Wolfers Lighting Blog

Happy November! Here at Wolfers in Waltham, we're still celebrating the Red Sox victory and savoring the last bits of Halloween candy. But we're also helping our customers gear up for the holiday season. Because, after all, nothing makes a home more warm and welcoming than the right lights.

In typical New England fashion, we've had wild weather in 2018: bombogenesis, tornado watches, and flash flooding, just to name a few of the events from the last year.

While everyone can feel the effects of wild weather, people who own homes near the ocean have many more worries than those of us in the 'burbs—even when the weather is "normal."

For example, the salty, seaside air can quickly turn an outdoor fixture's finish from shiny and new to dull, peeling, or – worse – rusting.

While we can't solve every issue affecting ocean homes, we can tackle that one.

Below, we discuss the best materials to consider for beautiful, long-lasting exterior lights as well as our favorite picks from lighting manufacturers specializing in those materials.

Pro tip: Live by the shore? Always choose outdoor fixtures specifically rated for coastal environments. Even if you don't live on the coast, these fixtures make a great choice because they will last you for years to come.

Today, we're shining the spotlight on Ashley Jacobson who is the director of operations for our three brands: System 7, Wolfers Lighting, and The Boston Shade Company.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? Where did you go to school and what did you study?  

Ashley: I was raised in New Hampshire, and I attended Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston for architectural design.

What drew you to study architecture? How does architecture relate to technology design?

Ashley: My family is very hands on when it comes to the built environment, so I have always had an appreciation for how things were constructed. Still, I never expected it to lead me here. But I’m glad it did.

Integrating technology control systems into a new home requires planning at the earliest stages of home design, so we start with the architectural drawings. Knowledge of building and architecture is essential if you want to design a system that is simple and beautiful. Placement of lighting, shades, technology components, and the modules that control them needs to be done in the most unobtrusive way in order to complement and enhance the home's design.

What's all the fuss about "tunable white"?

The lighting industry is abuzz with tunable white technology, and it's turning up in everything from recessed lights to table lamps. 

Not only is it a cool new technology, research shows that tunable white fixtures might actually be beneficial for health and well-being if they're used the right way in the right applications.

How?

Let's take a look at some recent research about the connection between lighting and circadian rhythms.

Mariana Figueiro is Director of the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Throughout her career, she has explored how light affects human health.[1]

She recently authored a study focused on nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease. In this study, she found that certain kinds of lighting improve sleep patterns, reduce agitation, and alleviate depression.

Here's a brief (and rudimentary) recap of the study's methodology:

So, you've found the perfect light fixture and you've installed it in your home.

Now what?

Here's a roundup of our best care and cleaning tips to keep your fixture looking its best year after year. (Note: if your fixture came with cleaning instructions from the manufacturer, follow those instead. These are general tips in case your fixture didn't come with any care and maintenance instructions.)

In general, the "secret" to keeping your lights shining bright is regular cleaning. By "regular," we mean at least a couple times a year, if you can manage it.

We've been sharing a bunch of staff "spotlights" in recent months, and for good reason! Since our merger with The Boston Shade Company and System 7, our staff has grown quite a bit.

So today, we'd like you to meet Todd Gaito who works as the director of sales for our technology division, System 7. 

How long have you been in the technology design field? What led you to it?  

Todd: I've been in the field for four years now. Prior to this, I spent 13 years in the security industry. I like to think that my transition to the technology-design space was a natural h progression for my career since technology and security have many similarities.  I'm also a big fan of gadgets and technology as a whole, so making the move made a lot of sense.

How and when did you come to work at System 7?      

While ambient lighting and task lighting are primarily functional (e.g., does the room have enough general light to see by? Is there enough light to perform a particular task?), accent lighting is all about improving your home's décor while reinforcing your design aesthetic.

Need inspiration for adding that extra little something-something that will make your room design pop? Check out our favorite accent lighting techniques below.

Today, we shine the spotlight on another one of our fabulous team members: Jennette Kollmann. Jennette works in design and sales for our technology division, System 7.

Where did you begin your career?  

Reminder: we've officially moved our Allston store into our Waltham lighting showroom in preparation for opening a new Experience Center in The Boston Design Center.

All of the Allston showroom staff have settled nicely into Waltham. Stop by soon and say hi. (Bonus: we have air conditioning!)

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We're SO in love with this nautically inspired boat line chandelier by Arteriors Home. Used on a beach house project by our friend and designer Marcia Summers, it looks great at any angle!

We often say we have the best staff on the planet. (We really do!) We love shining the spotlight on our team members, some of whom have been with us for decades, like today's subject: Bob Grossman.

Bob is one of our wonderful sales consultants, and he recently sat down with us for a little Q&A session.

How long have you been with Wolfers Lighting? What attracted you to the lighting industry? 

Bob: I was referred to Wolfers Lighting by a friend and headhunter. I had some experience working for an electrical supply company when I was younger and my friend thought this would be a good fit. I have now been with Wolfers for 33 years in various roles.

What was your career path prior to being in the lighting world? 

Bob: Prior to joining Wolfers, I was the store and district manager for a local retail toy chain store called Child World for 15 years.