Reinventing an Old Light Fixture
Reinventions are the new modern decor. From chic to contemporary, you can reinvent even the most complex home decor items to suit the needs and soul of your home. This is especially favored with home furnishings such as cabinetry and lighting fixtures. When you’re ready to transform your bath, kitchen, dining room or hallway, just a few light fixture accessories Denver CO will do the trick. You may even find some upscale fixtures at a local antique shop or estate sale.
Accessorize
To enhance the look of any lighting fixture, you must accessories to some degree. It’s quite possible to add a few minor adjustments to achieve the look and feel you want to your room. Accessorizing your home furnishings takes your room's ambience to a whole new level. Your antique chandelier can be dressed with an antique bird cage for an electric look and feel. Transform your current fan and lighting with windmill blades and energy-efficient light bulbs. A spray painted chandelier dramatically changes the look and adds a specific style to the room it is in. You can make a small transformation into a faceted lamp with some primer and paint as well. The options are truly endless, and homeowners enjoy the act of DIY because it opens a sense of wonder and enjoyment as they get a feel for their own personal style. And this style change can be as simple as added materials (fabrics) to a stand lampshade.
It’s important to keep in mind which room you’re planning to redesign. Are you renovating the entire room or just a few elements? For your modern kitchen, swapping your fixed ceiling lights with a few pednet lights will warm the kitchen space while subtly drawing guests to a specific point in your kitchen.
Other Ideas for Older Light Fixtures
Whether it’s an antique fixture that you’ve had in storage, or you’re ready to replace what you currently have, you can incorporate your older fixtures into beautiful accessories around your home. Here are just a few ideas for repurposing your old light fixture accessories Denver CO:
Bird Feeder/Bird Bath
A bird feeder and bath can be made out of practically anything, and when you have a glass fixture that is time to recycle, repurposing this into a bird feeder or bath makes a lovely addition to your garden.
Light Fixture Planter
Turn your ceramic lamp shade or ceiling fixture into a beautiful and modernized planter that hangs easily from any room in your home.
Outdoor Lighting
Spruce up your outdoor scene with some fancy lighting techniques. With an already stylish antique chandelier, you can repurpose it with a new coat of paint and add a cheerful glow of citronella candles to keep bugs at bay. Experiment with different options of lighting as well for your outdoor space.
Added Glow
Vintage or not, glass lantern pendant lights make a great upcycle light feature. Take your small or large glass lantern, fill it with LED string lights (color is up to you!), and place it on the deck, hallway, or even patio. Its warm and captivating glow is entertaining in itself and sure to enhance the look of your space.
Are you ready to give your home a lighting makeover? At Galleria Lighting, our top-of-the-line lighting fixtures and expert service will offer the best quality for your home and budget. Have an idea in mind? You can shop by room or by product to view our wide selection of exceptional products. Visit our showroom today to get started!
5 Hallway Light Fixtures for Your Home
Your hallway is just as important as any other area of your home when it comes to lighting. Proper hallway lighting is important not only for illumination, but aesthetics as well. As we shine a little more light on this subject, these five hallway lighting fixtures for your home will spark some ideas for style, and perhaps a whole new DIY project.
Mini Pendant Lights
For a rustic, farmhouse look, adding many pendant lights to your home provides a warm glow in mud rooms and walkways. Pendant lighting is cool and casual anyway and can be layered and styled to bring the right lighting to your hallway. Modern pendant lights bring illumination to dark corners and come in a variety of styles that work together when paired. The brilliance of pendant lighting is in the ability to bring adequate lighting to areas of your home. The mini pendant lights come in a variety of modern styles that fit your hallway lighting scheme.
Chandeliers
For relatively spacious hallways, add a modern twist with something a little larger, yet still providing warm illumination to the entire unit. Chandeliers are elegant and luxurious all on their own and are available in many shapes and sizes. They provide the perfect lighting for dark entryways and create a dramatic ambience. With a variety of sizes and styles from your lighting store Castle Rock showroom, you can choose from crystal chandeliers, mini to large modern styles and dimmers that create perfect glow.
Track Lighting
Track lighting is best in areas of your home that need direct beams of light. Living rooms and kitchens are the best areas for track lighting. This type of lighting is versatile and efficient, adding a contemporary feel to your decor. There are a few styles of track heads to choose from, from colored glass to smaller, modern track heads which come in basic black or white. Track lighting also compliments other lighting elements in the room and can be paired according to your style and hallway depth.
Table Lamps
For a vintage feel, you can create almost another room in your home using your hallway. Lamps are an appliance which illuminates and brightens the space in a fixed area of your hallway. Lamp lighting is a perfect addition to your fixed ceiling track lighting as it brings some extra light and style to your hallway. In combination with other lighting, you can choose from wall lamps, candlestick lamps, torchieres, table lamps or even transitional lamps.
Ceiling Lights
These majestic lighting schemes aren't just for your lighting store Castle Rock showroom. Ceiling lights complete the look of your room in a subtle way. They are high quality and illuminate in all the right places. Adding the right overhead lighting for your hallway presents no-fuss decorating ideas as well. Ceiling lights are out of the way but visible enough to know they're present. And you can combine them with other pendant lighting fixtures to bring out certain qualities of hallways. Ceiling lights can be dispersed as a utility, flush mount, or recessed lighting, depending on the hallway scheme and your current needs.
The Best Lighting for Your Hallway
The most efficient hallway lighting is not aesthetics alone but the overall use and function. While your lighting schemes should provide a comfortable aesthetic, adding adequate illumination to your room or space is a must, especially when it comes to your hallways.
Your hallway deserves attention, so let's create a space in your home that stands out but blends perfectly. Shop high quality lights now to see our many selections at our Galleria lighting showroom today!
Which Track Lighting System Is Best?
You know the importance of proper lighting in your home, especially in focus areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, and dining rooms. Lighting can either detract from or enhance your room's ambiance. When you’re looking to replace or add on to your already-existing lighting in whatever room, track lighting is a statement piece that can only increase the value and the comfort of the home it's installed in.
Track Lighting 101
Before you visit your local track lighting fixtures Denver CO showroom, there are a few things you should know. The three types of tracks you should know of are Lightolier, Halo, and Juno. While they are similar to each other in terms of dual or single circuits and contain standard track types, they're not interchangeable and are different in terms of where they're being used.
The H-type track has a completely grounded bus bar, whereas the other two track types can have it built into the body. Most homes and businesses carry each type of standard because of its design advantage and sufficiency. Although the Halo and Juno type tracks don't have a grounded bus bar, one can be installed.
Why Should I Consider Track Lighting?
While the many options of styles will have your mind swirling with ideas, consider your “why” for track lighting installation. If you're looking for adjustable lighting or if you need a focal point with more illumination, track lighting can provide these simple solutions. For example, museums and restaurants have track lighting to showcase art on the walls and create a more intimate comfortable setting when dining out. Track lighting makes excellent accent lighting.
The Best Track Lighting for Your Home
As you can see, track lighting can add the perfect balance of comfort and style without an overwhelming overflow of lighting. So the best track lighting for your home should be one that will enhance the look of the room. Consider the number of lights you feel is necessary for that room. You want accurate lighting as well as a great looking light fixture. The brightness and wattage are important factors for giving off the right output. For example, 400 lumens LED will be less bright than 800 lumens.
Bedrooms are considered more intimate and cozy at night, so choosing the right bedroom lighting is essential. You would typically want a fixture with adjustable lighting. Overhead track lighting provides a statement and can be customized with modern pendant lights that offer a classic, intimate look to your bedroom space.
Kitchens are a typical place you would find track lighting. Whether placed over an island or mounted on the ceiling or on the wall, your track lighting should be mounted above your countertop or working station. Your ideal track lighting system is what you deem functional, and an asset to your kitchen space. Layered track lighting or mixed lighting fixtures such as wall fixtures or pendants, can provide an array of focused brightness around the kitchen.
Track lighting also provides excellent accent lighting as well. Whether in the kitchen, the hallway, or living room, targeted and flexible accent lighting is used to enhance a specific area of your room without swallowing too much attention.
When you're absolutely sure which room you're looking to install track lighting in, contact a local track lighting fixtures Denver Co expert for tips and installation assistance.
Lighting is everything, and with the variety of choices, the ideas for design are endless. Galleria Lighting provides exceptional modern lighting fixtures for your kitchen, bathroom, and more. Shop online now, or visit one of their convenient locations to get an in-person experience!
Top 6 Modern Chandeliers For Your Home
Chandeliers present an elegant luxury to your home. It can be a show-stopping piece that creates a warm glow around your kitchen, dining, and even bedroom space. At one point in time, the chandelier was a furniture all on its own, dripping with glistening crystals that were handmade and bound together to finish a center masterpiece in your hallway. But not just any chandelier lighting will offer that eye-catching flair. There are plenty of modern chandelier lights Denver CO stores that showcase a brilliant selection that fits your style and budget.
Atomicly Sculptured
Blasting off with a space-like edge while maintaining it’s modern composure, these brass-covered chandeliers expose individual Edison bulbs surrounded by darting gold rod designs. This is a perfect modern talking-piece for your living or dining area and provides a dim light for a warm ambience.
Archaic and Candle Lit
Bringing it back to primitive times, these bold yet classic candle-style chandeliers have taken a modern turn. A single or triple candlestick is set inside an antique metal design. Plays well with your traditional farmhouse house setting and rustic home decor.
Antique White Charm Chandelier
When you want a fixed setting for a small space, a charm chandelier or pendant light can set a cheerful tone in that smaller room. The vintage style chandelier creates the perfect romantic ambience with its picturesque appeal.
Contemporary Crystals Chandeliers
This traditional fixture boasts the classic, luxurious 19th century fashion. When you think of crystal in a lighting setting, your mind's eye gravitates towards the glitz and glam of the 1930’s ballroom or large lofty mansion. The modern chandelier Denver CO showroom can feature a brilliant crystal fixture that suits just about any room in your home.
The Shell Chandelier
Gaining in popularity are stunning, pearly white flat shells fixed side-by-side in a rectangular setting. Drooping from a metal frame, these shells customarily cascade over one or several rows of lights, giving off a natural glow.
Industrial Wheel Chandelier
Mimicking the wheels of a wagon, This modern yet simple talking piece Will light up the room. Each wheel features an ascending incandescent bulb that diffuses the perfect lighting. It is fixed to a metal frame and provides industrial charm for that farmhouse feel.
Adding Textural Elements Around Your Chandelier
You grasp that the chandelier is a focal point of your room, or perhaps is one of many. But is that the concept you are aiming to achieve? With all the modern chandelier Denver CO fixtures on the market today, you can add depth and texture to your surroundings to create a style that appeals to your current or future decor. For small or narrow rooms, adding light interior colors with monochromatic and efficient lighting designs add a texture and depth to give off a spacious look to your room. Oddly shaped rooms can be transformed to appear brighter by adding darker colors. For example, darker grays and brown contrast over wall art, your table setting, and even a hanging chandelier light. You can mix and match lighting fixtures to broaden the depth and add a layer of illumination. Pendant lights and floor lamps work collectively two disperse layers of light for living spaces, and darker bedrooms would benefit from bedside lamps and sconces placed opposite of the bed.
Whether you're transforming your kitchen or bathroom, you can transform the function and style of your room with just one look. Chandeliers add class and versatility. With our wide variety of modern chandeliers, Galleria Lighting offers top quality and exact designs for your room. Stop by one of our convenient locations today!
What Are Lighting Schemes?
Excellent light quality enhances the look of even the dullest room. For example, it’s true that you can spruce up an outdated guest bedroom with ample window light and some modern lighting fixtures. In 2020, 88% of people used their personal style when picking out the lighting in their home. This means that personal style outweighed factors like current decor trends and energy efficiency. When it comes to the lighting in your home, you’ll certainly want the lighting scheme of each room to mingle with your personal style.
Light: More Than a Visual
When choosing efficient lighting for your home, consider the room in which lighting will be placed or adjusted. For example, rooms with wood paneling and variegated carpeting can be difficult to style. For whatever reason, your grandparents or family members chose to keep their home's aesthetics very dated before turning it over to family. The good news is that with efficient modern lighting and proper fixture placement, you can spruce up this outdated room in no time. Bedrooms that mimic this outdated appearance may have drop ceilings with various textured tiles. In any case, to save money on renovations, proper lighting in these rooms can dramatically change the appearance of the room. Adding fashionable lighting accessories to your home can give it the boost you're looking for, without the hefty expense of renovation.
Lighting Schemes for Your Home
Whether you have a room in mind to update or not, it's important to figure out your lighting scheme in advance. Your kitchen, for example, is a gathering place for guests and family. The kitchen is where you prep food and cook, so ample lighting is top priority in this part of your home. Each room in your home has to serve a purpose. In places like Colorado, the lighting during the winter can be dull and dim. Your home may be located in a geographical area which makes certain portions of the house look a little dimmer and gray during the winter months, so it’s imperative to choose a lighting scheme that brightens the room, even during those “off seasons.” There are 5 types of lighting schemes to consider before shopping at a designer lights Denver Co. location. Efficient lighting schemes are based on downward and upward proportions. In no particular order, the first scheme is classified as semi-indirect lighting which throws 60-90% upward while the rest of the light is diffused off of other elements in the room. Next is what we know as direct lighting, which means that 90%-100% of the lighting will be directed towards an object, such as with street lamps and some industrial lighting. Semi-direct lighting uses deflectors that diffuse 60-90% of the light, while the rest of the light highlights the walls and ceilings. Lastly, diffused lighting offers light to surrounding areas by using shapely fixtures to give a systematic appearance to your room.
Keeping the Light On
You should choose a lighting scheme that best suits the style and function of that room. Aim for color contrasts by layering lights and mixing a variety of fixtures to enhance the appearance. Cabinet lighting is becoming popular in kitchens these days because they add just the right amount of light to your countertops. Pendant lighting is an easy way to decorate and add depth and style to your home, dining room, living area, and kitchen. Pendant lighting offers warm illumination, and can be adjusted to fit the style of your room.
Design possibilities are endless when it comes to your lighting scheme. Galleria Lighting provides exceptional lighting to complete your home's theme. Stop by our designer lights Denver Co. showroom to view our student selections of pendants, chandeliers, and more.
How Do You Choose a Kitchen Lighting Fixture?
Lighting in your kitchen is what high quality knives are to a chef. There's nothing more frustrating than using dull knives, and just like lighting in the kitchen, you need to cook, prepare food, gather with friends, and just feel comfortable in a well-lit area. You have quite a few options when picking the best kitchen lighting fixture.
Your Kitchen Function - The Layout
The overall function and aesthetics of your kitchen is just as important as the lighting itself being functional. If you built and designed your home yourself, chances are you knew exactly what you wanted in the kitchen because you designed it. However, if you purchased your home from someone else, the kitchen layout was already designed and set. You could change some minor elements of your kitchen to make it more functional for you and your family. However, when you're thinking, “I'm on a search for kitchen lighting near me,” you quickly realize the options are confusing.
Many homeowners don't actually know the layout of their kitchen, other than their personal experience and its appearance. Some homes just have a one-wall layout kitchen which is exactly how it sounds: one whole wall dedicated to your kitchen prep and cooking. It may consist of a single wall of cabinets with lower and upper shelves and is typically found in smaller kitchens. The L-shaped kitchens are another popular kitchen style and are an option for both large and small kitchens. This workspace is shaped like a letter L with two perpendicular walls with cabinets all around. It's a very practical space for extra storage and even has a small seating area to utilize as you meal prep. Another popular kitchen design is the gallery kitchen, which consists of cabinets in two rows that face each other. This kitchen layout is a cost-efficient option, giving homeowners that extra storage.
Your kitchen layout will help you determine whether you need a pendant light, LED lighting,track lighting, or a chandelier. Do you think a ceiling or wall-mounted fixture will give your kitchen the look that you desire? If you have a kitchen island, do you use it for gathering or food prep? Or both? Who occupies the kitchen more? Is it a heavily-trafficked area? Do you have children and pets? All of these questions are key in finding the right lighting for your kitchen. Lighting can dull gorgeous colors and make an uncomfortable spot light. So before you set out in search of kitchen lighting stores near you, determine what purpose the lighting fixtures in your kitchen will serve.
Lighting Fixtures - Endless Options
Is your home a major entertainment spot for guests? Or do you find a traffic of hungry kids of all ages making their way to “Mom's Kitchen” after school? You can choose your lighting elements carefully and based on your home's environment. Decorative layers of light keep a cozy and well-lit room. And if you want something eye catching, chandeliers and sconces provide a pleasant layer of lighting that adds dimension and depth.
Don't hesitate to go bold with your lighting. You can always tone it down with an easy dim light feature. You can find lighting that adds a translucent element to the rest of the room. These come in various shapes and sizes that will add a pop of color and be the ultimate talking-piece.
You can even add a light dimension in your cabinets and under your counters, which adds a beautiful glow to your fine china. Cabinet lights are becoming increasingly popular, as they add a cozy ambience to your kitchen.
With some very important details to consider and the help of an efficient contractor, you can create the best looking (and most functional) kitchen space of your dreams. It all comes down to lighting. Galleria Lighting will help you choose the right pendant, chandelier, or even track lighting for your kitchen needs. Stop by today!
Three Styles of Kitchen Island Pendant Lights
When it comes to your kitchen, lighting is everything. Whether you’re entertaining guests or enjoying a quiet family meal, kitchen lighting can have dramatic effects on the mood of your gathering. You’ll notice a variety of styles, shapes, and colors that fit the look of your kitchen. Outdated or dull kitchen lighting can really make or break the function of your kitchen. These three kitchen lighting styles over your island can enhance your workspace while creating a stressless setting for cooking and gathering.
Discovering Your Kitchen’s Style
So, maybe you’re thinking of installing a kitchen island and want a pop of lighting to reflect the detail. Or maybe you just want to make use of your already installed island space with a little more cooking inspiration. Whatever the reason, you will need to take a look at your overall kitchen style. This style discovery will help you determine the “what” and “why” for your kitchen island and how the lighting will serve the purpose you’re trying to achieve. What’s your intention for this space? How is your island going to serve a useful purpose? Will you be prepping and cooking meals? Will it be a place for guests to sit and eat? Will it have drawers and cupboard space? All of these questions will help you decide the kind of lighting you need before you go and buy something based on aesthetics alone.
Three Kitchen Island Pendant Styles
Now that you have an idea of what you want, you’ll have a better idea of what type of island pendant lighting fixture you’ll need. Don’t trust just any fun or eye-catching light you see; take your ideas to someone who knows about lighting and can better assist you with what will functionally fit your style. A pendant lighting Denver Co. expert can help you choose the right one for you.
The Modern Chandelier
A modern style chandelier is an excellent, traditional way to keep fixed light on your island space. A chandelier provides an even stretch of light across the entire island so you can cook, gather, prep, and work in a comfortable setting.
Comes in Threes
For a perfectly- lit island space, why not add depth and function with three-tier pendant lighting! More than just aesthetic appeal, adding two or more lights can brighten the entire kitchen when choosing the right pendant lights. When pairing pendant lights, you can get as creative as you like.
Antiquated Antique
Antique lighting can end up being the talking piece of your kitchen. It’s timeless and can transform any kitchen space into a lovely working area. Yes, even an antique lighting fixture can spruce up your kitchen space quite nicely. Most antique fixtures can be revised to fit the functionality of your kitchen. They are capable of being equipped with low/highlight functions and can be rewired to work efficiently with your needs. Be cautious when choosing any antique fixture, especially if you’re looking at a garage or estate sale. These fixtures may not have retained all their functions or have the original paperwork for installation. This can lead to issues, like fire hazards. A pendant lighting Denver Co. expert can better help you understand what you’re getting into with antique fixtures.
Lighting and Island Tips
When you’re looking for kitchen island lighting, adding layers of light can dramatically affect and enhance your kitchen's overall appeal and cut out any glare. The pendant lighting options are limitless and fun to get creative with.
There’s no better way to enhance the look of your kitchen with pendant lights over your island. Every pendant light has its unique charm and serves a purpose in your kitchen. Ask our helpful team at Galleria Lighting to help you choose the right pendant for your kitchen island today!
Using LED Strip Lighting Accessories
Made popular for residential applications in recent years by the social media channel TikTok, LED strip lighting has actually been commonly used in restaurants, bars, and other commercial spaces for years. In case you aren’t familiar with the product, these lights are made on adhesive strips that can be stuck on any smooth surface. They often offer a rainbow of color options and even color combinations on the same strip. They are usually controlled by a remote control and LED strip lighting accessories might be the perfect addition to many spaces in your home.
LED strip lighting under your cabinets
Under your cabinets are a great place to experiment with LED strip lighting. Not only will the addition add more light to a work space you use every day, it’s also a light source that’s less harsh on your eyes, especially when you’re working on delicate tasks. Adding LED strips under your cabinets will also add to the ambiance of the room, and you can even have fun with the colors for the holidays or special events.
Consider adding them even lower
It seems like a no-brainer to add LED strips on the underside of your upper cabinets to illuminate the surface below, but have you considered adding them to the space between the bottom of the cabinets and the floor? Having LED lights in this space will add a light source to the floor and create an even safer environment for getting around.
In your kid’s room
Kids love these LED strips and adding them to their room will be a delight. Consider adding a strip under the bed for a nightlight that offers a delicate glow but in their favorite color. The great news is that LED strips are easy to install and remove, so if they grow out of the night light phase, it’s an easy fix.
LED strip lighting for your eyes
LED strip lighting can be used to backlight screens that you spend considerable time looking at like TVs or computers. The bright light that emanates from our everyday screens can be really hard on the eyes. Backlighting them can help to diminish eye strain and even make the picture on the screen appear more clear.
Incorporating LED Lighting for Homes
LED lighting isn’t just for flashy bars and restaurants anymore. Interior designers are incorporating the lighting solution in residential spaces now too. If you’re considering doing something a bit different and more modern in your home, consider these tips on incorporating LED lighting for homes.
The benefits of LED lighting
LED lighting delivers many benefits over traditional lighting options. They provide big time energy savings because they produce light in a much more efficient way compared to traditional CFL or incandescent lighting options. The bulbs also aren’t the traditional light bulb shape so they can be added to a room in unique ways.
LED lighting and brightness
Brightness is an important component when considering LED lighting solutions. LED brightness is measured in lumens and a, for reference, even though it's like comparing apples to oranges, a typical LED bulb emits about 800 lumens, about the same brightness as a 60W bulb would. The color appearance of the light is measured in kelvins, and typically, the lower the kelvin number, the warmer the light will look and feel.
Different types of lighting
One home might utilize many different types of lighting. Ambient lighting provides enough light so that you can see things in a space. Task lighting provides additional lighting in a small space where work is being completed. Accent lighting is often used to highlight something in a room and decorative lighting is created by lamps and other fixtures that add to the design aesthetic of a space. LED lighting can do all of those things.
LED lighting products
There are many types of LED products on the market from which to choose. The best products have been safety tested and should offer a warranty for at least a few years from date of purchase. You should be able to tell from the package what the lumens are, the power consumption of the lights, the kelvins, and the color accuracy of the product. It may seem like a lot to think about, but based on the popularity of these products in residential spaces, it’s nothing that an experienced lighting expert can’t help you wade through.
Trendy Options for Outdoor Lighting Accessories
Lighting really sets the mood for a space, and choosing the right kind is critically important. If you’re working on the mood of an outdoor space of your home, you have so many great lighting options from which to choose. And if you’ve just started your search, consider these trendy options for outdoor lighting accessories.
Outdoor lighting accessories
If you’re lucky enough to have some type of water feature in your backyard like a pool or a pond, capitalize on the opportunity when shopping for outdoor lighting accessories. By carefully placing accessories so that they reflect on the water, you’re doubling the illumination of a space. Consider adding hanging bistro lights about the water, utilizing solar fixtures near the edge of the water, or light fixtures that are solar-powered and that illuminate the space as the sun sets.
Consider the soft glow of fire
One way to instantly add illumination to your backyard space is to do it with fire. A well-positioned gas fireplace or firepit can cast a cozy glow on the entire space. If you haven’t considered an inexpensive fireplace to enhance the lighting of your backyard, you definitely should. Added to traditional lighting fixtures well-placed throughout the space, it will create an ambiance that can’t be beat.
Illuminate your walkways
It’s a no-brainer to add outdoor lighting accessories Denver to illuminate the sitting areas of your outdoor spaces, but don’t forget to shine a light on walkways throughout your space. Consider incorporating solar-powered path lights to and fro showing visitors the safe path ahead. Your backyard will feel safer and illuminate beautifully in one fell swoop.
Outdoor lighting accessories and your plants
If your green thumb is on point lately and you have beautiful potted plants to show for it, consider giving them a little attention in your backyard space. Incorporating spotlights in pots, or gently wrapping a set of small string lights around the base of the plant can add ambiance to a space and show off your gardening skills. You can also incorporate directional lighting from above or from below to highlight specific planting areas of your yard.