Auction alert: Fine Art & Antique Auction

Are you a BBC 6Music listener? Strange question to come out with? The reason I ask something like that on this Auction Alert post, is because 6Music DJs all play music that is an ‘eclectic mix’… and so are the lots in the sale we’re featuring this week. Furniture, jewellery, paintings, textiles, clocks and books are just a few of the types of items on offer.

Trevanion & Dean Auctioneers based in Whitchurch, Shropshire are holding one of their regular 2-day, Fine Art & Antique Auction sales. It takes place on Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23^rd September 2021 from 9am.

There’ll be a buyer’s commission charge of 20% + VAT. If you plan on bidding online, you can bid live through their website here for a further 2% + VAT. They also offer live, online bidding through the-saleroom.com and easyliveauctions.com, please note, bidding on these platforms also incurs additional charges.

If you wish to bid remotely and have any winning lot(s) delivered to you, the auction house explains:

If you are unable to collect your winning lots, Trevanion Auctioneers offer a limited in-house P&P service for small, non-breakable items during the week following the auction only. We use Royal Mail Special Delivery for goods up to a value of £2000 weighing no more than 2kg. We also use DHL but goods will not be covered by insurance unless requested.

Lot 58: A Georg Jensen silver coloured fruit bowl
Late 20th century, modelled in the form of a lily pad, signed to the underside, 30cm diameter
Estimate: £60 – £100

Lot 364: After John Boultbee (British, 1753-1812), ‘The Durham Ox’
Engraving on paper by John Whessell (circa 1760-circa 1840), printed in colours with hand finished additions, published by John Day 1802.
Printed inscription to lower margin reading ‘To The Right Honorable Lord Somerville, This Print is with great respect humbly dedicated, by his Lordship’s most obedt. humble Servant John Day. This wonderful Animal is now the property of Mr. John Day of Harmston, near Lincoln, and was March 20 1802, six years old. Subscriptions taken for this Print in the first Year, amounted to two thousand and upwards, from whence the Public opinion of this beautiful Animal may well be ascertained. This Ox is still in a growing and improving state, and weighs according to the computation of the best judges 30 Score pr. Quarter, which is 300 Stone 14 lb to the Stone’,
54.5cm x 67.5cm,
Framed and glazed
Estimate: £200 – £300

Lot 616: A Hadrill & Horstmann ‘Pluslite’ industrial work lamp
20th century, the counter-balanced parallel motion frame supporting a lamp housing with fold-down magnifying lens, in original grey paint with applied maker’s label, 48cm high (max)
Estimate: £150 – £250

Lot 705: Three clear-glass cloches
Late 19th/early 20th century, each of typical bell-shaped form below a moulded button handle, tallest 23cm (3)
Estimate: £100 – £150

Lot 943: Staples Ladderax shelving wall unit
The painted metal ladder racks supporting a three drawer chest, a glazed cabinet with sliding doors and a single door cabinet, along with three shelves, 214cm W x 40.5cm D x 201cm H
Estimate: £300 – £500

Lot 945: Set of six 1960s Ercol blonde elm & beech wood kitchen chairs each chair with a stick back above a shaped elm seat, raised upon cylindrical tapering legs united by peripheral cross stretchers, impressed British kite mark and 1960 to the underside along with a stamped registration mark ‘884923’ (at fault)
Estimate: £100 – £200

8 top tips for interior lighting from designers

When you’re decorating your home, thinking about elements such as ambiance, atmosphere and the flow of space can make all the difference.

The same can be said for lighting; in fact, you should consider your lighting as carefully as you would all your other interior home décor details.

Lights can change the mood and atmosphere of a room instantly. Bright lights can make you feel awake and alert while soft, dim lights can make you feel relaxed.

The right lighting and fixtures can make small apartments look larger and empty rooms cosier.

There are all shapes, sizes and colours when it comes to lighting. From luxurious, statement chandeliers from hudson valley lights to understated downlights, there are so many options available. But how do you know what’s right for your space?

Here are eight expert tips for choosing the right interior lighting for your home.

1. Plan it out

Whether you’re just starting to decorate or you’re giving your home a much-needed makeover, creating a brief lighting plan that contains the basics will make lighting your interior beautifully that much easier.

Consider what activities occur in each room (like cooking, eating, working, sleeping etc), what areas you want to draw attention to, and what structural limitations you may encounter.

The key elements you’ll need to think about before making decisions are scale, output, style and even the colour temperature you want in each room. By planning everything early, you’ll avoid making rushed decisions and eliminate headaches at a later date.

2. Create layers

To create interest and ambiance in your rooms, opt for a layered approach to enhance your space. You can achieve this by using light sources at different levels.

You can make the most of a small room by uplighting it to make it feel bigger, and you make a ceiling feel higher by using low-hanging pendants. For large rooms, adding clusters of light will make the space feel cosier.

3. Make sure lighting is practical

What tasks you’ll be performing in each room need to be considered when choosing light fixtures – your choice of lighting can hinder or help you.

For instance, cooking requires bright, concentrated light, so a combination of recess lighting above the cupboards and stove-top and bright downlights will be the most useful.

For rooms where you’re going to read, directional, flexible lighting that’s aimed away from you is optimal. In bathrooms and cloakrooms, combinations of downlights and sidelights work well. Dimmers are a great way to instantly alter the warmth and atmosphere of a room.

4. Choose the right bulbs

Instead of picking up any old bulbs at the supermarket when they blow, you should regard them as tools to enhance and transform your space and provide enough light for your needs.

Consider how many watts you need (brightness), the colour temperature you’re looking for (lower temperatures resemble candlelight, higher temperatures are more like bright sunlight).

You should also think about how often you use certain lights to determine if you need energy-efficient bulbs, or if you’re using your lighting as a statement piece.

5. Place spotlights in favourite areas

You can use lighting to highlight your favourite pieces or features in a room. Shine spotlights on architectural elements, statement décor, items of furniture or wall art.

You can arrange wall lights symmetrically on either side of a statement mirror or mantelpiece to add a touch of sophistication and warmth to any room.

Spotlights can also make guests feel more welcome; installing a downlight above a table and pointing it at the centre can help draw people in.

6. Guide with lights

Waking up at night to use the bathroom becomes disorienting when you’re relying on a single harsh, overhead light that blinds your bleary eyes when you flick it on. Rather, invest in soft, directional floor lights in your bathroom and hallways to gently guide the way.

7. Electricity usage

We’ve already touched on using low wattage and low-energy LED bulbs. Using these will help keep your electricity bills low. However, another good idea for keeping your electricity usage in check is to make use of timers. If you have table, floor or night lights that you leave on overnight, plug timers into the sockets. You can then set the lights to switch off at dawn rather than when you wake up and turn them off manually. Timers are also helpful for when you’re away on holiday. Have a couple of lights wired up to timers and set them to come on at dusk and off again at dawn. This can make it appear as though someone is at home and deter burglars looking for vacant properties.

8. Less is more

When it comes to lighting, try to keep it as consistent as you would your colour schemes, finishes and soft furnishings.

Using too many different styles throughout your home can quickly become overwhelming and confusing to the eye; too many different shapes, patterns and colours can make rooms seem small and cluttered and they can even make you feel slightly uneasy.

Opting for lighter, neutral tones will open up spaces and make them appear larger and airier. Adding statement pops of colour – like coloured and patterned lampshades – can add interest, and darker tones can make rooms seem more comfortable and luxurious. The key is to keep it simple.

[disclosure*]

Win a £100 voucher to spend at Elesi Lighting

Hello again friends – welcome to the August H is for Home competition. This time round, we’re exited to be able to offer a generous £100 voucher, complements of Elesi Lighting.

Elesi is a British manufacturer, founded on 30 years of collective experience in sourcing and specifying electrical products for both residential and commercial settings. They provide a large range of indoor and outdoor lamps, lights and accessories including pendant, wall and down lights.

They sell a variety of energy-efficient LED bulbs; the traditional & practical and what I like to call the ‘fancy’ bulbs. Beautiful ones shaped like candle flames, have a decorative filament or are super-sized… like little works of art in themselves!

Another thing that has really caught our eye on their website is their Lieber range of copper sockets & switches – we have a real soft spot for this warm and flexible metallic being used in interior decoration.

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A post shared by Elesi (@elesilighting)

To enter, simply visit the Elesi website, have a scoot around and leave a comment here saying what would be on your lighting shopping list if you won.

£100 voucher to spend at Elesi Lighting

DIY vs hiring an expert: Should you fix your own lighting?

Hiring a professional electrician to complete electrical installations, repairs or replacements provides you with a sense of security that the job has been done properly, with lasting results. Although hiring a qualified electrician will guarantee that the job has been done perfectly, there are certain aspects of changing and updating lighting that requires a professional.

Not all lighting jobs necessarily require a qualified electrician to complete. If you feel confident in your DIY skills, there are a few minor electrical projects that you can perform yourself in your home that could save you both time and money. However, if the project you’re looking to undertake is something like wiring a ceiling light, this should be completed by a qualified electrician if you have never undertaken a task like it before.

If you’re thinking of fixing any lighting fixtures in your home, here are just a few tips to know what’s possible to do yourself, and what will require an expert.

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Replacing light fittings

Even if you’re not a certified electrician, replacing a simple light fitting is one of the few electrical projects you can do in your home. Fortunately, there are numerous videos and articles which will take you through step by step on how to change a light fitting. As long as you have the correct tools on hand, this is quite a simple task that does not take up too much of your time.

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Installing outdoor lighting

If you want to brighten up the exterior of your home by adding outdoor or garden lights, this has to be completed by a qualified electrician. This project falls under the Part P of the Building Regulations in the UK, meaning that jobs that fall under this umbrella should not be carried out by anyone besides a Part P certified technician.

Changing light switches or sockets

As functional items, most light switches tend to be basic in style, mainly made from white plastic they can look slightly plain, especially in a uniquely decorated room. Simply switching to a more decorative looking switch could be the perfect finishing touch for your home. Alternatively, you can update a current switch to one that provides multi-way control if you have a more open-plan space, or for your hallway and stairwell. Changing the light switch is a simple procedure that can be done by yourself, with the help of a few online videos if needed.

Aside from being a job that you can perform yourself, you can also purchase any parts needed from most online electrical wholesalers. Sites such as Expert Electrical provide a vast range of products from cables, switches, sockets, circuit protections and consumer units.

Rewiring faulty sockets

The reason behind rewiring faulty sockets, and also lights is because they are tripping the fuse. Like installing outdoor lighting, rewiring faulty sockets also requires to be completed by a certified electrician. It might seem easy to ignore a faulty socket, however, if there is a more serious problem behind it, then your property could potentially be at risk of developing an electrical fire.