Creating the “icing on the cake” finish to your overall design concept is as important as the signature on an artist’s canvas. For the ultimate in contemporary design, try this Belgian company, which produces handmade products in brass, exotic skins and woods – it ships to the UK. A further word of warning: the maximum power handling of longer extension cables, such as cable reels designed for indoor or outdoor use, depends on the cable being completely unwound. If you’re planning on using high powered electric garden tools, then the cable must be unwound to prevent excessive heat build up in the cable reel. Where a wound cable reel might only handle 1,000 watts (1KW), the same reel may be rated at around 3,300 watts (3.3KW) when the cable is unwound to its full length. And similarly, don’t be tempted to tightly wind up a standard extension cable in the name of neatness if you’re going to be using it with power hungry appliances – items with a high power draw can cause the cable to heat up dramatically and create a fire hazard. Ally is our resident fashionista. She’s super-cool. A well-known blogger, she has her finger well and truly on the pulse of up and coming trends. Her style is tough and edgy with a definite bias towards grunge… But there’s also a little glam accent thrown in here and there for good measure. She’s all about the unexpected: designer shoes contrasted with high-street denim. She has a nose piercing, but it’s a diamond stud. She has a bob haircut, but wears it casually ‘undone’. Her make-up is perfect, but hardly there. She often wears trainers, but usually with a wedged heel. She’s a fan of designer handbags, especially whenthey have studs. How does she pull it off so effortlessly? It’s a truly brilliant design. The only caveat is that, as with Lego, the rugged, bottom-heavy design of a U.K. plug makes it an almost scientifically perfect caltrop.

Wandsworth Electrical Premium British light switches since 1904 - Wandsworth Electrical

The main thing to know about the U.K. wall plug is that while it is bulkier than other designs, every ounce of that additional bulk makes the design safer. This is accomplished in four main ways:Remove the ring and then insert the main body into the already made hole from the top down and then screw the ring from the bottom. Now it’s installed, all that’s left is to enjoy clutter free spaces!

Wiring accessories | Legrand United Kingdom

Neat and Modern Design– Stainless steel metal top which is modern and new. The pop-up and retractable feature is smooth and sleek. Wireless Glass Charging Surface– With this easy to use charging pad, you can charge up your phone, as long as it supports Qi standard, effortlessly! Wireless Charging Pad– Simply place your phone on top of the tower, whether it is retracted or not, and as long as the tower is connected to power, your phone will be charged with ease. A 5W power supply takes slightly longer to charge. If you want to make a statement there are plenty of designs that will do just that,’ adds Mark Holloway, owner of Holloways of Ludlow. ‘Industrial styles and bronze are popular right now, but if you’d rather render the switches virtually invisible, match them to your wall colour or look for transparent plates.’ Where should I place my light switches?No, we wouldn’t recommend it. Connecting two or more extension leads together, sometimes referred to as ‘daisy chaining’, is benign on its own but the problem lies in the likelihood that you will be plugging in too many devices that use too much power all at once. This overloading, as described above, increases the electrical resistance in the chain and is often the root cause of fires. With smart charging, there is no need to fret as once your device is connected with the wire, the tower will auto-detect your device and provide the safest and fastest method of charging. To meet a design vision, your electrical accessories should never be an afterthought. They are points of constant interaction, something used in a room on a daily basis. Electrical Safety First has devised a calculator so you can estimate the power consumption of the appliances, devices or tools that you’re planning to connect to your extension lead. For general household use, you probably won’t need to worry too much as items like lamps or laptop or mobile phone chargers are very low in wattage, less than 100W in general, and even TVs and Hi-Fi components tend to draw hundreds rather than thousands of watts. That said, it pays to be vigilant: seemingly innocuous small household items such as hairdryers, irons and kettles can consume the best part of 3KW each – and if you’re thinking about electric lawnmowers and power tools, these too can demand kilowatts of power.

Sockets for Kitchen Worktops - Simply Electricals 5 Best Pop up Sockets for Kitchen Worktops - Simply Electricals

Easy To Install and Use– Choose a place to install, then cut out a 120mm hole into the countertop, desk or wherever you’d like it to be. I shall compare Beccy to a white and gold double dimmer switch– a minimalist switch with a sophisticated twist. Beccy is a straight to the point kind of girl… This is why we get on. This sleek white switch is somehow both unassuming and able to make an impact at the same time. It’s ultimately a thoroughly contemporary take on the ubiquitous white plastic light switch. But our wholly redesigned and updated version is altogether more stylish. It has a neat, streamlined look with hidden fittings making it the perfect switch for a minimalist interior.

Built-In Fuses: During World War II, a copper shortage resulted in the British government putting fuses into every plug, instead of wiring them directly. Although the built-in fuse adds bulk to the U.K. plug design, it’s also safer: In case of an unexpected electrical surge, the fuse simply blows and the electricity shuts off, preventing fires, electrocutions, and other accidents. It also makes U.K. plugs easier to fix. Each space is unique and deserves the extra special attention to the finer points – this is where our collections of light switches will stand the test of time. You may be looking for a flush mounted finish, or a vintage look and feel, or a discrete near invisible finish – we have the right accessory and switch for every application. Still not sure which style is best for you? We asked the experts for their top tips… Why change your light switches?