I just moved my company, Gates Interior Design into a new studio across town, and I wanted to take the opportunity to install LED lights where I could, especially since I love lighting and I love LED! In my old showroom I had approximately 70 cans installed. They made the showroom beautiful and warm, but the initial cost to do all of the bulbs in LED would have been well over three thousand dollars, and trying to select a few cans to put LED’s into seemed impossible to choose.
My new studio had zero lights installed when I moved in. Over the past week I have been getting all new lights installed, and this time around I am purchasing LED’s to replace my inefficient halogens. My bulbs were purchased from Home Depot:
LED bulb
LED bulb
The big question still remains, are they worth the investment? Heres my opinion on the new LED bulb:
[ VIDEO] – Amanda’s take on new LED bulbs
As I mentioned in the video, I purchased the bulbs from Home Depot. They were $39.99, on sale for $34.99. There is a big difference in the CRI (color index) of the LED bulb, compared to the halogen. The Halogen actually looks yellow, which in the past when compared to traditional lighting the halogens appeared crisp and white. Not any more! Big difference in the two and quality of light.
So what do you think? Are you ready to invest in the more expensive bulb? I have to admit that initial cost stings…..but if I have these bulbs ten years from now thats an investment that’s next to free!
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Does look like a difference. I’ll have to try it Amanda.
I hope the move continues to go well–that is not my favorite thing to do.
Thank you for this review Amanda. I am willing to try for sure in spite of the cost. Changing bulbs is so difficult for us, hard to reach places that not having to change for several years is worth the investment alone. Give Harley a smooch on the head please! xx
The publicist has LEDs in her ugly track lighting and she is very happy with it. The bulbs, not the ugly track lights.
Thanks for testing it for us. I will give them a try.
Thanks for the great information. I bet your power bills will be lower, not only to power the lights but lessen the load for the air conditioning. Question, how do that bulb’s crisp white light transfer to home atmosphere? Obviously it’s great for showing color in your showroom, but how will it affect color in your home? Will it be too store like? I am slowly adding led lighting to my kitchen and bath, as the older bulbs burn out, just to soften the blow of the expense. Glad to see someone in the world of decoration and design urging the rest of us forward. Thanks.
Chris, so far I am impressed all around. I am in the middle of remodeling a clients family room (you may have seen her fireplace remodel here: http://gatesinteriordesign.com/blog/2011/10/before-and-after-fireplace/) I have encouraged her to put these same LED’s in her home. She will need less of them and with the clarity and quality of the light she actually can SEE better.
I am a believer! My 30 year old house (Gulf Coast) has recessed can lights and the heat they emanated was just super-intense, particularly in our kitchen which is an enclosed room. Add summertime and partygoers who refuse to leave the kitchen and you get the idea… DH changed them out for these self-enclosed LED light replacement kits from Home Depot that go right into the space the cans leave behind. Now, the colors in the kitchen actually look “purer” to me and no more embarrassing sweat! Interestingly, I hated them in the hallway – much too much of a bright “spotlight” effect and made him change them back out. But, we have them in our kitchen and dining room and would do it in the living room if I could figure out a way to change them on a 30 ft ceiling without renting a scaffold! Here is the link – they also come in brushed nickel:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&R=203010504&catEntryId=203010504
And speaking of LED, we’ve heard Amanda tout the wonders of double-sided LED light strips that can be stuck under or in cabinets or toe kicks or wherever you need discreetly placed lighting. They’re now available at HD as well! We are currently installing the one at the following link and ladies, it comes with a DIMMER! http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203119778/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Awesome, thanks for the info Kate. I have used the retro kits for cans before too, and I must admit they are fab! Many of the condos I have done here in Nashville have low soffits in the kitchen and the retro kits are great for reducing energy, heat and getting better light! Thanks for adding the links
I like the LED’s – yes they are more expensive but they last longer and burn cool.
Amanda, thanks so much for this! very timely – we’ve just decided to move forward w/ a kitchen renovation, and I’ve heard a lot about LEDs being expensive but not what makes them so great. Your post was super helpful – we’ll try to go this route, too! THanks so much.