suggestions for lighting in my motorcycle museum

[knucklehead 61]

I'm currently building a new shop on my property. One room is for my antique motorcycle collection/museum to be displayed in. The room is 22' x 100' with a 10' ceiling. I'm leaning towards covering the drywall with stained t&g pine & possibly covering the ceiling as well.
What I don't know is how to light the room. I used 36 4' led strips in my old location. it was only 22' x 59' though. & I wasn't happy with the industrial look.
I have two ideas so far.
Idea #1) continuous track lighting with spots every 4' above each bike, & another spot shining on the walls to illuminate the artwork & nick knacks on the walls. this would be 4 runs of 100' track & 100 lamps.
Idea #2) long string lights randomly hanging from the ceiling. would need about 600' or so. thinking the edison bulb look.

open to suggestions.

 

[racecougar]

I'd steer toward option #1 personally.

 

[lastill]

while I can't help you with your lighting,I sent you a PM about the car museum finder I am building! let me know if you are interested to be included.

 

[txvwnut]

Option number 1 is my vote as well. While its nice to see the facility the objects are the star of the show and need the main lighting, the building can be lit with soft ambient lighting or the just cast from the spots.

 

[bwringer]

We're gonna need some pics to properly advise on this matter...

 

[knucklehead 61]

We're gonna need some pics to properly advise on this matter...

We are currently framing the building, so I am a few months from having the interior finished & photo ready.

 

[driftpin]

Congratulations on your undertaking I will be very interested to see what you are going to put on display. I don't own a single motorcycle with traction control or abs. My newest motorcycles are from an early 1980s design and still built much the same in 2005 and last produced in 2007. It's longer than Henry Ford built the Model T.

The Edison bulbs should give a warm illumination but I don't think that Edison bulbs will provide as much area of lighting.

 

[RalphInCA]

Go visit the Barber Museum in Birmingham. Do whatever they do.

It’s superb. And they pay attention to the details, including lighting.

It’s worth the trip.

 

[Shiftless]

Wow!
With such a major undertaking, I would advise some professional design help. Your old array of 4 foot long led strips wasn’t making it for you. It would be ashamed to get all set up and hit the on switch and again be disappointed.
You might be able to hire one of the Garage Journal members whose opinions on lighting I greatly respect. The avatar name here on GJ is Cyberdyke.

edit for spelling: that is Cybrdyke

 

[Stuart in MN]

Go visit the Barber Museum in Birmingham. Do whatever they do.

It’s superb. And they pay attention to the details, including lighting.

It’s worth the trip.

The Barber is fabulous but it's a big open space, not a 22 x 100 building. I think track lighting is a good idea for the display areas, as you move bikes around or add more it will be easy to adjust. I assume the building will be arranged with bikes along either side and a corridor down the middle where people walk along to view the bikes, it may be a good idea to also include some additional lighting down that aisle - it may be turned on or off as needed, or maybe dimmable - it will be nice to have the place lit up bright if you're cleaning or doing maintenance, or maybe you want to flash the lights to let people know you're closing in five minutes.

 

[Shiftless]

If you want to be impressed, just put Peterson museum motorcycle exhibit into your search box and after you hit that, search for images.
I was there twice and was blown away. If you can get to Los Angeles, it’s worth a trip just for that.
(Lots of amazing 4 wheel machines there too of course)

 

[Shiftless]

it may be a good idea to also include some additional lighting down that aisle

With a building only 22 feet wide and illumination on the bikes on each side, those aisles will have plenty of reflected light for walking. Keep the light and the focus on the bikes.

 

[dave*99]

Wow!
With such a major undertaking, I would advise some professional design help. Your old array of 4 foot long led strips wasn’t making it for you. It would be ashamed to get all set up and hit the on switch and again be disappointed.
You might be able to hire one of the Garage Journal members whose opinions on lighting I greatly respect. The avatar name here on GJ is Cyberdyke.

Cybrdyke FIFY

 

[308guru]

We need to see pictures of the motorcycle collection before we can make recommendations.

 

[Shiftless]

We need to see pictures of the motorcycle collection before we can make recommendations.

Perhaps some members should visit in person and maybe test drive some of the bikes to become more fully informed about the whole situation.

 

[knucklehead 61]

We need to see pictures of the motorcycle collection before we can make recommendations.

here's a teaser pic of some of my collection.

 

[racecougar]

 

[Max]

here's a teaser pic of some of my collection.

Not my particular cup of tea, but very nice!

 

[LOW1]

I think you should consider two completely different lighting needs and systems. One for general lighting. For this one you might want a dimmer arrangement because the background light used to display a motorcycle may be completely different than, for example, the light needed to clean the floor. And secondly you should consider a spotlight arrangement to hilite the separate motorcycles that you display.

if your budget allows it I would bring in a lighting consultant Before you finish the walls.

 

[Bronson]

Welcome to the GJ!
I can't wait to see the rest of your collection!
In my 30x40 shop/museum/cave, I just have lots of LED tubes above, works well for me.
Edit: Just realized this pic was before I did a major re-light on the shop with more/better fixtures.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Have multiple sources of indirect lightning is the way to go. A light string under the shelf would be one, etc. Have them all at 2700k.

 

[rsanter]

Personally I would install some kind of crown trim with a gap so you can have LED strips for indirect lighting.
this will provide some general light for you.
then I would do the track lighting.
track lighting will be nice as you can use a conbination of spots and pendants as you feel are needed to highlight the items In the room