Bob watches as the electricians put up a light fixture in the bedroom of the loft. The design of the fixture fits well in such a situation with high ceilings. Bob points out that once the fixtures are hung on the track, they will be much closer to the bed area, and can act as reading lamps. He notes that the set screws bite into the pipe to create a secure connection that will not slide out. Brendan feeds the flexible wire across the ceiling, down the pole and into the connector. With the black canopy concealing the wires, the lighting should look very good.

AJ Paron-Wildes from Bellacor.com joins Bob to talk about selecting lighting fixtures for the remodeled Victorian. She starts with the exterior flood lights and cap lights for the deck in a brushed copper finish. Under-deck lighting will light pathways at night. A seaside outdoor lantern uses dark-sky technology to focus the light onto surfaces and reduce stray light that spills out and contaminates dark hours. The open-plan kitchen and dining area requires a lighting mix. The island needs focused light for tasks but must match the decor. According to Paron-Wildes, overhead fixtures should be 2 1/2 to 3 feet from the surface and eliminate glare. The bathroom has a wall-mounted adjustable-arm lamp while ceiling-mounted fixtures light the hallway and mud room. A rubbed-bronze antique-look chandelier will provide ambience in the dining area and hang three feet above the table. If used in a hallway, the chandelier would hang eight to nine feet above the floor.

Track lighting is installed in the garage portion of the barn. Bob reviews the hardware, bulbs and mounting techniques used. New acrylic filters are used to reduce weight and allow better uplighting.

Hubbarton Forge began as a small blacksmith's shop in a Vermont barn nearly 30 years ago. Each Hubbarton Forge lamp and light fixture is still hand forged in Castleton, Vermont. Using both traditional methods and the best applications of modern technology, the blacksmiths coax a piece of red-hot iron into the shape that will form a stem and leaf on a lamp. They twist and hammer the heated metal into various shapes and forms. Forging is hot and labor-intensive handwork and that is revealed in the artistry and value of each piece.