Lighting is so much about personal preference. There is a huge resurgence in the market for antique style light bulbs, and done right, they are cool. Why these vintage style lamps were made in LED is beyond comprehension. Other exposed bulb types in hip and traditional clear fixtures can bring a nice sparkle to a room as as decorative accent, NOT for work lighting or reading (even menus)! My rule of thumb is "a light bulb should never hit you in the eye". I cannot stress enough the importance of the right light bulb in the right fixture by design. I have neighbors with those clear pillar lights for lighting outdoors. The big box stores are full of them. When I drive past this house on the way home, it nearly blinds me. It creates disharmony. It is not beautiful, it is offensive to my eye and my psyche. I would close my eyes going by if it weren't unsafe. Well designed, proper lighting creates an experience, subliminal or otherwise. If you are not glaringly aware of lighting in a room after you appreciate the ambiance, a good designer was at work.

Though I don't know for certain, I think the cotton/linen shades are removable. I wasn't able to determine this by my searches. This could easily be confirmed by making an enquiry to supplier before purchase. Alternatively, a handmade one could be made removable by making shade slightly larger than frame and making ties.

You will find that the cheaper light fittings that include bulbs will probably use less energy efficient bulbs that will burn out faster and need replacement. There are also some brands of cheap LED bulbs (such as Kogan) on the market that don't perform (or last) as long as their more expensive cousins. If you have cathedral ceilings then I would suggest that you buy quality bulbs that have some guarantee as to the number of hours they will last as changing downlight bulbs in a cathedral ceiling can be challenging when they get up high. Cathredral ceilings are better with the tiltable downlights as they are very directional, and it would be good to have some control where the light actually falls. You don't want to make a feature of the downlights so they should match the ceiling colour. If you have a white ceiling then go with the white lights. If you are lucky enough to have a timber ceiling then go with the brushed nickel as the white downlights will contrast too much. I would strongly recommend against using downlights with a cathedral ceiling as you have no roof space, and the holes in your cathedral ceiling will make heat loss and heat gain much worse if you care about sustainability. Cathedral ceilings always look best with pendants and uplights to make a feature of the ceiling by bouncing light off the sloping ceiling, rather than shining harsh downlights down, which actually helps conceal the cathedral ceiling. I suggest you find a cathedral ceiling with downlights and look at the fitting while it is on to see how glarey they can look. Best of luck with your research, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

The perfect style of windows can lift a space from ordinary, to extraordinary. So how to you choose the right style to create a stylish, functional and relaxed home, especially if you’re new to the process. Thinking outside the box with a fresh design idea, means you’ll enjoy your home in all four seasons, for many years to come. Why not check out our Selection Guideline to help you make the decisions a little easier. Option 1: Modern Option 2: Traditional Option 3: Colonial