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Home
Spotlight On
Behind the Design
Beautiful Homes
Meet the Makers
Walcot Street
Visit Jim Lawrence Website
  • Home
  • Spotlight On
  • Behind the Design
  • Beautiful Homes
  • Meet the Makers
  • Walcot Street
  • Visit Jim Lawrence Website
Jim Lawrence Blog - Jim Lawrence Blog
Behind the Design

Brass Window Fittings For Period Homes: A Natural Choice

Using brass window fittings throughout a period home is an elegant way of complimenting certain features. For our recent Suffolk Barn Renovation, the warmth of our Antiqued Brass compliments the historic oak structure. Being a natural finish (much like the natural texture and tones of wood), the patina will continue to age and deepen over time – the perfect modern rustic finishing touch.

Our fabulous collection of made to measure curtain poles are the ideal companion for your curtains, ensuring they will continue to look good for years, in whichever room you hang them. They are hand forged from high quality brass, and with a choice between Reeded or Plain Antiqued Brass, you can pair each design with a matching finial and brackets for a unified natural look for your period home. If your pole is over 200cm long you will require a centre bracket. Longer poles may be supplied in two halves, complete with joiner. Don’t forget to ensure there is room for your chosen accessories…


Our popular Antiqued Brass Ball Finials are the perfect companion for your brass curtain poles.  All of our finials are designed to slide into the end of our brass curtain poles and have a classic, weighty quality to enhance your authentic décor. Though a practical solution to keep everything in place, finials also frame your window and allow for decorative creativity. We offer traditional and modern styles to complement your home, ensuring each hand-crafted design is the most beautiful it can be.

These Brass Standard Brackets will lift your curtain poles and frame your windows with elegance. Hand finished like the rest of the accessories, these practical supports still look pretty. Because we make all our iron work in our Suffolk forge, we can adapt our brackets if necessary to suit your particular window: you may for instance need a deeper bracket for a deeper window so as not to spoil the hang of your curtains.  Whichever style you choose, we’ve forged these beautifully finished antiqued brass hoops to match. You can calculate the number of rings you need by dividing the length of your pole (in cm) by 7. Simple!

Our expert team of seamstresses create beautiful made-to-measure curtains & blinds from our collection of over 180 elegant country style fabrics. From sophisticated elegance to delightful country cottage styling, our range of handmade curtains and blinds are a stunning addition to any home. To view all of our fabrics, click here.

There are just a few simple steps to creating the perfect curtain or blind at Jim Lawrence: choose your heading, choose your favourite fabric and then select a lining option. Once you have chosen these options you simply measure up you window using our helpful guide below and call us for help, advice or a free quotation today on 01473 826685.

Our Antiqued Brass products are created from natural, un-lacquered brass and will continue to age and develop a darker dull patina over time in your home. This is particularly hastened in harsh outdoor or damper environments. To decelerate this aging process we recommend regular polishing with a good quality brass polish and a soft cloth. Please note that chemical polishes can strip away the original antiquing solution too, so take care to use cleaning products sparingly to retain the aged look of the product.

Feel like you still have some unanswered questions? We’ve written up a detailed guide to creating your made-to-measure curtain poles here. We are always happy to help, so give us a call or drop us an email and we will do our best to meet your needs.

Don’t forget to tag us in all your gorgeous Jim Lawrence home updates on Instagram @JimLawrenceMade. Happy shopping!

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Behind the Design

Rustic Outdoor Lighting For Period Homes

Our heritage outdoor lighting designs work beautifully when paired with rustic exteriors. All of our lights are skilfully made in our Suffolk based workshop, using traditional metal working techniques to create the quality product you take home. Now that days are longer we are fortunate to rely on beautiful sunlight to illuminate our outdoor spaces, but when we want to stay out late on balmy evenings, you’ll be needing a helping hand…

Our outside lights will transform the look of your garden, entrance or outbuildings, making the most of architectural features and the natural beauty of your building materials. Choose from period splendour or simple country cottage styles to find your perfect outdoor light.


This is where we like to get industrial. Whether a shed, garage, workshop or barn, we trust our industrial-inspired favourites will suit your needs. Try our Brittania Ship’s light with its beautiful  brass top and cage. A small outdoor lantern that makes a big impact, this lantern is hand cast in solid brass which will enhance your home with its nautical good looks.


Your porch and front door is the first thing yourself and your guests will notice when arriving. The Peacock Lantern is a classic design with a Jim Lawrence twist. The Peacock lantern is all you need to define the entry to your home. Because solid brass does not rust, it will stay a gorgeous entrance for years to come, with subtle ageing for the perfect vintage look.


The shapely arch of the Stable Light adds a subtle countryside charm to your outdoor lighting scheme, which can be flat mounted like this, or corner mounted for hard to reach places. Hand finished in natural solid brass, the Stable Light has a lovely long, vintage-style swan neck that was originally designed to keep out of the way of stable doors and horses heads – now designed to be a stylish and practical statement in your outdoor space.




Something a little different for a central source of light and an authentic rustic feel… Our hand cast iron Fire Bowl creates a stylish focal point for outdoor entertaining, as well as a great source of warmth and light on those cooler evenings. A simple addition to your garden that you can easily move about according to your needs.

 

There are many solutions to lighting your outdoor spaces to make the most of the spring evenings as they roll into summer nights. To browse all of our outdoor lighting, click here. Now you’ve got the exterior lighting inspiration, take a look at our lighting guide for period properties for our indoor lighting solutions. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @JimLawrenceMade and tag us in your home updates – we love seeing our products in their new homes!

 

 

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Behind the Design

Handcrafted Kitchen Details That Make A Big Impact

Handcrafted cupboard and drawer pulls are a simple addition you can make to your home to give a new kitchen a lovely ‘lived in’ feel. This year we are delighted to introduce two new vintage drawer pull designs to our collection, as well as share with you our classic Jim Lawrence favourites.



Inspired by the vintage charm of our ever popular Schoolhouse Drawer Pull, we reimagined the design to create this lovely Larder Drawer Pull. A narrower version that is a little more contemporary and understated in character, but still bringing an authentic feel to the room.



The original Jim Lawrence Schoolhouse Drawer Pull. So called because they are reminiscent of the handles found in Victorian buildings, these pulls are lovingly hand crafted from natural brass using traditional techniques, have a weighty feel that confirms the quality. The understated look  gives them an up to date edge without losing their utilitarian charm.

Our other new addition, these sweet little Cook’s Drawer Pulls are reminiscent of old fashioned jelly moulds. Full of vintage charm, they are the perfect finishing touch to your cupboards and drawers. Forged from solid natural brass that has been pressed and reeded for an additional decorative touch, these lovely handles will look equally at home in a Victorian town house as they would a country cottage.


The Forged Ball Handle has a hammered surface and is made in a choice of forged iron and paint finishes. The textured surface makes for a great rustic look, and looks particularly at home in period cottages or barn conversions.


The Reeded Pull Knob for cupboards and drawers is supplied in natural brass, which is lightly antiqued or overlaid with a choice of paint finishes. The classical beehive style design is practical but also enhances style and sophistication, ensuring a timeless elegance for your kitchen style.

Available in a large or small size, the neat, smooth design of our Napier Cupboard Pulls offer practicality but also enhances a timeless sophistication, complimenting any cupboard or draw. This door knob is made using traditional blacksmithing techniques, the intricate detail in the design highlights the skill of our blacksmiths and their ability to hand craft door pulls that suit both contemporary and period properties. As with all of our pulls, we make a range of door and window furniture using the same finishes, so you can create a uniformed look around your home.

The Gilby Drawer Pull is handmade in solid brass. It is available either lightly antiqued to show off the natural brass or in our beautiful new Heritage Copper finish. The simplistic styling and smooth surface accentuates a feeling of luxury that is not visually overwhelming but will complement any traditional or contemporary home.


This traditional Knotted Drawer Pull is designed to complement period properties. Each knot is hand-tied by one of our blacksmiths enhancing a personalised effect that can only be achieved through hand-made products. Perfect for taller, narrow cupboards for a slimline but impactful feature.

A simple but rustic-look Suffolk Drawer Pull. Hand forged with a lovely textured handle, this pull gives your kitchen style a practical edge with a nod to traditional period homes. This Beeswax finish highlights the contrast in textures, offering a bold yet unique look that can be paired with pastel colours to finish your room off perfectly.

 

How will you style yours? To see more of our Cupboard and Drawer Pulls and the different finishes available, view them here. If you enjoyed reading about our designs, why not sign up to our newsletter? If you have any beautiful imagery of our Drawer Pulls, why not tag us? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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Behind the Design

Everything You Need To Know About Bulbs

Bulb, bulbs, bulbs. Are they dimmable? Are they the right wattage? Will they fit into this pendant holder? Is it suitable for a bathroom? We receive many queries and conundrums regarding light bulbs, so thought it was high time we put together some information for you to refer to when adding the all important finishing touch to your lighting.

 

Although there are hundreds of light fittings in existence most homes only have a few different types the most common of which are shown in this blog post. The ‘B’ stands for bayonet and is most commonly used in the UK due to the British Empire. The ‘E’ stands for Edison Screw and is dominant in the USA and Europe due to Thomas Edison.

The vast majority of Jim Lawrence lights will take either a small or standard bayonet bulb. In many cases we can adapt the light fittings to take a screw bulb, but you will need to call us to specify this. Each light will have the bulb information on its product page to give you a helping hand.

 

The bulb’s shape is not just about how pretty it looks but more importantly, about how it throws its light. Most household lights will require bulbs that direct the light everywhere (omnidirectional) but there are some that are designed to give a focussed light such as reflector bulbs, or Gu10 spot bulbs that often used in recessed ceiling lighting.

 

Also known as SBC or B15 – has a small twist and push fitting

  • Generally lower wattage than larger bulbs. Most are around 5 watts or equivalent to a 40 watt traditional (incandescent) bulb.
  • We supply three types of SBC bulbs; our Clear Candle LED Bulb (shown) which has a slightly elongated shape and is the recommended bulb for all wall lights that have fabric shades, our SBC Golf LED Ball bulb which is round and our small, incandescent 15 watt Pigmy bulb.
  • Dimmable – all our small bayonet LED bulbs are dimmable if used with a dimmer switch.
  • All our small bayonet bulbs have a warm white light.

 

Also known as BS or B22 – has a larger twist and push fitting

  • Generally higher wattage than the small bayonet bulbs, but not always. Our standard bulb is a Classic GLS LED bulb that is 7.5 watts or 806 lumens, which is equivalent to a 60 watt traditional (incandescent bulb)
  • We supply five different styles of BC bulbs, all LEDs – our Classic GLS LED (7.5W) is the standard ‘pear’ shape, our small Golf Ball LED (4W), which is round, our handsome Squirrel Cage LED (6.5W) which is a large alternative, our Tube LED (5W) for elongated shades and our oversized Globe LED (6W).
  • Dimmable – all our standard bayonet LED bulbs are dimmable if used with a dimmer switch.
  • All our BC bulbs have a warm white light.

 


Also known as ES or E14 – a small screw in fitting that is dominant in Europe and the USA

  • Generally lower wattage than larger screw bulbs. Most are around 5 watts or equivalent to a 40 watt traditional (incandescent) bulb.
  • We supply one style of ES screw bulb – our 4W ES LED Clear Candle Bulb (shown) which has a slightly elongated shape and can be used as an alternative to the small bayonet bulb for all our wall lights that have fabric shades. Please call us should you need your light fitted to take a screw bulb.
  • Dimmable – our Small Edison Screw LED bulb is dimmable if used with a dimmer switch.
  • Our Small Edison Screw bulb has a warm white light.

 


Also known as ES or E27 – similar to the Small Edison Screw but with a larger sized screw fitting that is dominant in Europe and the USA

  • 5.5 watts, similar to a traditional 80watt bulb (approx 350 lumen)
  • This large edison bulb has a warm white light
  • Dimmable if used with a dimmer switch.

 

Also known as a spotlight or PAR16 bulb – has two pins with small feet on the end that you push and twist into place similarly to a bayonet bulb

  • The GU10 is the most common type of spotlight bulb found in most homes today. Often used in places where a bright, directional light is needed, such as kitchens and workspaces.
  • It has the classic spotlight shape, with a narrow base that widens into a flat or slightly rounded aperture.
  • Halogen GU10 bulbs are commonly made from plastic, not to be confused with an MR16 bulb that looks identical except for the much smaller, needle-like that will not fit a GU10 lamp.
  • We stock a 5 watt LED GU10 that is 345lumens, equivalent to a 50watt traditional bulb.
  • Dimmable – our GU10 LED is dimmable if used with a dimmer switch.
  • Our GU10 LED has a warm white light

 


 

  • As an LED, it is incredibly energy efficient, only using a fraction of the energy of a regular halogen bulb and lasting, on average, around 6,000 hours
  • Kindly note our G9 bulb is not dimmable
  • Warm white in colour
  • Instantly lighting to full strength, it has an output of 2.5W, similar to an 18W traditional bulb



  • Our T5 Cicular Flourescent tube bulb produces a warm white light designed for exceptional light output and great reliability.
  • With a 22 watt (1900 lumen output) and an A energy efficiency rating, this bulb is a practical choice for domestic and commercial applications.
  • This circular bulb is upplied with our gorgeous Grosvenor flush fitting bathroom lights.

 


Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have been in common use for over half a century, mainly in electronic equipment, where they’re used as signals and indicators (standby lights, for example). It is only in recent years that LED light bulbs have been widely available. They are an energy efficient, longer lasting replacement for incandescent light bulbs. They light to full strength straight away, emit the same brightness as traditional bulbs and only use a fraction of the power – around 90% less energy than traditional light bulbs.

They also last 10-20 times longer and unlike most energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs, can actually be recycled. When shopping for LED bulbs, remember the wattage doesn’t denote its brightness. A 5W LED bulb is as bright as a 50W incandescent bulb. The lumens (lm) rating of a light bulb is instead the best indicator of its brightness.


Watts (W) – Watts is the measure of energy consumed

Lumens (LM) – Lumens is the measurement of light output

Efficiency – Efficiency is the number of lumens generated for each Watt of energy consumed- Lm/W


Feeling more confident? Take a look at our lighting to decide which gorgeous design you need to pair with our bulbs. If you have any further technical questions regarding your lights, don’t hesitate to call up our knowledgeable customer service team on 01473 826969. Happy shopping!

 

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Behind the Design

The Hunstanton Velvet Collection

Our sumptuous new Hunstanton Velvets, available in a choice of four stylish colourways, are just what you need to add a touch of luxury to the home.

Our designs are very much influenced by our Great British heritage. Inspired by the sea and skyscapes of north Norfolk, we wanted this range to evoke the dramatic sunsets and vast, stretched out sands of Hunstanton and the surrounding coastline. Given a softer twist for the home environment, you can choose from Dusky Pink, a mid-tone Mole grey, a punchy Teal or rich Navy to suit any interior style.

Though velvet is a natural nod to historical opulence, the fabric has never been more relevant. According to Living Etc’s 2019 Trend Report, searches for velvet have increased by 400% over past six months as the most searched for fabric. With velvet beds and sofas as some of the most covetable but more costly ways to bring the look home, we know our elegant Hunstanton range will ease seamlessly into your home style, ensuring you have the gorgeous accessories to match…

Cushions are a must-have styling tool for any home, as well as a must-have comfort tool! Colour and texture is crucial to create a relaxing space, but also for personalising the room. Adding a cushion or two is an easy way to freshen up your existing colourway or as an accent in a new scheme. These new oversized cushion covers have a clean, unpiped seam and will catch your eye wherever they sit. All of our cushions are handmade here in our Suffolk workshop by our talented team of cushion makers – ready to be shown off with a plump feather pad.


Create the perfect cosy reading corner in a bedroom, study or living room. Our velvet shades add a softness to the space in the daylight, and help to create a gently atmospheric glow when the sun goes down. The Hunstanton Mole Candle Shade is a delightful companion to the Hanson Wall Light in Antiqued Brass. To pair with other lamps and pendants, we offer Tapered, Half, Cylinder, Empire AND Oval shades in all of our Hunstanton colours, ensuring every one can enjoy them no matter your style.

 


Velvet…in the bathroom? That’s right. We have made sure that the Hunstanton shades suit every one of our lighting finishes, making these bathroom shades as versatile as the fabrics you might put in any room of the house. Pair our IP rated lights with a Hunstanton shade and make your bathroom feel as it should – as luxurious and lived-in as the rest of the home.


Our velvet fabric that we use for these products is also available to buy separately. You can transform it into anything you like! Curtains and blinds are a natural go-to, but why not upholster some furniture to create your perfect look? The high quality fabric is what you would expect from any Jim Lawrence product, along with exceptional customer service should you have any questions about our cut lengths.

 

Thanks to the carefully selected collection of tones, you can mix and match any of our velvets to introduce colour in a cohesive way into the home. Shop the full Hunstanton collection here. If you want to share your Hunstanton styling with us, we’d love to see! Follow us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to tag us in your photos. We also have a Pinterest bursting with interior inspiration. Happy shopping!

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Behind the Design

How to Choose Your Fireplace Accessories

There is nothing like a crackling fire in the hearth – it’s the heart of any country home. Every item in our fireside collection is carefully handcrafted in our Suffolk workshop using traditional ironmongery skills to create simple, elegant fire accessories with timeless appeal. Here’s our easy-to-get-your-head-around guide on choosing those all important fireplace accessories.

Jim Lawrence fireplace fireside accessories

The starting point is the size of the fireplace opening. Measure this and make sure that your grate will have good clearance at the back (a minimum of 10cm, ideally more) and at least 5 to 10cm at the sides (again, ideally more).

You don’t want the grate to look undersized in the fireplace, but air flow is important and it’s better to allow plenty of space around the grate. Allowing the air to circulate will encourage warm air into the room where you want it. A grate should suit its surroundings both in style and proportions.

Fires can be messy things! Logs and sparks can and do fall forward. It’s not a good idea to position the grate too close to anything damageable or combustible such as a rug or carpet.

At the most basic level, your firegrate needs to be deep enough to hold the logs you’re planning to use in place. Style is a subjective issue, but as a rule of thumb choose a grate that is sympathetic in style and proportions to your fireplace and room. Whichever grate you choose, it will be quite a dominant feature in your room and it is worth taking time to get the best grate that you can.

A heavy firegrate is designed to last from generation to generation. The grate should be raised from the ground, to allow air to circulate underneath the fire. Unless the grate is more decorative than practical, avoid anything too lightweight as this may not withstand many years of use. We offer two types of firedogs to support your grate, so you can best suit the fireplace to your interior style: the Berwick and the Peyton.

Jim Lawrence fireplace fireside accessories

Not every fireplace needs a fireback. However they have a number of advantages:

  • They protect vulnerable masonry from the damage inflicted by the intense heat of a fire, especially if you’re planning to burn fires regularly
  • They reflect heat back into the room
  • They bring a decorative point of interest to your fireside

If you do decide to have a fireback, make sure that it is at least as big as your grate. Whilst a tall fireback maximises the protection to the wall, it shouldn’t be so high that it extends into the flue opening and interferes with the drawing of the fire.

Jim Lawrence fireplace fireside accessories

A stylish fire guard is one that doesn’t compete with the fire, but sits comfortably within the room. Your fire guard (like your grate) is one of the basic things to get right, so invest in a classic guard that will stand the test of time. Ring the changes in other ways – your mantelpiece display can reflect the seasons with candles, flowers and interesting objects, but your fire guard needs to work all year round.

We offer three different designs to choose from: the Hereford, the Scrolled and the Oxford. Practically, the deeper and wider the guard, the more protection it will give. Sparks do not always shoot obligingly forward, so allow some overlap either side of your fire, as well as plenty of height above.

Jim Lawrence fireplace fireside accessories

A set of tools for your fireplace is indispensable. Browse our selection of tongs, pokers, forks and shovels to complete your fireside. Now all you need is some mulled wine on the go…

Jim Lawrence fireplace fireside accessories

Still have questions? Give us a call on 01473 826929 if you need more advice. Take a look on our website for the full range of our beautifully hand crafted fireplace accessories, ready and waiting to warm your home for many years to come.

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Behind the Design

New Lampshades in Timeless Neutrals

Create a feeling of serenity and calm within your home with our simple elegant lampshades in a choice of natural colourways.

With over 200 designs, our handmade classic Candle Shades are the perfect way to refresh your room whilst creating soft pools of light. For a slightly different look, our latest French Candle Shades in silk, satin and linen will bring a timeless yet refreshing update to your décor, with buttery and creamy hues taking the spotlight.

It’s easy to invite a relaxing mood into your home by softly washing your walls with ambient lighting. With a clever double bulb fitting design our Lamarsh Wall Light is a neat and stylish way to flood your walls with gentle, atmospheric light. Choose from our selection of specially designed Lamarsh Cylinder Shades in a variety of natural and smoky tones.

Taupe, grey, beige and ivory are subtle but sophisticated, perfect for highlighting more dramatic colours or matching other soft hues in a room. Why not contrast with rich jewel tones for dramatic effect, layer a room with cool blues or play with minky undertones for an overall soothing feel. With neutrals, the choices are endless.

Shop all new products, and take a look at all of our lampshades here. To browse our Timeless Neutrals Pinterest Board, click here. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

 

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Behind the Design

Our Brand New Cook’s Drawer Pull

Add a charming vintage touch to your cupboards and drawers with our new Cook’s Drawer Pull. Available in Polished, Matt Black and Antiqued Brass, you can match or contrast with your interior scheme.

Handcrafted by us and influenced by old timely jelly moulds, this sweet Pull would suit any country, industrial or coastal inspired décor.

Pressed from steel, the Matt Black and Polished finishes would make a charming addition to a period home, whether a country cottage or Georgian town house. Our solid Antiqued Brass finish is another excellent finishing touch, but with a more period look for those into aged interiors.

Complete the look around your home with our beautiful ranges of lighting, switches and sockets or further door and window furniture.

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Behind the Design

RHS Chelsea: Inspiration To Take Home With You

The RHS Chelsea Flower show is a hub of horticultural inspiration and exploration. From garden trees to indoor blooms, brightly coloured orchids to the most practical weed pullers and greenhouses galore…there is a great deal to enjoy. We’re always on the look out for interior and exterior ideas (whether we realise it or not!) and Chelsea is THE go-to spot for flexing our creative muscles. Much like our fellow exhibitors, we were not only desperate to show off our own display, but very much ready to get nosy and inspect everyone else’s.

Here are our top spots we are sure everyone will be tapping into post-show…

Everywhere! This vibrant towering bloom definitely had its moment throughout the week. Stunning ambers and rich pinks were a highlight. We expect that many visitors have gone home to plant some seeds. Don’t you think they would look lovely on a curtain fabric, perhaps like our very own wheatfield?

Image Via Ideal Home 


Are you as in love with black framed windows as we are? Silver Gilt winners LG also used crittall-look frames, and you’ll have noticed we did too! We made ours from scratch in the warehouse and received many a compliment and request. This look is perfect for French doors and windows for an inside-outside feel, as well as indoors to break up rooms whilst maintaining light and the illusion of open space.

These floral thrones were jaw-droppingly pretty. Okay, maybe not the most practical… but utterly beautiful. Part of the RHS Young Florist of the Year exhibition, these creations were made by a range of talented young people with a plethora of whimsical arrangements. We love how this can be translated into functional uses, such as inspiration for vertical gardens to save space in urban areas, as well as fantastic wedding event inspiration for arches and arbours.


Inside the show and out we enjoyed several botanical murals, whether draped over nearby buildings or as a wallpaper backdrop within stands. We love the idea of these supersized prints on cushions and fabrics. We’ve seen a few homeware brands creating similar wallpapers already, so expect to see this a lot more.

To combine two looks, we also spotted lots of velvets. There were many velvet clad cocktail chairs, bar stools and cushions – we even used bespoke blue velvet poufs in our own stand. This isn’t a new look by any means but it is certainly here to stay.


We can’t wait to see how all these translate into interior (and exterior) trends throughout the year. To see even more of the beautiful gardens and exhibitors, you can follow the RHS Instagram for continued updates.

Whilst we take down the stand at Chelsea, we want to thank everyone who came to say hello and bought an item or two, as well as the dedicated bunch who took home one of our heavy brochures (we ran out very quickly and had to keep topping up!) What a wonderful week it was, made even better by receiving a 4 star trade stand award. Already looking forward to next time…

Take any photos of our stand at Chelsea? Please do send in any snaps to press@jim-lawrence.co.uk or tag us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. See you next year!

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Behind the Design

Jim Lawrence at the 2018 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea is not just about pretty flowers (though that is a perk!) For us it is about the effort everyone has put into their displays, the quality and quantity of artisan design and the atmosphere and bubbling excitement that brews as the event unfurls.

We’ve been working tooth and nail for the past few months to bring you our latest event stand creation. This stand beats anything we have showed at an event before, boasting four rooms to display the finest selection of Jim Lawrence lights and accessories. We opted for a slick black frame with burnt cladding to make an impact when it comes to first impressions. The glass doors give a glimpse of the bulbs glowing inside, aimed at enticing in the crowd! Naturally, an RHS stand would not be complete without luscious garden greens to liven up the metallic and wooden structure. We hope you love the design as much as we are proud of it.

As you might have seen, we took the stand to the Badminton Horse Trials earlier in the month and won their Highly Commended award for our display! What a wonderful way to kick off the season and a testament to the hard work of our team.

We are thrilled to be showing alongside a number of sculptors, furnishers and high profile brands such as Chesney’s, Parks London and our favourite Wallgarden.co. It’s always an adventure exploring the grounds and gardens, so I’m sure we’ll discover many new companies to enjoy. The first ‘Chelsea Late’ experience will also take place on Friday 25 May, with visitors invited into Ranelagh Gardens between 8pm and 10pm for an exclusive evening of music, entertainment, demonstrations and much more. There’s going to be a lot to see!

Let us not forget that RHS is a royal affair, with prestigious awards bestowed for design, display and photography. Last year our Bulkhead light was shortlisted for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden Product of The Year! We have had such an enjoyable and rewarding experience at Chelsea for the past four years and it was a true honour to be recognised in this way. With a few new products under our belt this time round we hope to create a similar buzz for customers old and new.

We’ll be at Pavillion 254 Tuesday 22nd – Saturday 26th May and can’t wait to see you all there. Tickets are almost all gone, so be sure to book yours (if you haven’t already) and don’t miss out! In the meantime, follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for regular updates and of course a lot of gorgeous photos.

 

 

 

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Welcome to the Jim Lawrence Style Journal.

We are a British interiors company creating beautiful lighting, ironwork and home furnishings from our Suffolk workshop.

This is where we share ideas that we love, show sneak peeks behind the scenes of our brand and offer a unique insight into classic design.

jimlawrencemade

How do you light a kitchen? This might seem like a How do you light a kitchen? This might seem like a big question…because it is! There are so many things to consider when choosing kitchen lighting, so we’ve boiled it all down to a few key pointers.⁠
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A great kitchen lighting scheme has the power to transform an ordinary kitchen into a truly spectacular one. Now that we’re living in increasingly open plan spaces with kitchens at the heart of your home, they have to perform on a multifunctional level with lighting that needs to cater for tasking, dining, relaxing, office or homework and entertaining.⁠
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How much light you would like in a room is entirely up to you and your personal preference so there is no standard rule to follow. However, if you need a starting point then our guide below will give you some tips, things to consider and our general rules of thumb. Swipe up in our story to see more on the Style Journal.
As far as we're concerned, a bedroom should embody As far as we're concerned, a bedroom should embody beauty whilst maintaing a soothing and calming atmosphere. With the right balance of lighting, accessories and personal touches, you can transform any bedroom into somthing luxurious as well as comfortable. ⁠
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Whilst our Harleston Lamps add a soothing glow to snooze by, useful task lighting from carefully positioned Spotlights or Wall Lights offer stronger directional light when needed. Finding a balance with different layers of light is crucial when developing a relaxed space, so that you can alter the light outputs depending on your mood and the time of day. ⁠
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Though colour coordinating soft furnishings looks great, subtle accessorising can also apply to your hardware. Matching sockets and switches to lighting creates a cohesive and considered look. Details do matter, and often it's the smaller things in a room that ensure the overall space looks its best. All Jim Lawrence products are made using traditional metal working techniques and are hand finished to the very highest standards here at our Suffolk workshop, so every part of your room will exude quality no matter how big or small.
Transform your internal doors into a thing of beau Transform your internal doors into a thing of beauty with one of our carefully hand crafted brass and forged iron door knobs. Made in period and contemporary styles to suit all homes, we have a huge range of designs and finishes to choose from. Create a uniform look with our selection of latch sets, lock types and backplate designs to ensure you can make the perfect match throughout the home.⁠⁠
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A dreamy shot from @simplyscandinavian of this gently muted pastel bedroom. We love this look - an exceptionally good setting for our warm brass.⁠⁠
All our shades are made in our Suffolk workshop by All our shades are made in our Suffolk workshop by our talented team of shade makers from our range of beautiful fabrics that have all been handpicked as a perfect partner for our lighting range. A new lampshade will instantly refresh your room without the need to dig deep in your pockets. With over 1,000 lampshade designs on offer and more than 100 fabrics, in a multitude of colourways, to choose from, we are pretty confident we can find the right combination for you.⁠⁠
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Whether you need a candle shade, empire or a french drum, we have got your lighting needs covered. Swipe up in our story to find out a little more about the different styles we have to offer.
Tactile linen and naturally aged brass is a match Tactile linen and naturally aged brass is a match made in interior heaven. 

Did you know you can order any of our fabrics as swatches? We all know colour matching has to be just right, so you can add up to five fabric swatches on our website before choosing the material or shade you need. Be careful though, you might just fall for them all...

Lovely shot from @marthamiddleton of the Lymington Wall Light.
How long should your pendant lights be?⁠ ⁠ If How long should your pendant lights be?⁠
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If you are hanging your pendants from a central point in your room, you need to consider the height of your ceiling as a first step. Many old houses have low ceilings and may require flush or semi-flush lights so you are not constantly ducking or hitting your head. Always check the maximum height of the light that you can accommodate before choosing your lights and check our product information which gives the measurements of all our lights.⁠
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We recommend lights in sitting rooms, bedrooms and hallways should be hung at least 2m (7ft) above floor level to give adequate clearance, but it is your room so you can hang them at whatever height you feel comfortable with. We would recommend that a ceiling light over your dining table should be between 1/2 to 2/3 of the width of the table. Go bigger rather than smaller unless you are hanging two or three in a row.⁠
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All our pendant lights come with either 50cm, or 1m of cable and chain that can be shortened at home or lengthened on request.⁠
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Our Ava Seven Pendant adding a gorgeous glow to the home of @revamping_the_edwardian.
Pendant lights are sometimes described as the 'jew Pendant lights are sometimes described as the 'jewellery' of a room, which is true in that they can be a beautiful way to tie together your look. Whether for a lofty barn roof, a dark hallway, your kitchen island or a bedroom you want to make a little cosier, there are many ways you can bring your room together with style and substance using pendants. ⁠⁠
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We've put together an easy to follow intro on how to install a pendant light on our Style Journal. Swipe up in our story to see more.
Perfectly picturesque and bursting with character, Perfectly picturesque and bursting with character, we are so looking forward to getting back into action in Bath and resuming our place in the wonderful community of #WalcotStreet. We are counting down the days until we can greet you in store once more and enjoy everything this lovey city has to offer. In the spirit of community, we’d love you to comment your favourite Bath businesses below. Let’s have some support for shopping locally where possible, and championing smaller and independent businesses, creatives and makers. We couldn’t do this without each other💡
A little while ago (when staycations were allowed) A little while ago (when staycations were allowed) we spoke with the team behind @thatchedcottagecotswolds about the quirks of period homes and how to stay in tune with a cottage feel without becoming twee.⁠⁠
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Read our interview with owner Vicky, and step through the virtual doors (for now, at least) to enjoy her quintessentially British holiday cottage, complete with thatching, classic period features and located in the picturesque Cotswolds. The perfect home away from home.⁠⁠..
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Swipe up in our story to see more on the Style Journal.
Country homes by their nature are often rather uni Country homes by their nature are often rather unique and need a thoughtful approach to lighting in order to match their individual character. That’s just how we like them.⁠⁠
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But what do you do when there’s no space for that statement pendant, or when you can’t find space to wire in that awkward alcove? We've created a detailed FAQ page within our Knowledge Base to answer your most pressing questions...can our cables be lengethened? And how bright do I need my bulb?⁠⁠
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Swipe up in our story for our frequently asked lighting questions: answered.
How do you choose the right lampshade? Before we How do you choose the right lampshade?

Before we explore the ‘rules’ it’s important to bear in mind there is no such thing as the wrong shade. If you love it – then it’s the right shade! Experimenting with lampshades in new fabrics, shapes and colours is a simple but effective way to instantly update your home style by adding texture and interest to your room. Our shades come in a huge variety of sizes from 9.5 cm to 50cm, so choosing the right look for you can sometimes feel overwhelming. We’ve collated a general guide to help make things easier…

Swipe up in our story to see more 💡
The Leiston Pendant looks right at home in this mo The Leiston Pendant looks right at home in this modern shaker kitchen from @tomhowleykitchens. Dark and matte surfaces really help our antiqued brass to sing, contrasted with light marble and added texture with a touch of wood grain. A beautiful blend for those who lean to a contemporary look.
A lot of brands (ourselves included) tend to put a A lot of brands (ourselves included) tend to put a lot of focus on the interior of a home. This is because it’s where we spend most of our time (inside, looking out) but what about when we’re on the outside looking in, realising the exterior is looking a little tired…? This is where a conduit comes in.⁠
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We have the perfect solution for transforming those drooping external wires from a nuisance into a stunning external feature. Our favourite way to light up the night is to group lights and create a glowing feature that wouldn’t look out of place indoors. Our Antiqued Brass Conduit is a smart way to hide ugly exterior wiring, particularly when combined with our slim Doncaster Wall Light or Bulkhead Light. There’s no reason to forsake style for function 💡

Swipe up in our story to read our 4 Step Conduit Guide.
Have you seen our customer Knowledge Base?⁠ ⁠ Have you seen our customer Knowledge Base?⁠
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We want to better serve you by providing concise information on product terminology, helpful guides and tips to inspire your home style. The easy-to-read pages have been divided into sections allowing you to better understand how to make the most of your Jim Lawrence products and services.⁠
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We have a series of FAQs, how-to guides and maintenance tips on our website that should answer all your queries. ⁠If you still need a helping hand, don’t forget you can contact us via our live chat service too 💡
A white plastic switch is a sight I’m sure we ar A white plastic switch is a sight I’m sure we are all familiar with. But, switches and sockets don’t have to be boring or unoriginal... as proved by these kitchen details featured by @no.17house. ⁠⁠
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Handcrafted stylish switches and sockets are the perfect finishing touch to any period or contemporary home. Our range of colourways and designs allow you to think creatively so you can highlight your wiring accessories instead of hiding them. When decorating a room it is sometimes easy to miss the little extras that can add the design flare your room was missing.
These elegant Rococo style lights are available wi These elegant Rococo style lights are available with both left and right leaning arms, with the option to created a mirror image like this in mind. A beautifully ornate and unfurling backplate adds an ornamental appeal to your decor, perfect paired with a crisp white wall and our parchment shades.
At Jim Lawrence we believe that the exterior desig At Jim Lawrence we believe that the exterior design of your home is as important as the inside. What you choose to put outside serves as a taster of the beauty within. What better ⁠place to start than the one place your guests will reach for first?⁠
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It can be hard to get a real feel for door furniture from a photo on your screen, but you’ll have to trust us (and our other customers) that you will fall head over heels for the quality and finish.
In our Suffolk workshop we employ a skilled team o In our Suffolk workshop we employ a skilled team of 150 engineers, painters, seamstresses, designers, lampshade makers and technicians alongside a full cohort of support staff. 

Though we’re navigating social distancing in the workshop and remote working too, our team are working extremely hard to keep bringing you the lights you love. We wanted to repost a day in the life of our makers and in case you missed it, introduce you to a huge part of our heritage: the welders. 

This is really where it all began, using traditional metal working techniques here in Suffolk. We chat to our Technical Lead, Lee Saxby about this craft and how we create the products now in pride of place in your homes.

Swipe up in our story to see more on the Style Journal.
We have worked hard over the past 20 years to buil We have worked hard over the past 20 years to build up an international reputation for classic high quality lighting and we feel our Gosford really encapsulates our passion for elegant, period-inspired wall lighting. All our lights are made using traditional metal working techniques and are hand finished to the very highest standards here at our Suffolk workshop.⁠⁠
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The Double Gosford is not supplied with shades so we recommend you explore our extensive collection of handmade candle shades to find your perfect match...
Our heritage outdoor lighting designs work beautif Our heritage outdoor lighting designs work beautifully when paired with rustic exteriors. All of our lights are skilfully made in our Suffolk based workshop, using traditional metal working techniques to create the quality product you take home. As we edge into Spring we are fortunate to rely on beautiful sunlight to illuminate our outdoor spaces, but when we want to stay out later as the evenings grow warmer it’s time for a helping hand…⁠⁠
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Our outside lights will transform the look of your garden, entrance or outbuildings, making the most of architectural features and the natural beauty of your building materials. Choose from nautical inspired charm like this Wall Mounted Ship's Light, or look to our country cottage styles to find your perfect outdoor light.⁠⁠
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