Electric Electricals
Electric plan for my new apartment
When I wrote last we were in the demolition phase of the renovation of my new apartment. I can tell you now that the likelihood of more surprises has decreased exponentially, phew, as the demolition phase is over. We have moved on to the electricity phase, and Monsieur Hamlil, the contractor, is now installing the new electrical circuits in the apartment based on my electric plan.
Electric plans can be fun to do, and they can also be a bit of a head-wreck. Even at this level of detail, I start with function - what do I/we want to do in each room and where will the furniture be placed. Once I know that, I place the power outlets and light sockets.
(By the way, this is quite a confusing distinction between American English and English/Irish English. In Ireland we say socket for power outlet and not the reverse… But I digress!).
In my new apartment, there are, thankfully, not many overhead lights. I don’t like overhead lights. Unless they’re sculptural or purely functional (eg. in a bathroom) they are generally ugly and and the light produced by them is not task oriented, is difficult to modulate and can be seriously unflattering!
The overhead lights which are currently installed in my new apartment are in the entryway, the kitchen and the dining room. The entryway and kitchen are purely functional, and I’ll be able find some nice fittings for them. In the kitchen, I’ll have the task oriented spotlights above the counter for food preparation, and I’ll supplement this with a lamp on the new shelf above the radiator (more about that another time!) for a cozier feel. This will be a Sonos X Ikea lamp, so that I can have seamless music between the living room and the kitchen. And softer lighting in the same object. Genius!
Now, the dining room isn’t huge. There’ll be just enough space for the table and six chairs, or eight if we squeeze together. So no room for side tables with lamps. Also, the dining room opens onto the living room and then the library. I want to keep the dining room airy and uncluttered - to keep the eye moving between the rooms and increase the sense of space and light of the enfilade (rooms leading one into the other). This is a great position for a sculptural, airy focal point which softly lights the room (on a dimmer switch). Haven’t chosen it yet, will keep you posted!
Elsewhere in the living room and the library, I’ve specified power outlets which are controlled by a switch at the entrance to the room. In the living room there are four controlled power outlets, into which I will plug lamps placed on side tables - for example on either side of the sofa. I can then modulate these by turning off individual lights while, for example, we are watching a film.
On the side of the apartment dedicated to bathrooms and bedrooms the electricity plan was pretty simple until I got to my bedroom. My bedroom isn’t huge, and I like it that way! There are built-in closets, and enough space for a decent-size bed and two bedside tables. And maybe a small chair. But that’s it!
So no side tables, no dressing table, no mantlepiece, nowhere to put a lamp for soft lighting… Here was a conundrum! Now, I’m an avid reader, so there was no way that I was going to pass on orientable reading lights (liseuses from lire - to read) on either side of the bed head. In the end I’ve specified two wall lights, one above each liseuse, linked to two connected light switches; one to the left on entering the room, and one on the far side of the bed. I will have to find wall lights which go with the japanese-inspired, cherry blossom wallpaper I’ve chosen - a challenge I’m already looking forward to!
So why are the electricals electric (see title)? Well, apparently the noise and vibrations are worse for the neighbors than during the demolition phase, especially as the noise is continuous (Monsieur Hamlil says it’s not continuous, but the neighbors think otherwise). Madame la Présidente du Conseil Syndical rang me yesterday to tell me that the noise was insupportable for the woman who lives above my apartment, and asked me to call Monsieur Hamlil and to ask him to stop.
From experience, in these situations it’s always better to go and talk to people in person, and luckily I was nearby, so I went over. I arrived to an electric atmosphere (get it?!) and to see a very dusty Monsieur Hamlil conversing in raised voices with Madame la Présidente and another woman whom I hadn’t yet met, the upstairs neighbor.
I totally get it. The poor woman is 88 and the weather’s pretty awful, so it’s not like she can just go out to avoid the noise. And I also understand Monsieur Hamlil’s frustration - he’s one of the most considerate and polite builders I know - starts noisy work late and ends early, specifically to avoid bothering the neighbors too long during the day. But he also has to be able to get on with the electricity work. And, yes, this does involve cutting through parts of the concrete walls to install the power outlets and necessary wires that I have specified. Which is very noisy and creates vibrations in the walls.
I managed to placate everyone, and had a quick meeting with Monsieur Hamlil to see if there was anything we could do to reduce the noise or make it intermittent. There’s nothing we can do, as otherwise it would mean not bringing the electrical installation into the 21st century. Which is also part of making the apartment, and thus the building safer.
So I went to see Madame la voisine (the neighbor), to apologize and gently tell her that the noise was going to last until the end of next week. She’s lovely. Very understanding. Just understandably aggravated! I explained again that there’s not much that can be done. And she said that thought that the fact that she has carpets, rugs and fabric on the walls would attenuate the noise. But unfortunately not much helps with this level of vibrations. I’m sincerely sorry for her inconvenience, and said so. I think that helped. We’ll see how it goes.
And, bonus, it was fascinating to peak inside her apartment - exactly the same as mine as just above it! And, yes, apparently when the building was built, part of the original specification was murs tapissés (walls lined with fabric) - love learning these tidbits about my building and how it was decorated in decades past!
Next time I write, the electric electrical phase should be over and things will have calmed down for the neighbors!
If you have any questions, I’d be delighted to answer them, just drop me a line! antonia@bluesparks.paris