Time to replace these 'ugly' lights?

sand_hun

We have a period property, and the hallway has these light fittings (2 x ceiling pendants and 3 x wall lights). A visiting family member once remarked that the lights are ugly! I'm starting to think they might be right.

Can anyone suggest what type of light fittings might be better suited a hallway in a period home? Is it worth keeping wall lights or better to switch purely to ceiling lights?

 

WIAWSNB

OOOH MAAAA GAWD!! They are HORRENDOUS!

Yes - remove them, box them up, and I'll send you my address...

WIAWSNB

Cough.

I'd keep both locations going. Wall lights are 'nicer' in the way they cast light, and are a nice 'accent', and ceiling lights are more 'practical' in the way they fill a space with light, whilst also being a feature.

Nothing at ALL wrong with these lights! It is 100% a personal matter.

Did your estranged family member appreciate you were in a period property? And, what's their house like? If they have a genuinely good 'eye' for this sort of stuff, then use them

DullGreyGuy

sand_hun said:

We have a period property, and the hallway has these light fittings (2 x ceiling pendants and 3 x wall lights). A visiting family member once remarked that the lights are ugly! I'm starting to think they might be right.

Can anyone suggest what type of light fittings might be better suited a hallway in a period home? Is it worth keeping wall lights or better to switch purely to ceiling lights? 

Which "period" is it? 

Even if you say its the Victorian Period there were styles within that like the gothic revival, Italianate, second empire etc. 

Technically it depends on which period/style you are trying to mimic but realistically no one is going to think they are original property features but there is a vague nod towards them. If you like them stick with them, if you dont then change them. Presumably you arent trying to live in a museum so they dont have to be identical to what was originally fitted and doubt you'd go as far as oil or gas lights. 

Section62

DullGreyGuy said:

sand_hun said:

We have a period property, and the hallway has these light fittings (2 x ceiling pendants and 3 x wall lights). A visiting family member once remarked that the lights are ugly! I'm starting to think they might be right.

Can anyone suggest what type of light fittings might be better suited a hallway in a period home? Is it worth keeping wall lights or better to switch purely to ceiling lights? 

Which "period" is it? 

Even if you say its the Victorian Period there were styles within that like the gothic revival, Italianate, second empire etc. 

Technically it depends on which period/style you are trying to mimic but realistically no one is going to think they are original property features but there is a vague nod towards them. If you like them stick with them, if you dont then change them. Presumably you arent trying to live in a museum so they dont have to be identical to what was originally fitted and doubt you'd go as far as oil or gas lights. 

If the doors are original then my guess would be Art Deco... so a single pendant in the middle of the room with a nice glass shade, and a 30w tungsten filament bulb, would be about right.

Bigphil1474

They aren't that bad, but if it was my house I'd replace them. We moved into our house last year and we had 51 bulbs just downstairs, not to mention 10 on the stairs. 6 sets of wall lights with around 15 bulbs, not to mention multiple bulb ceiling lights with over 30 bulbs. We replaced them with simple pendant light fittings. 61 down to 13. Ours isn't a period property though.

Personally I don't like wall lights, I prefer a ceiling light when I need the big light on, and a floor lamp or table lamp for in between.

sand_hun

DullGreyGuy said:

Which "period" is it? 

Edwardian, I think.

I used to like them, but am starting to go off them. I'm not that bothered about replacing them with something traditional. It can be modern, as long as it doesn't look totally out of place. 

Our kitchen and shower room has modern-style, ceiling LED spotlights. 

sand_hun

WIAWSNB said:

Cough.

I'd keep both locations going. Wall lights are 'nicer' in the way they cast light, and are a nice 'accent', and ceiling lights are more 'practical' in the way they fill a space with light, whilst also being a feature.

Nothing at ALL wrong with these lights! It is 100% a personal matter.

Did your estranged family member appreciate you were in a period property? And, what's their house like? If they have a genuinely good 'eye' for this sort of stuff, then use them

OK thanks. The family member knows it's a period property.  The actual term they used to describe our lights is 'minging'. Keeping both locations going makes sense as it will hopefully mean less damage or patching up to walls etc. Also, the issue with these lights is that there are so many, and one light switch turns on a ceiling light pendant plus two of the wall lights (9 bulbs) so it's quite bright. I'd rather have more control and just be able to turn some of them on.

DullGreyGuy

sand_hun said:

WIAWSNB said:

Cough.

I'd keep both locations going. Wall lights are 'nicer' in the way they cast light, and are a nice 'accent', and ceiling lights are more 'practical' in the way they fill a space with light, whilst also being a feature.

Nothing at ALL wrong with these lights! It is 100% a personal matter.

Did your estranged family member appreciate you were in a period property? And, what's their house like? If they have a genuinely good 'eye' for this sort of stuff, then use them

OK thanks. The family member knows it's a period property.  The actual term they used to describe our lights is 'minging'. Keeping both locations going makes sense as it will hopefully mean less damage or patching up to walls etc. Also, the issue with these lights is that there are so many, and one light switch turns on a ceiling light pendant plus two of the wall lights (9 bulbs) so it's quite bright. I'd rather have more control and just be able to turn some of them on.

It's not too hard to rewire or smart bulbs are the alternative option which will also open up the possibility of dimming if you dont want patching work post require

ic

Those light fittings aren't to my tastes - however what is working against them is the white bulbs.  Something as simple as a filement bulb without the visible white bits would be more fitting and lift the look.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/sylvania-toledo-retro-cl-827-sl4-e14-candle-led-light-bulb-470lm-4-5w-4-pack/830tk

maman

These would be the sort of period lampshades for an Edwardian home. If you're not fussed then just go for plain, simple fabric lampshades.