Searching for that wow-factor light for your renovation or revamp? Or perhaps just in need of something bold and beautiful to refresh a stale interior? Look no further. We are delighted to showcase some of our favourite pendant lighting for your hallways, home entrances and stairways. Each of the following designs make for a striking feature, perfect for boosting naturally dark areas with a variety of shades and fixtures to best suit your home style.

First up, our Greenwich and Richmond Pendants. These eye catching pendants feature oversized, hand blown clear or reeded glass shades. Designed to take centre stage in larger rooms or homes with high ceilings, both styles look fantastic in a pair or hung solitarily.

Originally popular in kitchens as countertop lighting, pendant lights are now found all over the home. No matter where you chose to put them, they are an excellent choice for creating an even distribution of light for tasking purposes and to add to ambient lighting. The Greenwich with its lovely fluted cuves and the Richmond with a plain highly reflective shade are equally beautiful suspended from your ceiling. Anywhere you choose, these oversized lights are a show-stopping statement for the modern country home.

Whether a traditonal bell style, a modern metal cage or ornate period detailing, a lantern is a go-to feature for a high up hallway or entrance. Whether hung alone to produce a striking statement piece or in a row along a hallway or landing, they are an excellent choice for creating an even distribution of light for tasking purposes and to add to ambient lighting. For more contemporary spaces we suggest opting for out sleek glazed beeswax or matt black designs such at the Wilton (above) or our angular Stanton. With clean lines, straight glass sides and an ironwork frame they are beautiful in their pared back, simple style.

Bell jars were originally hung in vestibules and entrance halls of Georgian homes where the jars stopped the candles being blown out when the door opened. In those days, candles were expensive so the jars where only lit when guests were expected, but our designs like the lovely Bonham Lantern features three bulb fittings to ensure there is plenty of light where it is needed.

If you are putting wall lights in a long hallway or corridor a general rule of thumb is to position them about 250 to 300cms or between 8′ to 10′ apart. The top of the wall light should be at eye level so that you are not looking directly into the bulb. But first, choose the look you love. Shown above, our Single Station Wall Light has a large rectangular backplate with an upwardly arched arm, an ideal choice for bringing both elegance and rusticity into the home.

For something a little more classic and traditional, the Double Rowsley still has a vintage feel that lends itself to country modern living and particularly to a smaller space. Pair with our Tapered Candle Shades for a compact but equally striking look. For Wall Lights, as a very general rule we suggest positioning your wall lights about 152cms or 60″ above floor level. If you are putting wall lights in a long hallway or corridor a general rule of thumb is to position them about 250 to 300cms or between 8′ to 10′ apart. The top of the wall light should be at eye level so that you are not looking directly into the bulb.

Create a stand-out space with our collection of luxury chandeliers – a sure way to invite an ornamental interest into your home. For more modest entryways and halls, our smallest chandelier is the Rococo (in name and nature), a handmade solid brass pendant chandelier hung with crystal beads and glass droplets. With a lightly antiqued finish, it is a beautiful pendant light for adding classic period detailing to your decor.

The chandelier has a long history, but it was during the 18th century where developments in glass manufacturing meant that lead glass was able to be made fairly cheaply, leading to the expansion in popularity of the crystal chandelier. Inspired by these historic designs, our most decorated droplet pendant is the Queensbury (shown above in Beeswax), delicately draped in droplets of glass to reflect and cast a magical glow around your home.

Create a talking point in your home with our spectacular seven pendant ceiling rose, featuring a tiered drop of our fluted glass Ava shades. This multi pendant light would look magnificent suspended in a stairwell, grand hallway or in any room with a high ceiling. Designed to be a showstopper, we have taken our most popular individual pendants and created new and beautiful designs to really show off the quality of the workmanship and the beautiful reflective lustre of hand blown glass.

For something a little more low key but equally as effective, our Fulbourn Triple Pendant Rose is smaller in stature but still packs a stylish punch with three pretty fluted glass shades. The same basic rules about hanging pendants at least 7ft off the floor applies to entrance halls and foyers, but if you have are looking to light up a landing, the guidelines are a little different. If you have a double height ceiling over two floors then the light fitting should ideally not hang below the second floor. If you are hanging your light higher to compensate for the two story setting, you may wish to consider one of our multi pendant lights to ensure it does not look too small for the setting.

It is important to consider how you are going to change the bulbs if you have a pendant hanging from a vaulted ceiling as it will become very expensive if you need to hire a scaffold tower every time a bulb requires changing.

Firstly, we’d recommend you invest in LED bulbs as they have a very long life – usually around 25,000 hours – so will not need changing often. A light that can be accessed by a ladder will make changing the bulbs a lot easier, as would be one that could be reached by the upper floors if you have a galleried landing.

If your light will be totally out of reach, another option is to consider installing a specialist winch or hoist. There are a number winches on the market which will enable you to lower your light fittings to the desired level for maintenance to be carried out in total safety. Most are fairly compact and can be easily fitted between joists. They are available with different cable lengths and carrying capacities and with remote controls.

Inspired and want to see more? Browse all our Glass Pendant lighting here. If you love the look but want to save the idea for later, follow our Pinterest and pin these images to a mood board. Share your styling with us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook – we love seeing our products in their new homes.

‘Country Style’ can encompass many things. Wherever you live you can infuse your homes interiors with an authentic country style with high quality items. You don’t have to be tucked away on remote farmland or in a cobbled village to enjoy antique-inspired textiles or vintage light fittings. You can blend and contrast any look you like, which is why designing home decor is so much fun. Due to the sudden change in nature of our nation’s cities because of the pandemic, more and more folks are seeking a slower pace by literally upping sticks to the countryside or simply wanting to incorporate a relaxed cottage look into their modern homes. English country cottage style has never been more in demand. Wherever you are we know you want the real deal – and we’re here to give it to you.

Cottages tend to carry the connotation of being old or at least old-fashioned looking. Usually considered a modest and cosy dwelling, typically placed in a rural or semi-rural location. Like any house they come in all shapes and sizes. So what is the universal signifier of cottage style? The first things that come to mind for us are natural colours, well-loved rustic finishes and as is often the case with period homes…items with a little curiosity and ‘quirk’. We think in order to get the look you need to patch together all three (much like you would an antique quilt).

Soft muted colours say Cottage to us. In Suffolk we’re particularly used to seeing pretty blush houses washed in Suffolk Pink, a paint that dates back to the 14th century. These shades were developed by local dyers by adding natural substances to a traditional limewash mix. Additives used in this process include pig or ox blood with buttermilk, elderberries and sloe juice. Though we might be more inclined to turn to modern methods of adding colour to our walls these days, we still tend to be swayed towards staying in keeping with the surroundings when it comes to what we put inside. Often, it can help to let the building lead. Also inspired by the honey-hued stonework in our second home of Bath, we have many fabrics and finishes that blend seamlessly into the natural neutrals that are synonymous with historical homes.

When it comes to exterior design, start with a stylish welcome. What better place to enjoy a hand forged heart than the one place your guests will reach for first? One of our most sought after products in all its beautiful finishes, the Heart Door Knocker is as elegant as it is sturdy: a quality addition to your door furniture collection. Made to be used, this weighty knocker with matching striker plates is crafted from solid metal and created using traditional techniques for a long lasting product that you can love for years to come.

This Georgian style wall lantern is one of our most popular outdoor wall lights as its design features a hand blown mirror at the back that will reflect the light from the bulb at night and the beauty of your garden during the day. Wall lanterns should be the go-to for period homes, emulating the traditional candle sconce style of 17th century wall lighting. Updated for modern usage, our Peacock Wall Light is decidely modern rustic without compromising on elegance – a beautifil additon to tie together your stylish welcome.

Complete your door furniture collection with matching handles and other finer details. Our timless door handle designs work in properties new and old, but feel most at home as part of a country dwelling. Shown above in Antiqued Brass, our Holkham Door Knob on a Rowley backplate is just one of many available combinations for your door. Browse our full collection of lever handles, door knobs and wide range of backplates.

If brass is not for you, why not try a contrasting matt black? Some products that will help you instantly add cottage style to your home inside and out with ease, and proof that simple additions can still be packed with charm. A smooth matt black finish can be contrasted against pastel colours, incorporating a hand forged traditional edge to your door furniture.
Whether you are planning to restore a genuinely old door or want to crank up the classic country style on a newer model, our Suffolk Latches and Hinges are an easy way to instantly achieve a cottage-inspired look.

If your cupboards, drawers and desks are looking a bit tired, a quick lick of paint and some new handles is an easy way to refresh the room. Our Forged Ball Knobs in Matt Black have a hammered surface bringing a handmade, organic texture to your room – a practical and tactile finish that will make your space feel new with something the looks authentically old. Our beeswax finish creates a bold, unique look that can be contrasted against pastel colours to finish your room off perfectly.

So where to begin with the country cottage look in your lighting choices? Our first ever light fittings were rather aptly named the Cottage Wall Light, so we’d say that’s a good place to start. Still one of our most popular designs, these flush backplates have a sharp cut ribbon design with generous drip trays, both elegant and rustic in equal measure.

Similar in stature is the lovely Double Smugglers Wall Light, with strap and ‘rivet’ detailing on the backplate which harks back to the leather straps that were used to hold candle sconces in cottages and inns during Georgian times. Both of these are fabulous placed along hallways or to light up your living areas, with scope for choosing a variety of fabric shades to match or kick off your colour scheme.

Task lighting refers to the places where you work the most so need the brightest lights, such as worktops, over the cooker and sink. There are many options to choose from, such as compact fluorescent strips or LED downlighters, flexible LED strip lighting and more. It can be frustrating, however, when these aren’t really in keeping with a heritage look. We’ve designed our own versions of downlighters, wall lights (like our Club pictured above) and a collection of spotlights to ensure you can enjoy the practicality of directional bulbs without missing out on Jim Lawrence style.

The Curtis Spotlight is scaled to work in a small space as well as a large one and features a head that can be angled through 90 degrees and rotated through 350 degrees so you can focus your light wherever you want it. Shown above in our lightly Antiqued Brass finish, it is dimmable if used with a dimmable GU 10 bulb and dimmer switch and is available as a double spot version.

The Edgeware Flush Mount Ceiling Light is a traditionally styled, hand crafted, fixed spotlight that combines the practicality of a spotlight with the beauty of our Edgeware light, with which it shares a similarly shaped shade. It is ideally suited as a downlighter for your kitchen worktops and kitchen islands.

There are no better fabrics to fly the country cottage flag than tweed and wool. Synonmous with our Great British heritage this hardy close weave is as tough as it is attractive – both rugged and refined – a perfect amalgamation for country style. We’ve teamed up with Lovat Mill, based in the Scottish Border town of Hawick and known as the Home of Tweed; where the artisan craftsmen follow in the footsteps of generations of tweedmakers to create beautiful, contemporary tweeds. Taking inspiration from the rich colours of the surrounding countryside, Lovat Mill design and weave estate and country tweeds of the highest quality. Choose from a range of colourways and weaves for your shades, such as our beautifully textured Blue Herringbone Tweed above or the rich colours of our Talisker Lovat Wool pictured below.

Understanding the provenance of our products is crucial to appreciating their quality, so knowing the rich background of these products makes them all the more beautiful…Adding texture and colour to your home decor in this way doesn’t get much better than that.

Botanical, insect and animal prints have long decorated country homes, and you can enjoy their delicate motifs thank to these designs by local Suffolk artist Laurie Cripps. We love Laurie’s softly quirky style and were delighted to be able to incorporate her charming handcrafted lino prints into our collection. Available in a range of shades and cut lengths, these designs can be effortlessly combined for a complete country modern style. Choose from a palette of gentle natural colours with a variety of countrysid

e motifs like wheat, pretty honeybees and more.

Known for its versatility, cotton is one of the most commonly used fabrics for lamp shade making as it is lightweight, durable and has a softness which is ideal for diffusing light evenly around a room. We recommend our classic and tapered candle shades as the perfect partner for your Jim Lawrence wall lights. All our shades are handmade in our Suffolk workshop by our talented team of shade makers and many of our fabrics are available as cut lengths and cushions if you are looking for a coordinated look.

We are very proud to say that our metalwork has been hand forged and hand finished by us in our Suffolk workshop for over 20 years now, using tried and tested traditional techniques. Our items are made to be used. That is, of course, the core reason for lights and hooks and switches: they are an answer to a question. A lot of companies will try and sell you our Great British Country Style as exactly that: a style or a trend. But the provenance and heritage of your home is not a commodity, it’s history. Some of our techniques have remained largely unchanged since the Tudor times, and whilst we have grown in many ways, we’d like to keep it that way.

It is our belief that doing things this way we can guarantee that every product we sell meets the exacting quality control standards we have set and for which we are renown. We have come a long way since our farm days and you may no longer have to bump down a track to find us. But our ethos remains the same: to provide individually handmade products to a high quality. Read the full Jim Lawrence Story.

Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in their new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Spring cleaning is not just about taking out a mop and duster. At a time of year where our outside spaces are changing and growing is also an opportunity for our interiors to blossom too. Rather fitting for the growing season, earth tones are a focus right now. Organic, relaxed and with a focus on comfort, turning to natural neutrals for Spring is one way to transform your home from somewhere you might be tired of into a sanctuary you can continue to enjoy.

Does it get more organic than that? We can’t always rip out our interiors whenever we want a change, but there are plenty ways we can enhance what we already have. It’s amazing what a bit of elbow grease can achieve. Our Antiqued Brass products are created from natural, un-lacquered solid brass that have been treated with antiquing solution to speed up the natural tarnishing process and create a lovely aged look that will darken naturally over time.⁠ In the trade this finish is often referred to as a ‘Living’ finish because of the natural oxidisation process that occurs to the brass over time leaving it to dull down to an authentic antique look. This darkening and dulling is accelerated outdoors or in damp environments.⁠

⁠With more time spent indoors over the past year, there’s no doubt there’s going to be a little more wear and tear. Overhaul the forgotten parts of your home; lightly wash down your switches and handles, for example, instantly freshening up the room. Don’t forget to spend time taking care of your light fittings – take a look at our Knowledge Base to find out how best to take care of your Jim Lawrence product finishes. A buff and a wipe down will make your existing Jim Lawrence products sparkle like new. Take a look at our cupboard and drawer pulls like the Larder Pull above and the Napier Knob below.

You can also choose our Heritage Copper finish, made using a similar technique to create a warmer blush tone. Match your drawer and cupboard handles to your switches and sockets – elevating the details makes a huge impact on the room as a whole.

Paired with the copper finish and vintage-style braided cable, this Glass Walcot Pendant combines the best old fashioned styling with modern trends for warm metallic fittings in kitchens and dining space. A simple yet impactful way to invite a more rustic feel into your room.

Linen is a beautifully leightweight but hardy fabric made from flax, often used in soft furnishings and clothing for its breatheable, luxurious quality. A textile traced back to the times of ancient Egypt, linen has always been used within the home and out, but has become synonymous with our decor. ‘Bed Linen’ is an umbrella term for sheets and covers in our bedrooms, whether made from linen or not. There’s no questioning that this dreamy fabric is a interior staple. We’re fortunate that it’s an easy way to update our homes with  modern rustic and earthy tones using cushions, throws and shades. We love the grain of linen when lit up as a lampshade, highlighting the sought after textured weave whether in its natural oatmeal hues or dyed a soft colour to match your decor. View our full soft linen available to buy as a cut length to get creative with, a ready made cushion cover or one of our luxury lampshades.

When it comes to talking about natural fibres, we have to wax lyrical about our heritage wool and tweed collections. Historically Tweed has always been in earthy colours since the 18th century, used for hunting, shooting and fishing. A hardy close weave, the fabric is as tough as it is attractive, both rugged and refined – a perfect amalgamation for country style.

We’ve teamed up with Lovat Mill, based in the Scottish Border town of Hawick and known as the Home of Tweed; where the artisan craftsmen follow in the footsteps of generations of tweedmakers to create beautiful, contemporary tweeds. Taking inspiration from the rich colours of the surrounding countryside, Lovat Mill design and weave estate and country tweeds of the highest quality. Incorporating between five and forty individual colours to produce a range of specially selected herringbones and checks that will add subtle reflections of the natural world to your interiors. Understanding the provenance of our products is crucial to appreciating their quality, so knowing the rich background of these products makes them all the more beautiful… Adding texture and colour to your home decor in this way doesn’t get much better than that.

We love a textural, rustic coastal-inspired room, and @beech.tree.cottage has served up everything we adore on a plate…⁠⁠ The Scallop Wall Light in Antiqued Brass is a winning choice in this space, inviting a perfect glow for the bedside. Weighty brass adds depth to the lattice of shade thrown onto the walls by the distressed threads of rattan.⁠⁠ Layering up with different textures adds depth to any room, but in a largely stone-coloured space this really lifts the area from potentially plain to multi-dimensional. Match your soft furnishings with your window dressing for the fully finished look – find out more on how to order our made to measure curtains and blinds.

Natural neutrals in the Greek Street @sohohouse as photographed by @mad_about_the_house. We’ve long loved distressed vintage glass alongside brass, and this bathroom has taken that pairing and run with it, supersizing the look with a trough basin and railway inspired mirror. Our flush fitting Gladstone with frosted glass panes adds further architectural, Art Deco lines and vintage inspired function to this room.

Proof that details DO matter. Everything in this image from @gladyscottage compliments the item before and after it, creating a considered but organic homely country cottage feel that we could just sink right into. Our Hanson Wall Lights look gorgeous topped with a linen candle shade, matched to more rustic oatmeal colours throughout. Look at our Waterford Cushion Covers and layer Limestone and Grey for a similar look.

If you can’t re-do your room entirely, incorporating smaller details is a sure way to enhance what is there. We adore this kitchen from @the_english_lodge, showing exactly how to blend old and new in a balanced and forward thinking way. If you want to add depth to a white room, using warm wood is a tried and tested way to make our other finishes sing. If you prefer to opt for a more contemporary metal finish like our Lovell Pendants here in glossy Nickel, bringing in vintage inspired woodwork will help you weave together this sought after modern country style.

Jim Lawrence is a truly family business, still run by Jim and Sheena and employing up to three generations of local families. By focusing on quality of materials, craftsmanship, outstanding customer service and the well-being of the Jim Lawrence community, our mission is to create stylish, designer quality fixtures and fittings for the home made with natural materials. It is our belief that by selling directly to our customers, we can guarantee that every product we sell meets the exacting quality control standards we have set and for which we are renowned.We have come a long way since our farm days and you may no longer have to bump down a track to find us. But our ethos remains the same: to provide individually handmade products and the highest possible levels of customer service. Read the whole story here, and view our full collection of products.

Have any questions? You can find everything you need to know including styling tips and technical information about all of our products in the Knowledge Base. Pop up on our live chat via our website if you need any more advice. Alternatively you can email us on sales@jim-lawrence.co.uk for quotes and order enquiries, or ring us on 01473 826969 Monday to Friday 9.30-5pm and speak directly to a member of our helpful sales team.

Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in our new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Pendants have never been more popular, and with such a beautiful range of designs available we appreciate you’re a little spoilt for choice! Now we can all get the look we love to match our homes, the next step is thinking about how to position the light to get the most of it. 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.

So, how low to hang a pendant light? 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. We’ve narrowed down our advice room by room…

We recommend lights in living rooms and bedrooms be at least 2m (7ft) above floor level to give adequate clearance. Finding a balance with different layers of light is crucial when developing a space to wind down in. Why not incorporate a dimmer switch with your pendant and table lamps for the option of a more relaxed, more subdued output?

Look at your room and think about the activities that happen in each area. Some spaces, like food preparation zones, the sink and above the hob in a kitchen will require task lighting. Other areas such as your dining space call for mood and accent lighting. 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. The basic rule here is that the bottom of your ceiling light should be between 75 and 85cm from the top of your table. If your ceiling is taller than 2.5m (8ft) then add another 7cm (3”) for every additional 30cm (1ft). Add further task lighting for more depth and practicality, take a look at our wall and spot lights for your dining and kitchen areas.

The same basic rules about hanging pendants at least 7ft off the floor applies to entrance halls and foyers, but if you have a double height ceiling over two floors, the light fitting should ideally not hang below the second floor. If you are hanging your light higher to compensate for the two story setting, you may wish to consider one of our multi pendant lights to ensure it does not look too small for the setting. Our  Triple Rose Pendants and our statement Ava Seven Pendant will elegantly light your space with their tiered handblown glass shades – a striking but delicate statement.

It is important to consider how you are going to change the bulbs if you have a pendant hanging from a vaulted ceiling as it will become very expensive if you need to hire a scaffold tower every time a bulb requires changing.

Firstly, we’d recommend you invest in LED bulbs as they have a very long life – usually around 25,000 hours – so will not need changing often. A light that can be accessed by a ladder will make changing the bulbs a lot easier, as would be one that could be reached by the upper floors if you have a galleried landing.

If your light will be totally out of reach, another option is to consider installing a specialist winch or hoist. There are a number winches on the market which will enable you to lower your light fittings to the desired level for maintenance to be carried out in total safety. Most are fairly compact and can be easily fitted between joists. They are available with different cable lengths and carrying capacities and with remote controls.

All our pendant lights come supplied with either 50cm of braided cable if they are below 5kg in weight, or with 1 metre of cable and chain if they are above 5kg. Both the cable and chain can be shortened easily at home with a pair of scissors and hacksaw. We have a collection of different colourways to best match your lighting finish.

Yes! We can supply you with longer lengths of cable and chain but you will need to call us for a bespoke quote. Speak to one of the sales team on 01473 826685 for the specifics. Our telephone lines are open: Monday – Friday: 9:30am – 5pm.

Installation should always be carried out by a qualified electrician or a competent person in accordance with current electrical regulation, but there is no harm in understanding the process. Here is our simple introduction on how to fit a pendant light… 

Still have any questions? You can find further information about all of our products in the Knowledge Base. View all of our pendant lighting here. Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in our new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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. Here is our simple introduction on how to fit a pendant light…

Installation should always be carried out by a qualified electrician or a competent person in accordance with current electrical regulation. These are our Must Do’s…

• Please note that all our lights require earthing and must be installed in accordance with the latest edition of British Standard 7671.
• The electricity supply should always be isolated at its source (fuse box) before attempting any installation or maintenance.
• Please do not fit bulbs exceeding the maximum allowable wattage as shown on the label adjacent to the bulb holder.
• If the external flexible cable or cord is damaged, it should be replaced exclusively by Jim Lawrence or a similar qualified person in order to avoid a hazard.

If the wiring in your house predates the British standards regulation in 2004 to harmonise wiring colours, then the colour of your wires may be different to the illustration.

Position the rose to the ceiling where you would like to install your light. Ensure you have a strong fixing point – a ceiling joist or batten is ideal. Mark and drill the holes for the fixing screws taking care not to damage any electrical cables. In many older houses this point can take some time to prepare. Next, trim the cable of your pendant to suit your ceiling height and room proportions.

Before connecting the light to your supply wire, ensure the mains electricity is turned off. We recommend you use the appropriate sealed connector block within your ceiling cavity to connect your light to the supply wire. Ensure the cables are fully inserted into the connector block and connect the wires in accordance with the wiring diagram.

Simply screw the ceiling rose to the ceiling using the screws provided.

Fit a light bulb, then ensure the raised lip of the glass is pushed up above the line of the thumbscrews. Begin to tighten the thumbscrews alternating from screw to screw so that they are all wound in at an even length. Once all screws have made good contact with the glass the raised lip will prevent the glass from falling out. Ensure the screws are finger tight being careful not over tighten as this may damage the glass. If a chain is supplied with your light it MUST be used at all times.

This information is intended as a guide only. Please see the latest IEE Wiring Regulations for full details. Jim Lawrence takes no responsibility for incorrectly installed lights & recommends that all lights should be installed by a qualified electrician.

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.

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. All our pendant lights come with either 50cm, or 1m of cable and chain that can be shortened. Another point to consider is that a light will look larger the lower it hangs and smaller if your hang it higher.

If you are unable to create enough cavity space for your wiring when using the ceiling rose supplied with your pendant, we can offer a retrofit ceiling rose with more capacity.  Once you have an appropriate ceiling rose, simply secure it over the existing junction box. You can choose from our variety of ceiling roses here.

Wiring in period homes can be a tricky business which is why our design team have come up with this brilliantly versatile, neat little pattress to give your ceiling rose or wall light back plate extra depth. The pattress screws onto your existing Jim Lawrence Georgian ceiling rose to give it extra space to house the external wiring. For a pendant fitting, choose our Georgian Lighting Pattress.

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. When we’ve got hundreds of hand finished switches and sockets to choose from, it can be hard to pick which combination is right for you.

Still have any questions? You can find further information about all of our products in the Knowledge Base. View all of our pendant lighting here. Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in our new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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 – it’s the right shade. Experimenting with lamp shades in new fabrics, shapes and colours is a simple ut effective way to instantly update your home’s style. However, with so many options to choose it’s helpful to have a guide to follow to help you get started.

Our shades come in a huge variety of sizes from 9.5 cm width for our Tapered Candle Shades (measured across the widest point on the shade) and go up to 50 cm styles, so choosing the right dimensions can feel like a bit of a minefield. Though by no means set in stone, here is a rough guide to help make things easier…

Wall lights are generally best partnered with Candle Shades, which are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, normally measuring between 15-20 cm across the widest point of the shade. We do have a variety of wall lights that might require a Half Shade such as our Thorpe, Omara and Millfield lights to name a few.

Generally speaking, for table lamps you should be looking for 15-20 cm wide shades for a smaller lamp base like our Small Porter Table Lamp, between 20-35 cm for an average lamp base like our Harleston, and anything up to about 50 cm forsomething larger such as our Seymour Lamp.

Standard lamps are a bit simpler. The rule of thumb with standard lamp sizes is if your lamp is a normal sized standard lamp, you will need a shade somewhere between 40 and 50 cm wide. If your standard lamp is a bit smaller (like our Nayland Adjustable Reading Lamp) anything between 30 and 40 cm may fit better. We advise our range of Empire Shades for our reading lamps, and a selection of Cylinder and French Drum Shades for our other, taller Floor Lamps.

Many of our lights are supplied with either a metal or glass shade, however lots of our designs require a fabric shade to complete the look. Customers have found that between 40 and 50 cm sized shades work well as central statement pendant in a room. Whether you opt for a multi-armed pendant like the Gloucester or Arlington , or choose from our variety of Pendant Lampholders, we have a wide range of shades above 20cm that can be fitted with a pendant frame to fit your light.

With over 70 fabrics at Jim Lawrence, we are pretty confident we have the right fabric for your perfect shade…

Both the colour and fabric of a lampshade influence how it diffuses light. Historically, lampshades were white or neutral in colour as these are the most effective at spreading light through a room, while a dark shade directs light downwards creating pools of light. In order for your light fitting and shade not to compete for attention we find that with lampshades, opposites attract. An ornate or busy lamp base will generally look better with a plain shade, while a simple base gives you the chance to really go to town with your shade. Be bold with one but not both.

Before choosing between a translucent or opaque fabric for your lampshade, think about the purpose of the lamp. If it is for reading or to shed ambient light, you should choose a translucent shade as it will allow light to escape through the sides of the shade, diffusing it evenly across a space. Opaque shades are made from material that prevents light from escaping from the sides. Instead, it is emitted from the top and bottom of the lamp creating pools of light that give a sense of drama to a room. If you’re using the lamp as accent lighting and don’t need a lot of light in the room, an opaque shade is ideal.

Remember the fabric will effect the brightness of your lamp. With all the patterns and lovely imagery available it’s easy to forget the practical aspect of the lamp – one final slightly cautionary note to remember , your fabric will change the luminously of the light output, so for areas that need a brighter effect choose a lighter shade fabric. We strongly recommend that you order a swatch before ordering any of our fabrics to help you decide if it is right for you. Once cut to length, our fabrics are non-returnable unless faulty.

If fabric isn’t your thing, give any lamp a beautiful brass treatment with these solid brass lampshades, designed to match our Antiqued Brass lights and lamps, these shades are also lightly antiqued for an elegant, aged finish.

Lampshades in the UK generally come with two types of fitting; they are either made with a shade ring that screws onto the lamp base beneath the bulb fitting, or they have two wire loops that are called a ‘butterfly’ or candle clip fitting that you gently pull apart so that the shade sits directly on top of a candle shaped bulb. We supply shades with both fitting styles. To keep it simple: all our Tapered and Candle Shades have candle clip fittings, while our other shades have shade rings.

This is another name for a shade ring. In order to make our shades as versatile as possible, the majority of our shades are sized to take an E27 screw in bulb which is 27mm wide at the base – the largest size available and commonly used throughout Europe. But, because we in the UK generally use a narrower B22 bayonet bulb that is 22mm wide, we fit each shade with a reducer – a plastic ‘C’ shaped ring that sits inside the metal shade ring – to make it narrower. That way you can use the shade with the reducer if you have a light with a bayonet bulb or remove the plastic reducer if you have a screw in bulb.

In the majority of our shades, the shade ring sits 4cm up from the bottom rim of the shade (or 4cm down from the top if it is a cylinder shade being used as a pendant). Our smaller shades have different measurements so you will need to call us to confirm the height.

A diffuser is a semi-opaque disc that is perfect for disguising the glare of a light bulb and are most commonly used over dining room or kitchen tables. They sit inside the bottom rim of a pendant shade and draw your eye to the lampshade not the bulb. Our diffusers are only suitable for cylinder shades. In order to fit a diffuser, you will need to be firm, but the frames on both diffuser and shade are quite strong. Push it up through from the bottom and tilt it slightly before pushing down from the inside to make sure the frame/diffuser rings touch and it sits level.

We create every lampshade by hand at our Hadleigh workshops from our fabulous collection of fabrics that are hand picked for their quality and suitability for the very best soft furnishings. We can therefore offer a bespoke lampshade design service. If you can’t find what you are looking for in our extensive ‘made to order’ range why not contact our sales team to discuss your unique lampshade requirements? Obtain a free quotation on 01473 826685. Please note all bespoke shades need to use one of our existing shade frames.

And there you have it: how to choose the right shade or even create one unique to you. Still have any questions? You can find further information about all of our products in the Knowledge Base. View all of our lampshades here – you can easily filter by colour, diameter, material, pattern and fittings to find the look you love. Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in our new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

We stock our products in the finishes that we feel suit them best. From traditional antiqued metal effects, to bold contemporary paint colours, our products are available in a fantastic variety of hand crafted finishes to perfectly suit your home’s style.

We are often asked how we would recommend our customers care for their Jim Lawrence products so we thought it might be helpful to touch upon a few of our finishes and provide some hints and tips to keep your products looking at their best all year round…

This is our most popular finish and deservedly so. We create the Antiqued Brass look by treating our solid brass with an antiquing solution. This solution simply speeds up the natural tarnishing process and means that you are able to take home an authentic aged brass product from day one that will only improve and darken over time.

In the trade this finish is often referred to as a ‘living’ finish because of the natural oxidisation process that occurs to the brass over time leaving it to dull down to an authentic antique look. This darkening and dulling is accelerated outdoors or in damp environments.

To clean the brass, we recommend using a small amount of soapy water and/or buffing it with beeswax or a good quality wax polish to help protect the finish. To remove smudges or finger marks, gently brush the entire surface of the product with a Scotch-Brite pad so there is an even tone over the whole surface. If you concentrate the brushing in one area, it may look patchy. Then buff with a soft cotton cloth.

If you are wishing to slow down the natural tarnishing process then we recommend regular polishing with a good quality brush and a soft cloth. One thing we do have to warn our customers about is that chemical polishes may strip away the original antiquing solution too so take care.

We have developed this version of our most popular Antiqued Brass finish specifically for our Bletchley Bathroom accessory collection. We create the traditional antique look by treating solid brass with an antiquing solution, and we then lightly lacquering each piece with a clear matt lacquer. This seals the items – preventing unwanted marks to towels and garments. Our brass products are all non-corrosive and ideal for bathroom use. Free metal swatch available on request.

As this is a lacquered finish it will require no on-going upkeep, however would advise that you simply wipe it over with a clean, lint free, soft cloth from time to time to remove any residual build-up of dust and dirt on the product.

This finish is truly unique, and if you are looking for a traditional wrought iron look then this is the one for you. The Beeswax technique is something that has been used by craftsmen since Tudor times. Each piece is heated in our workshop until the steel darkens and then dipped into hot natural beeswax.

This finish is one that does require some light maintenance to retain the unique traditional look and feel. To avoid any unsightly corrosion occurring we advise that you apply a fresh coat of pure natural beeswax with a lint free soft cloth every 3 – 6 months. We must mention that this finish is not suitable for outdoors or bathroom use.

As our Heritage Copper products are made from natural, un-lacquered copper, they will continue to age and develop a darker dull patina over time in your home. To clean the copper, we recommend using a small amount of soapy water and/or buffing it with beeswax or a good quality wax polish to help protect the finish. To remove smudges or finger marks, gently brush the entire surface of the product with a Scotch-Brite pad so there is an even tone over the whole surface. If you concentrate the brushing in one area, it may look patchy.

Much like the Antiqued Brass finish, our Heritage Copper products use natural, un-lacquered copper. This means that it will continue to age and tarnish over time within your home. If you would like to decelerate this aging process then a handy tip is to use a good quality metal cleaning solution on those tarnished areas. Rub this in briskly with a soft cloth and then buff the copper to restore its original beauty. 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.

A clean uniform finish, the paint is applied with a powder coating process that creates a smooth, hard-wearing surface. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, Matt Black is one of our most popular choices for its quality and availability across most of our ranges. A perfect choice if you want to match up all the finer details.

As this is a powder coated painted finish it will require no on-going upkeep, however we would advise that you simply wipe it over with a clean, lint free, soft cloth from time to time to remove any residual build-up of dust and dirt on the product.

Our Nickel Plated finish has a highly reflective, silvery patina that is more akin to Chromium than to the many ‘brushed steel’ nickel finishes available elsewhere. To create this crisp clean finish we coat solid brass with a heavy plate of nickel and then a flash layer of chromium to ensure a long life. Its corrosion free qualities make it an ideal choice for bathrooms. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use. 

Our bright nickel finish is simply maintained by regularly wiping over with a slightly damp, soft cloth using a very mild soapy water solution. This will remove any grease spots or smudges on the product. For a more persistent blemishes on your products we suggest using a soft lint free cloth and a small amount of chrome polish.

We polish our forged iron to a pewter finish, then seal with a lacquer. A signature Jim Lawrence grey, our Polished Lacquer finish is a slick, industrial-inspired gunmetal colour that has a subtly distressed texture beneath the gloss that you can fully appreciate when feeling the weight and quality of the product in your hand. This finish is not always suitable for outdoor use, so please refer to individual product descriptions for more information. 

We advise you clean your polished items once or twice a year at least with a soft cloth. You can seal any chips and scratches in the lacquer itself with a high quality natural beeswax. This keeps the product clean and weatherproof. Lacquers may deteriorate over time in exposed or damp conditions and regular waxing will prolong the life of the product.

A classic, go-to choice for door furniture and other smaller details like locks, letters and latches, or for those who just prefer their brass brighter, shinier and looking ‘new’. Supplied in a natural un-lacquered finish, however, Polished Brass will ultimately deepen and darker over time.

If you wish to retain a bright, polished effect as pictured, we recommend the products are regularly cleaned with brass polish and a soft cloth.

This semi-gloss, deep grey paint finish is achieved with a powder coating process that creates a smooth, hard-wearing surface. Long an interior go-to, Slate Grey and other variations of this new neutral are at home in  contemporary and period properties, bringing a cool-toned depth to both.

As this is powder coated painted finish it will require no on-going upkeep, however would advise that you simply wipe it over with a clean, lint free, soft cloth from time to time to remove any residual build-up of dust and dirt on the product.

Choose Old Gold for a classic, regency inspired look. Not holding back on this lustrous gold, we paint our forged iron with in this bold colour, which is then subtly antiqued by hand to create a slightly burnished and deeper hue. Old Gold is only suitable for indoor use.

As this is a delicate, hand finished paint effect we would only recommend only lightly dusting with a clean lint free cloth.

Last but certainly not least, our remaining painted finishes. Choose from our Blue, Duck Egg Blue, Clay, Plain Ivory, Old Ivory and Shaker Green options. All requiring no ongoing upkeep.

We do advise, however, that you simply wipe your painted finish products over with a clean, lint free, soft cloth from time to time to remove any residual build-up of dust and dirt on the product.

We know it is a tough decision deciding on which finish to go for, which is why you can request a free metal swatch of any finish. Alternatively, our sales team not only see all the finishes on a daily basis but also are extremely knowledgeable on which ones work best in certain environments. So, please do not hesitate to give them a call on 01473 828176 or email us at sales@jim-lawrence.co.uk for any advice.

As an alterative to cleaning home, we can now offer a full refinishing service for brass that will restore your product to the same condition it was when it originally left our workshop at a small cost. Kindly note that the finish will again dull over time. For lighting, this will incur a further cost where rewiring is required.

Don’t forget to tag us in your Jim Lawrence interior updates, we love seeing your products in our new homes! You can find us @JimLawrenceMade on Instagram, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Bathroom décor needs a special touch. Choosing what you like and what you actually need in a bathroom setting can sometimes be a compromise…but not with Jim Lawrence. We’ve created an extensive collection of bathroom lighting and matching accessories to ensure your bathroom interior is as stunning as the rest of the house. There are many things to bear in mind, but we are confident you will find what need AND what you love with us. So here are a few bathroom décor ideas to help you refresh your space this Spring…

Our IP rated brass bathroom lighting blends old and new in perfect harmony. Our popular Cheltenham’s encapsulate a simple, old-fashioned utility style that blends seamlessly with both period and contemporary bathrooms.  At Jim Lawrence we thrive on recreating classic designs and giving them a new lease of life with modern twists. For the vintage lovers we recommend the Cheltenham Wall Light to line your mirror for a warm, art deco inspired glow.

Embrace coastal character with our Saunton Wall Lights. Choose from Antiqued Brass or Nickel for this shell-shaped Wall Light. These innovative wall lights have been cleverly designed with a sealed glass cover over the bulb to ensure they are waterproof and fully functional in a bathroom environment.

These lights are inspired by Jim & Sheena’s holidays to the West Coast of Scotland, where fresh scallops were always on the menu and finding shells on the beach was a favourite past time. Wonderfully tactile and ideal for those after a laid back, beach house feel, it offers the perfect opportunity to add a pop of colour too with one of our bathroom candle shades.

A classic design with a modern rustic finish for more traditional country spaces. The Single and Double Malvern Bathroom Wall Lights will bring a compact elegance to your bathrooms, ensuring your favourite country style reaches every corner of the home. Choose from our variety of Bathroom Candle Shades to pair with your light.

Our lovely Hinton Wall Light has a handcrafted contemporary chic that will add a designer touch to any room. In our Matt Black finish, the Hinton adds arhcitectural lines and a striking contrast to modern white bathrooms.

Great care must be taken when selecting a bathroom light as all bathroom lighting must conform to the current regulations which are designed with safety in mind. Bathrooms are considered to be a special location for electrical installations because they have an increased risk of electric shock for the users, due to being so close to water.

Everyone knows the types of electrical products that are found in bathrooms: lighting, showers, fans, heaters, shaver sockets and towel rails. All of these are governed by rules for installation and contractors must follow them, using certified products, and make sure they comply with the regulations.

Electrical contractors will make bathroom installations as safe as possible by carefully following wiring and building regulations, choosing specially designed equipment and employing a good “splash” of common sense (if you pardon the pun!).

Light fittings are given a two digit number known as an IP (Ingress Protection) number or rating. The rating indicates the standards are used to define the levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies such as dirt and water.

The first digit stands for the level of protection that the enclosure provides against solid bodies like dirt and dust particles and ranges from 0 for not protection to 6 for total protection.

The second digit is the one that is important in bathrooms and it relates to the degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against water and ranges from 0 for no protection, up to 8 for a light that will be totally submerged in water.

Our bathroom lighting range has been carefully designed and constructed with safety in mind. All our bathroom lights are IP rated for zones 2 & 3, so you know exactly where in your bathroom it is safe to install. We do not supply lights for zone 1.

If you are unsure that your light is suitable for the zone, always consult an electrician.

For safety purposes, bathrooms are divided into zones and the IEE (Institution of Electrical Engineers) wiring regulations indicate what types of lighting can be installed safely in each zone.

Each of the bathroom electrical zones illustrated below has specific requirements regarding the electrical equipment that can be installed and used in that zone.

This is inside the bath or shower tray itself and any light here must be low voltage and rated IPx7 (the x is used here because the degree of dust protection does not apply to bathrooms and any number will be ok). Lights rated IPx7 will provide total protection when immersed in water.

Is above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25 metres above floor level and a light fitting with a minimum of IPx4 is needed here.

An area stretching to 0.6 metres outside the bath and above the bath or shower if over 2.25 metres. A light fitting of at least IPx4 is needed. Zone 2 also includes the area above the sink in a radius of 0.6 metres from the taps.

Refers to the area beyond Zone 2 and was previously known as Zone 3. There is no longer a specific IP number for this area and any light fitting can be used unless it is specifically marked as not for use in bathrooms.

Once your lighting is chosen, you can select your shelving, soap dishes, mirrors and more. Our popular Bletchley Bathroom Collection is the perfect choice for an effortless and stylish bathroom update. Vintage styling is easy with us: we’ve treated the range with lacquered antiqued brass to make sure they stand the test of time physically as much as they do aesthetically.

A simple ‘add on’ for your bath, the Bletchley Roll Top Soap Basket is as useful as it is beautiful – a lovely alternative to the usual chrome of many bathroom accessories.

Grey is always an interior go-to, and our gunmetal/pewter hued Polished finish is no exception. Our Pembroke bathroom range will give your room an elegant industrial luxe finish, bringing a stylish utility inspired look to the table.

Why not incorporate a hand forged steel bathroom shelf from our Pembroke range into your room? It is a practical size for a family bathroom and the glass is easily removed for cleaning. The glass is supplied clear unless frosted glass is requested for an additional cost of £15.

The Stratford range will bring a touch of period charm to any traditional or contemporary bathroom with it’s decorative cursive brackets and flash coating of glossy chrome.

We are particularly proud of the beautiful Stratford Mirror – which you can style hand either portrait or landscape – an ideal choice for achieving a modern country cottage look.

For those taking a monochrome approach, our Matt Black Hatton range is lovingly forged from solid steel and painted with a powder coating process that creates a smooth, hard-wearing surface. Though an all important essential, your toilet roll holder can be stylish too.

The Hatton Loo Roll Holder features a ribbon pointed bracket and fluid metalwork that has a quality and charisma which can only be produced when they are handmade with care.

That’s our bathroom decor ideas all wrapped up…now it’s over to you to choose the beautiful designs that you love. Browse our bathroom lighting and bathroom ranges on the website to find your match. For more information on lighting, bulbs and more FAQ’s head to our Knowledge Base. If you have any questions about fitting your lights, 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. For even more home interior ideas, keep up to date by following us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Don’t forget to tag us in your home updates– we love seeing our products in their new homes!

This might seem like a big question…because it is! There are so many things to consider when choosing how to light your kitchen, so we’ve boiled it all down to a few key pointers.

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.

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.

Brighter light is needed for tasking purposes whereas subdued light creates a sense of warmth and mood. Rooms that are multi functioning such as a kitchen, bathroom or utility room will require more light than a bedroom or living room.

Centrally placed pendant lights will throw their light all round a room equally so are better for general tasking purposes, whereas a wall or ceiling mounted spot light can be angled towards you to give bright, focussed light where needed, or away from you onto a wall or ceiling to add to the general ambience of the room.

As a rough guide, around 400 lumens would be suitable for a bed-sized table lamp, whereas you might want between 1,500 and 3,000 lumens in total (from more than one bulb) for a good-sized living room.

Let’s get a little technical. You can work out the level of light you need by calculating your room size in square metres and multiplying it by 19 for LED or CFL bulbs and by 15 for halogen bulbs. For example, if your room measures 4m x 5m it has an area of 20 square metres. If you are using LED bulbs, multiply this by 19 (20×19) giving a total of 380 watts, or a light level of 3800 lumens. The lumen level of each bulb will vary depending on the type of bulb and manufacturer so check the specific lumen level of each bulb to ensure you reach your overall target. For further information read our guide which features everything you will need to know about bulbs.

The rules that apply to kitchen lighting can be applied to every room in your home in that cleverly positioned lights can make a small room appear larger, disguise awkward architecture or compensate for poor natural light.

Look at your room and think about the activities that happen in each area. Some spaces, like food preparation zones, the sink and above the hob will require task lighting, as will a kitchen island. For variation in more open plan rooms or those with a dining area will require mood and accent lighting.

Task lighting refers to the places where you work the most so need the brightest lights, such as worktops, over the cooker and sink. There are lots of varieties to choose from, from compact fluorescent strips or LED under-cupboard downlighters that are slim enough to be recessed into the bottom of overhead units, to flexible LED strip lighting mounted on the underside of cupboards.

Even Pendants like our Weston Pendants can highlight task areas beautifully whilst adding some variation from directional spotlighting. Using dimmable bulbs with a dimmer switch is a fantastic way to achieve versatile lighting as you can choose to have bright light were needed and create soft, ambient light by decreasing power to the light source.

As well as creating a focal point in your room, ceiling lights like these Flush Edgeware lights are omnidirectional – casting their light equally everywhere – which is a must for tasking purposes. Alternatively, adjustable spotlights fitted directly above the hob, sink and chopping board will ensure bright, focused lighting.

If you have a kitchen diner or family room adjoined to your kitchen you will need to create a softer ambience to make everyone feel relaxed. Start by looking at how much natural light comes into the room and where it falls and where you need additional lighting.

It’s worth considering dimmable wall lights or spotlights that can be moved alongside more decorative systems, as these will give a subtle background illumination. For high ceilings, uplighters on top of the kitchen cabinets or spot lights hung along beams will enhance the general light. All of our pendants come with cable and chain that can be easily shortened at home, so you can enjoy any design you like no matter your ceiling height. These Leiston Pendants shown above are perfect for any modern country kitchen that needs a wide pool of light. We paint the inside of our large Leiston Pendant Lights ivory to beautifully reflect the bulb and add more of a gentle ambience to your room.

For island units or kitchen tables, consider a rise-and-fall fixture like our Butler above the table that can be pulled down for a cosy candlelit supper or raised for everyday meals and other activities. If possible, make sure your lights are controlled separately so you can create different moods at the flick of a switch.

The final layer of lighting that you will need to consider is how to create character and in your room. This is done using accent or feature lighting that guides the eye and creates points of interest around the room as well as adding to the overall light. Accent lighting could be subtle strip LED lighting on shelving, along the plinth of your kitchen island, in cupboards or in niches that highlights your room’s natural features It can also refer to the fitting itself, which makes a statement whether on or off.

A series of beautiful pendant lights like our Deben, Shotley and Bellingham shown above, or a fabulous single statement piece above a dining table will help differentiate the dining space from the kitchen’s work zones. Try hanging pendants low over the table for a feeling of intimacy or position them high over kitchen islands. This not only provides a great source of light, it also adds interest, breaking up the austere lines of cabinets.

Now all you have to do is choose beautiful designs that you love. Browse our Wall Light, Pendant Light and Spotlight pages on the website to find your match. For more information on lighting, bulbs and more FAQ’s head to our Knowledge Base. If you have any questions about fitting your lights, 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. For even more home interior ideas, keep up to date by following us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Don’t forget to tag us in your home updates– we love seeing our products in their new homes!

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. 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!

When we’ve got hundreds of hand finished switches and sockets to choose from, it can be hard to pick which combination is right for you. We thought we’d make it a little bit easier by highlighting a few of our favourite designs…

From traditional antiqued metal effects, to bold contemporary paint colours, our products are available in a fantastic variety of hand crafted finishes to perfectly suit your home’s style.

Our hammered edge is where the switch plate is cut with a sloping, or chamfered edge that is hammered to produce a subtle, rustic aged look. Our bevelled edge is where the switch plate is cut with a straight, slightly sloping or chamfered edge for a slimline, contemporary look.

A beautiful, hand forged double plug socket made from solid natural brass and lightly antiqued for a classic, aged look. This Antiqued Brass Bevelled Plug Socket combines a 2 gang, 13 amp switched, slimline design with black inserts and antique brass rocker switches to create a simple sleek look to suit modern and traditional homes.

Though it’s a bathroom essential, a shaver socket might seem like an afterthought when you’re dreaming up your desired bathroom décor. Wall colour and lighting may come first, but our Shaving Sockets are a practical AND pretty solution to make sure every element of your bathroom is up to scratch.

We have found that making a feature out of the quirks of period homes is often the best way to enjoy them. A hinged design that fits into the floor, this 2 Gang Floor Socket is the dreamy modern rustic detail you might not have thought of, but now know you need! A great solution when you don’t want wires stretching around the room or have limited wall space, you can enjoy floor or table lamps in more central spots around the room, or use them for other portable accessories. Our range of colourways and designs allow you to think creatively so you can highlight your wiring accessories instead of hiding them.

Take a look at our 2amp and 5amp round pin sockets for something a little different…

The go-to for vintage-inspired homes: the dolly switch. Shown here in our beautiful Heritage Copper, a dolly switch is perfect for capturing the spirit of your period home whilst taking advantage of modern wiring. Copper lends a subtle blush warmth to any interior, creating a lovely aged look that will darken naturally over time, much like our Antiqued Brass finish. Our dolly switches (also known as toggle switches) refer to the toggle-like button you use to turn the switch on or off. Ours are all 20 amp, 2-way.

The antithesis of the standard white light switch: a slick matt black rocker switch or ‘Modular Grid’ Switch. This is a more modern looking sloped button that ‘rocks’ backward or forwards to turn a switch on or off. All ours are 20 amp, 2-way, 240V. This design adds a modern industrial look, or works wonderfully paired with other black ironmongery and accessories in a contemporary country home.

A dimmer is a button that pushes in and out to turn your lights on or off and rotates to dim the lights. You can choose from beautiful Dolly or Rotary Dimmers. Our dimmers are Varilight V-Pro 250W push On/off trailing edge dimmers. Jim Lawrence dimmers incorporate 120w trailing edge modules that are suitable for good quality dimmable LED bulbs, incandescent bulbs and dimmable CFL bulbs. They are also compatible with good quality dimmable electronic transformers. The minimum load on the dimmer module is 10w. Each dimmer switch is 2 way which means it can be used for switching lights from either one or two places. Higher wattage dimmer modules are available on request. Please call our sales team for more information.

Want to learn more? See our full guide to Dimmer Switches on the Knowledge Base.

This is the plastic connector box that sits behind the metal front plate that connects your switch or socket to the mains wiring in your home.

Blank plates are useful for covering unused back boxes that may remain in your walls as they are not currently required in that location.

A 1 way switch is the most common found in the home and means that only one switch is used to govern one light. All our switches are two way which means they can be used to operate lights from more than one location, such as the operating a stairwell light from the top and the bottom of the stairs or from either end of a room. If you need to operate your lights from a third location, you will need to fit your switches with an intermediate module.

An intermediate switch or module allows you to operate your lights from three locations, so from a landing as well as from the top and bottom of the stairs in the example given above, or from either side of the bed as well as by the door in a bedroom. Intermediate switches are ideal for rooms where there are multiple entrances.

These are just a handful of our stylish switches and sockets that we have constructed to make sure the smallest details can still be the most beautiful. 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. In need of advice on how to wire your switches and sockets? Our detailed knowledge base will guide you through all you need to know on installing our lovely switches and sockets. Please read these instructions carefully before you start work.

To view all of our home accessories and lighting visit our website. For even more home interior ideas, keep up to date by following us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Don’t forget to tag us in your home updates– we love seeing our products in their new homes!