Hi, we've been looking at lights for the new house and can't believe how expensive they are. The only styles we've even seen that we like are ridiculous amounts. So i'd like to know where anyone gets contemporary lights for at reasonable prices. In the UK we used to get our lights from Next and Laura Ashley so they were pretty average prices but very nice lights.

The other question I had was, if we had ceiling lights from the UK that you needed to wire directly in to the ceiling rose, could you actually get these rewired to be able to use in Canada? I know you can do this with lamps but i'm not sure about the other ones.

Thanks

Costco
Home Depot
Lowes
Rona
Homesense
Ikea
Home Outfitters

If an electrician rewires your lights it should not be a problem. If you move be prepared to leave any fixed lights behind or replace them before you leave if you must take yours.

There's a sneaky little word in there which might explain your dilemma.

Contemporary.

Literally "with the times" i.e. "in fashion".

Is it at all conceivable that your idea of a contemporary design is culturally determined? That perhaps those designs are only appreciated by a lunatic fringe and a sprinkling of fresh-off-the-boat Brits? That perhaps that's why they're expensive in this foreign country that you've chosen to come to?

As to the second part, it's trivial to fit Euro fixtures to Canadian ceilings. Ceilings are much the same the world over.

Perhaps, but i've also seen the same design of lights on many of the Canadian shows, for example, Take this house and sell it. I just don't want to spend $2000 for a light and I assume there are other people who have the same taste of lights as me in Canada and may know where to get them at a reasonable price.

I did mean the Euro lights that have all the wiring in them, not just the lampshades.

Novo may have hit the nail squarely on the wotsit.

Your idea of nice may not yet be in fashion here, or the fashions just a bit different. It took me about a year to find fittings I liked.

Have a look at show homes to determine if what is "in" is anywhere near your tastes.

We ended up with a mixture of Rona and Home Depot lights mixed with a couple of far-too-expensive independant retailer lights that we had to order.

Give it time. When you are faced with what is on the market here, you will either assimilate or pay the prices.

Wires are also the same the world over. If you have chandelier type fixtures you can buy Euro base, bayonet and screw based bulbs at Home Hardware or any of the other stores mentioned above. All of course designed to work on 120V.

I don't think I have seen a $2000 light in all my time in Canada, even at independent stores. We paid $250 each for a couple of pendant light, which I thought was outrageous. I bought a vanity light in Costco for $28, not great, but we only wanted it for the care taker accommodation.

You're far too generous. Care-takers should bring their own oil lamps.

I had a look at the NEXT and LAURA ASHLEY websites and I didn't see any lighting products of the type/look not available in Toronto, and not costing anything close to $2,000. Here is just one store with a massive collection.
http://www.royallighting.com/index.asp

I've seen tons here! Even in Home Depot one i liked was $1500. I'd not pay that for a light. There was an English guy in a light shop we went to today and I was asking him why they were so much more. He seemed to think it was due to us living in Victoria and they have to pay high import prices. I'll start to look more online across Canada and see what I find.

Maybe Ann is right and i'll have to just change my tastes entirely.

I shop here Wendy: http://kamloopslighting.com/

Having built a home here, and now undergoing major renovations in another, I'd agree with you that good quality and well designed lighting is expensive, but if you're purchasing a large volume of fittings, there are major discounts to be had as profit margins are high.

I've been offered contractor rates on purchases from The Lampost, which saves between 50-70% on retail - it makes a $500+ lamp far more palatable.

Thanks Rich, there are lots of lights I like from there. I'll go through it and email them to see what they can offer me.

I keep telling myself that, but nobody else believes it.

Hi
We have managed to get all our lighting for a 4 bed 2 storey new build house for just over $1000, that includes some nice decorative bigger ones for the entrance and fan lights for all the bedrooms, vanity lighting for the bathrooms, cloaks and ensuite......kitchen under cabinet and main lighting, even two security coach lights on the Garage and also two for out back. We purchased during some sales in Canadian Tyre, Home Depot and Costco. So it is a case of looking around. I would say that if you are looking for the more designer type...then you limit where you look and can pay a fortune. Maybe a compromise would be good. ie one or two more expensive ones and then some much cheaper ones. Or of course buy some really cheap ones and just replace them with better over time.

Hope this helps.
lol
Stef

I hear you Wendy .... I felt just the same, I didn't like any of the lighting. but having lived here nearly a year I am starting to like some of the designs

Claire