Standard Track

Photo's from The Kitchn

This beautiful kitchen was featured on The Kitchn,  and I was blown away with how great the track looks in this space. Standard track has been around for a very long time, usually when I see a updated kitchen like this, if there is track, it is more commonly a monorail system. I must say I like the standard track in this kitchen better, the white track blends so well with the white ceilings and instead of the track standing out as a design element it is a functional light source. I am partial to blue kitchens since the house I grew up in has a striking cobalt blue kitchen. What do you think do you love the kitchen/track as much as I do? 

Cool Contemporary Bluebird

Tech Pendant Bluebird

Photo from Pillars of Design
I recently came across this kitchen remodel, it is such a colorful, contemporary kitchen. I love the Tech Lighting track system they used. The pendant, in Amber, is one of our most popular pendants, but I really like the blue. One of my favorite things about this track is how versatile it is, it was a great solution for the slanted ceiling, the standoffs are hung at different heights so the track can hang even with the floor. They made a shape that works well with the space, so the light can be directed wherever it's needed. Another great thing about a system like this is you can add or subtract lights whenever you want.

FAQ Answered: Low Voltage Lighting

Photo from google images

There was a little debate going on here at the store about Low Voltage lighting and weather a low voltage systems use less energy or not. I am talking specifically about the Low Voltage track systems, recessed lighting and display lights.

Here is the thing, this is a BIG question that needs to be answered correctly, we have electricians who say that low voltage is saving consumers’ money, and it’s a good debate because you would think your transforming voltage from 120 volts down to 12 volts you would be using less energy, right?

I have always been told in the industry that power consumption is measured in wattage's not voltage. So whether or not your systems are low voltage or line voltage you only save energy by using less wattage.

A Watt is a unit of Power, and a Volt is electrical potential, these are the definitions VERY simplified according to the dictionary. We can get really technical if we want, but the most applicable information I can find that will really answer this question is from my Rocky Mountain Power Representative.
We are only charged for the wattage we consume, in kWh(kilowatts), not the voltage!

Here is a price summary from Rocky Mountain Power.

With that said if we use a 50 watt low voltage (12 volt) halogen bulb and a 50 watt line voltage halogen bulb (120 volt) you are using 50 watts of power and you are charged for the 50 watts of power you consume! The only way to save money on your energy bill is to use less wattage.

Now here is the part that may validate what some electricians are saying about low voltage light systems; most often Low Voltage fixtures use halogen or LED bulbs. Both halogen and LED are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, the industry standard.

Blow is the breakdown of energy efficiency for different types of bulbs compared to the industry standard incandescent light bulb:
-If you use 75watts of incandescent light you consume 75 watts of energy.

-If you use a 50 watt halogen bulb you are getting a light output equivalent to 75 watts of incandescent light.

-If you use a 20 watt CFL bulb you are getting the light output equivalent to a 75 watt incandescent bulb.

-A 9 watt LED bulb gives off light equivalent to a 75 watt incandescent light bulb.

I hope this helps answer some questions about Low vs. Line voltage lighting. I have found a few helpful articles and links about the differences in the light systems here and here. This article talks about halogen lighting, and this is a chart that show different bulbs and their efficiency.

Friday's Favorite: Galileo LED

WAC Lighting Galileo LED



Why do I like the WAC Galileo, well let me tell you what it's all about you might like it too!

Unique track design - 360° without altering the profile of the luminaire

Replaceable Cree multi-chip LED module

50,000 hour potential life

Dimmable with Electronic Low Voltage (ELV) dimmer

Strong projected light, comparable to 50W MR16 lamp

All of these reasons make it a great track head, but I also love the style of this little guy!

What do you think?

Track Lighting in Kitchens

George Kovacs Light Rail P4015-084

Photo from Elements of Style Blog

A huge trend right now when updating your kitchen is to use a track system. There are a lot of reasons people are drawn to this type of a system especially in a kitchen. A lot of kitchens in the area have the fluorescent lights 2' x 4' with the power coming out at any point under that big ugly box. With a monorail or ribbon track you can keep your power source wherever it is and run the power to a track. Track is versatile in that it can be various lengths and you can bend it to make a whole bunch of shapes. It can also hang really close to the ceiling, when you have height limitations, or you can suspend the system down, which is very useful with vaulted or really high ceilings. You also have complete control over how much light you run on the track. You can add or subtract lights whenever you feel like it.

I like the kitchen above, I have recently done two alley kitchens and updated fluorescent light to a monorail track system. George Kovacs track I have on this post is by far the best deal I have come across. It is a kit, so there is not as much room to determine the height or how much light you run, but for $181.50 you can't find a better deal with a good quality product. It comes with 10' of track and 5 track heads. It is also available in Bronze and there are a few different track heads you can choose from.

If you want to put together your own system with a combination of track heads and pendants check out these vendor's websites for more information.

Bruck Lighting, LBL Lighting, Tech Lighting, WAC Lighting