recessed lighting

Brightening many a wall these days are sconces and other lighting fixtures that provide versatile illumination and more than a little decorative flair. Wall-mounted fixtures often supply ambient light, bouncing their beams off walls and ceilings or emanating a subtle glow through translucent covers. They may also serve as equally purposeful task lights directed at work surfaces or stairs. They have the advantage of utilizing wall space, substituting for a lamp what would take up part of a tabletop or counter. How they work Descendants of candle-holding brackets, sconces are usually closed at the base and open at the top, so light washes up the wall and onto the ceiling, where it provides gentle overall illumination of a space. They are particularly effective at lighting entryways, ornamenting the walls of formal living or dining rooms, or creating a romantic ambience in a bedroom. Designer installed sconces in his bedroom, dining room, and living room. "Sconce lighting is a softer effect," he says. "It creates a certain mood." He makes sure all of his sconces are on dimmer switches, so he can adjust the light level as the mood dictates.

You must get permits before tackling a bathroom remodel. Contact your building inspector to go over the scope of the project to find out exactly how much you''re permitted to do. When your permit is granted, you''ll receive a schedule list that''ll tell you when to call for inspections. Remember to shut off the water before demolition The special-order fixtures, fittings, shower pan, tile and glass block panel can take weeks to get in hand, so do the necessary legwork and ordering well in advance. Before gutting the bathroom, check to make sure that there are shutoffs for all the fixtures or a master shutoff for the entire bathroom. If not, buy ball valve shutoffs sized to fit your pipes. Then turn off the main water supply line where it comes into the house from outside, cut the pipes feeding the bathroom and install the new shutoffs right away. Hire pros before you get bogged down Don''t think you need to do the whole job solo if you don''t feel qualified or able to perform all the tasks, especially the plumbing and electrical work. Pros will greatly speed up the project, which is particularly important if the bathroom under construction is the only one in the house.