Victorian houses have a lot of potential to mix ecclectic styles

There are so many styles, influences and histories involved in old houses that the process of choosing a light can be overwhelming. To top it off, when you mix your personal tastes the process of choosing a light can come grinding to a halt because people are afraid of mixing what they like with what they live in.

My best piece of advice to every client is to choose something that they like. It’s their house and they have to enjoy every thing in it as much as possible. I used to be a real historical purist when it came to homes and would mainly guide clients to period fixtures for their period homes.

Pan Lights are versatile fixtures for any style of home and are offered in 2,3,4 and 5 light configurations

Some would be really interested and jump at the chance to own something of the era while others leaned towards more modern fixtures 60 years newer than their 1870’s Victorian house. Although it may seem odd to put an Art Deco light into a Victorian home, its actually not.

In fact, it’s very historically accurate.

Art Deco slipper shade fixture found in an 1890s Victorian

As I mentioned before, old homes have had a variety of histories. From the people who lived there to both the major and minor changes that have been made to the structure over the years. Tastes and interiors changed and so to did technology. Electric lighting brought about new styles and designs and homes that were converted from gas to electricity often had the newest lights to reflect those styles. We’ve often seen original houses from the turn of the century fitted with all Art Deco lighting because those were the first electric lights ever installed in the house.  The same goes with cast arm fixtures or just about any other electric fixture available.

When doing homes that were originally electric, the style is not quite as diverse as there were certain fixtures made for certain styles of homes. In Toronto, we have a plethora of Tudor revival homes, which was the style of choice for many of the 1920s “suburbs” now within the heart of the city. The Tudor and Gothic style can seem very heavy and castle like which is appealing to some and oppressive to others. For clients that want more of an updated look with a period feel, we recommend using lighter finishes on the lighting. In some cases we’ll restore their period lighting that came with the home while in others we’ll select antiques and reproductions from our showroom. Finishes like satin nickel, burnished and highlighted brass and antique brass have a rich but lighter appearance that compliment more contemporary designs while also having a period feel.

Satin Nickel finish brings a cross over and contemporary feel to traditional lights

Also with older historic homes, what you see is not necessarily what you get. Many have been gutted or drastically transformed over the years with only remnants of their formers selves. Purists will bemoan this fact and often try and bring the home back to what it once was. For this you have my full respect and support as you are doing a huge service to the house. But for those that like the way it is, there are a lot of possibilities inherent on the walls and ceilings. Because you have a blank canvas, treat each light like a piece of art curated in a gallery. You can chose from different, styles and finishes and the only limitations are your budget and imagination.

To learn more about various historic styles, make sure to visit our style guide.

Also, if you have any specific questions regarding your house or a certain style, do not hesitate to email me.

It’s been a hectic time for us here as we’ve been restoring some amazing fixtures, working on a film shoot and making some big changes to the website. They are not unveiled as of yet but we’re  hoping to launch them this summer. I will give you a hint though.. …   Its going to make shopping on our site a lot easier.

As the manager here, I have many roles which range from  web designer to sales rep to craftsperson. The great thing about my job is that I’m part of the process and can deliver a design based on the client’s specifications that we worked out in the showroom. When you are the one selling it and making it, there is a level of control, understanding and general good will that that you don’t get from mass produced products overseas.

That’s a rarity in this day and age and it’s something that we pride ourselves on. The home is THE personal place and when there are so many lighting options on the market, it can be overwhelming and seem less personal. When we work with clients, we like to make a connection to them and their house. That way, they get what they want and know they made the best decision that honours the vintage of their house and their personal style.

All too often people will buy lighting from high profile showrooms around town only to realize that what they just purchased was made in China. What they bought was more reflective of a design and brand rather than of quality and craftsmanship. We’ve often had to work with clients to either repair or replace such items and when they come into our showroom, they always as the question………”why didn’t I find you first?”

That question can be taken in many ways and when we hear that a client’s whole house was done without us and they are just discovering us now, it can seem a little deflating. But in all actuality……its not. Instead we take it as a compliment to who we are and what we do and are glad they found us regardless. It just makes us want to reach out to more people with the goal of adding a nice light to their new powder room or working on lighting their whole house.

So if you’ve come across our site for the first time, we’re really glad you’ve found us!

Our new full page ad in Old House Interiors magazine

Also, if you are an Old House Interiors subscriber or advocate, make sure to check out the May/June edition which will be out shortly. I just designed the  new ad and am really pleased with it

And one more thing….I know I have been tardy in updating this blog as we’ve been busy as mentioned before. But I am going to make more of a concentrated effort to get posts up or a more frequent basis.