Occasionally, someone asks a question that cannot be answered quickly or simply. After looking at plans I'd created for a new home in the Bay Area, a homeowner asked, "What is the most important part of these plans?"

Everything is important, because it conveys information that the contractors need to complete what the homeowners want.  Rooms need to be defined by walls on the plan, with doors for access and windows for light, ventilation, and emergency egress. The plans must include logical placement of appliances, cabinets, and plumbing fixtures.  Exterior and interior elevations show specific details.  Schedules and specifications verify everything that's part of the project, from the foundation to the roof. None of these is more important than the others.  They all represent something tangible, that we can see and touch.  

Aha!  The answer finally emerged from the obscurity of my mind.  What is one thing that we can see and feel, that can evoke a strong emotional response, but we'll never be able to reach out and touch?  The answer: Lighting!  The most important part of any plan is the lighting, switching, and electrical schematic.  Lighting and color are inseparable.  Without light, there is no color.  Light is color, broken into wavelengths. Our eyes and our brain respond to both.

Imagine a home built in the 1970's.  You walk into the kitchen and flip the switch, to turn on the only source of light: (1) A single surface-mount round glass fixture with a 100-watt lamp; (2) A "state-of-the-art" luminous fluorescent ceiling;  or (3) A "builder's special" oak-trimmed fluorescent fixture. Over the sink, there's a single fixture controlled by a switch that's ganged with the garbage disposal.  Several times a week, the garbage disposal gets turned on accidentally when someone intended to turn on the light. 

No matter where you stand, you're working in your own shadow.  You hate to entertain because the room feels uncomfortable because it's poorly lit -- we all know that most parties end up in the kitchen.  There are electrical cords snaking back and forth across the counter, to the only outlets available, installed at  12" above the counter, so all the wires are visible. The kitchen looks and feels like a dungeon.

NOW . . . Imagine the same home after the kitchen has been completely remodeled. Recessed fixtures have been carefully placed to ensure safe ambient light after sunset.  There are 1/2" high, continuous fixtures under all wall cabinets, to provide safe task lighting as well as accent lighting for the beautiful rough-textured silvery slate backsplash with granite inserts. Outlets are spaced two feet apart, 4-1/2" above the countertop, so no cords will ever be seen.  The garbage disposal is controlled by a convenient air switch.  Over the new peninsula,  there's a curvy, whimsical monorail system that provides excellent task lighting that can be moved or changed wherever, whenever the need arises.   It's also pretty to look at even when it's off.

The magic created in this kitchen is the flexibility of the light controls. Instead of flipping a switch as you enter the room, you push one of five buttons that gradually brings the various light fixtures to the predetermined level you established for your personal use.  For active cooking, the emphasis is on task lighting.  For entertaining, everything is dimmed to different levels or layers, with one or two bright accent lights to create a sense of drama. You're setting the stage for whatever is going to happen in the kitchen -- whether it's a regular family meal, or a party for 30 friends.

Lighting, switching, and electrical plans are a big challenge to convey to you, because the plans are hard to read -- filled with unusual symbols and wavy lines. Good designers can visualize the results, and try to communicate how you (and your guests) are going to feel when the lighting is right. Fortunately, most major cities have lighting suppliers who have created special labs, where you can experience what your designer is suggesting before you approve the plans.  To paraphrase the homeowner's question, "What is the most important part of my home?"  The answer: "Your lighting."

If you would like to see the kitchen I described, we've set up a special page on my website:  http://www.dp-design.com/newsletter/tualatin.html


Here is the fifth installment of six  mini-articles.  I guarantee that if you follow the suggestions, you will save precious time, effort, and money.

Listen to advice from your design professional and contractor.  Get (or ask for) valid reasons to support their recommendation(s).  Valid reasons do not include:

• "This is what I did for Mr. and Mrs. ........"  
• "We always do it this way."
• "It's going to cost you a LOT extra to......."

If you are in doubt about the reason or explanation, do not be shy about asking questions, so you can make informed decisions.

If a contractor or designer is providing products, ask them: 

• What their markup (or discount) is, based on the suggested retail price
• To provide you with original invoices for each product they provide
• To provide a written warranty for each product they provide (length of warranty and terms, i.e., replacement, repair, labor to remove and replace, etc.)

Soapbox time, folks!  I am absolutely against "double-dipping"! Distributors and resellers provide products, and rely on a markup to make money. Professionals providing services deserve to make money for those services.  You have the right to know if a product being recommended to you yields a higher profit for the contractor or designer than a directly comparable product.

In case you're wondering:  I charge a reasonable hourly design and consultation fee, which includes helping my clients select the right products for their budget, lifestyle, and personal preferences.  I DO NOT sell products. Whenever possible, I love to authorize my clients to buy products directly from distributors (or resellers) at my discounted price. Also, I never accept (or offer) a referral or finder's fee.  The only double dip I get is ice cream cones!

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"Plesset's Principles for Today is Home" is YOUR personal design and information service, to help you make informed decisions about every aspect of your building or remodeling project. Send an e-mail today with your questions to: Q@dp-design.com

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