Lighting
LED and interior lighting in Remuera
Good lighting changes how a house feels after dark. Our electricians install LED downlights, dimmers, pendants and wall lights in Remuera homes, along with the strip lighting that sits inside joinery, wardrobes and shelving.
Why LED, and why it is not always a straight swap
LED lamps last far longer than the bulbs they replace, and MBIE's Smarter Homes guide to lighting puts the saving at up to 85 per cent of your lighting power. In a large house with lights in every hallway, stairwell and joinery unit, that adds up.
The swap is not always simple, though. Plenty of homes renovated in the last thirty years have halogen downlights, and they come in two kinds: low-voltage MR16 lamps with two thin pins, which run from a transformer in the ceiling, and mains-voltage GU10 lamps with two stubby studs. An LED lamp in an MR16 fitting may flicker or fail early on the old transformer, and standard LEDs are not dimmable at all, so a dimmed room needs dimmable lamps and a dimmer made for LED loads. Often the better answer is to replace the fitting rather than just the lamp.
Kitchens, lounges and the rooms in between
The rooms that work best are lit in layers. Downlights give even general light; light under the wall cupboards falls straight onto the bench where you cut and cook; pendants over an island or dining table mark the spot where people gather. Each layer on its own switch or dimmer lets the same kitchen be a bright workspace at six and a quiet room at ten.
Lounges suit softer light: wall lights, lit shelves either side of a fireplace, and a dimmer on the ceiling lights. If a screen or projector is part of the plan, the lighting is worth designing together with our home theatre and TV installation, so the lights can drop when the film starts.
Lighting a villa or Edwardian house
Remuera's older houses bring their own questions. Villas and Edwardian homes often have high ceilings, ornate plaster or timber linings and central ceiling roses that were made for a single pendant. Downlights can go into many of those ceilings, but not every ceiling should have them: in a decorative ceiling, wall lights, a new pendant on the original rose, or lighting tucked into picture rails and joinery often suits the room better.
Recessed fittings also have to suit what is above them. A downlight in a ceiling with insulation needs a fitting designed to be covered or the right clearance kept around it, and in an old house the cable feeding it needs to be checked too. If the lighting circuits are still on old rubber-insulated cable, our rewiring service for older homes is the place to start.
Places we light
Joinery and wardrobes
LED strip lighting along shelves and hanging rails, switched by the door or a sensor.
Shelving and fireplaces
Small downlights or strips that pick out books, art and the fireplace surround.
Hallways and stairs
Low-level step lights and two-way switching, so nobody climbs the stairs in the dark.
Kitchens and bathrooms
Under-cabinet lights, mirror lighting and downlights rated for damp rooms.
Outside the walls
Paths, decks and gardens, covered on our garden and outdoor lighting page.
Lighting questions
Can I put LED bulbs in my existing fittings?
Often, yes. Check whether the fitting takes a bayonet or a screw base, and whether it is on a dimmer. Low-voltage halogen downlights are the exception that usually needs more than a new lamp.
Why do my new LEDs flicker on the dimmer?
Usually because the lamps are not dimmable, or the dimmer was made for old incandescent or halogen loads. A dimmable lamp on an LED-rated dimmer normally fixes it.
Warm white or cool white?
MBIE's guidance is that warm white is more comfortable in homes, while cool white suits places where contrast matters, such as workshops and garages.
Can downlights go into an old lath and plaster ceiling?
In many cases, with care, because old plaster can crack if it is cut roughly. Where the ceiling is decorative or fragile, wall lights or a pendant on the existing rose may be the better choice.
Can my lights be controlled from my phone?
Yes. Lighting can be put on smart switches or a home automation system, with scenes, timers and control from your phone.
Talk to an electrician about your Remuera home
Call 021 156 4005 at any hour, or send us the details of the job and we will get back to you.
Other services
Rewiring Older Homes
New wiring for Remuera's villas, bungalows and Edwardian houses, planned around the ceilings, floors and joinery you want to keep.Switchboard Replacement
Old fuse boards replaced with a modern switchboard that has room for today's circuits, with the inspection arranged.Garden & Outdoor Lighting
Lighting for gardens, paths, driveways, decks and outdoor rooms, so a big section can be used and found after dark.Heat Pump Installation
Heat pumps for a single room or a whole house, with the dedicated circuit and switchboard work they need.Home Theatre & TV
Wall-mounted TVs, projector screens, aerials and the power and data points behind a home theatre or media room.Security Cameras & Alarms
Alarm systems and CCTV cameras for homes and premises, placed to watch your property rather than your neighbours'.24/7 Emergency Electrician
Electricians available for call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for lost power, tripping circuits and anything burning or sparking.Enquiries
Contact us
Call 021 156 4005, day or night, or tell us about the job below and one of our electricians will get back to you.
021 156 4005- Auckland
- Call-outs around the clock, every day of the week