shining straight up onto a wall. They've paid for the fancy lighting consultant, you just need to pilfer the design and adapt it to your home as most people do not like the extreme stylization taken at public spaces.

Will have to check out various restaurants we like and then tone it down. Thanks for the suggestion.

On our loft lighting, people would often comment on how much they liked how the owner had set up the lighting. Then, I would show the "proper" lighting and show the components of the hack-job that was the lighting they liked. Really cheap fixtures, relatively expensive bulbs. In many cases, the look of the fixture was more defined by the bulb than anything else. Thinking about it, I think people spend more time thinking about the look of the fixture. The truth of the matter is that the look of the fixture is minor compared to the type of light it's putting out: you're mainly looking at the light.

Note I am not a lighting designer and just like to talk out of my ass. Please consult with your professionally licensed lighting consultant. Why should lawyers and financial consultants be the only ones getting disclosures???

Thanks.

You should go down to Bowery street and walk through the stores in the lighting district. That's what they're there for . . .

I personally have never found much inspiration in the Bowery stores, but that's also an excellent idea.

Maybe you can draw some inspiration from the websites below. I've experimented with building similar fixtures out of common black iron pipe fittings and married them to bare Edison type bulbs on dimmers for a pretty unique industrial look.

http://www.dezeen.com/2008/11/09/pipe-light-by-triptyque/

http://design-milk.com/pipe-lights-by-mesh-architectures/

Sounds like a nice idea, spinny. For a shitbrain like you that is ;), where you been?

Why the hell is it that 1890's technology costs so damn much? When we left our old place, I'm not one to take out lightbulbs and that kind of stupid shit, but I replaced an Edison bulb we had put in one place with a standard bulb that used to be there.

Check out apartmenttherapy.com

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/main/search?q=lighting

A lot of great ideas suitable for such a space.

What do people think of the type of mouldings in this link with some LED lights and combine them with floor lamps, chandalier and picture lights? Cost below 15K for indirect lighting. Any designers on this page?

http://www.invitinghome.com/Indirect_Lighting/Indirect_Light_List_A.htm

What overall feel are you going for? To me, that's Four Seasons Hotel & contemporary furniture. I like it when I'm in the Four Seasons, and if "elegant" is the look you're going for it'd work well. I think you could mix it with a more eclectic furniture set as well. Given that some level of overhead lighting is a good idea no matter what, it's a nice choice. I would imagine you could add filters to soften / modify the tone once you get in there, which is nice flexibility to have. The only caveat I'd place on that sort of choice is that the rest of the place should be equally refined-looking in construction. E.g., I don't think it'd mix well with original wide-planked pine flooring or raw exposed brick or black cast iron columns or whatever else you'd find in some loft spaces.

I had several DIFFERENT chandeliers, none of them really "fancy", put in strategic places and several sconces, also of very different design. It worked on so many levels: eclectic but not pretentious, a lot of LIGHT, and if you get tired of the theme, it all can be changed without major inconvenience.

To 300_Mercer: PLease get in touch. We'll make it happen! www.staciruiz.com
Looking forward to working with you!

Personally, I prefer the Monorail lighting system for a concrete ceiling installation. Some of the model units at 305 w 16 have them. Anybody know if you can connect any pendent lights to these light systems?

300_mercer - a friend who was a theatrical designer ran a basic molding the entire length of his loft and then ran rope light behind it. You can also do this with incandescent or led bulbs, depending on budget and your desire. This type of setup provides ambient light, but nothing direct. They supplemented with floor and table lamps throughout the space to define areas, etc.

Juuceman, That is the general concept I have in mind. Most pictures I see use both a crown molding and an additional moulding places a few inches lower to hold the led/rope light. I was thinking of just the molding to hold the lights. Will you be so kind to post where your friend got the moldings and how far below the ceiling he placed them? Thanks a lot.

300_mercer - unsure where he purchased the molding, I believe that he actually just ran one by three lumber with a ledger strip attaching it to the wall and giving him the width he needed to run the rope light behind it. Cheap and effective.

Dykes Lumber has a good selection and you can browse them online; most lumber yards will have some selection as well if you prefer to go in person.

Love chandeliers in lofts.

Spinster, absolutely love the pipe lights by Mesh

Thanks every one for their suggestions. Decided to go for a combination of large chandalier, semi flush lighting, pendant light and picture lights combo. Kind of art-neveau/art deco combo.