Edwardian House

Myser

Contactum do a range of electrical accessories in Edwardian Brass:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Menu_Index/Wiring_Accessories_Brass_Index/index.html

They don't look so bad as there are black/white inserts on them too.

kriss_boy

Ok Im now sold on the plastic fittings.

I'm going to buy the nice brass bee-hive door knobs... but not sure if they will go with the chrome chandeliers I like!!!

The picture rails will be put back up as they have been ripped out! I managed to get a nice ceiling rose to match the cornicing in the main reception room and I'll cove the remaining rooms where possible.

My entry hall has plain pan tiles... nothing fancy... and I fear it would possibly look a bit false to rip them out and put something in that was never there.

Check out my (edwardian?) oak triple wardrobe I got on gumtree.... £220 which I think was a bargain!!! It has a really nice carved top part that the photo doesnt really show off.

diable

keystone wrote: »

Hope you are keeping the dado rails and any of these:



too. But its your house - of course.

Cheers

Most of those floors now look cack as you where meant to look after them or a regular basis.

Which plastic!!!! lol skeleton sockets and switches the way to go as you can change the face plate when you want and they are flush to the wall.

My floor grrrrrrr excuse the scumminess as the bathroom was being done.

seven-day-weekend

Sorry I've come late to this thread. We've got a terraced house built in 1857, so mid-Victorian.

We have William Morris 'fruit' curtains and cushions in the front sitting room, dado rail, original coving, brass curtain pole, brass sockets, a replacement ceiling rose and a brass chandelier (from B&Q but it goes with the Victorian look ). We have a pine Victorian fire surround. The fireplace is open,a small inglenook.

In the dining room we have dado rail, coving (alas not original), and another inglenook fireplace with a woodburner, William Morris 'willow bough' curtains,wooden curtain pole, brass sockets, replacement ceiling rose and another B&Q chandelier.


Flooring in the sitting room and dining room is oak laminate, unfortunately the sitting room has modern floorboards and the dining room a concrete floor with plastic tiles on,:eek: so we covered it all up with the oak coloured laminate.

We have a couple of original doors with brass knobs on them, also some new but traditional-looking doors, also with brass knobs.

Very modern shiny white kitchen (recently installed), with quarry tiles and brushed satin chrome sockets.

The old and new mix very well, the furniture is eclectic too.

Hope this helps the OP and I hope they enjoy their period house. We've had ours nearly forty years!

macman

Since very few houses built in 1910 came with electricity (and certainly not via 13A sockets and a ring main), the idea of 'period originality' is a myth.
Some houses of that era would have had electric lighting installed, and the odd novelty electrical device would have been powered by plugging it into the light fitting.
If you want 'original' light switches, then probably brass or bakelite on wooden pattresses would be most authentic.
I have an Edwardian property, but there are lots of authentic period features that I wouldn't necessarily want today.

lessonlearned

You have to ask yourself do you want to live in a museum or in a house that functions as a 21st century home with all the creature comforts we've come to take for granted.

If you are canny and take your time you can have the best of both worlds......It does take time and planning though.

DS1 has just bought a Georgian Artisan's dwelling - ie not a posh country mansion a la Downton but something a little more "vernacular". It was built in 1756. Originally it would have had no leccy, gas, indoor plumbing, bathroom etc . A little too authentic perhaps for modern sensibilities. I think even the most ardent advocate for "authenticity" would draw the line.......

Whilst we are renovating it we are taking the opportunity to bring it up to 21st century standards of comfort and convenience, ie a upgrading the electrics, improving insulation, new state of the art boiler, underfloor heating to bathroom, cable networks (no satellite dishes!!!).

It is a Grade II listed building. We are working with the conservation officer to ensure that everything is done properly and in keeping with the character of the building, retaining period features and even re-instating some that have been ripped out in the past. We are looking at approx 5 years to complete the works - mainly due to budget constraints.

If we had enough money to throw at it we could probably complete the project in approx 12 months.

DS2 is currently in the process of buying a Victorian terraced property, circa 1900. Although it is not listed we will take the same approach - a sympathetic restoration but making sure that we include all the gadgets and gizmos that form part of modern life.

For both properties I will be searching out original fixtures and fittings such as fireplaces and baths and we will be repairing/replacing plaster coving etc. However, we will still be having state of the art showers, lighting systems, kitchens and utility areas with all singing and dancing appliances, and all with a view to energy efficiency and being as "green" as these old buildings will allow.

Our aim is to have both the "period charm" of an older property but combined with the comforts and efficiency of newer greener properties.