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I just finished reading the annual Kitchen & Bath issue. I’m a landscape contractor who recently bought a “fixer-upper” and can now implement the thousands of great ideas I’ve found in Fine Homebuilding over the years. I liked the idea of hiding lights in the curtain valances, but it set off some alarm bells. I have read a number of newspaper articles about halogen lights starting fires. Is it safe to put the bulbs that close to the curtains?
Marty
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Marty: Definitely don't use bare halogen bulbs where anything like drapes could be blown into them. Bugs will go up in flames. Drapes definitely will. Many new halogen floor lamps now come with glass plates over the bulb. Helps eliminate the smell of fried bugs. Look for that in any halogen fixtures. Do they still make fiberglass drapes? NEVER wash FG drapes in your own clothes washing machine.
During a kitchen remodel, I put flourscent single-bulb fixtures behind a long valance for several purposes. It hid the fact that there was a structural beam replacing a wall. It provided indirect lighting thereby eliminating shadows and it added flourscent light (energy efficient and doesn't produce much heat) without so much of that odd color because it was indirect. -David
*Seriously, go to a decent lighting store. Their info is free. Some halogens can have certain peculiarities, an up-to-date lighting store can give you the latest, safest info.Congrats, and best of luck with your new abode.
*Have you ever used on of those halogen reading lights ? Those bulbs get hot enough to melt solder.
*Ya Martin, it would seem that you would want to use low voltage lighting for that app. While you are playing around, try out those low voltage jamb switches for closet lights, way cool. ;-)
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I just finished reading the annual Kitchen & Bath issue. I'm a landscape contractor who recently bought a "fixer-upper" and can now implement the thousands of great ideas I've found in Fine Homebuilding over the years. I liked the idea of hiding lights in the curtain valances, but it set off some alarm bells. I have read a number of newspaper articles about halogen lights starting fires. Is it safe to put the bulbs that close to the curtains?
Marty