When is an imperfect fit Perfect?

We are posting these photos and notes with a special thanks to the Client who understood that imperfection was perfection and that rails and iron in an estate like this would not be perfectly plum and that the lights may be slightly out of skew while other light and decorative iron elements are crisp and concise. This is an Estate that all should take notice of and applaud the architectural team ~ home owners and inspirational individuals, Thank you for letting Architectural Detail Group’s made to order division and http://www.adgironworks.com/ participate.

Private Residence Shady Canyon Architect: Forrest Studios, Bob White Interior Designer D. Kruse Contractor: Pacific Design Estates Project time: Lighting 1 year planning and fabrication Iron - fast tracked 3 months Concept to Completion Hot forged Wrought Iron custom designs and finishing made to feel like a 500 year old Italianate estate; Lighting was an eclectic mix of new and old. Home was just completed after 3 year of construction and planning.

What to do When Planning: Inside Tricks of the Design Process:

Planning is everything, whether you are doing a major renovation or just switching some pieces in a room. If you’ve ever done any construction, you know what a headache it can be to coordinate all the pieces and people of the design puzzle. But by following our advice, you can watch as the pieces easily all into place.Buy decorative lighting and other fixed pieces that will require specialized installation at the beginning of the project. This way, if the vendor has a backlog on time or product, your project won’t be delayed. It is much better to have the pieces waiting for installation than to have the installers waiting for the pieces because they won’t wait. You’ll have to call back the electrician/plumber or whoever, creating a hassle that you could have avoided had your fixed items been waiting.Good luck with your new design and let us know how we can help your project to go smoothly.
GO-FORMS project schedule.pdf (55.45 kb)

Buying Ideas, Not Items

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Gail Claridge, of Gail Claridge Designs in Westlake Village, CA. As one of the first women to get a contractor’s license, Gail has been helping people improve their homes for most of her adult life. Talking to Gail made me realize how important it is to seize opportunities as they arise, whether it’s making a smooth business deal or setting off an antique to its best advantage.Gail is nothing if not practical when she gives advice about adding antiques to your home décor. She is quick to point out that if an item will clash, you shouldn't buy it. Here are some of her other gems of wisdom:
When you begin collecting antiques, ask questions. The dealer will be able to tell you the history of item. Then all you have to do is take it home and spruce it up.
If the item will clash with your existing décor, don’t buy it. A good piece can stand on it’s own.
To make a special piece more prominent, use three-layers of lighting to make it stand out: ceiling spots, chandelier and a lamp.
When working directly with vendors and craftsmen, like ADG, make sure:

• How long they’ve been in business and do they have a good track record?
• Do they stand behind their product?
• Will they give you things on approval so that you can try them out?
• Service is everything; work with person, not a company.

Ever entrepreneurial, Gail went on to tell me about her upcoming design center, which will be the only one between Los Angeles and San Francisco, located in Westlake Village. After getting tired of renting storage space for her backlog, she bought a warehouse and decided to sell pieces from there at a discount. She asked other designers to join her and they also sell their backlog at discounted prices. Now, she is planning to create a design center so that designers can share books and supplies and samples in one convenient location.Gail finished our talk by saying that no matter how old you are, when it comes to hiring designers you are, “ buying ideas, not items and you always have that.”

What Does Green Lighting Really Mean?

In our first newsletter of the year, we extolled the virtues of green lighting. But you probably still have questions about the different kinds of sustainable bulb options that are available. Whether you want to replace bulbs in existing light fixtures, chandeliers, sconces or lanterns or start over with ADG’s decorative lighting fixtures the choice is yours as how to begin.
Among the best quick green energy investments a consumer can make is the replacement of traditional light bulbs with an energy efficient bulb. But preferably not Compact Florescent Lights (CFLs). These curly-cue shaped light bulbs give off the same amount of light as a traditional light bulb, and expend dramatically less energy, so replacing old light bulbs with new CFLs can save you money on your electric bill but are filled with toxic chemicals, still produce waste that should be carted off as electronic waste and not in your regular trash bin.
So what should we all do to help spare the environment some of the burden of power production? We have solutions that will last 50,000 to 100,000 hours as compared to CFL that go about 11,000 hours. These bulbs are 5 times that of CFL and 20 to 50 times life of regular incandescent. They also produce little heat, are easy to screw into existing fixtures and look relatively similar to a regular old Edison light bulb and Tesla would be proud. LED light bulbs, (Light Emitting Diodes) are another light source that pulls significantly less power, and produces brightness. LED bulbs about 10 times more energy efficient than CFLS, but they are quite a bit more expensive to purchase upfront. And deferred maintenance and your energy bill will prove that replacing incandescent with LED will brighten your home and save you money. Even the White House Christmas tree now uses LED technology.
A couple other techniques for greening your lighting include the use of Solar lights for outdoor areas, or if you are doing a remodel you may consider including features such as solar power, sky lights or strategically placed windows which can offer enough light during the day can give you a 0-wat lighting scheme on sunny days. ADG can help you make the decision of what kind of green lighting options will work best for your space. Contact us today for a consultation.
Click here LED Presentation compressed.pps (1.30 mb) to see the many ways a traditional fixture should be using LED or energy efficient bulbs. Some of these projects have been designed from the initial inception of sustainable solutions and others are on their way to being replaced

US Department of energy on LED lamping click here


Technical Aspects of how LED works by the State of NY. click here


Green Insurance since you are replacing your home with Green energy alternatives and on the track to low carbon footprint and just being conscientious about the environment.

Elegant Elements

The boldness of iron can lend elegance to rustic, modern or classic look to individual space. ADG offers customized ironwork that will fit your space exactly. Marc Appleton, Author/ Architect’s book The New Classicists exemplifies details and collaborative from architect and designers to the trades. No matter what type of lighting or decorative accessory you are looking for, from French, Italian, Spanish or English, lighting to fencing, grills for doors or railings, the appropriate designed detail can enhance a space and lend scale and significant architectural appropriateness..

When establishing a room or yard, proper lighting is a significant and an important element, but it’s not just the light coming out of a fixture that is important, the light fixture itself is functional detail and an architectural element that helps to define or accentuate a yard or room’s motif also adding ambience.

Even if you have good natural lighting, a light fixture or decorative iron element can provide a focal point for the space. Complimenting light fixtures to other accessories in a room or yard, like the grillwork on a door, the railing on a staircase, or the fence around your space, adds a level of congruency that will impress your guests and exemplify classic taste.

The benefit of working with companies like ADG on your project rather than buying fixtures and accessories off the floor at a retailer is the hands on approach and knowledge that is brought to each project. Offering personalized pieces such as hand crafted iron lighting and antique inspired reproductions along with well designed and fabricated doors, hand wrought rails and furnishings are a traditional method of defining and complimenting the architect’s and designer’s gestures towards the architecture itself. Architectural Detail Group can even work with your existing pieces in the interest of conservation and are happy to work with you to provide green and sustainable solutions.

Contact ADG at 818-597-9494 for more information or submit a question to info@adgmail.com

See Our Collaborations On the Web!

Part of what makes a design team great is their ability to collaborate on different projects with different designers, architects, homeowners and visionaries to fulfill the needs of their client. At Architectural Detail Group, it is our mission to enhance the built environment’s needs through positive relationships. Over the years, we have been fortunate enough to have our joint efforts featured different places on the web. Check out some of our projects and then let us know how we can help you make your design come to life, from concept to completion.

The following four celebrated architects, designers and contractors are all advertisers in the new LUXE magazine.

We have worked with Hablinski + Manion Architects throughout the years to create unique lighting resolutions, which you can see at their website. Italian illuminated project, a classic style Mediterranean in Brentwood and an English Manor in Bel Air.

With ------Gordon Gibson Construction, Gerald Olesker and Joey Gennaro have designed and fabricated lanterns, chandeliers and other lighting details for upper-end residences and spec homes. Currently ADG is working on a project with Gibson Construction partner Bruce Paez in the Oaks in Calabasas.

We have also collaborated on decorative lighting and ironwork designs with Bill McWhorter, former president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the ASID and Board member to Greystone Mansion. Currently, we are working on a private compound in Shady Canyon. This illustrious piece of architecture has been under construction for several years and we just completed the lighting, inside and out, in less than five weeks, and are now completing the decorative ironwork. Pacific Design Estates is the general contractor. We will post progress photos in an upcoming blog.

Recently, we were honored to be featured on http://luxemont.com/, a luxury lifestyle website devoted to letting the world in on the latest in luxury living. See the article at http://www.justluxe.com/fine-living/home-decor/article-228896.php, and then let us know how we can provide luxurious lighting and decorative ironworks for your project. Send us an Email/ click here or shop at adglighting.com

Know Who You’re Working With

Working on your project can be exciting and intense, especially if unexpected inconveniences arise. Our years of experience in the custom lighting and decorative iron design business have made it clear that having a set of key vendors as resources is an essential. If and when the time comes to need to review pertinent issues with a proficient consultant, you can call upon a needed vendor for additional advice. ADG has been a building industry contact for years and has experience working with multiple designers and developers to make sure that your vision is maintained throughout the process.

Building projects are time consuming and being able to rely on a vendor is important. Using established sources to get your project done ensures that each element is perfect and will seamlessly mesh together. By making sure that your team has a strong support network, you can depend on them to help you, so that all parts of your project go as planned. Not only will a team of experts make sure that all components of your project coordinate with each other, they will be available to you each step along the way.

Rather than asking someone you don’t work with how to solve any problems that arise, make sure that your network of vendors is strong and knows what they are doing. As custom lighting and design experts, we make sure that the customer can always reach us and is able to discuss any concerns they may have about their project.