Can someone please explain how I've ruined my house?

[biffvernon]

I see no reason not to use diamond lights. As for the making of them - Biff Vernon's probably your man.

That's a bit suggestive, Gervase. Mrs V. may have other ideas.

I have, in idle moments, speculated upon which came first, diamond or rectangular leading. They seem to have been used contemporaneously and in the same area over a long period.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I see no reason not to use diamond lights. As for the making of them - Biff Vernon's probably your man.

That's a bit suggestive, Gervase. Mrs V. may have other ideas.

I have, in idle moments, speculated upon which came first, diamond or rectangular leading. They seem to have been used contemporaneously and in the same area over a long period.

It's (perhaps) a personal preference, but rectangular usually looks better in stone cross-mullioned windows of 16th / 17th century inspiration. The diamond, except in humbler windows, and timber windows, often has a hint of the aggrandised ex-council house about it nowadays.

 

[robgil]

this is an interesting read,

http://directory.periodproperty.co.uk/article/history_of_metal_windows.html

apparently diamond shaped quarries were easier to cut with less waste,

The diaper shape of the panes gave greater stability than square-cut straight-set panes, and are more common. It was also convenient to cut diamond shaped panes from a single "crown" of glass with less waste than that caused by cutting square panes. Square panes are most often found in the grander or later buildings, and sometimes only on ground floor windows.

source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadlight

not sure how accurate wikipedia actually is but it does make interesting reading.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh, God, that makes me hate my porch windows even more.

Just quickly on the light fitting - a blacksmith made version would of course be much nicer than the cheaper dungeony light I posted above.

Lighting's hard - if I had just what I wanted throughout it would be £40, 000 - so I can understand the paper globe approach, as things like windows are more important in defining the house.

 

[biffvernon]

I think the wiki article is good. I do have the impression that, in early buildings, rectangles are found in the more high status buildings and locations. I happen to think they look better so maybe my subjective aesthetic accords with the tastes of the Elizabethan nobility rather than with aggrandised ex-council. :wink:

By the way, the top reference to sources on that Wiki page is to Sarah Brown's book. She is boss of York Glaziers Trust and at York Uni conservation department. She happens to be giving a public talk this Monday 1st November, Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens York at 7.30. Worth going to if you're near York and interested in 'York Glaziers Trust: 40 Years On'.

 

[Matt Green]

Are there any circumstances where someone would go to the effort of putting up a lath and plaster ceiling in a room with bare stone walls?

M

 

[Tom]

Lighting's hard - if I had just what I wanted throughout it would be £40, 000 - so I can understand the paper globe approach, as things like windows are more important in defining the house.

Paper globe?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Paper globe?

This and other variant aberrations, I believe:

 

[Schoolmarm]

Ahhh but FAR better than a bare bulb when you are too poor or not quite decided what to buy yet.

 

[philpjuk100]

Too true!on our first house that we really could not afford we had shades made from cardboard boxes,fully fitted corrugated cardboard instead of carpet and drawing pins instead of curtain rails!phil.(we saved up and had a trip to "habitat" to by a paper globe) it was really exciting!

 

[Tom]

Paper globe?

This and other variant aberrations, I believe:

:lol: Sorry, yes, I know what one is...I just wasn't sure where the reference came from. I guess you were just meaning in general? Sorry, I think my brain's on strike :lol:

 

[Tom]

Ahhh but FAR better than a bare bulb when you are too poor or not quite decided what to buy yet.

One person who lives in the village, who isn't particularly poor, is taking an awful long time making up their mind. Every room upstairs has a bare bulb and has had for the last 8 years or so :roll: I don't know what it must look like from the inside but it looks dreadful from the outside.

 

[biffvernon]

We currently have four paper globe lampshades in our house. Neither poverty nor indecision were significant factors. They do the job. What's the problem?

I remember buying my first one in Habitat in ~ 1970.

 

[Moo]

We put paper globes in our sitting room when we first moved in and couldn't decide what should be there. Twelve years on and they're still there. The only things that might be appropriate seem to be chandeliers, and we decided against them on two counts: the cost of decent ones, and the fact that they'd look a bit over-the-top with our furniture.

Gareth &/or Joce - you've seen the house. What do you suggest?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Gareth and I argue over light fittings.

So I let him choose.

 

[Schoolmarm]

I have two that were a quick fix 14 years ago .


Actually, one of them is so low it is the only safe thing to have for bumping your head on.

 

[philpjuk100]

.

 

[biffvernon]

Gareth and I argue over light fittings.

So I let him choose.

And I thought you lived with Chris, not Gareth. Must have missed summat.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Gareth and I argue over light fittings.

So I let him choose.

And I thought you lived with Chris, not Gareth. Must have missed summat.

In order to stay with Chris, she needs someone else, not in the same house, to bear the brunt of arguing about light fittings (I think)

 

[JoceAndChris]

Quite so - it works on the same principles as not involving spouses with driving lessons.

And Chris usually heaves a secret sigh of relief and says "Very nice dear" when I present him with the fait accompli - he doesn't have time to think about every little thing (and neither does Gareth really!)

But just on Moo's light fitting - I do understand the difficulty of this! I suggest you get everyone to chip in and buy you a nice Christmas present of an antique one (8 arm?) with crystal drops, I think that room's big enough to take it, and it doesn't matter if the furniture seems simpler.

But the problem is the energy saving bulbs, which look horrid in a chandelier. So, either a chandelier with little shades, or a lantern, in which energy saving bulbs are less obvious, or a chandelier with non-energy saving bulbs and hang the environment. :? I can't figure out the answer to this.

I love this: http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/lighting/pendant-lights/stafford-pendant/5171/detail

And this: http://www.lighting-direct.co.uk/Duchy-8-Light-Chandelier.html