- Thread starter Moo
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Feltwell
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Moo,
BG's "link lights" (see page 75 on the link below) are very good - I replaced our under cupboard lights with these as the old ones were faulty. I *was* biased as I worked for the firm and got them for free at the time, but I'm not with that company any more.
http://www.bgelectrical.co.uk/Downloads/BG Cat-Ceiling Acc Range.pdf
The nice thing with them is they don't flicker on start up like most fluorescents, they come on instantly - and they are very slim and easy to hide behind a pelmet. You run power to the first one then connect the rest with the linking leads to each other. They are individually switched, but it's a small fiddly switch and I've got mine controlled on a normal wall switch. Available to order from trade electrical wholesalers - Yell.com will list them for your new area. You won't find them in any retailers. I'd order some spare tubes at the same time, as you can't buy them in any shops. It doesn't say it in the catalogue but each lamp comes with a 0.5m link lead, so you don't need to buy the 1m lead shown seperately unless you need the extra length.
As for ceiling lights, I'd welcome everyone else's opinion on those - I've got a nasty Ikea halogen fitting currently. I was thinking of putting some more link lights on top of my cabinets behind the cornice (so you can't see them but the light bounces off the ceiling) and having a couple of pendants like the below for "visible" lighting. I hate working in gloomy conditions and I'm not convinced on their own they would be enough, I'd end up working in my own shadow on the worktops.
http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/5028/Pantry-Light
http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/5020/Richardson-Pendant
BG's "link lights" (see page 75 on the link below) are very good - I replaced our under cupboard lights with these as the old ones were faulty. I *was* biased as I worked for the firm and got them for free at the time, but I'm not with that company any more.
http://www.bgelectrical.co.uk/Downloads/BG Cat-Ceiling Acc Range.pdf
The nice thing with them is they don't flicker on start up like most fluorescents, they come on instantly - and they are very slim and easy to hide behind a pelmet. You run power to the first one then connect the rest with the linking leads to each other. They are individually switched, but it's a small fiddly switch and I've got mine controlled on a normal wall switch. Available to order from trade electrical wholesalers - Yell.com will list them for your new area. You won't find them in any retailers. I'd order some spare tubes at the same time, as you can't buy them in any shops. It doesn't say it in the catalogue but each lamp comes with a 0.5m link lead, so you don't need to buy the 1m lead shown seperately unless you need the extra length.
As for ceiling lights, I'd welcome everyone else's opinion on those - I've got a nasty Ikea halogen fitting currently. I was thinking of putting some more link lights on top of my cabinets behind the cornice (so you can't see them but the light bounces off the ceiling) and having a couple of pendants like the below for "visible" lighting. I hate working in gloomy conditions and I'm not convinced on their own they would be enough, I'd end up working in my own shadow on the worktops.
http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/5028/Pantry-Light
http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/5020/Richardson-Pendant
Penners
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Pford75 has some very impressive LED kitchen lighting. Before I saw it I had always associated LED lighting with (a) low output and (b) a very cold colour. But his appears to defy both of these preconceptions.
It wasn't cheap, but of course LEDs have a payback in terms of low energy consumption and immensely long lamp life.
Unfortunately, senility has seen fit to delete the details of make and model from my memory-banks. I hope he will respond. You might even want to ask him whether you could pop over and have a look.
It wasn't cheap, but of course LEDs have a payback in terms of low energy consumption and immensely long lamp life.
Unfortunately, senility has seen fit to delete the details of make and model from my memory-banks. I hope he will respond. You might even want to ask him whether you could pop over and have a look.
Flyfisher
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Penners has beaten me to an almost identical reply, including the senility bit, so I'll just second his post.
We have a couple of different types. The main ones are these....
http://www.ledlights4you.co.uk/en/l...d-down-lights/id/5x3w-swivel-ceiling-light-ww
Be sure to order the 'warm white' ones. They are still not quite as 'warm' as incandescents, but we have these as downlights, mixed with three pendants with incandescent bulbs. They might not seem cheap to purchase, but when you factor in the cost of replacement halogen bulbs and the lower running costs of LEDs, I think they make more sense. BTW - If you are ordering a significant number, they can be persuaded to discount their price. Also, we ordered a single one to test it in our kitchen before committing to purchasing the full set
http://www.ledlights4you.co.uk/en/l...d-down-lights/id/5x3w-swivel-ceiling-light-ww
Be sure to order the 'warm white' ones. They are still not quite as 'warm' as incandescents, but we have these as downlights, mixed with three pendants with incandescent bulbs. They might not seem cheap to purchase, but when you factor in the cost of replacement halogen bulbs and the lower running costs of LEDs, I think they make more sense. BTW - If you are ordering a significant number, they can be persuaded to discount their price. Also, we ordered a single one to test it in our kitchen before committing to purchasing the full set
Oh, thank you all so much. I've bookmarked those links and will definitely go for LED all over the kitchen: a mixture of under-cupboard strips, downlighters in the kitchen ceiling, and a pendant over the dining table.
Now for research into the kitchen units......
Now for research into the kitchen units......
LadyArowana
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Moo said:
At first glance I thought that said "pedant", and I was very worried for poor Mr P :lol: Good luck for exchange of contracts, I hope all goes well.
Penners
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I can't imagine why there should be any disadvantages whatsoever to having a pedant at the dining table - on the contrary.
I do hope Moo feels the same!
I do hope Moo feels the same!
JoceAndChris
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I think they're all great ideas for ceilings of a decent height. What's the height Moo? You don't want a little lost pendant if it's very tall, get something of a reasonable size.
Our kitchen ceiling is barrel vaulted with the tallest point at around 7 feet so pendants are really out. We've decided to go for lots and lots of these positioned sensibly, which I thought looked nice when I saw them along the beams throughout The Swan at Lavenham.
http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/9305/Rutland-Spot-Light
I'm boring and think lighting needs to be matched alongside everything else - contemporary LED for a contemporary looking kitchen, more period looking if you've got antique tables and antique Windsors and antique china, like me, and want to have a hand painted kitchen with wooden work tops ( altogether a more rustic look).
Good luck with the exchange Moo!
Our kitchen ceiling is barrel vaulted with the tallest point at around 7 feet so pendants are really out. We've decided to go for lots and lots of these positioned sensibly, which I thought looked nice when I saw them along the beams throughout The Swan at Lavenham.
http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/ProductDetail/9305/Rutland-Spot-Light
I'm boring and think lighting needs to be matched alongside everything else - contemporary LED for a contemporary looking kitchen, more period looking if you've got antique tables and antique Windsors and antique china, like me, and want to have a hand painted kitchen with wooden work tops ( altogether a more rustic look).
Good luck with the exchange Moo!
LadyArowana
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Moo said:
It was the idea of him "over the dining table" that I found worrying, probably not good for the back even with a proper harness and hig viz jacket.
Not good for the back, maybe, but even worse for the ceiling joists!
And in answer to your question, Joce, we'll be ok regarding ceiling height. The house was build somewhere about 18890-1890 and even in the most ordinary artisan homes the rooms were pretty lofty ('our' road is coloured red on Mr Booth's map). So the kitchen lights will be as efficient and inconspicuous as possible, with the pendant over the table just for some atmosphere.
And I'm afraid I agree with Penners about functionality - I, too, have been casting covetous glances at those all-singing-all-dancing chrome jobs (and am even considering one of those boiling-water dispensers). As far as I'm concerned, the best period for kitchens and bathrooms is the 21st century.
ps Exchange will happen any day now!
And in answer to your question, Joce, we'll be ok regarding ceiling height. The house was build somewhere about 18890-1890 and even in the most ordinary artisan homes the rooms were pretty lofty ('our' road is coloured red on Mr Booth's map). So the kitchen lights will be as efficient and inconspicuous as possible, with the pendant over the table just for some atmosphere.
And I'm afraid I agree with Penners about functionality - I, too, have been casting covetous glances at those all-singing-all-dancing chrome jobs (and am even considering one of those boiling-water dispensers). As far as I'm concerned, the best period for kitchens and bathrooms is the 21st century.
ps Exchange will happen any day now!
JoceAndChris
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Very exciting!
Contemporary versus traditional has to be a personal choice, and in keeping with the house. I think the London houses suit both styles, but a contemporary kitchen looks odd, to me, in a country room with a lot of period features - especially ours (I know it looks odd because it currently has a contemporary kitchen that just screams wrongness) -but I'm sure many (most?) are happy to blend the old and new.
And of course now there are so many companies offering 21st century convenience and technology with classic design, like this sort of thing
http://www.devolkitchens.co.uk/the_classic_kitchen/
Glad you have the luxury of plenty of ceiling height!
Contemporary versus traditional has to be a personal choice, and in keeping with the house. I think the London houses suit both styles, but a contemporary kitchen looks odd, to me, in a country room with a lot of period features - especially ours (I know it looks odd because it currently has a contemporary kitchen that just screams wrongness) -but I'm sure many (most?) are happy to blend the old and new.
And of course now there are so many companies offering 21st century convenience and technology with classic design, like this sort of thing
http://www.devolkitchens.co.uk/the_classic_kitchen/
Glad you have the luxury of plenty of ceiling height!
Penners
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Moo, Mrs P and I have experience of one of those gizmos. They certainly do what they claim in terms of delivering instant boiling water. However, they worry me when it comes to grandchildren.Moo said:
To operate the one that we know, you have to push in and turn the tap. It's a trick that - in my opinion - an intelligent 5-yr-old wouldn't take long to learn. And you get no warning: the instant you turn it on, there's boiling water gushing out.
Just thought it was worth mentioning.
jocelyn plummer
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Moo, you are amazing, sooo organised! Good luck with the exchanges.
LadyArowana
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Penners said:
Far better to get an espresso machine for them to play with, only a small child could possibly be interested in all the bells whistles and gizmos required to achieve a cup of coffee ( I refer to a traditional type machine, not one that uses the pods ). I regard mine as an ornamental kitchen feature and use kettle and caffetiere for actual coffee.
Penners said:
I intend to train my grandchildren the same way as I trained our son. Our oven's glass door used to get very hot indeed, so he was warned not to touch it. However, one day he decided not to take our word for it and learned a very salutary lesson.
From then on, until his vocabulary had grown a bit, "Hot" became a useful indication of something that might cause considerable pain.
I believe it is known as Learning from Experience.
LadyArowana
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Moo said:
Reminds me....
