"Andy" wrote in message
. com...
Sounds like a job too small for an architect or a lighting designer
unless you willing to pay for it. Lighting is very personal like buying a
car unless you don't care about your ride. I suggest you review and
approve the type of light fixtures and installation - endless
possibilities - before you let someone run with it otherwise you end up
with a lighting ambiance that rubs against your personality. Get a good
electrician you could work with and review the lighting options before
you give him/her the go ahead. Go see some of his/her installations to
get some ideas first.

It is personal, but that's why I figure that some sort of designer would
be able to translate my needs into the best configuration. I'm willing to
pay for getting it done right. Plus I definitely don't want to hang the
ceiling fan myself so I'm going to have to involve a third party in any
case.

Is it really out of the ordinary to do such a small job? I have
researched the problem a bit and there are indeed a lot of options like
you say, so I figure someone who knows the area could do a much better job
choosing than I could.

I guess my question is that I'm looking for someone who has the aesthetic
sense, knows the functional issues like energy efficiency and what kind of
automation is available, and practical stuff like running wires (I happen
to have wood paneling on all the walls which I imagine complicates
things). When I think of an "electrician", I don't think of someone whose
forte is aesthetics, I suppose. Is that not accurate? Do you typically
get an electrician to do the lighting?

Andy



If an electrician has done many high end residential, night clubs, retail
display lighting then he/she should be able to give you some directions.
Typically they don't do high end lighting design but many do simple
residential and simple retail lighting.

Ok this is what happens on a unique lighting design project: the architect
got the project but sub the lighting requirements to an interior or lighting
designer because its outside of his comfort level, the interior/lighting
designer select the fixture types and location (could be one-of-a-kind high
end custom fixtures from Italy, or wherever, without the UL label, etc.) but
has no concept of California Title 24 or code requirements so the electrical
engineer has to make everything work including Title 24, balancing loads,
foot-candle requirements, ensure good visual comfort, design the circuits
including interfacing to any automation system and insure its in compliance
to codes and draws up the plans and specifications so the electrician could
bid on it. In the end the electrician install the specified fixtures and
wires up everything according to the project plans and specifications.