Lighting Fixtures & Lamps Blog

Lighting Fixtures & Lamps Questions Answered

Can I purchase a ceiling light fitting from the USA and install it in the UK? Is it easy to fit a USA light ceiling fixture in the UK or are the USA fittings/wiring etc non-matching and non-compliant with UK regulations?

Answer: In general, the ceiling lighting fixtures like pendant lights and chandeliers from the US should not have a problem working in the UK in terms of the eletrical and temperature ratings. However, lighting fixtures in the US usually have safety approvals from UL or ETL, which might not mean anything in the UK. We don’t not know in the case if there is any incident that involves the insurance companies, if they will reject a claim because the fixture is from the US and do not have UK safety approvals. Unfortunately, we currently do not ship to the UK due to logistic reasons. Hope this helps.

Are the shades of your Tiffany Lamps made of plastic or real stained glass?

Answer: The shades of our Tiffany Lamps are made of real stained glass. They are NOT plastic. We get quite a bit of questions from customers asking why do the Tiffany lamp shades feel like plastic. With a good number of Tiffany lamp shades, when you tap on them using your knuckle or finger tip, it does not feel like glass. That is more evident when the shade is made of smaller glass panels / pieces. Apparently, when small panels of stained glass are soldered together, the vibration that it gives off when we tap on them feels more like plastic than glass; the vibration is dampened by soldering small panels of glasses together. To verify that the shade is indeed made of glass, you can use a fork to tap on the Tiffany shade lightly. You can feel the glass tone better. If you accidentally drop the shade, it WILL break.

Tiffany stained glass is thicker. When you tap on them, you are actually feeling the stain coating. They are rolled out from a big sheet of glass initially, stained into different color and then cut into little pieces before being soldered together. Unlike plastic, they have variation and rippling surface. Rest assured that the shades of our Tiffany Lamps are made of real stained glass.

I purchased two NTH-694 line voltage track lights. They are placed at about 12′ ~ 15′ away from a picture. The light that those track lights give off is too wide. Instead of focusing on the picture, the light shines on the entire wall. What can I do to make it so that just the picture is illuminated?

Answer: The light bulb that comes with the NTH-649 track light is the GU10 MR16 bulb 50-degree wide flood. You can purchase a GU10 MR16 bulb that has a much smaller light spread. You should be able to find a 15-degree Spot without much difficulty. Same principle applies to the bi-pin MR16 Halogen bulbs.

I’m having a little trouble assembling?the Meyda Tiffany Amber Mica Table Lamp (MD-77774)?- the mica shade does not come down low enough over the bulbs, which are a little exposed. I’m assuming that the shade should come down low enough to cover the bulbs.? Are there any instructions that specifically show the right way for the post to be inserted to correct for this?

Answer: To get the shade lower, at the top of the stem above the light cluster there is a nut. Turn the nut, where the shade rests, clockwise the shade will go lower. Or you could use smaller bulbs, like appliance bulbs. Between one or both of those options, you should be able to get the?table?lamp?to look right. This method may apply to certain other table lamps and floor lamps.

Would you let me know whether the track lighting accessories NT-335 and NT-333 will work with Hampton Bay from Home Depot. According to your site, they are compatible with Halo. Isn’t Halo supposed to be compatible with Hampton Bay tracks?

Answer: The answer is Maybe. Those track lighting components “might” work with Hampton Bay Track Lighting systems from Home Depot; however, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT. We know certain Halo-Compatible track lighting parts work with Hampton Bay and certain parts do not. For customers who already have the Hampton Bay track, we recommend them to get the accessories from Home Depot. For customers who are deciding on a new track lighting system, we recommend them to get the Halo-Compatible track lights, since that is the most popular standard and there isn’t really any cost difference between the two different systems.

Want a simple, elegant way to spruce up your home?s exterior?and potentially put more money in your pocket? Try installing outdoor lighting. It?s a surprisingly overlooked home improvement that can significantly add to the value of your house. But it?s not just a wise investment. A well-designed outdoor and landscape lighting scheme is everything from a smart safety measure to an eye-catching seasonal decoration, and even the enhancement of landscape ambience.
Try these three outdoor lighting ideas for your next home improvement project, and create an elegant, safe outdoor atmosphere you?ll enjoy for years to come.

Illuminate for safetyFor your first lighting project, tackle the most important issue for you and your family: safety. Be sure you have fixtures and bright bulbs for every well-traveled area around your home. For example, the following areas should be well illuminated, not only for the safety of visitors to your home, but also to discourage intruders:

• Front and back entry doors. Be sure all entry doors are adequately lit so that you can easily identify nighttime visitors. You also want to ensure that visibility around your entry doors is good so that no one slips or takes a misstep.
• Patios, terraces, decks, and pagodas. If you have a long patio, such as a wraparound style, a single overhead bulb isn?t enough?you?ll need to install overhead lighting for all the dark areas of your patio. The idea is to have enough light to see comfortably in the dark, not to overdo it with 100-watt bulbs installed every 6 inches. The same rules apply to lighting decks and other landscape structures: You want enough light to comfortably entertain guests and to see in dark areas, but not so much that your home looks like a football stadium on game night.
• Walkways and driveways. If you live in a sunny climate, solar lights are a low-cost, energy-efficient choice to keep front walkways, driveways, and garden paths safely lit. They?re not only a beautiful visual accent, but they?re incredibly easy to install. Because they charge during the day for use every night, no power pack or wiring is required for installation?just stick them in the ground and you?re done. Many solar lights come in a variety of styles and finishes to match your home?s architecture.
• Garage doors. A wide downlight is a good choice for illuminating garage doors. You?ll want enough light to be sure you don?t run over the family pet when pulling in the car on a dark night.

Highlight your landscape

To really set your home apart, install landscape lighting to highlight trees, statuary, or garden perimeters. You can also light ponds and swimming pools or add a soft glow to dark areas in your backyard. The are several types of landscape lighting:

• Accent lights, including down lights, up lights, outdoor spot lights, and grade-level lights. All these styles are good for lighting bushes and shrubbery, especially grade-level lights.
• Area lights, including general and decorative outdoor lighting fixtures such as lamp posts.
• Pond and fountain lights. When installing fixtures in fish ponds, fountains, or pools, use only brass, stainless steel, or composite materials. Copper should never be used underwater. (It?s harmful to fish.)
• Hanging lights, including pendant fixtures, are an eye-catching way to highlight your flower beds.
• Flood lights. These fixtures are used for lighting large, dark backyard areas, and are often used as motion detectors to add another element of safety.

Again, solar lights are a smart choice for landscape lighting, because they?re so efficient and easy to install. If solar lights are not an option (because the installation required a wired fixture, for example) be sure the lighting system is low voltage to ensure maximum safety. The key to well-designed landscape lighting is hiding the light source if at all possible. Also, don?t overdo it here. You want to infuse your garden and yard with a warm glow, not harsh, bright lights.

Entertain outdoors in style

Outdoor lighting can create a soft, elegant atmosphere for intimate evenings in balmy weather, or for party nights with dozens of friends. If you?ve taken on the landscape lighting project, you?re already a significant way toward presenting an inviting atmosphere at your next get-together. But whether you?ve got a comprehensive landscape lighting system or a single bulb lighting your back door, here are some easy and inexpensive ways to make an outdoor event special:

• String lights. Wrap simple string lights around tree branches and through shrubs and bushes to give your yard a special twinkle. You can use old holiday lights, elegant strings of paper lanterns, or fun plastic novelty sting lights, depending on your party?s theme. For example, a string of hot-pepper lights is a fun accent for your next Mexican fiesta.
• Torches. These inexpensive accessories are a great way to light up a large backyard area or create ambience around a pool.
• Candles. Don?t overlook the most inexpensive choice of all?candles give an elegant glow to patios, picnic tables, and more. Be sure you place all outdoor candles in tall, protective hurricane-style holders to keep them lit and to avoid a fire hazard.

About the Author

Vanessa Kirkland is freelance writer and home improvement enthusiast whose articles offer tips, strategies, and advice about home lighting techniques, including table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces.