Greta and Aurelien combat the Winter Blues!

Have you-all started suffering with the Blues? It's quite understandable, what with those bills from the Holidays arriving, and some shattered memories - was it really worth it? Well, my darlings, As Aurelien and I will show you, You don't have to go to Merida on the Yucatan to get cheered up! Simply cast a critical eye around your dwelling, and decide that you will listen to our sage advice. Spruce up your lighting. Remember that I made you promise to work on lighting first! With all this talk about Green lighting, and our poor tattered world, please read here these ideas that will help you look good at home. Play "ball" on the home court! - if you can't control how you look and feel at your own home- where can you? So first, a few key ideas that are crucial to understand the new Flourescent low-wattage bulbs: FIRST: CRI=Colour Rendering Index. That is the very important concept of how this light bulb does or dosn't distort colour in relation to our best perception of colour - Sunlight. A CRI of 65% is often like the old cool white flourescent tube...most often too much yellow-green -never flattering on any skin tone, whereas another bulb of a 98% CRI will mean that the colour balance is closer to the sun and dosn't distort your lovely hair and those stunning baby-blue eyes! NEXT, Degrees Kelvin: the scientist , obviously Dr. Kelvin, decided to measure the colour temperature of the Sun and rate various light bulbs, incandescent, halogen, or flourescent accordinhg to their light colour. So a low 2000 degrees K. is warm light similar to those old-fashoned incandescent bulbs that put out more heat than light, and use lots of power. Remember , wattage does not equal brightness, or Lumen power as it once used to, so we save on heat output, and gain in brightness with the new compact flourescents...A high number of 3500 or so, will mean a cooler, clearer, airy feeling, especially good for kitchens and work rooms... For your info; I must mention Greg and his team at that snazzy shop Arevco on Greene Avenue for the best in "exotic" light bulbs of all kinds, an elegant selection of European fixtures, and the surprise of a repair and re-wiring service for your balky Tizio or the Magnum of Mumm's that you want rewired into a lamp (to remember that special event). They are very knowledgeable. In contrast to Arevco, zoom on over the Decarie Gulch to Royalmount to find Union Electric and their bewildering collection, from Techno styles like the superb Artemede, to shimmering crystal chandeliers - even in Black! Track down Laurent or Nathaniel there for some savvy advice. Now, back to those Blues we mentioned. Have you ever heard of SAD? that's Seasonal Affective Disorder - we Canadians and other "inmates of the North" like Scandanavia, are subject to varying degrees of depression when we are deprived from the vitamin D and other wonders of sunlight on our Pineal gland, and Melatonin production. So at Union, and other places in town you can find a special fixture that will expose people suffering with SAD to the proper spectrum of light - simulating all those days on the Mexican beach you just can't get to right now..; It really works, as Nathaniel and Aurelien will tell you. We have mentioned this device often for years - especially to office workers who don't see the sun often in the winter (those poor ones in Vancouver and London!).. Well my loyal reader, please forgive me for being too clinical and technical this time, but Aurelien and I do try to respond to our readers, and at this time of year, what could be more timely? Do watch our for too much texture in your lighting, try to bounce your light off a wall or ceiling, because it's so ooo much more flattering!. So- Save a good martini for Aurel and me to celebrate your happy lighting experiences. (Have you tried Blair's Martinis with Hendricks' Scottish Gin at Liverpool House on Notre Dame? I await your report,. as always, colourfully yours, Greta von Schmedlapp. keep your comments coming: catch us at www.colorsbyaurelien.com.