Still (or not so Still)
Life in Sandpoint

At the Seasons at Sandpoint concierge desk, we are often asked for recommendations on various vendors to help with home decor and repair. Today’s post is by guest blogger Heather Loman, Interior Designer at Sandpoint Furniture Carpet One.

Layers of light play off the natural views and light from your windows

Adequate lighting is imperative to the function and purpose of your home, but good lighting can also go beyond simple function.  There are three main components to a good lighting design:  ambient or general light, task light, and accent light.  All of them serve different purposes but together help unify a room and the objects and people within it.

Ambient lighting is the foundation for any lighting scheme.  It is the primary lighting of the room and provides sufficient light for basic safety and illumination.  Often, this is provided through an overhead source such as a chandelier, ceiling mount fixture or recessed can lighting.  Sometimes, such as in a theater or media room, it can be softer light situated around the perimeter of a room at regular intervals.  Few rooms are without an ambient light source of one type or another.

A layer beyond ambient light is task lighting.  This can range from decorative low-voltage pendant lights over an eating bar in a kitchen to a tableside lamp situated next to your favorite reading chair.  Task lighting is necessary wherever your routinely perform activities such as cooking, reading, scrapbooking, etc .  When figuring the amount of wattage needed, consider how much is comfortable to avoid eyestrain or accidents with whatever activity you’re doing.

Accent lighting is yet another layer in lighting design and perhaps the most sophisticated, as it serves a purely decorative function.  Accent lighting can be used to highlight a certain work of art, a plant, a dramatic corner or alcove, or even wall texture.  The types of fixtures available for this function include track-lighting, can lighting, spot lights, wall sconces and art lights.  Accent lighting adds visual drama to a room and allows certain aspects to either be emphasized or recede into the background.

While shopping for light fixtures, keep in mind not only their basic functionality, but also the look they help achieve in your room.  For example, a wrought iron chandelier might look right at home in a rustic log cabin, but might be too heavy for, say, a Seasons residence on the water.  Look at the fixture both lit and off, as you will be looking at it both during the day when natural light might make turning it on unnecessary, and at night when you need the light it provides.  Also, consider the wattage for your space – this is especially important for both ambient and task lighting.

All in all, choosing the right lighting for your home is one of the most rewarding home improvements you can make.  It can instantly bring life to a room, help bring out the color and drama of your space and create a haven for you to enjoy your favorite activities.

I’m happy to answer any of your questions in the comments section here, or please feel free to stop by Sandpoint Furniture and I can consult with you on your particular needs.

Chris Hove and his wife arrived in Sandpoint on April 1, 2010. Perhaps not the best time for someone who had been living in Dallas to arrive, but fortunately we had a mild winter and beautiful spring to help with the transition.

Chris and wife Andrea

You’d think he would be suffering from culture shock, moving from one community to the next. A bit of a change after all. But he grew up in Christine, North Dakota, population ONE HUNDRED FIFTY, so he feels like he’s come back home, only with better views.

I’d be curious to know what the other 23 people Chris graduated high school with are doing today. Have they hop-scotched across the country like he has from one luxury hotel job to the next?

Chris has made a career in the hospitality industry and it’s been good to him. It’s taken him to Minneapolis, Long Island, Southern California and Dallas. Life brought him to Sandpoint via his employer DCM Hospitality.

Brush with fame: He’s been in luxury hospitality all his life, so he could go on and on with the stories. One of the coolest? The night Tom Petty’s stylist left the jacket he was to perform in back at the Montauk Yacht Club Resort and Marina where Chris was Operations Manger. A quick call to Chris and he brought the jacket over, saving the show (the silent hero)!! He was invited to hang out and watch the concert from the backstage, and meet Petty.

Since his arrival, Chris has quickly become involved in downtown initiatives. He is an appointed member of the Sandpoint Tourism and Recreation Committee, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association. It’s obviously a great way to become immersed in the community and to get to know the people. We will keep you updated on the big issues via this blog. Speaking of which, did you subscribe via email? It’s right up there – upper right-hand corner. see it?

When Chris is not at work, he is exploring the region with his wife, Andrea and is pretty excited about the football season. His favorite team is the MINNESOTA VIKINGS, and has been all of his life. (GO VIKINGS, PURPLE PRIDE!!!) He also keeps himself busy on his days off participating in 2 fantasy football leagues.

Chris has met most of the residents of Seasons and looks forward to meeting the rest. Please stop by and say hi. He can be found at one of the many Seasons events and welcomes your feedback.

He also wants to know who you’re rooting for this season.

Something about the beach and the dock at Seasons at Sandpoint just screams for a party or gathering. We try to do one a few times each month depending on the season and the weather. Here is a quick clip, albeit rather delayed, of our End of the Dock potluck party at the end of August. It was great to see residents and their friends in such a peaceful and stunning setting. If you were there, please share in the comments section.

We look forward to seeing the owners at the Seasons Owners’ Fire Pit Friday at 8 pm. Bring something to drink and something to roast!