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10-06-2021, 06:24 PM
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#21
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 499
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We added night light switch plate covers to our bathrooms. Not the easiest install but pretty cool looking when added: www.snappower.com
__________________
Currently SKI-ing (spending the Kids' Inheritance)
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10-06-2021, 06:33 PM
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#22
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 8,968
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Yeah plastic is pretty easy to clean. Those "matched to granite" things are ultra cool.
Yeah, you can get brass, chrome, stainless steel, wood (various carvings), molded plastic, cast metal, anything you want.
Amazing.
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10-06-2021, 06:58 PM
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#23
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 340
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Include different manufacturers definitions of "Almond" and "Ivory" wall plates, 3-4 gang outlets with a mix of toggle and paddle switches in a box and the combinations start to get large. May not be easy to find the right plate for every place in the home if using fancy wall plates.
Our house started out with only toggle switches and after converting some to timer switches (exhaust fans), programmable (time of day), and dimmers which were all larger format to hold the electronics, I considered replacing all the toggles with paddles for a more uniform look. But concluded that the toggles were easier to use and thus preferable. But also potentially safer(?) over the long term in that they seem to click on/off very quickly compared to a paddle which would mean less potential for arching when being switched.
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10-06-2021, 07:24 PM
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#24
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Chicago West Burbs
Posts: 2,998
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DW insisted on swapping out all the paddle switches in our home to toggle switches. Plain old off-white (or Ivory?) plastic covers work just fine for us. That meant changing the wall outlets and covers too. Mini-BTD? We are simple folk. I never liked painted, or wall papered cover plates.
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10-06-2021, 08:18 PM
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#25
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Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 22,971
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fosterscik
We added night light switch plate covers to our bathrooms. Not the easiest install but pretty cool looking when added: www.snappower.com
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We have snappower nightlight outlet covers and switch plates all over the house. I quite like them. We originally saw them on Kickstarter and pitched in a few bucks in the early days.
__________________
Living an analog life in the Digital Age.
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10-07-2021, 12:43 AM
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#26
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 4,661
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We are fans of white Lutron Maestro switches with the screwless wall plates. We put these throughout the house, except that there are no outlets in any of our backsplashes. We put power strips in the kitchen so there are no visible outlets.
https://www.lutron.com/en-US/Product...ngProduct.aspx
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10-07-2021, 06:23 AM
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#27
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: S. California
Posts: 776
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We replaced every single outlet and switchplate when we moved to our new-to-us home in 2017, over a hundred in all. We stuck with one unifying color - Light Ivory. It's significantly brighter/white than yellowish Ivory, so OP you might take a look if you haven't already.
We added dimmer switches all over the place at about $40 a pop if memory serves.
100% pleased with this upgrade as there is now continuity throughout the house, plus adjustable lighting. A small but significant upgrade in the grand scheme of things, IMO.
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10-07-2021, 06:29 AM
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#28
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,894
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When I remodeled my condo two years ago I opted to change all switches, power outlets, and covers. Since all my walls are white, I went for bright white plastic.
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10-07-2021, 08:57 AM
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#29
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,819
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In a couple rooms, we changed out the switch plates shortly after we moved in. In the master bath, the plastic one was cracked, I really don't like the plastic ones, so replaced all 3 with cast metal so they'd match. Only ~ $6~$11 each single/dual, so it would add up to replace every single one in the house, but no big deal for a room or two. In the entry, the old plastic were painted, so rather than replace with plastic when we had that room repainted, we did cast metal there (a black/antique finish that went well).
Something like this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-...TNHB/204803325
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hampton-...MBHB/315513460
-ERD50
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10-07-2021, 11:10 AM
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#30
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Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 6,164
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We pulled 20 of these gems out of our recent reno...
Once again proving that taste is extremely subjective.
gt_lightcover.jpg
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10-07-2021, 11:37 AM
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#31
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,637
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When we bought our house, I replaced every switch plate and outlet cover with a larger wood upgrade that matched. No ivory plastic right next to white. I think I paid $4 or $5 each. Whole house was probably $150, but I think it makes it look a little more upscale.
Just went to an open house (new construction). The house was $800K - which is upper range where I live. I was surprised to see they used the 15 cent small plastic covers. Made me wonder what else they cheaped out on.
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10-07-2021, 12:07 PM
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#32
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,323
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White (or ivory in some cases) covers are good enough for me. Go with everything, and don't clash with anything, IMO. I prefer the older toggle style switches, as opposed to the larger and newer rocker switches. It's a switch. A simple, honest-to-goodness switch.
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.
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10-07-2021, 01:34 PM
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#33
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Mpls
Posts: 585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scuba
We are fans of white Lutron Maestro switches with the screwless wall plates. We put these throughout the house, except that there are no outlets in any of our backsplashes. We put power strips in the kitchen so there are no visible outlets.
https://www.lutron.com/en-US/Product...ngProduct.aspx
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These really look nice Scuba.
I think I'm going to put them into my townhome on your suggestion.
I like the big toggle switches, and these with no visible screws look even nicer.
An observation:
Some of my lights turn on after a slight delay. I think the contacts are oxydized from humidity over the years (Florida).
New switches going in this winter.
JP
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10-07-2021, 02:06 PM
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#34
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,169
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janet H
We pulled 20 of these gems out of our recent reno...
Once again proving that taste is extremely subjective.
Attachment 40573
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I think King Louis the XIV used them to decorate the light switches in the Palace of Versailles back in 1715.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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10-07-2021, 02:10 PM
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#35
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Anaheim
Posts: 229
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scuba
We are fans of white Lutron Maestro switches with the screwless wall plates. We put these throughout the house, except that there are no outlets in any of our backsplashes. We put power strips in the kitchen so there are no visible outlets.
https://www.lutron.com/en-US/Product...ngProduct.aspx
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We redid all of our switchplates with the Lutron screwless also. At the same time we added USB charging options where they'd be handy. Much nicer and modern than the builder grade switches.
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10-07-2021, 03:15 PM
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#36
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,472
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So now I'm supposed to care about switch cover design?
After reading this thread, I went to look at my switch covers. The prior owner apparently didn't care much either. They are painted over with the same paint she used for the walls. Nice color! I see no reason to change them. All's good.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.
Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
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10-07-2021, 09:25 PM
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#37
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 3,927
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Just in time for Halloween
[ATTACH]
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10-07-2021, 09:33 PM
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#38
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 4,661
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP.mpls
These really look nice Scuba.
I think I'm going to put them into my townhome on your suggestion.
I like the big toggle switches, and these with no visible screws look even nicer.
An observation:
Some of my lights turn on after a slight delay. I think the contacts are oxydized from humidity over the years (Florida).
New switches going in this winter.
JP
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Thanks. We used these in our last two remodels and are very happy with them. The only challenge has been that our housekeeper dims lights rather than turning them completely off. We’ve shown her how to do it, but she doesn’t change. First world problem.
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10-07-2021, 09:34 PM
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#39
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 4,661
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pointby2
We redid all of our switchplates with the Lutron screwless also. At the same time we added USB charging options where they'd be handy. Much nicer and modern than the builder grade switches.
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USB’s are a great idea. We put a few of them in and really use them.
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10-07-2021, 11:31 PM
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#40
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,110
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I like the Lutron flat plates as well. We’re in the process of upgrading to a controllable Lutron system. They sell some amazing looking wall plates as part of that system, but not worth the extra $ to me right now.
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