NKBA’s May webinar series is all about the bright side of things.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

 

Lighting is a critical part of any design and decorating scheme, but in the kitchen and bath, if the lighting isn’t right, it can pose a serious safety issue — imagine the consequences of improper lighting for tasks involving sharp knives and slippery floors.

May’s series on the latest in lighting is generously sponsored by Hettich, the Kirchlengern, Germany-based maker of fittings like drawer-box systems, slides, hinges, sliding and folding door systems and other intelligent technology for cabinetry and furniture.

Each month, NKBA offers free 60-minute webinars, each of which features a presentation by an expert in the specific subject matter, delivered via a virtual platform. The sessions offer certified participants 0.1 CEU per event — it’s an easy way for designers to collect the CEUs needed to maintain NKBA certification. Participants must engage in 80 percent of the live sessions to receive CEU credit; registration closes two hours prior to start times. All webinars begin at 12 noon, Eastern Time. To register, click here, and select “Learn More.”

Beginning the series on May 5, Kelly Inglis, a consultant on lighting, education and design, presents “Economical Smart Home Lighting Design.” Smart-home technology is becoming a familiar term in many areas of kitchen, bath and home design — but what does it mean in the lighting sphere? Today, LED lighting has changed the way people experience light, from sophisticated light bulbs that change color to voice commands that set a mood — and the technology continues to evolve. Various lighting systems appeal to homeowners for different purposes, like entertaining, light sensitivity, or energy conservation. Different systems can make spaces more convenient, or help with aging in place by creating a safe and secure home. And wider usage has made smart-home lighting more affordable for a wider range of homeowners.

Attendees will learn to select the best lighting systems for each client and project, discover solutions for aging in place, and learn about the benefits of the latest technology and how to use it.

To register for this session, click here.

Next up, on May 11, renowned lighting expert Doug Walter, CMKBD, AIA , owner of  Doug Walter Architects, will discuss “Kitchen Lighting That Is Effective AND Attractive.” Good kitchen lighting is many-layered,  and infinitely adjustable to suit the user, the activity and the mood, says Walter. Most lighting webinars focus on trends and decorative fixtures, and most kitchens are woefully underlit, according to metrics adopted by both NKBA and IES. Kitchens, being the most critical room in the house for good lighting, require 50-foot candles on the counters for a 25-year-old user, and 100-foot candles for a 65-year-old. He will explain what this means with easy step-by-step instructions for selecting and laying out an effective and attractive kitchen lighting scheme for any project. It’s not all that hard, once you know what to measure and what works. Attendees will learn to critique current residential lighting practices and learn about the use of inadequate code minimums and the use of standard lighting layouts. They’ll also discover how the right choice of lumineres and lamps can provide astonishing improvements in performance, demonstrate how to measure foot candles and lux with a free phone app, and be inspired by photos of dozens of award-winning projects from around North America that demonstrate the use of good lighting and daylighting.

To register for this session, click here.

Leslie Graeser, district lighting manager for Ferguson in Alexandria, Va., steps in on May 19 for “Lighting Made Easy!” Shopping for lighting can seem overwhelming with thousands of lighting fixtures on the market. Plus, with options offering connected and smart-home features, narrowing and refining the decision with the client can be a challenge. It doesn’t have to be — in fact, picking out the perfect lighting to complement any room should be a fun, enjoyable experience. Gain the confidence to navigate the wonderful world of lighting, and learn to identify the correct choice of LED bulb for lighting designs, evaluate how to pick the correct size lighting fixture to fit the space, and explore new lighting offerings for the kitchen and bathroom.

To register for this session, click here.

Finally, Richard Landon, CMKBD, principal of Richard Landon Design, will present “Lighting — The New Frontier” on May 27. The lighting universe keeps expanding and increasing designers’ options, and wading through websites can be an exercise in search-engine-optimized frustration. Landon will explain how to create rooms with a lighting atmosphere that inspires clients — a critical part of kitchen and bath planning. He’ll show designers how they can gain more trust by knowing how to inform and guide clients when discussing lighting options. He’ll review the seven types of fixtures and their four general uses; explore installations and the how-to story, including how designers can make their own fixtures, and develop examples for fixtures from “you-don’t-find-it-unless-you-know-where-to-look” sources.

To register for this session, click here.