SusanP

I'd like to find something really different for my dining room and/or foyer, both would need a hanging fixture. Any ideas where I can look in London and Paris? I realize that I'll have to have it rewired for US electricity and would also have to have it shipped, so I'll take both those costs into account when deciding to buy. Thanks.

Scarlett

OMG-what fun to shop for the house in London and Paris!
I have gotten so many wonderful things on our trips. We usually go to the Antique markets, Alfies, Bermondsey (way over priced but fun) and Antiquarius in London. Of course, the lighting stores are good too, but we tend toward to unusual/antiques.
In Paris, one of my favorite streets for antique/household goodies is rue Jacob. Then of course, you have the big Flea Market, the Marche Aux Puces, which will provide you with a huge selection and a great headache, trying to decided what to bring home
You will have such fun!!
Most of these places will do the shipping for you too.

jsmith

SusanP, you will have a ball.

Any of the big department stores have pretty extensive collections: Samaritaine in Paris and Liberty's in London come to mind. Both should be able to handle the shipping for you. You should not have to pay the VAT.

Scarlett

And if you buy antiques, there is no tax.

ira

Hi Susan,

Skip London. Go to Venice and get Murano glass chandeliers. They come wired for US. They will also customize the length of the cord and chain for very high ceilings.

jody

There are several stores along Kensington Church Street that specialize in lighting fixtures, both new and antique.

Dr_DoGood

Can't speak for Paris but in London try the following. I'm also posting web sddresses so you can "look before you leap" so to speak and not use up valuable vacation time sclepping about London locating lighting emporiums that you don't really like!

Christopher WrayKings Road & Covent Garden)
http://www.christopher-wray.com/

Heals: (Kings Road & Tottenham Court Road)
http://www.heals.co.uk

Habitat: (Tottenham Court Road and others)
-can't believe I can't find a web page for Terence Conran's brilliant and era defining outlets. sorry.

Ligne-Roset: (Commercial Road)
http://www.ligne-roset-city.co.uk/

Purves & Purves: (Totenham Court Road)
http://www.purves.co.uk/

Christopher Wray's is a lighting specialist with something for everyone - an enormous range of designs and styles and an enormous range of skill and experience.

As for the others; these are probably the best contemporary furniture/housewares/lighting establishments in London. Many have been in business for decades and all are highly renowned. Unfortunately for those of us who don't live in Town it means are visits are limited!
Most (if not all of these) have export departments.

Hope these help
Dr D.

Dr_DoGood

Ooh dear riddled with typos and spelling errors - the worst of which "are: our" (Aargh!!!!) for which sorry.
And don't know where the emoticon came from - it doesn't mean I don't think highly of Christopher Wray's!!!!
Dr D.

Mathieu

Good God , SusanP !
Thank you for asking a product specific question that I may actually be able to help you with !

First a little background story.
Being the recent owner of a new home I was looking to install a long and funky lighting fixture in the main stairwell. Knowing it unlikely that I'd find what I had in mind in a store, I had resigned myself to having it made by an artist until I chanced upon a great Lighting store while on vacation in London just off Covent Garden called Christopher Wray Lighting. Not only did I find something that I could rework and add to (I like doing that), but a week later, while on the 22 bus on the King Road in Chelsea, I passed another Cristopher Wray store that had it on sale in the window. (Of course, by the time I ran down to the lower level of the bus and disembarked, I was way past the store and had to walk back but I digress). Points of Story : 1. Try Christopher Wray (see web for address) and 2. try any of the many stores on King Road for wonderful stuff.

It folded into a small (but heavy) box that fitted into my main suitcase. I have since extended it to 14 feet in length with a top width of 5.5 feet tapering to a point. It looks great.

Caution (as you note) : The Lighting voltage where you live may well be different than in London requiring you to make modifications as I had to (I live in Canada). Check before you leave home, and again with whatever London/ Paris store you may buy from, being careful to note their return policy as they may not accept it back for sake of the wrong voltage. It has been my experience that stores in Europe are more stringent about their return policies than in N. America. Also, if in London, don't forget to ask the store for a VAT refund slip (which could be modest on a purchase such as this) so that you can claim this tax back at the airport on the way home. You'll also need the purchase itself or the shipping form for the tax back.

All-in-all (original purchase, amendments, voltage adaptor), it wasn't a cheap venture, but I now have an amazing one-of-a-kind fixture that draws awe and attention from all who see it - well worth the cost.

Good luck.

Mathieu

OOOPs ! I see Dr. DooGood beat me to it.

Intrepid

Don't forget to add in the necessary VAT as yet another additional cost for your purchase. And, the fixture may not end up being as "unique" as you think since there are a lot of imported fixtures, particularly from Italy, which are sold in larger lighting stores throughout the US. Don;t be surprised if you find a lot of the fixtures for sale in both London and Paris were made in other parts of Europe.

SusanP

Wow, thanks to everyone for so many great replies in an hour! We'll be staying at the Thistle Trafalgar Square, so Christopher Wray's and a couple others listed won't be very far away. I'll check out all those websites. Ira, I love the idea of a Murano glass chandelier, but I'm not sure when I'll get to Italy. We just moved to a new house, and the two lights I want to replace are hideous, so I don't think I can live with them until I make it to Italy! I really appreciate all these suggestions.

SusanP

OK, it was actually a few hours since I posted the question, still lots of replies fast!

RufusTFirefly

Maybe not as much fun as shopping in stores, but don't forget the internet. You can save a lot of money on lighting fixtures on the web. We saved a minimum of 1/3 on every fixture we bought over store prices. They will tell you when they can't beat store prices on certain brands.

We found great art deco style lighting and saved big money shopping at places like bellacor.com and unionlighting.com

Their customer service was great, too--one fixture had a broken glass shade when it arrived. Unionlighting.com sent another by second day air with no charge and no fuss.

SusanP

Rufus, Thanks for the suggestion. However, as you mention, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun...! If I don't find anything while over there, I'll take your suggestion.

Tulips

Christopher Wray is very good (I only know the Kings Road shop). Opposite their Kings Rd shop is Charles Edwards; very beautiful lights, bit more expensive than Christopher Wray. There are some very good antique shops on this stretch of the Kings Road, some of which also sell light fittings. If you have time, try to go to Ebury Street as well (this is not far from Sloane Square). There is a fabulous shop that sells conservatories (and furniture and light fittings); its called Marston & Langinger. Opposite this shop is a really good antique light shop (can't remember the name). Many antique lights haven't been wired yet, so you can have that done when you get home. When you're in Ebury street, have a look at Viscount Linley's shop as well; beautiful wooden furniture (very costly!).

SusanP

Thanks for these additional suggestions, Tulips. I assume the Kings Road stores are at the end near Sloane Square? Also, are the Ebury St. ones near the Pimlico Rd end or near the Grosvenor Gardens end? Just trying to get an idea so that if I get over to that area, I won't waste a lot of time finding them. Thanks.

Scarlett

Ahh Tulips, that brings back memories. We had been to the General Trading Co and Antiquarius, then walked back along the road behind Kings Rd..passing Linleys store. What wonderful tables there were in the window that day!
I wanna go back! whimper~

Tulips

Susan; the Kings Road shops are quite a way from Sloane Square; good 15 minutes walk at least. I would take a taxi. For all things interior design, go to the nearby Chelsea Harbour'. The Ebury Road shops are a short walk from Sloane Square; walk towards Royal Hospital and turn left. Its a really nice area. (there is also a wonderfully old-fashioned French restaurant there called Poule au Pot.)

Gretchen

In Paris someone mentioned the dept. stores. Don't forget BHV across from the Hotel de Ville--all housewares.