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34 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | July 2015 Lighting Trends to 3500K bulbs, which offer from daylight to brightest daylight illumi- nation. "The bathroom is one of the frst places you wake up to," she says. "This temperature of lighting gives an 'awake' and happy feeling, arousing your senses and helping you get ready for the day. It's an emotional uplift. "In general, when it comes to lighting in the bathroom, I frst make sure the design includes enough lu- mens per fxture for the size of the bathroom to ensure there is proper lighting for dressing and makeup application," she states, noting that dark-colored walls, tile and cabinetry may require more lumens to ofset the dark materials. "This also gives the fnished design a more 'professional' or showroom feel. Then I consider what the areas are being used for and make sure the client's preference is taken into consideration. Some people prefer to have some fxtures with a warmer Kelvin for mood lighting in one area with cooler, brighter lights over the vanity, while others choose the same Kelvin for the whole room." Favorite application for LED lights: "Since we use so many diferent types of LEDs throughout the bath, it is dif- fcult to choose a favorite," she says. "However, some of my personal favor- ites are the under vanity [toe kick] lighting and the glass panel. But all lighting is really paramount, includ- ing can lights that provide general room light, directional lights such as small adjustable cans for lighting an accent wall and strip lights – which are handy because they give of a lot of light in a small package and can easily be hidden – for mood lighting, where lighting from underneath can give a neat feeling." Karyn Judd Reilly, CKD WINSTON SALEM, NC Difused lights: "My clients don't want to see dots of light," says Reilly, in ref- erence to the spots of light that can be seen from LED tape lights without difusers. "Now manufacturers are of- fering a difused glow option where the diodes disappear into a stream of light. That can be a big deal, especially for clients with glossy countertops… dots of light will refect and that's never a pretty picture! Difused glow is where everyone is going." Difusers are available for puck lights as well as recessed can lights, Reilly adds. In cabinet lighting: "As far as cabinet lighting, it used to be that undercabi- net lighting was special, but now that's pretty much a given," she says. "In fact, I feel like we are doing a disservice to clients if we don't ofer undercabinet lighting, because it's so important to have high-quality, high-intensity light- ing that is adjustable. Now I get more requests for lighting inside cabinets… for every cabinet, even those without glass doors such as pantries and blind corners, or any cabinet that is difcult to access. Some cabinet manufactur- ers are now ofering lighting inside cabinets as an option." Reilly especially sees tape lights being ofered as an option, since puck lights can more easily be added on site. "A frameless cabinet has no place to hide lights," she says. "It provides a much cleaner look if it can be recessed into the side panels." Unexpected touches of light: "Light- ing is now becoming part of the design," she explains, noting that, with the increased availability and reduced cost of LEDs, she now thinks about how to incorporate lighting at the beginning of a project, rather than waiting until the end. "It is also part of the inspira- tion. When we incorporate lighting at the beginning, we can include more un- expected uses of light that make a design special. It can be something as simple as toe-kick lighting, which is great when it can be used with a motion sensor so when someone comes into the bathroom late at night, they don't have to worry about turning anything on. It's a small and relatively inexpensive treatment, but it's something that makes a huge impact and it's something that every- one tells their friends about! "I'm also using RGB [colored] lights behind acrylic panels," she continues, also adding that she often lowers the crown moulding on upper cabinets and adds lights to give a glow onto the ceiling. Favorite application for LED lights: "While not necessarily part of the kitchen or bath, I'm seeing the big- gest growth area for LED lighting in closets," she says. "It's been huge. Ev- eryone wants LEDs in their closets… everything from lit closet rods to the sides of [shelving] partitions. It gives more of a boutique feel." All of the lighting in this bath designed by Michelle Fee is LED. In addition to bar lights over the vanity, toe kick lighting underneath the vanity and can lights in the ceiling, Fee also included one of her favorite uses for LEDs lights, a frameless glass panel, such as what is featured above the tub in this bathroom. "Because there are no windows, the panel feels like an opening, giving the space an extended feel to the outside," she says, noting that it also has limitless color options. Linear drains have become quite popular in bathrooms of all styles that Michelle Fee designs. In this bathroom, the drain runs the full length of the back wall and is concealed by tile skirting. "A fun feature we like to add to our hidden drains is low voltage, waterproof LED lights inside the drain that are controlled by a wireless remote and are also on a motion sensor at the bathroom doorway," she says. "Not only is it used as a nightlight, it is also great while using the shower. Introducing lighting into unusual areas in the shower adds a pleasant element into a typically routine necessity." Photos: Change Your Bathroom