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Only a few display lighting specialists will attempt to tackle lighting an antique cabinet of any kind. Antique cabinets represent a very fine form of furniture that constitutes a form of art in and of itself. They are both ornate in appearance, and exceptional in value. Any significant amount of cutting into the wood of an antique to install lighting is simply out of the question. Both the aesthetic and the value of the cabinet will be ruined if the wrong lights are installed, or if the wiring is not done skillfully and precisely in a manner sensitive to the unique design of the cabinet.
In a way, antique cabinet lighting is much like playing cards. Every free standing cabinet presents its own individual form to be considered, and typically showcases very unique elements not found in the rest of the home. Electricians have to study the furniture carefully to find opportunities for wiring that do not involve visible cuts in the piece or noticeable protrusion of the wires themselves into the visible interior of the display. It can be very delicate work, even in larger antique cabinets. Lighting designers and art lighting consultants often find the tedious nature of this work too much too perplexing to attempt as a cost-effective line item on an invoice. It is too time consuming for their team, and also requires special cabinet lighting fixtures that many contractors may not have access to.
In fact, many of our clients have already talked to several professionals who simply did not want to take on a job that could not be fit into a standard method of installation that they were comfortable with performing. These clients turned to ILD because of this, hoping to find a more flexible and custom approach to antique cabinet lighting.
ILD is one of the few companies with the experience, know-how, and technology necessary to light antique cabinets effectively and safely. Using a blend of proprietary knowledge, electrical systems, and a keen eye for display presentation, our team can effectively and attractively illuminate a display case of any kind.
What makes our display and art lighting so unique is our creative combination of traditional wiring methods with proprietary new technology that allow for equipment to be custom-fitted and hidden within the interior of the cabinet. Fishing wires through very tight spaces requires a patience and skill at delicate work that few electricianal technicians are willing to touch. Also, locating a light source that will work with such a customized wiring job can also be a challenge for the average electrical specialist. Most linear light strips are difficult to power without larger transformers and obtrusive visible wires. In the case of antiques, there are always cleats and saw cut brackets in the vertical sides that support the horizontal shelves. New home run wiring can be run through these small spaces, and small, custom linear light fixtures can be made for mounting on the undersides of the cabinet shelves. Other than contact pads and a few very small screws, there is no penetration of the wood surface.
This highly individualized approach to Houston Texas antique cabinet lighting offers additional advantages beyond preserving the integrity of the furniture. The customized fixtures we install are made specifically for the dimensions of each particular cabinet, and will not be seen by anyone looking into the display case. All that viewers will see is an ambient wash of light that bathes collectibles and statuary in a luminance that appears sourceless and multi-dimensional..
About the Author:
Residential Lighting Design by Illuminations Lighting and Design. For more information about Antique Cabinet Lighting, Fine Art and Display Lighting, and Home Lighting visit us online.
