at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012 - (Page 183)

| BRIGHT INTERIORS| Let there be light 4 GO SOLAR DON’T BE KEPT IN THE DARK. IF YOUR ROOMS HAVE LITTLE NATURAL LIGHT, THERE IS MUCH YOU CAN DO TO CREATE AN AIRY HOME 1 WORDS: Lynne Maxwell | PHOTOGRAPH: Getty Images Roof windows or skylights will bring your home alive with natural light. Available in different sizes, skylights can be easily integrated into your ceiling and roof construction. They will make your rooms feel more spaciou and expansive. Skylights that open up can also provide ventilation in rooms that may otherwise be stuffy. 2 3 In any building, a single southfacing window can illuminate 20 to 100 times its area. Dispersing light reduces heat and glare while reducing the need for overhead lighting. You can use Venetian blinds to your advantage, too, by adjusting their angle in order to aim light where needed. Angling the blind towards the ceiling can reﬂect light downwards without causing signiﬁcant heat gain. Blinds can also reduce unwanted heat and glare while maximising the use of light. An obvious way to disperse light is to paint walls and ceilings in light colours and use reﬂective sheens on ceilings. However, you’re no longer limited to using white. Paint companies have introduced a revolutionary paint that makes a room reﬂect twice as much light compared to conventional emulsions and thus making your room feel more spacious. DISPERSE IT windows. Light shelves are typically used in high-rise and low-rise ofﬁce buildings, as well as some institutional buildings. This design is generally used on the side of the building where maximum sunlight is found, and as a result is most effective. Not only do light shelves allow light to penetrate through the building, they are also designed to provide shade near the windows, due to the overhang of the shelf, and help reduce window glare. Exterior shelves are generally more effective shading devices than interior shelves. A combination of both will work best for optimum light distribution. INSTALL SKYLIGHTS Solar lights or sky tubes are excellent for maximising daylight and the technology of the reﬂector and reﬂectance of the tubes makes it very easy to utilise the oncoming light. In addition, they are much easier to install than a skylight. A tubular daylight device (TDD) allows you to ‘collect’ daylight and is the most technologically advanced daylighting product available today. With breakthrough technology, design and materials, it provides an abundance of pure, clear, natural light for any interior space. Organise the ﬂoor plan of each room to take advantage of existing light and minimise glare and excess heat. Make the most of southern exposure – south-facing windows tend to be great sources of light, year-round. ■ { { Not only does natural light lift spirits, it lessens demands on energy, too – vital in today’s eco-conscious world SAVE ON ENERGY Install a light shelf – a horizontal light-reﬂecting overhang – to reﬂect light deeper into a large room, providing natural overhead light. It will also reduce glare and heat next to USE SHELVES 5 REARRANGE www.athomemagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2012 | 183 http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012

EDITOR’S LETTER
WELCOME FROM SARAH
NEWS
AWESOME AUGUST
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
TABLE TALK
THE THRIFTY FIFTY
TRENDS ON TRIAL
BEENY UNCUT
ESSENTIAL HOME-BUYING GUIDE
SURVEY SAVVY
WHAT’S THE SCORE?
THE NEW FACE OF PROPERTY?
SELLER SECRETS
LOCATION LOCK-UP
SOAP AND GLORY
OPEN UP
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
TOP SHOP
THE BRIGHT STUFF
GET THE JUNGLE LOOK
WARDROBE WARS
A ONE OFF
MOSAIC MAGIC
GLASS ACT
TAKE TO THE FLOOR
FRAME GAME
IT’S A BLINDER
SNUG AS A BUG
BURNING QUESTION
THE A-TEAM
QUICK FIX
BEAT THE BUILDING BLUES
LET THERE BE LIGHT
GOING DOWN
GARDEN GREATS
DIRTY DEALINGS
ALIEN INVASION
JUMP RIGHT IN
LITTLE WONDER
OUT OF SIGHT
PROFESSOR GREEN
ECO EXCLUSIVE
TALKING TRASH
PRO PLANET PROJECTS
HELLO, SUNSHINE
CARBON-NEUTRAL COVER
STAR GLAZER
EARTH HOUR
HOT TOPIC
MASS REDUCTION
WASTE NOT
SWITCHED ON
ETHICAL INTERIORS
YOU LIVE WHERE?
COMING SOON
WINNING SPOT
LUXE LINEN
CATCH-UP
STOCKISTS

at home with Sarah Beeny - August 2012