Schoolhouse Lighting: Ageless Design for Your Kitchen

Are you searching for lighting fixtures to add to your kitchen? Well, you might want to consider schoolhouse lighting. Schoolhouse lighting has been around for a long time. In fact, it was the lighting fixture of choice in public buildings in the US - schools, courts, libraries - and even private kitchens between the years 1900 to 1950. These globes provided ambient lighting and even task lighting to all the places mentioned. It would be safe to say, then, that the no-nonsense people of the olden days appreciated the functional yet elegant lighting fixtures that lit corridors, large rooms and large hallways pretty well.

Originally, these lighting fixtures came with white flare globes encasing bare bulbs, which where both held together by metal fittings. The early white globes typically used some kind of glass referred to as “milk glass” or “opal glass”, which was made in Venice. The milky appearance of the glass was created by mixing in bone ash or tin dioxide while making the glass. The milk glass also came in other shades: pink, blue, yellow, brown and black. 

Today, schoolhouse light fixtures are still very popular. Their appeal lies in the fact that they evoke memories of special moments spent in schoolhouses. Plus, the fact that these fixtures have clean and simple lines make them all the more attractive to practical people who want to get a functional lighting fixture that is also beautiful.

Because of this, schoolhouse lighting fits modern kitchens really well. The practical side of choosing these utilitarian fixtures lets homeowners illuminate their kitchens without worrying over too much glare. The soft, ambient light provided by these fixtures ensures that homeowners do not have a hard time preparing meals for their loved ones.

Furthermore, there are now more options when it comes to designs of schoolhouse lighting. There are flush-mount and semi-flush mount fixtures to choose from. The key is to consider the layout and the design of your kitchen. You won’t go wrong when you keep that in mind when you go shopping for the right lighting fixture.  Then there is also the matter of shape. The glass globes come in various shapes. This means that anyone can find the right look that will fit the kitchen that needs to be illuminated.

To cut a long story short, schoolhouse lighting is not meant only for public buildings anymore. They also fit right in any kitchen whose owner wants to bathe in warm yet diffused light.

Vintage Barn Lights Offer Functionality and Beauty

Vintage barn lights are popular lighting fixtures that many people enjoy. Today’s vintage barn lights are actually replicas of traditional barn lighting. Back then, the original barn lights comprised of metal shades and gooseneck arm extensions, with distinctly industrial warehouse designs.

But, how did vintage barn lights find their way into people’s homes and commercial buildings? Originally, these light fixtures lit up warehouses and factories in the 1930s. Because the farmers saw the functionality of these light fixtures, they used these fixtures to light up their barns and farm houses. That started the transition of vintage barn lights as purely industrial lights into residential and commercial lighting fixtures. Later on, shanties along the coastline adopted the barn light fixtures.

Why are vintage barn lights becoming more and more popular among homeowners and building owners? Well, it could be because these beautiful lighting fixtures are great for illuminating the outdoor area of homes or buildings. What’s great about these fixtures is that the metal shade directs the light in a downward direction. The result is light that creates striking contrasts between light and shadow. This implies that this light is what building signs need. For instance, the sign in front of a shop can benefit from the attention that the light can direct on it. Passersby will be drawn to the sign largely because of the light cast on it by the bulb hanging from the shade attached to the traditional gooseneck arm.

Today, the industrial design is still evident in the commercial barn lights available in the market. However, there are now many variations. You can find barn lights that include wire cages, cast guards and jelly jar glass. What this means is you can find an attractive lighting fixture for your entryway or the exterior of your building without worrying that it would look too industrial. Furthermore, barn lights now come with energy saving technology to impact the earth in a positive way, along with offering beauty and functionality to building and home owners.

More importantly, manufacturers of barn lights have just made it easier for people to find the right kind of barn light to install near doorposts, in patios, entryways and decks. This simply means that people today have more options to choose from when it comes to decorating and making their homes and buildings attractive. And they can do so with elegant yet functional vintage barn lights.