apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

oh my god that sofa is amazing. please share. it's vintage right? When I lived in a loft, I put down a couple of big sisal carpets and ran the cords underneath.

although I normally hate overhead lighting, I'd find/make some enormous overhead lighting fixture that would put off agreeable light. In a loft space, it will also help define the different areas.

I think this space needs a rug anyways to define the living room. Can you run a cord along the ceiling and down one of the posts and under your future rug? If that's a drop ceiling you can just run the cords above the tiles, hell i think that case would be begging for some epic paper lantern pendants. Plug into the outlet on the wall i can see, suuuuuper long cord, up the wall.... across the ceiling and down.

Hi Margaret, As an interior designer I face it often whether it's too few outlets or they are simply not in the right spot! The battery powered options for lighting are still pretty light at this point. There are some glowing cubes but the light is more ambient than anything. The lamp style options are few and the batteries run out quickly. I would recommend two things:
1) For table and floor lamps: put a large rug in your room which will allow you to run extension cords toward the wall without much cord showing (or to trip over) and
2) For overhead lighting: install additional overhead lighting in the form of a chandelier or pendent. Hang it lower to make the area more intimate and don't forget a dimmer!
These are a great idea if you have recessed lights.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/lighting/instant-screwin-pendant-light-by-worth-home-products-041919

Best of luck.
~Lorrie
http://www.mydesignsecrets.com/

I can't see what kind of lights you have overhead, but you can buy adapters at the hardware store that convert a standard screw-in lightbulb fixture into a plug.

The other option is running wire covers for extension cords from your existing plugs along the walls and ceilings - either nice white plastic ones or even just pipes, depending on your aesthetic. You can get fittings for the corners and such to make it look nice. Make a little shelf where you can place a power strip up high, and then you can plug in any overhead lights you would want without having to get into doing any wiring yourself.

If the overheads are all florescent, you would also be amazed at the quality of light you can achieve with full spectrum bulbs or combining different bulbs to achieve a full spectrum.

Check these out

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/acatalog/mathmos-tumbler-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/acatalog/TUMBLER_FAZE.html&h=255&w=340&sz=16&hl=en&start=53&um=1&usg=__fcAbbPoRbKe7Q85-K750yrWqaP4=&tbnid=rWAKs6zQ7mTkZM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dglass%2Bblock%2Bsolar%2Bpowered%2Blight%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Sorry,
I meant this
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/acatalog/mathmos-tumbler-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theglowcompany.co.uk/acatalog/TUMBLER_FAZE.html&h=255&w=340&sz=16&hl=en&start=53&um=1&usg=__fcAbbPoRbKe7Q85-K750yrWqaP4=&tbnid=rWAKs6zQ7mTkZM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dglass%2Bblock%2Bsolar%2Bpowered%2Blight%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Personally, I would never run extensions cords under carpets. Although this is commonly done, my sister's husband is a fireman and he tells me that this is one of the top five causes of apartment/ house fires.

Instead, I would tap power off an outlet and run the line through EMT conduit to the spot you want your junction box. This is an authentic way to run power to ceiling lights in industrial spaces, and it meets electrical code if done properly.

Here are some random opinions on the topic of electric cords under carpets (advice that I would agree with):
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/wiring/msg0117003616798.html

The OP states that they don't care for the existing overhead lighting - but why not replace/add new overhead lighting - such as a pair of pendants on either end of the sofa?

I think photographers lamps and professional filmmaker lights look great in industrial-style spaces, and they cast a lot of light.

i use white lights (fairy lights or xmas lights) with white cords...place them along the perimeter of the room (on the floor) and you will be amazed at how much light they emit. mine are up all year, and they're plugged into an outlet that is controlled by the switch that is right inside my front door.

i've also traced the door frame, windows or ceiling perimeter for parties...in a similar vein, you could drape outdoor patio lights across the room...wire taut enough for safety.

glass reflects and scatters light, and i've also piled these lights in a vase on a low-sheen metal table...they're low wattage, and don't get hot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photoinformal/2575244529/in/set-72157605590522228/

You have a big, open space. Can you move your living area around, maybe closer to the outlets? The beauty of a loft is the ability to redefine how you organize the floor plan.

Nice space and that is a beautiful sofa.

Ditto on the comment from lightspeed. Running electrical cords underneath rugs or carpet is not a good idea, as pressure on the wires can cause shorting out and fires...

I do like the idea of running an extension to a closer area on or near the ceiling where you want lighting, and using hanging lights. Your space has soo much potential and I am sure you will be able to make it work for you.

We have a similar situation. We live on 2 flrs., basically 2 large rooms that have overhead lighting. So far we found a great pendant light from Home Depo that we put in the kitchen area, and eventually we plan on changing the others to the same, or else chandeliers.. something else to consider, if your ceiling can hold it is a fan with lights. There are SO many types and styles to choose from there! Best of luck!

I have lived in a very large loft before, and I ditto the idea of moving the seating area to be along one wall at least. If the couch was placed against a wall, it could be flanked by two lamps.

If you must have the seating area in the middle of the space then it makes sense to drop lights from the ceiling, maybe one large dramatic light in the middle, and track lighting you can direct and change. If you read much, you'll need to place a chair near the wall for a good reading light.

Decide where you'll want lamps and screw cup-type hooks into the ceiling - or, if you can convert the overhead fixture, into it. Then run paper lanterns or something else light down to where you want them and across the ceiling, to another hook by the wall, and down the wall.

I use floor lamps that shine up to the ceiling which, in two places, are on top of 33" high book cases - I have 11 foot ceilings so this makes them just the right height. Uplights are a pretty way to light a loft.

can't an electrician extend a line closer to the center of the room and cap it with an outlet facing up from the floor? you'd have to cut a trench in the floor and patch it up once the work is done but at least it's doable. for safety's sake, just insert outlet plugs into the outlets that aren't in use.

First of all, I love your place. Second, if I were you I'd rock the wall sconces like they were going out of style. They'd lend extra light, and I think they would soften the "industrial" feel a little as well.

Try http://www.alluminare.com