Hello this is my first post! I have recently bought a victorian cottage. First job was to strip the beams in the sitting room and ajoining dining room, and remove all that black paint. They now look lovely but as I have one across the middle and two down the length, the two current ceiling lights look all wrong. How should I light this room? I am totally stuck on it! Has anyone done anything that has worked well?
- Thread starter annahig
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Gervase
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Purely a personal preference, but I hate pendant lights and would always choose table lamps instead (that may have something to do with being 6ft2in tall!). The light thrown up from the side-lights would also show off the ceiling better.
We've found in our two bedrooms with exposed beams that LV rope lights work well. The light they emit is bright but fairly soft (especially when used with a dimmer) and with five lights to each rope you can point the lights at interesting features such as pictures, ceiling areas.
However they may be too modern for most, but I have seen them put to good use in barn conversions where people try to achieve a balance between old and new.
Have a look at http://www.lighting-direct.co.uk/l-v-complete-wire-kits-c-276.html
We've used the 'contemporary' type on this page.
Alternatively wall lights can look more period.
However they may be too modern for most, but I have seen them put to good use in barn conversions where people try to achieve a balance between old and new.
Have a look at http://www.lighting-direct.co.uk/l-v-complete-wire-kits-c-276.html
We've used the 'contemporary' type on this page.
Alternatively wall lights can look more period.
I use table lamps, as Gervase suggests.
I've got a table lamp in each room operated by a switch at the door, for convenience. The lamps are plugged into these 2 amp round pin sockets:
http://www.mkelectric.co.uk/products/item.asp?itemid=4291&rangeid=1030
Just needed to chase the walls and install 3 pin sockets instead of using ceiling roses. And put the round pin plugs on the table lamps of course. Additional table lamps in each room provide more lighting as and when needed, and these are just plugged into the power sockets.
I've had to use wall lights in the narrow halls and stairs though.
This sort of lighting seems to suit old cottages well. I'm sure you can get more decorative fittings. I just used the modern white type, as electricity was a fairly recent improvement to my humble cottage, so no need for repro Edwardian stuff.
I've got a table lamp in each room operated by a switch at the door, for convenience. The lamps are plugged into these 2 amp round pin sockets:
http://www.mkelectric.co.uk/products/item.asp?itemid=4291&rangeid=1030
Just needed to chase the walls and install 3 pin sockets instead of using ceiling roses. And put the round pin plugs on the table lamps of course. Additional table lamps in each room provide more lighting as and when needed, and these are just plugged into the power sockets.
I've had to use wall lights in the narrow halls and stairs though.
This sort of lighting seems to suit old cottages well. I'm sure you can get more decorative fittings. I just used the modern white type, as electricity was a fairly recent improvement to my humble cottage, so no need for repro Edwardian stuff.
Thank you to all three of you for your comments and thoughts, that is really useful. It has certainly confirmed my feeling that 2 pendant ceiling lights is not the way to go on! I think I shall investigate the table lamp linked to a wall switch idea and also see if there is any opportunity for a couple of wall lights. You start these jobs and the more you get into them the more complicated it gets! Many thanks for your help.
We have a beam running down the middle of our breakfast room and we've slung one of those spotlights-on-wire systems under it ( like the LDS1744 type on the Lighting Direct site). It works well and doesn't look incongruous.
And when we had the place rewired we got the electricians to put two lighting circuits in all the living rooms - one for the ceiling light and one for all the table lamps (using those little round-pin sockets and plugs). We seldom use the centre light, and it's very convenient to be able to switch all the side lights on with one flick of the switch.
And when we had the place rewired we got the electricians to put two lighting circuits in all the living rooms - one for the ceiling light and one for all the table lamps (using those little round-pin sockets and plugs). We seldom use the centre light, and it's very convenient to be able to switch all the side lights on with one flick of the switch.
Cloudscape
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One of the reasons pendants might not work too well (apart from the ceiling height problems that many people have) is that the light source is too high - it causes the beams to cast long shadows. Lights lower down will shine up onto the beams and give more even illumination. I have always collected light fittings, so I will be hanging a pendant here and there, but in a corner, and probably quite low. This is just because I like the light fittings and want them where I can see them. I expect to rely on table lamps, probably on their own circuit, linked to the room light switch.
Penners
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I agree with Gervase (and - it seems - everyone else). Table lamps and standard lamps enable you to be flexible about where your lights are situated, and how much light you have on at any one time.
They also make the room look welcoming, with "pooled" light.
And their uplighting effect will show off your nicely cleaned beams to good effect.
They also make the room look welcoming, with "pooled" light.
And their uplighting effect will show off your nicely cleaned beams to good effect.
chuckey
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Depends what you want the light level to be in your room. As I am always fiddling about with "stuff" (mainly electronics, sometimes cross words etc.) I need a high light level. If you want to live in the same lighting level as in a pub's' snug then you only need a low light level.
I use wall lights and a pendant, 240 + 300 W in one sitting room (ceiling white at 9' 6") and 160 + 200 W ( wooden beams with white infill at 8') in the other.
For any of you that use pendants, I have just posted a nice method of fitting them on another topic (no, I can't remember its name :roll: )
Frank
I use wall lights and a pendant, 240 + 300 W in one sitting room (ceiling white at 9' 6") and 160 + 200 W ( wooden beams with white infill at 8') in the other.
For any of you that use pendants, I have just posted a nice method of fitting them on another topic (no, I can't remember its name :roll: )
Frank