New construction lighting planning and implementation

If you want to cook, you switch the "Cooking" scene with a regular switch, which switches and dims the stored lights, devices, etc. accordingly. If you want to eat cozily, you select the "Eating" scene, and so on.

I also have no experience with KNX (except having seen it once at a friend’s), but that is something I can actually imagine implementing. Precisely because I have quite a few plug-in lights (currently no photo of my cozy lighting, I’m also a bad photographer), I find it practical to be able to switch various scenes via light switch rather than via app. So definitely also integrating the plug sockets into the KNX system.

For non-KNX users, I often emphasize that you at least have to think about where you want to switch lights, possibly as two-way switches or also motion detectors, or even centrally programmable socket circuits (Christmas lights ????), because that at least provides a certain level of comfort.

.. your remark about image positioning etc. .. I already said during the house planning phase ... realistically furnish the rooms and then determine the need for lights, sockets, switches, etc.

For lighting reasons (individual furniture pieces) I also chose 4 spotlights for my living/kitchen area back then. I don’t use them often, but it fits. But you still have quite a lot of spotlights in the corners of the rooms, etc. And to me that currently seems too much.

.. your comment about picture positioning etc. .. I had already said it during the house planning phase ... realistically furnish the rooms and then determine the need for lighting, sockets, switches, etc.

That's right. You said that. The furniture was then planned as well. But we didn't go as far as having pictures drawn in. I somehow didn't think about the pictures at all until I saw now that all the walls are blocked by the wall lights. With spotlights, you are more flexible.

The wall lights can still be changed. But not the spotlights anymore. The concrete ceiling will be ordered tomorrow.

And even that is not cast in lead (or concrete?). Unnecessary openings can be closed, forgotten ones drilled afterwards.

The wall lights can still be changed. Only the spots can’t anymore. The concrete ceiling will be ordered tomorrow.

Don’t let yourself be unsettled! At some point, I think you just have to trust the planner you commissioned. You didn’t have a good feeling about the first one; quite a few things didn’t fit there. But with the second one, you had the impression that the design was much more coherent. I think I perceive that you also get along well with the current planner. So don’t let yourself get too confused. My remark regarding the spots was solely because I’m not really a spot-type person; it’s purely a matter of taste. So no reason to be unsettled. As I already said, I even find (since I’m not a spot person) the asymmetrical spots in the corners of rooms (e.g., living room, bathrooms) quite exciting. Will these be fixed spotlights, or will the lamp heads be adjustable? In the latter case, you can nicely highlight and emphasize walls in a targeted way, which certainly also creates beautiful spatial effects through light and shadow areas. Regarding the tiles: as long as your planner knows about the reflective surface, that’s good. If I recall correctly, the spots are positioned behind you when you sit on it on the porcelain. So it seems your planner has already taken into account the nature of the tiles. You can ask him again to be sure whether that was his thought and if possible reflections concern you. Maybe he will direct the light beam so that it illuminates the wall surface and, through diffuse reflection of the (painted?) wall, no reflections or glare arise in the first place. Long story short, if you feel that he knows his craft, you can definitely sometimes just place your trust in him. After all, this is not his first time, one would think. Regarding the point about wall pictures: I’m a bit torn. Sure, ideally you already know everywhere pictures are going to hang. But the question is also how much flexibility you want to keep or how likely it is that such an initial picture planning becomes obsolete over time. We only gave thought to pictures on exactly one wall because we want to illuminate and accentuate it with one (the only) ceiling spot. Everything else will come on site when it’s finished. I think some things can only really be judged when you’re actually in the space, have furnished the rest, and experience the interaction of light, spatial effect, and possible space for a picture.

I somehow didn’t even think about the pictures until I saw now that all the walls are blocked by the wall lights. You are more flexible with spotlights.

But the wall lights can still be changed. Not the spotlights anymore now. The concrete ceiling will be ordered tomorrow.

I wouldn’t really call that blocked. The wall lights could perhaps replace the pictures there. If you understand pictures as wall decoration, the wall lights are just a different kind of decoration.

Regarding the ceiling: as Alex already wrote, some changes can still be made even after ordering the ceiling. Of course, there shouldn’t be a bunch of new boxes at critical points now because otherwise the structural engineer will start complaining, but adding an occasional box should be possible. The only problem is if you happen to hit reinforcement there, so it’s quite good to know the positions in advance, at least with filament ceilings; with cast-in-place concrete it looks a bit different, you can still make changes relatively late. Once the ceilings are poured, however, it’s no use, then even drilling afterwards doesn’t help because the box somehow has to be accessible [emoji6]

Don't let yourself be unsettled! At some point, I think you just have to trust the appointed planner. With the first one, you didn't have a good feeling, and quite a few things didn't fit. But with the second one, you had the impression that the design was much more coherent. I think I perceive that you also get along well with the current planner. So don't let yourself be driven crazy.

Exactly. It will now be brought to a close like this. I have also had several people look over it whom I trust professionally or both professionally & personally. The electrician, our tiler – an all-round craftsman who has already shown very good taste in my parents’ house and has always supported us with advice throughout the entire project here – also for trades he does not cover. And finally the architect.

You have to remain flexible with the pictures. I see it that way too. I also do not consider myself capable of planning every picture. I just noticed that in the huge living room, there probably won’t be any space left for wall pictures in the end. And I find that annoying.