When LEDs (light-emitting diodes) came on the market, people were slow to use them at home, because the lights tended to give off a bluish-white hue. Today that has all changed. Advancements in technology mean that LEDs can produce that warm, yellow... more »

With the rising costs of energy, the depletion of finite resources, and the projected long-term effects of emitting carbon into the atmosphere, using less energy for heating, cooling, ventilating and lighting a house is becoming extremely important. Passive... more »

Today's printers do so much more than put ink on paper. Now printers use layers of plastics and metals to create custom decor and even building materials. Not too long ago, new fabrication technologies like 3-D printing and laser cutting were limited... more »

Bathroom remodels have been taking off in the past few years — today the bathroom's design is just as important as the kitchen's, making bathrooms with a universal appeal in design and aesthetics more in demand than ever. And that includes lighting.... more »

Skylights offer the potential to improve any house: They bring natural light to rooms that might otherwise be dark; they frame views of the sky and clouds; they provide a focus in a space; and they can make a statement. This ideabook focuses on the latter,... more »

Exterior lighting is just as important as an interior lighting design. Universally designed exterior lighting ensures a smooth transition between indoors and out when the evening rolls in. Well-executed exterior lighting design also makes all the... more »

Sometimes a lamp needs to be more than just a lamp. Paging through your average catalog or browsing a home store tends to yield the same results: average table lamp, floor lamp or ceiling fixture. But designers have taken notice and are providing... more »

When I was a girl I was a tree hugger, and that's no metaphor. My childhood home was in a clearing surrounded by beautiful woods, which I loved. Had you told young me, face pressed against the trunk of my favorite maple, I would one... more »

Before you update furniture, replace floors or remodel a living space, consider whether your lighting works. Lighting is a telltale sign of design quality and one of the most affordable ways to update your home without busting your budget. It sets a mood... more »

Looking up at the 17th floor of a certain residential tower in Malad, a suburb of Mumbai in India, some residents often wonder what the heck is going on up there. At night the brightly lit interiors glow vibrantly in every color of the rainbow. Some nights... more »

When I was growing up, my mother would bemoan others' limited imaginations: "Some people can't see potential; they just can't visualize things." My problem was never a lack of imagination. An argument could be made that I have had too much... more »

There's a good reason the bell jar lantern has such an elegant, timeless quality that works so well in many different spaces. With roots in medieval and Renaissance designs, this lantern has evolved into a classic fixture that has suited different design... more »

They're sculptural, they're elegant and they're beautiful. I've seen these origami-inspired lights popping up all over the place lately, and I think they are here to stay. Like some of the modern icons of the 20th century (think Nelson... more »

Don't look now, but you're on the Internet. It's great, isn't it? Soon your household appliances — refrigerator, stove, alarm clock, air conditioner, garage door opener and lights — will all get on the Internet, too, just like you are. This... more »