One trip down the lighting isle of any big box store and you see the perplexed looks on prospective buyer faces. It is just TOO much confusing data to choose a light bulb anymore. LED colors have come a long way from the early blue "Am I in the morgue?" look. It gets better and better as each new generation of lamps emerges. Sadly, you can't tell by the label conclusively what you will get. You have to put one in your fixture to see what it does and how YOU like it. Yes, LED saves huge amounts on electricity because, simply, they are lower wattage. They last far longer than traditional bulbs and the prices are falling, however, the payback time on the electricity savings takes a while. Over the life of the lamp, you will save on the total cost of light. LEDs are not light bulbs. They have components called drivers that can sometimes go bad so remember, it's not always the lamp itself. Not all LEDs are created equal. Not all LEDs work will all dimmers. Some, despite claims, don't work on dimmers at all. So Caveat emptor. Know the brand and check with the manufacturer if you aren't sure. You may decide on an integrated fixture. Not a bad idea, however when it goes out, you replace the whole fixture. Remember that LED is NOT the only or best lighting solution in many cases. There are few LEDs that can rival the crisp, elegant look of halogen lighting. Under cabinet lighting is perfect for LEDs but get the color temp between 2700K and 3000K, which is what most humans prefer. For garages and closets, LED is a GREAT choice. Personally, I put dimmers on EVERY switch, in the walk-in closets, in case you want your robe in the middle of the night, in bathrooms, and especially in living areas. If you stay with incandescent, dim them way down and they will suck less energy and last a lot longer than their rated life. Be careful dimming fluorescents. They often buzz when dimmed. If you are looking for MR-16 LEDs, choose Soraa. You will pay a handsome price, but you will get the most magnificent LED light available. The inventor of that lamp won a Nobel Prize for it. Since almost all LEDs are made in China under various labels, be careful. There are quality differences. If you go cheap, you will give up features and might not get the color you are looking for. Even name brand companies have had massive recalls. There's almost too much to know just to just run out and buy a light bulb anymore. If you have a lighting showroom nearby, drop in and eyeball different lighting vignettes. They should be able to advise you on color options.

Ahh the Christmas tree, I know exactly what you mean Pazz. Over the years, we've seen it all, there are many who have more lights than plasterboard on their ceiling and then on the opposite end of the spectrum 1 light per room. In the end, lighting is definitely a personal choice because there's a 3 fold effect that many don't often realise. 1. You need to be comfortable with the amount of lighting in your home. 2.You need to think of the initial cost, the more lights, the more it will cost in product (actual lights) and electrician fees 3. The running costs, even with energy saving lights, there is an increased cost with having so many lights on at one time. Good Luck, with the lighting plan Pazz, I'm keen to see how your new house turns out, you got some really great finishes going in by the looks of it from previous posts.

Blue Gum floorboards how could it not look beautiful!! and yes wheelchair friendly although if we were in a wheelchair I guess we would have to move closer to town and transport and shops as this house was going to be in the country talking of moving... husband has caved and said we can move to the Bay of Islands whoop whoop! he still wants to go to France for 2 years but he said we could build or buy before we go so that changes the type of house now because we were building near a school and families this will be more a beach house that we can leave for the kids to enjoy and various friends who want it while away so I have swapped the master over to be away from the laundry garage door and hot water heat pump which is quite noisy and the guest rooms now have a Jack and Jill bathroom I haven't changed the footprints at all it's still the same size just changed the layout a little bit The bunk room would have a sliding door outside which means you could access that part of the house privately without coming through the front door or the bunk room could be a small kitchenette /come dining room / come lounge room (very small ) and rent it out as a 1 bedroom self contained apartment Once we live there full time ... will upload a photo in the next Post

Hi Siruskey (just found the thank you button) Nothing is in place - it is conversion of a small bedroom. The WC was placed where it is - and was partitioned off as you have drawn, in an earlier version... decided against it on natural light grounds. i like it tucked behind the door - the bathroom will be first room coming down the hallway from the front door. The link is exactly the type of bath I am thinking of I think i would try for something like 1500 x 750 size In the house design, there is a completely separate, attached to the house, outside loo / powder room, to be the go to loo for the garage band members /outdoor gatherings / during days working out in the garden and anyone seeking maximum privacy ! Keeping the shower behind the vanity - all tiles - no glass is appealing (not a fan of squeegeeing) 1200 seems deep enough? As long as 750 gap beween bath and shower is enough to move through easily enough. The bedroom in the old house has been lived in for 20 years and the bed has always been in the wrong place. The bulk head shown above where the two new small windows are, is where the old built in wardrobe will be removed. I have never been able to put the bed on this 4th wall - have tried it on all of the 3 other walls and it was always "wrong" - not sure if it was feng shui or not. The bulkhead is to manage the symmetry of the ceiling that has a deco ceiling rectangular panel. Partly my motive to take space from the bathroom for the BIR is to preserve the symmetry. I am trying out the 4th wall as location for bed, as the wardrobe is now storage with temporary curtains other than doors. It has the "right" feel about it. The ceiling panel is longer parallel to the window - so for a BIR taking off the "length" of the room feels better, than from the width, even though measurements are similar. What amazes me is how everything in design & planning process is connected to everything else... Fresh eyes from you (and oklouise) has been invaluable to sort out my head. .. and I appreciated your understanding of the J&J principle for the upstairs bathroom.. I think I will stick with it :)