Can I put a non dimmable led light in that light fitting?
sickly sweet
11 Jul 16#15
See if you can hide some of the kitchen fuses in the cupboards & then you can get the cheaper white ones as they'll be hidden.
Just make sure you get dimmers suitable for LEDs otherwise you get that horrible buzzing noise (plus I think it's frowned upon for safety). I assume you'll get LED spotlights as they're more energy efficient & wont need changing for a long long time.
I shopped around and bought Grohe taps, showers etc for the bathrooms. Highly recommended.
All bathrooms have shiny chrome fittings (another reason I love those handles as there's a tiny bit of shiny on the round ring so it all fits in so well).
sickly sweet
11 Jul 16#13
For lighting if you aren't going for spotlights (we didn't bother in the downstairs loo, utility room and money ran out to do it in the bedrooms!) then check out John Lewis lighting section. We got some lovely light fittings.
Brushed steel looks better than shiny steel in my opinion, and it also doesn't show finger marks.
sickly sweet
11 Jul 16#11
A few tips I found during my switch and socket search:
- if you want LED low energy spotlights and a dimmer, you need a special switch suitable for dimming LEDs
- go for dimmers in bedrooms, living areas and kitchen etc. You won't regret it. They make such a difference. I went for normal ones in hallways etc.
- don't bother with the plug sockets with USBs on them, they're expensive and only trickle energy through (not powerful enough to charge an iPhone or ipad, but OK for a Fitbit for example).
- don't scrimp on power socket points.
EN1GMA to sickly sweet
11 Jul 161#14
With spotlights, that's what we are doing. In living areas it's dimmers and hall way etc it's going to be non dimmable.
Going for a mix of spotlights and normal lights depending on area. Kitchen is going to have spots but Hall way were having a chandelier for example.
All your points are very similar to my thinking
EN1GMA
11 Jul 16#10
Gone to the BG site but for the life of me can't see any prices for the items...
It's BG electrical yeah? I've gone through multiple products but can't see the prices at all for anything.
sickly sweet
11 Jul 16#9
I recon they'd come as a set (fitting and front plate).
Personally I'd not go for the screwless ones as my electrician said they're just a pain in the butt when walls aren't completely flush and they have a tendency to pop out of the fitting plate.
I've got the screw Nexus range and having aesthetically pleasing brushed steel switches and sockets really does finish the house off so well and I would have regretted white one. Also the number of people who mention them!
I've got a fantastic electrician and he now buys BG stuff as its so cheap but excellent quality. It's also reassuring that it's not some cheap Chinese brandless tat.
If you're going for these toolstation ones then the great thing is you can click & collect or get them delivered, and if you don't like them or you've over ordered then you can take them back!
EN1GMA
11 Jul 16#8
Some of the prices on the site are dirt cheap. Can't believe the prices for some of the ones like chrome finish.
I'm assuming that's just the front plate and not the metal box that houses the wires inside the wall?
EN1GMA
10 Jul 16#7
Thanks SS. plus just found a new site to check out prices for sockets! Double thanks
EN1GMA
10 Jul 16#4
So how do these stick to the walls?
I'm looking for sockets and switches too. Looking for about 50 sockets. Thinking of just getting standard white for now. Might replace them in a few years.
Look into BG (British General) online if you can't get enough of these or want matching switches and sockets.
When they're this cheap, I would get the brushed steel ones now rather than white ones and upgrade them later. Then there's the added benefit of having a couple of extra years looking at, and using, lovely sockets plus save money on the white ones and time replacing them.
sickly sweet
10 Jul 16#3
Good price but if you live in a house that doesn't have perfectly flat walls then these style (screwless ones) are prone to coming off.
I kitted my whole house out in BG Nexus brushed steel switches and sockets - highly recommended.
stevesipmax
10 Jul 16#2
Good find, a also most toolstation branches have free hot chocolate, coffee, tea etc.
makes it even sweeter :wink:
paneds
10 Jul 16#1
just had new kitchen and was looking at getting new sockets and switches thanks op great find I need 5 of these.
Opening post
16 comments
Just make sure you get dimmers suitable for LEDs otherwise you get that horrible buzzing noise (plus I think it's frowned upon for safety). I assume you'll get LED spotlights as they're more energy efficient & wont need changing for a long long time.
I shopped around and bought Grohe taps, showers etc for the bathrooms. Highly recommended.
Hooks and loo roll holders I went for Haceka Kosmos and they're brilliant
http://www.very.co.uk/aqualux-haceka-kosmos-toilet-roll-holder/1298790318.prd?_requestid=50423
All bathrooms have shiny chrome fittings (another reason I love those handles as there's a tiny bit of shiny on the round ring so it all fits in so well).
They have a sale on and some stuff is dirt cheap like this https://m.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-the-basics-keely-single-spotlight/p/150468
EDIT: definitely follow through with the brushed steel on light fittings. And we also got brushed steel door handles & hinges
I went for these ones
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006J7KCTC/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1468224426&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=brushed+door+handle&dpPl=1&dpID=513MZpeXnOL&ref=plSrch
They're so ergonomically designed that they're lovely to use. Another thing people comment on and just gives that superb finishing touch.
https://www.electricalcounter.co.uk/products/Switches+&+Sockets/Nexus+Metal
Brushed steel looks better than shiny steel in my opinion, and it also doesn't show finger marks.
- if you want LED low energy spotlights and a dimmer, you need a special switch suitable for dimming LEDs
- go for dimmers in bedrooms, living areas and kitchen etc. You won't regret it. They make such a difference. I went for normal ones in hallways etc.
- don't bother with the plug sockets with USBs on them, they're expensive and only trickle energy through (not powerful enough to charge an iPhone or ipad, but OK for a Fitbit for example).
- don't scrimp on power socket points.
Going for a mix of spotlights and normal lights depending on area. Kitchen is going to have spots but Hall way were having a chandelier for example.
All your points are very similar to my thinking
It's BG electrical yeah? I've gone through multiple products but can't see the prices at all for anything.
Personally I'd not go for the screwless ones as my electrician said they're just a pain in the butt when walls aren't completely flush and they have a tendency to pop out of the fitting plate.
I've got the screw Nexus range and having aesthetically pleasing brushed steel switches and sockets really does finish the house off so well and I would have regretted white one. Also the number of people who mention them!
I've got a fantastic electrician and he now buys BG stuff as its so cheap but excellent quality. It's also reassuring that it's not some cheap Chinese brandless tat.
If you're going for these toolstation ones then the great thing is you can click & collect or get them delivered, and if you don't like them or you've over ordered then you can take them back!
I'm assuming that's just the front plate and not the metal box that houses the wires inside the wall?
I'm looking for sockets and switches too. Looking for about 50 sockets. Thinking of just getting standard white for now. Might replace them in a few years.
When they're this cheap, I would get the brushed steel ones now rather than white ones and upgrade them later. Then there's the added benefit of having a couple of extra years looking at, and using, lovely sockets plus save money on the white ones and time replacing them.
I kitted my whole house out in BG Nexus brushed steel switches and sockets - highly recommended.
makes it even sweeter :wink: