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Old 10-06-2021, 06:24 PM   #21
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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
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Old 10-06-2021, 06:33 PM   #22
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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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Old 10-06-2021, 06:58 PM   #23
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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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Old 10-06-2021, 07:24 PM   #24
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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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Old 10-06-2021, 08:18 PM   #25
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Originally Posted by fosterscik View Post
We added night light switch plate covers to our bathrooms. Not the easiest install but pretty cool looking when added: www.snappower.com
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.
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Old 10-07-2021, 12:43 AM   #26
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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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Old 10-07-2021, 06:23 AM   #27
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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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Old 10-07-2021, 06:29 AM   #28
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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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Old 10-07-2021, 08:57 AM   #29
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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

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Old 10-07-2021, 11:10 AM   #30
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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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Old 10-07-2021, 11:37 AM   #31
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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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Old 10-07-2021, 12:07 PM   #32
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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.
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Old 10-07-2021, 01:34 PM   #33
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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
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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Old 10-07-2021, 02:06 PM   #34
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We pulled 20 of these gems out of our recent reno...

Once again proving that taste is extremely subjective.

Attachment 40573
I think King Louis the XIV used them to decorate the light switches in the Palace of Versailles back in 1715.
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Old 10-07-2021, 02:10 PM   #35
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Originally Posted by Scuba View Post
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

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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Old 10-07-2021, 03:15 PM   #36
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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.
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Old 10-07-2021, 09:25 PM   #37
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Just in time for Halloween

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Old 10-07-2021, 09:33 PM   #38
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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


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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Old 10-07-2021, 09:34 PM   #39
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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.


USB’s are a great idea. We put a few of them in and really use them.
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Old 10-07-2021, 11:31 PM   #40
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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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