How do I know which outdoor flush mounts to buy for my home, and which ones to place where?

The best place to begin is by taking some measurements first. The actual height and width of the ceiling and sidewall form the first set of guidelines for selecting the type of outdoor flush mounts you will use. A good rule of thumb to follow is: the lower the ceiling and the busier the traffic, the harder the fixture glass needs to be to prevent accidental breakage.

The circumference of the area to be lit is the next consideration to take into account. Areas where you will be entertaining guests need a broad, evenly distributed circle of light that both contains the activity and safely illuminates the area.

Surprisingly, clear glass often provides the highest level of sophisticated decoration and conjunctive luminosity in such instances. This is because clear glass can be blown with either beveled surfaces or multiple, refractive facets that scatter light like a prism. A flush mount light with a refractive clear glass fixture housing not only disperses the light over a wide area, but also hides the incandescent filament within, making the fixture itself appear as the source of light.

Do you have low voltage flush mount lighting fixtures?

All RLLD flush mount lights are 120V, so energy efficiency comes by selecting fluorescent bulbs as a functionally oriented lighting source alternative to incandescent bulbs. Garages, workshops, and other task-oriented areas can be just as well-lit by a fluorescent overhead as they can by an incandescent, and due to the fact they are left on longer, lower monthly electric bills add up over a period of many months to recreate a noticeable return on investment.

What specific types flush mount lights do you carry? Do you have any that are purely function or purely decorative?

The beauty of flush mounted outdoor lighting it that it combines to some degree the functional and the decorative in any piece you choose. Some models, of course, tend more toward the aesthetic while others are obviously designed more for lighting work areas like garages and sheds. Consequently, Residential Landscape Lighting and Design carries a wide range of flush mount types for outdoor lighting that address the broad spectrum of needs in a very highly diverse marketplace.

Some homes already have such powerful flood and landscape lights that they only require a decorative touch added to porch and patio ceilings. For these dwellings, we offer ornately designed outdoor flush mounts that feature soft white light and either globe or circular fixture design.

Lighting design consultants working in larger or custom-style homes can also recommend to their clients one of our many hand blown hanging lantern or brass finished flush mount lighting fixtures. These feature powerful incandescents whose photo metrics are refracted by the pattern of the hand blown glass in such a way as to create a bright luminous field of light around family and friends and compliment the home exterior with a traditional, early American-style or contemporary decorative flush mount fixture.

For outdoor walkways with overheard ceilings, RLLD provides its clients with a number of ceramic fixture designs that superbly compliment any row of wall sconces along the wall beneath. They can also be used as a porch light in certain instances, although for lower porch ceilings we recommend high impact glass porch lights that are designed specifically to minimize the risk of accidental breakage.

Contact RLLD at 800-239-2939 to find dozens of highly individualized models for specific lighting needs, and click here to read more about outdoor flush mounts in our full-length article on this subject.

I am tired of going behind my wife to turn off the security flood lights. Do you have any motion sensors that a fairly handy guy can install without calling an electrician? We are on a fixed income and I would really like to solve this problem in the least expensive way.

We have many motion detectors and timers that will solve your security lighting problem. Before doing anything, be sure to turn off the circuit breaker before attempting to install the motion sensor device. I would hate for anything to happen to you.

My favorite motion sensor is the "Goodnight" Tuff Dome from Rab. It has a built in photocell and dimmer control to help extend lamp life and provide a good security lighting solution. Your other options are to replace the existing floods with a package motion kit.

Why don't you contact us or give us a call toll free at 800-239-2939 if those don't meet your requirements and we will pick something else.

Thanks for checking with us and we hope to earn your lighting business!