New sockets and switches?
Discussion
Hi All,
I've started to get quotes in for the extension and refurb and need to let the builder know what sockets and switches I would go for?
Now I think most of our house is going to be modern/contemporary and will have white/grey walls.....so I was thinking to have white switches and white downlights. I believe these will look better than brushed or chrome but Mrs Ice thinks white looks a bit cheap?
The builder has suggested white MK branded sockets and switches.....what should I do?
IceBoy
I've started to get quotes in for the extension and refurb and need to let the builder know what sockets and switches I would go for?
Now I think most of our house is going to be modern/contemporary and will have white/grey walls.....so I was thinking to have white switches and white downlights. I believe these will look better than brushed or chrome but Mrs Ice thinks white looks a bit cheap?
The builder has suggested white MK branded sockets and switches.....what should I do?
IceBoy
IceBoy said:
Hi All,
I've started to get quotes in for the extension and refurb and need to let the builder know what sockets and switches I would go for?
Now I think most of our house is going to be modern/contemporary and will have white/grey walls.....so I was thinking to have white switches and white downlights. I believe these will look better than brushed or chrome but Mrs Ice thinks white looks a bit cheap?
The builder has suggested white MK branded sockets and switches.....what should I do?
IceBoy
Listen to your MrsI've started to get quotes in for the extension and refurb and need to let the builder know what sockets and switches I would go for?
Now I think most of our house is going to be modern/contemporary and will have white/grey walls.....so I was thinking to have white switches and white downlights. I believe these will look better than brushed or chrome but Mrs Ice thinks white looks a bit cheap?
The builder has suggested white MK branded sockets and switches.....what should I do?
IceBoy
You can also get wood and granite fronted now and a few other options. http://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/swit...
I renewed all of the switches & sockets at ours with graphite shiny affairs & I think it's a better overall look than white but these things are always personal choices.
A friend of mine had a new kitchen & did his in white plastic cheapies & I asked him why he didn't go more modern along with his shiny new kitchen & he said they were a bit too 'now'.
I thought now is when we live.
A friend of mine had a new kitchen & did his in white plastic cheapies & I asked him why he didn't go more modern along with his shiny new kitchen & he said they were a bit too 'now'.
I thought now is when we live.
I think brass and silver have had their time and reverted all mine back to plastic. I particularly liked the profile on the MK range
http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-gang-dp-switche...
http://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-13a-2-gang-dp-switche...
This is the latest London trend. Metal white. They are very nice (just fitted some) but expensive. I have only used them where they are at eye level, kitchen sockets above worktop and light switches.
http://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/categories/painted-...
I personally think metal / brushed metal is a bit old hat now.
I have fitted MK white everywhere else.
http://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/categories/painted-...
I personally think metal / brushed metal is a bit old hat now.
I have fitted MK white everywhere else.
Fit what you think will be in keeping with the design etc.
No point in asking people on the internet who have never seen your house.
Having said, that, ALL finishes are still common, from white all the way through to the latest refurb i'm doing where the home owner has specifically asked for sage green wiring accessories in the kitchen.
Therefore, there is no accounting for taste.
No point in asking people on the internet who have never seen your house.
Having said, that, ALL finishes are still common, from white all the way through to the latest refurb i'm doing where the home owner has specifically asked for sage green wiring accessories in the kitchen.
Therefore, there is no accounting for taste.
IceBoy said:
Hi All,
Now I think most of our house is going to be modern/contemporary and will have white/grey walls.....
IceBoy
Paintable ones? http://www.forbesandlomax.com/the-painted-socket-r...Now I think most of our house is going to be modern/contemporary and will have white/grey walls.....
IceBoy
Edited by hyphen on Monday 27th February 12:07
Everyone that I know who has done a reasonably 'high end' refurb recently has gone for plain white plastic.
It looked a bit naff to me at first because it reminded me of the 40 year old ones that are now sitting yellowed in unmodernised 1970s houses.
It didn't take me long to get used to it, and I think it is the way I would go now when I do a refurb.
Strange how quickly things change as I remember spending a day swapping the 'free' white ones for metal when I had a rewire a few years ago.
It looked a bit naff to me at first because it reminded me of the 40 year old ones that are now sitting yellowed in unmodernised 1970s houses.
It didn't take me long to get used to it, and I think it is the way I would go now when I do a refurb.
Strange how quickly things change as I remember spending a day swapping the 'free' white ones for metal when I had a rewire a few years ago.
Plain white if you not trying to make a "feature" of them. If you want something different then per earlier response Forbes and Lomax have some decent options. We've used Buster and Punch on a few recent projects (bronze/brass) - good quality parts and LED compatible dimmers on the light switches.
We completed a custom socket project for an industrial themed kitchen where they wanted to see and not see them. Standard MK module with removable machined cap than remains in-situ with the appliance plugged in
We completed a custom socket project for an industrial themed kitchen where they wanted to see and not see them. Standard MK module with removable machined cap than remains in-situ with the appliance plugged in
kingston12 said:
Everyone that I know who has done a reasonably 'high end' refurb recently has gone for plain white plastic.
It looked a bit naff to me at first because it reminded me of the 40 year old ones that are now sitting yellowed in unmodernised 1970s houses.
It didn't take me long to get used to it, and I think it is the way I would go now when I do a refurb.
Strange how quickly things change as I remember spending a day swapping the 'free' white ones for metal when I had a rewire a few years ago.
I think, this is what I agree with, I love the machined thingys but ultimately white plastic or even white metal looks soooo right to me!It looked a bit naff to me at first because it reminded me of the 40 year old ones that are now sitting yellowed in unmodernised 1970s houses.
It didn't take me long to get used to it, and I think it is the way I would go now when I do a refurb.
Strange how quickly things change as I remember spending a day swapping the 'free' white ones for metal when I had a rewire a few years ago.
IceBoy
I use the MK white switches and sockets as they seem better quality than the cheap ones but are discreet. Why would you want to make a feature out of light switches and sockets?
I quite like the idea of the paint-able ones above for the same reasons.
Edit: Dieter Rams: ten commandments for good design
Specifically:
5. is unobtrusive – Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user's self-expression.
7. is long-lasting – It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today's throwaway society.
10. is as little design as possible – Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.
I quite like the idea of the paint-able ones above for the same reasons.
Edit: Dieter Rams: ten commandments for good design
Specifically:
5. is unobtrusive – Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user's self-expression.
7. is long-lasting – It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today's throwaway society.
10. is as little design as possible – Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.
Edited by Hayek on Monday 27th February 14:57
So I think it depends entirely on the room. We have chosen chrome for the kitchen as I liked the look there - brushed steel just looked a bit industrial, especially with the brushed steel fridge, extractor and handles. Chrome just looked a bit more luxurious!
Living room is to be a dark blue with metallic accents (copper lampshade etc), so will look at other finishes, even an old fashioned brass finish. The light switches are white - they are LightwaveRF, so look pretty techy in metal finish, which is not really the look of the house. The white steel surrounds on them could easily be painted the colour of the wall they are on if keyed first and painted with a metal/wood paint, or painted emulsion and then matt lacquered.
Here's a pic of a chrome/white double USB socket on the island post, next to white ones. Here, the white works pretty well as it is against a white background, so I'll probably change it back again. However on some painted surfaces, the smarter chrome works quite well.
I quite like the paintable ones actually - will investigate further. We had the electrician fit plain white everywhere - we'll change as we see fit over time.
Living room is to be a dark blue with metallic accents (copper lampshade etc), so will look at other finishes, even an old fashioned brass finish. The light switches are white - they are LightwaveRF, so look pretty techy in metal finish, which is not really the look of the house. The white steel surrounds on them could easily be painted the colour of the wall they are on if keyed first and painted with a metal/wood paint, or painted emulsion and then matt lacquered.
Here's a pic of a chrome/white double USB socket on the island post, next to white ones. Here, the white works pretty well as it is against a white background, so I'll probably change it back again. However on some painted surfaces, the smarter chrome works quite well.
I quite like the paintable ones actually - will investigate further. We had the electrician fit plain white everywhere - we'll change as we see fit over time.
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 27th February 16:18
Edited by Harry Flashman on Monday 27th February 18:01
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