BARE NECESSITIES – EXPOSED BULB LIGHT FITTINGS

It cannot be denied that the humble light bulb is one of the modern conveniences that has changed the way we live. At the simple flick of a switch we can have instant, trouble-free illumination. I’m sure there are few among us who would care to return to using smelly, dirty animal fat candles, oil lamps or gas lighting. It has been the practice for many years to cover naked light bulbs with shades and in fact many people really did not like seeing the bulbs at all. Exposed light bulbs were only seen in industrial factories and warehouses and certainly not in home interiors. All this has now changed as we are seeing exposed light bulb fittings being used not only for hospitality lighting but for lighting in the home too.

REFURBISHMENT OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Work is due to start in April this year on a 10 year refurbishment programme at Buckingham Palace. The Palace has served as the London family home of British sovereigns since 1837 and is also the working headquarters of the monarchy.

PERIOD LIGHTING FOR VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN HOMES

This is the second in our series of blogs focusing on our individual lighting collections. Here we are showcasing our Period Lighting Collection which features reproduction lighting based on designs from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Electric lighting was still in its infancy when Queen Victoria died in 1901and throughout the Victorian era electricity remained very expensive. Gas lighting was common in our towns and cities and was supplemented by candles and oil lamps, whilst in smaller towns and villages lighting was almost exclusively by candles and oil lamps. It was not until the Edwardian period that we began to see wider availability of electricity and a gradual replacement of the gasoliers (gas light fittings) with new electric lights.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIGHT THIS CHRISTMAS

We are certainly getting into Christmas mode here at Bespoke Lights and as usual struggling to find the right gifts for all our family and friends. This perennial problem haunts many of us every year – just what do you choose for those that are ‘hard to please’, or ‘have everything I need’ or even those that simply say ‘I don’t need a present’. If you are running out of ideas, why not consider lighting up someone’s Christmas by giving the gift of light.

BESPOKE LIGHTS SCOTTISH INSPIRED LIGHT FITTINGS

The nights are drawing in and the shortest day will soon be upon us, so now is the perfect time to warm up our interiors for the cold winter months ahead. Being that bit further north, Scotland has more than its fair share of dark nights and even shorter hours of daylight than we do in the relatively balmy south west of England where we are based. Scotland will be celebrating St Andrews Day on 30th November so what better reason to look north of the border for our pick of some of the best Scottish themed lighting.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN LIGHTING

A quiet revolution has been going on in the world of lighting with the rise in popularity of industrial style light fittings.Until recently, if you asked most people about ‘industrial style’ they would probably have imagined dirty factories full of noisy, heavy machinery. This impression is not as far removed from the truth as you may think because it lies at the heart of what industrial interior design is all about. Large 19th and early 20th century industrial factories made no attempt to conceal their infra-structure and metal beams, pipes and exposed brick walls were all on show. Lighting would usually have consisted of large robust metal pendants, often with protective cages, that were hung on heavy metal chains from overhead beams.

Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top Farmhouse – Lighting Ideas for Farmhouses and Country Cottages

Mention the name of Beatrix Potter and you immediately think of Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle Duck, or any one of the other delightful characters made famous in her children’s books – but there was much more to this remarkable woman.

GOING FOR GOLD

Rio de Janeiro, the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics, is about to welcome athletes from 206 countries around the world to compete for 4,924 medals across 42 sports. All in the space of 17 days! The Olympics kick off on the 5th August, followed by the Paralympics on 7th September. Team GB is sending 366 athletes to compete in the Olympics and 260 to the Paralympics.

LIGHTING IDEAS – HOW TO MAKE SMALL ROOMS APPEAR LARGER

Nearly everyone has at least one small room in their home, but the good news is that Bespoke Lights have plenty or lighting tips and tricks that can help make the smallest of rooms look larger and more spacious. Dark badly lit rooms appear smaller than they really are but with the clever use of lighting you can eliminate all the dark corners and make the room seem bigger.