restaurant development + design is a user-driven resource for restaurant professionals charged with building new locations and remodeling existing units.
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3 2 • r e s t a u r a n t d e v e l o p m e n t + d e s i g n • N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5 LIGHTING L ighting sets a mood and creates ambiance more effectively than perhaps any other restaurant de- sign feature. Dramatic or subtle, bright or soft, it plays a strong support- ing role in creating brand identity, and it's an increasingly complex piece of the overall design puzzle. That's long been true for upscale operations, but the same can be said of other segments. Even QSR and fast-casual chains have begun using sophisticated lighting products and design to help create a more comfortable — and competitive — ambiance. In most restaurants, getting lighting right involves creating zones of different types and levels of light versus relying on one-dimensional overall bright light. That means employing a combination of architectural lighting, which isn't neces- sarily meant to be seen, and a variety of decorative lighting styles, such as wall sconces, pendants and chandeliers. When selecting lighting products, designers and operators have plenty to consider. Design and style are obvious, and there's a fantastic array of choices to suit every restaurant's concept and aes- thetic. However, there are important con- siderations beyond how a fxture looks and contributes to the overall design. These include durability in high-traffc environments, ease of maintenance, re- placement cost and level of energy use. What's the biggest buzz in lighting today? Dramatic improvements in LED products. Whereas LED bulbs once pro- duced only cold, harsh, blue-white light and weren't dimmable, they're now available in a wide range of warm tones and dimmable lamps that do just what restaurants need — make people and food look good. As well as being 85 percent more effcient than incandescent bulbs and up to 50 percent more effcient than compact fuorescent lights, LEDs have major environmental and long-term cost- saving advantages. Those qualities make operators and designers who spec them look pretty good, too. 2015 PRODUCT ISSUE Cable-Hung Link Pendant The cable-hung Link pendant from Hubbardton Forge features a true bright metal body encasing a clear, thick blown-glass shade. It's available in Vintage Platinum as well as a new Soft Gold fnish. The glass comes in a variety of colors and can be custom blown in any color to complement a restaurant's design and color palette. The Link can be hung individually, in clusters of multiple pendants or in rows. www.hubbardtonforge.com Ultra-Thin LED Light Panels Custom-made ImagiLux ultra-thin LED light panels feature bright, even illumination across the entire surface, with no grids, etchings, engravings, dots or light guides needed. The even light means the panels can backlight any translucent material or surface. The edge-lit panels can be placed directly against surfaces with no visible lines or patterns. Applications include signage, wall graphics, displays, shelving, showcases and other creative design applications. www.imagiluxLED.com New Art Glass Sconce Design Part of Derek Marshall's collection of American art glass lighting, the Hera wall sconce is made by molding glass into a shape featuring subtle impressions of radi- al, vertical grooves with a fared-out center. The sconce holds two bulbs with a total maximum of 200 watts. It's designed to work with incandescent, halogen, compact fuorescent or LED bulbs and is available in a variety of art-glass colors. The Hera measures 15½ inches high by 7 inches wide and has a 4-inch extension from the wall. It is ADA compliant and UL listed. www.derekmarshall.com