interior design

Lighting for a media unit

~ Martin Howlett ~ Leave a comment

The decision to include lighting in a media unit depends on your specific needs, preferences, and the overall design goals of your space. Here are some factors to consider when deciding whether to incorporate lighting into a media unit:

Advantages of Lighting in a Media Unit:

Enhanced Aesthetics: Well-placed lighting adds a stylish and visually appealing element to your media unit. It can highlight the unit’s design, draw attention to decorative items and create a warm ambiance.

Improved Visibility: Lighting inside a media unit can make it easier to see and access the contents of the unit, particularly if it’s used to store electronic equipment or other media items.

Mood Setting: Adjustable or dimmable lighting can set the mood for different occasions. You can create a cozy atmosphere for movie nights or highlight display items.

Practicality: When watching TV or using electronic devices, having lighting integrated into the media unit can reduce glare on the screen and make the viewing experience more comfortable.

Customisation: You have the flexibility to choose the type of lighting that complements your decor, whether it’s LED strip lights, puck lights, or other options.

Considerations Against Lighting in a Media Unit:

Cost: Adding lighting can increase the overall cost of your media unit project, including installation and ongoing energy expenses.

Maintenance: Lighting fixtures may require occasional maintenance or bulb replacement, depending on the type of lighting used.

Personal Preference: Ultimately, the decision to include lighting in your media unit comes down to personal preference. Some individuals prefer the simplicity of a unit without lighting, while others appreciate the added functionality and aesthetics it provides.

In conclusion, whether to include lighting in a media unit or not is a subjective decision based on your specific needs and style preferences. If you value improved aesthetics, visibility, and mood-setting capabilities, integrating lighting into your media unit can be a worthwhile investment. However, if you prefer a more minimalist or cost-effective solution, you can opt for a unit without built-in lighting and rely on external lighting sources as needed.

Alcove Units
Alcove cabinets with lighting for a home in Brighton, Sussex
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Edinburgh College of Art Alumni

~ martyngthompson ~ Leave a comment

Friday the 8th of February saw a reunion of ex students spanning 30/40 years from the furniture design department at Edinburgh College of Art http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/edinburgh-college-art

I got there at 9am to be greeted by Leslie Mitchell (who was head of Design and applied arts and who heroically organised the event) we had a brief catch up as people started arriving. The thing that struck me the most, as everyone arrived he remembered all names. After having our ID checked in the office we were invited to the boardroom for tea and coffee. The board room was very nice which had a lovely view of Edinburgh Castle.

After an hour we started the second part of the day, current students presented their projects giving us the opportunity to encourage or advise on a way forward. The ideas were diverse from Augmented reality dental products, health care products, personal working spaces, street furniture, responsibility in design and time pieces. it was an interesting few hours and you could tell how the current students are being pushed to develop products for the future.

This bought us up to lunch and after which were presentations from ex students on what they have been up to since.

Presentations by alumni

Andrew Glidden Glidden Design and Brand Communication. http://www.weareglidden.com/

Ewan McCarthy Bright 3D Environments. http://www.bright3d.com/full/team.php

Roddy White TP Vision, Philips

Jamie McCall – PLB Projects http://www.plbltd.com/index.php

Luke Carrington and Philip Stewart – ink Associates http://www.inkassociates.co.uk/

Trent Jennings and Tom Marsh – Blue Marmalade http://www.bluemarmalade.co.uk/

All the talks lasted about 20 minutes and gave a good history of what each person or in some cases partnerships had done since graduating. It was very inspiring to see what people had developed and the different routes people had taken.

Afterwards there was plenty of networking going on up in the boardroom with some red wine! From here we moved onto Henricks for some food and drinks. http://www.henricksbar.com/

It was great to meet up with old friends and forge some new friendships. Im looking forward to the next one. It must have been a good weekend as I’m currently nursing a lost voice and had to cancel a client meeting :

All the best

Martin