Monday, November 26, 2012

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.