NeeD MORE
space?
Guest rooms are
typically used two weeks
out of the year -Think of the possibilities
for your spare bedroom!
We custom design,
build and install!
photo courtesy of Design associates Photo by Roger Wade
2301 Palmer | Suite #1 | Missoula, MT
406-240-3927
www.MontanaMurphyBeds.com
pamschultze@gmail.com
Murphy Wall Bed Hardware dealer
60
ments, etc., but if not lit correctly, those things may look lower in quality and
washed out. In order to get the value from what you're putting into the house
make sure it's lit the correct way."
Another factor Overman emphasizes is that current lighting may no longer
work if you change the color of paint or the fabrics in the room. It's important to consider how the light is absorbed or reflected. For example, if you
have shiny kitchen countertops (think stainless), you probably don't want
light that will produce a glare off them. Additionally, did you know that the
logs in your fabulous log home or cabin actually suck up the light?
While many seem to be jumping on the CFL bandwagon, Overman asks
"How old are you? If you are in your 60s or older, your irises may not adjust
as fast as they once did. Cheap CFLs are not crisp which can make it hard to
read by them." She also discourages recessed overhead lighting in the bathroom because it can make you look 15 years older. It is better to put lamps on
the wall, properly aligned to shine gently on both sides of your face.
Exterior lighting adds another dimension to this discussion. The cities of
Billings, Bozeman, Missoula, Kalispell, and Whitefish have all adopted outdoor
lighting regulations, called "dark sky" ordinances, aimed at reducing light pollution that obscures the stars. The best way to handle this issue is expressed in
the motto of the Big Sky Astronomy Club in Kalispell: "Lights Down, Stars Up".
Outdoor fixtures should shield the light from going upward.
D I ST I NCT LY M ONTANA • SU M M E R 2013
