The chandelier used to mark your arrival. Clad in crystal, it met you in the foyer of a well-appointed home, then dazzled you from a power position over the dining room table.

Rarely did you find a chandelier in a starter home. To see them illuminating any room other than one used for entry or dining, more unusual still.

My, how times have changed!

Today chandeliers rate as a brilliant idea just about anywhere — from modest homes to magnificent mansions, contemporary digs to traditional houses. They dangle decorously in almost every room of the house.

Credit our bigger-is-better building boom. Taller ceilings and increased volume in today’s homes means chandeliers are less likely to crowd a room.

“Nine-and-10-foot ceilings almost demand something hanging to fill the space,” says Joe Rey-Barreau, educational consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA) and assistant professor of interior design at the University of Kentucky. The ALA is a non-profit organization of leading manufacturers, retail lighting showrooms and sales representatives in the U.S. and Canada dedicated to expanding public knowledge about lighting.

Colorful chandeliers create drama in the kitchen. Mini ones provide elegance to powder rooms. Even walk-in closets go upscale when lit with a small chandelier.

“Beyond laundry rooms and garages, any room is an open target for hanging a chandelier,” adds Rey-Barreau. “More commonly, kitchens and bathrooms have become the popular locations for chandeliers.”

Chandeliers add twinkle to a boudier. “People are treating their bedroom suites as more luxurious personal spaces with elaborate bathroom areas, so it is not unreasonable to consider chandeliers there, either,” says Dan Blitzer, Director of Education for the ALA..

Central forced air heating is by far the most popular kind of Zone heating, also called zone control heating, is a system of dampers installed in the ductwork of your home. The dampers are basically large valves that can open and shut to direct air flow. A damper is installed at each room junction, effectively splitting the house into a number of isolated zones. A thermostat is installed in each room with a damper, allowing that room total control over the air flow into it.

Zone heating is often installed to remedy the two problems mentioned above. Normal central air heating is inaccurate in which rooms it heats, so zone heating isolates each room to allow precise control over their climates. Central air heating causes a lot of uneven hot and cold spots, due to its reliance on a single thermostat. Zone heating compensates for this by installing many thermostats, ensuring that each room can be set to the comfort level of whoever occupies it.

By solving these two issues, zone heating saves energy and makes the rooms in your home more comfortable to be in.

Sometimes, life is funny and throws you a little curve ball now and again. One of the things we have come to rely on in life is electricity. When it doesn’t work as expected or it doesn’t work at all, it can be extremely frustrating. You want electricity when you want it and not after you have had to flip breakers, unplug things and wiggle wires. It is actually very dangerous to mess with switches, outlets and appliances that are not working as they should. It is best to leave it up to a professional electrician in Pasadena to handle any kind of electrical problems. The crew at The Electric Connection can get your home’s electrical fixed and working properly again.

It is important you recognize the signs of an electrical problem that can lead to something as dangerous as an electrical fire that threatens the safety of the home’s residents. Your Pasadena electrician wants you to watch out for the following;

*A popping or snapping sound coming from an outlet or light switch *The switchplate, outlet or wall around the area feels warm or hot to the touch

These are all signs you have a problem that needs some attention from an electrician. Pasadena homeowners should call at the first sign of any of these problems and avoid using the outlet or switch until it can be looked at. If you can shut off the breaker that feeds the problematic switches and outlets, it would be safer. Give The Electric Connection a call today and schedule your electrical repair.

Your home is probably adequately lighted for the most basic needs, but could it be better? We all have certain rooms that we would like to highlight by shining more light or maybe a special piece of artwork deserves some specialty lighting. You may have stopped and wondered how you could go about illuminating that one wall without going through some serious trouble. Don’t worry about it anymore! An electrician in Pasadena can help you make your home into a space that accents your art or whatever piece you want to show off a bit. The Electric Connection has skilled electricians who can help you achieve the perfect lighting scheme.

There are numerous lighting fixtures you can use to create the perfect lighting scheme for a room. If the room should be flooded in light, you can consider a brilliant chandelier that casts off plenty of light. Recessed lighting can be mounted directly into the ceiling to avoid obstructing the view of any wall décor. Low-wattage bulbs can be put into the recessed light fixtures to create a soft glow that will add subtle light without being too bright or too dark.

Another option that is ideal for spotlighting certain areas in a room is track lighting. There are several options you have to choose from. A U-shaped track can easily light up an entire room with different wattage lights being directed at various walls or directly down into the sitting area of a room. There are numerous styles to choose from. Light up a mantle with a low-wattage bulb and spotlight artwork on an adjacent wall with a colored bulb or a specialty bulb specifically aimed at bringing out the colors and details of a piece of artwork. Anything is possible. All you need to do to handle your Pasadena electrical needs is give The Electric Connection a call today.

Since we covered outdoor lighting last time, this week we thought we would focus on lighting that you use more frequently. Everyone wants a house with good lighting. A bright house can fill you with energy or create a peaceful atmosphere. There are plenty of options out there for you if you are redoing your indoor lighting.

Pot lights are becoming a popular option in many homes over the last few years. Because pot lights are receded you can get a great “clean” look in any room. You can put many pot lights in one room without it looking busy or overwhelming. This also helps to give great light coverage from corner to corner.

In February we talked about adding a new chandelier to your home. This is a fantastic option for those with a big open space. A chandelier can bring the room together and look great. If you pick out the right one you can also add tons of light to a dark space. For those of you looking for something above and beyond this could be the right option.

Ceiling fans offer both functionality and aesthetics. We previously discussed the efficiencies’ of having a ceiling fan during the summer to keep your home cool. With a ceiling fan you can turn down your thermostat and let the fan regulate the air. Ceiling fans also come in a wide variety of styles, ensuring that there is one for every room. If you have an upper level room that is just getting too warm during the summer months, a ceiling fan is perfect for you.

Track lighting used to be bulky and unattractive. But the design has significantly improved over the years. Now you can find sleek designs with a combination of heads and lights. Track lighting allows you to focus the lights in the places that need it most. In a living room you can create a cool environment, or in a kitchen you can brighten up a workspace.

Each one of these lighting options can fit a different space. Take a look at your room and think about what works best for you.