8 Lighting Tips For Your Event

Funny, the things we take for granted. When we go to the Street of Dreams in the evening and don’t stumble around in the dark tripping over curbs or when a hot summer night finally cools off a little and we decide to play tennis in the park. We just walk over to the switch and within five minutes we have light. Isn’t it amazing! There are some right now that would give anything, just for a candle to light their way

Lighting has allowed us to stay up later, stay out later and be safe.

You may be a designer or architect that is asked to design an outdoor area for recreational use or on a committee to arrange outdoor lighting. Here are some questions to ask:

• What area do you need to light?
• What type of work/activity will be going on?
• Do you have a power source?
• Are noise levels an issue?
• Is the area well ventilated?
• Does shadowing need to be considered?

There are some minimum standards of lighting that apply to different activities. Generally, the more there is a need to perceive fine detail, the more light is needed. A tennis player needs more light to see a fast serve of Pete Sampras than does the Street of Dreams, which is more concerned with the ambience of fine homes.

You may also want to evaluate the quality of light that different bulb types offer.

Metal Halide bulbs are between 3-4 times more powerful than Tungsten Halogen bulbs. They produce 3-4 times more light per watt than a Tungsten Halogen bulb.

However, there are tradeoffs. Metal halide bulbs emit Cold white light, will last between 5000-10000 hours, have a 5 minute strike up time and should be left 15 minutes before lighting them again after they have been switched off. Tungsten Halogen bulbs emit warm white light, last between 2000-4000 hours, strike up immediately and can be switched on straight after they have been switched off.

Funny, isn’t it, the things we take for granted?

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
Become Our Fan on Facebook

Block 90 Wins!

Not to be missed! During an evening ceremony at NW Natural on August 26th, The Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland announced the 2009 NW Natural Street of Dreams award recipients.

Realtor’s Choice Awards
Best of Show: Bedford, 937 Condominiums
Best Interior Design: East Village, Block 90
Best Kitchen: The Manhattan, Block 90
Best Home Furnishings: The Manhattan, Block 90

Professional’s Choice Awards
Best of Show: Maison, 937
Best Interior Design: Maison, 937
Best Master Suite: An Uncommon Life, The Encore
Best Kitchen: Maison, 937
Best Architecture: 937 Condominiums

People’s Choice Awards
Best of Show: Bedford, 937
Best Interior Design:The Manhattan, Block 90/Skywatcher, Waterfront Pearl
Best Kitchen: The Manhattan, Block 90
Best Master Suite: Luster of the Pearl, The Encore

We congratulate Jim Gillespie and architect Don Vallaster of Vallaster and Corl Architects who developed Block 90. Special thanks to Debbie Melville of DM Designs and Dawn O’Shaughnessy of Westside Designs who were the interior designers for both units, The Manhattan and East Village. We are so proud of the work they did. We at Landfair Furniture are happy to be involved with the two designers along with Paul Schatz Furniture in The Manhattan, and Asia America and Cargo for East Village.

Imagine. Block 90 won five of the 12 awards!

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
Follow us on Twitter

Balcony Bliss

We love the summers in Portland and we love sitting on the deck having dinner in the evening. Even most hot days eventually bring an evening breeze.

If you've visited the condos in the NW Natural Street of Dreams or are planning to visit, notice which urban condos have balconies big enough to furnish with comfort, style and use-ability.
Two buildings stand out: Block 90 and Encore on the Park. It looks like The Encore has decks of about 700 square feet with views of the river and the new park. Block 90 is showing two pent house condos on the fourth floor that have a 1,600 square foot terrace in The Manhattan and 800 square feet in the East Village. There's plenty of room for all kinds of outdoor comfort and great views of the Pearl.

One piece of advice for any buyer of a condo with a balcony or terrace: Weight can be a consideration. Check with your property manager for any building restrictions.

NW Natural Street Of Dreams Is Going Urban

For the first time, the NW NATURAL STREET OF DREAMS is going urban. This year’s show will take place in the Pearl District of Portland and will feature approximately 10 high-rise condos priced between $1 million and $4 million. Most of the homes include eco-friendly construction, materials and furnishings.

DATES: Aug. 1 to 30.

LOCATION: Various condominiums in the Pearl District.

HOURS: Noon to 8 p.m., Wed., Thurs. and Fri.; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. (The tour is closed on Mon. and Tues.)

ADMISSION: $15 for adults during peak hours (4 to 8 p.m., Thurs., Fri. and Sat.; and all day Sun.); $13 for adults during off hours (all day Wed. and Thurs., and noon to 4 p.m., Fri.); $6 for children 6 to 14 years old; kids younger than 6 are admitted free.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to streetofdreamspdx.com.

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery is very pleased to have Dawn O'Shaughnessy and Debbie Melville use our furniture in the overall interior design in Block 90 PH 401.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
Follow us on Twitter

What's New With Landfair Furniture?

Click on ad to enlarge

The latest ad in Explore The Pearl and the lovely Beverly (in Red on middle left) talking about the Street of Dreams, this time in condos in the Pearl.


She and Dawn O'Shaughnessy and Debbie Melville decided on a contemporary interior design style in the condo on which they worked.

Bev & Mike
Landfair Furniture + Design gallery
Follow us on Twitter