A High Point Family was told it was safe to move into their new home, after an inspection by the Housing Authority.

The house caught fire a few days later. High Point Firefighters blamed faulty wiring.

The question is - who is responsible for making sure the home is safe to live in?

This home was inspected three times. Once by a private inspector when it was bought by its current owner, and twice by the Housing Authority.

High Point Fire Marshal Chris Weir said the chances of a home inspector finding something like that are pretty slim.

"This one instance was really kind of a fluke thing with the wires left in contact with combustible materials," Weir said.

He said inspectors usually check things like outlets and breaker panels, and they usually don't go into concealed areas.

Weir said this is a good reminder to always use a certified electrician for any kind of work you want done.

"Sometimes as our homes get older, things get used constantly and just for a peace of mind it won't hurt to have an electrician come in and inspect your home," Weir said.

RELATED: 'It's Heartwrenching,' High Point Womans New Home Catches Fire After Failing Then Passing Inspection

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How Did Three Inspections Miss Exposed Wiring That Led To High Point House Fire? - WFMYNews2.com

I ran a handyman-type business part time for 35 years until health problems caused me to quit. I put an ad in the paper for just one week and was busy until the day I closed it out. It surprised me that I would be so busy but in retrospect I know why.

My customers would pass my name around to their friends and family because I treated them like I wanted to be treated. Apparently this concept has gone the way of black-and-white television and rotary dial telephones. I have now reached the age where I am the one who needs some help.

I sided my house several years ago but a wind storm caused one piece to come loose. I called several people and the first person who showed up nailed it back up with the nail heads showing, and the next windstorm pulled thenails through the siding, leaving holes. So he went on the S list and I tried again.

One man showed up in the back seat of a car driven by a relative. He looked over the job and asked if I had a ladder to get up there. What? You dont have a ladder? He then said he would have to go on the internet to see how to do the repairs I needed. Another entry to the list. Finally I had a man from Lancaster do the job and he did it the right way. The siding hasnt been blown off since.

One day, the automatic garage door opener stopped working. Investigation revealed that the underground wiring I had installed more than 30 years ago had shorted out. Because I had a concrete patio installed right over the in-ground conduit, I decided to call an electrical contractor to install a new underground feed. They dug up my yard, burrowed under the sidewalk and put the new wiring into the back of my garage, instead of the side where I had originally installed it.

Shortly after that, after it had snowed, Donna came into the house and asked if there should be sparking where the old wiring entered the garage wall. I looked out the window and saw that the siding was melted and had black marks on it. I quickly ran to the basement and shut off the circuit breaker before my garage and two vehicles inside burned. If it wasnt for the fact that there was snow piled against the wall, I probably would have lost the building and my cars.

Seeing as they were a licensed electrical contractor, I never inspected the job they had done. I figured they would do it right and to code. Wrong!My investigation revealed the old wiring had never been disconnected and they didnt install the National Electrical Code required disconnect. So I called and read them the riot act including quoting the specific code they violated when wiringmy garage. Then I presented them with two choices: Fix the problems including the burned and melted siding, or be reported. They were out the next day to repair the wiring.

I needed my gutters cleaned. I called several outfits that were recommended on Facebook but only one sent a crew. I would have called them Curly, Larry and Moe but I think Moe was still in prison. They did do what I asked. They cleaned the gutters but left the downspouts plugged tight as a duck's arse. I didnt find this out until the next time it rained and they all overflowed. My list is getting longer.

I wanted my exterior doors replaced. They had been here since 1919 and they wouldnt close in the summer and leaked so bad in the winter that the breeze would blow out a candle. One person showed up, from a large company that advertises on TV. They gave me a price but because my doors were oversize doors, they would only install a standard door, leaving a 4-inch gap at the top for me to deal with. I am running out of paper. Finally I found a person to do what I wanted: Replace two doors and two storm doors. All for the low, low price of $6,000.

I wanted a digital thermostat installed in the master bedroom suite. So again I went to Facebook for suggestions. A man contacted me and we agreed he would come over the next day. When he arrived, he had our new thermostat and his tools in a plastic T-shirt bag.

I had left the bedroom and was sitting in the living room when I heard a zap, saw sparks and all the lights in the bedroom went out. So I got up to see if the contractor was laying on the floor. Four and a half hours later, after several zaps, damns and F bombs and after he reinstalled the old thermostat that was not working now, I told him to go home. He took some of the pieces with him and left a pile of spare parts. My list gets even longer.

It was cold that night and its going to be a cold for a few more nights. We still have no heat.

Norb Rug resides in Lockport. Contact him at nrug@juno.com.

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NORB RUG: Good help is hard to find - Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

The couple who bought a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Wilmette this month plan to rehabilitate it extensively over several years, calling the effort just the kind of project they were looking for.

It doesnt scare us, said Amy Bauer, who with her husband, Eric Bauer, bought the five-bedroom house on Lake Avenue from a family that had owned it since 1957. The 4,800-square-foot house, on about six-tenths of an acre, has exterior stucco damage, utilities that are more than half a century old, a somewhat awkward floorplan in the bedroom sectionsand other deficits, but we have a sense of pride that we can be the ones who bring this house back up to where it should be, she said.

The plans includeoverhauling all dated mechanicals, installing a new kitchen in the style of the houseand possibly re-creating a lost mural in the dining room.

I love the way you can tell the time of day from the way the light moves through the house, Amy Bauer said. The original house, builtin 1909 for the family of Frank J. Baker, has a run of diamond-patterned leaded-glass windows spanning roughly 75 feet across the front. The house was expanded around 1919 with a rear addition that Wright also designed.

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Wright house in Wilmette to get major rehab - Crain's Chicago Business

PowerShadess new smart shades can be controlled and powered using a single cable | TechHive The motor in these shades draws electricity from a low-voltage ethernet cable, eliminating the need for disposable batteries or an ugly wall wart.

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One of the biggest headaches of installing smart window shades is figuring out how to power the motors. Relying on AC power requires an ugly wall wart and hiding the resulting wires, but relying on battery power is just not environmentally friendly. Now theres an alternative.

Missouri-based PowerShades says its latest smart shades come with a motor that supports Power over ethernet (PoE), a technology that allows for the transmission of both power and data over a single low-voltage ethernet cable.

PoE support is common in such networked devices such as security cameras, network switches, VoIP phones, and wireless access points, but this is the first time weve heard of a PoE-enabled smart shade, and its a clever alternative to snaking bulky Romex electrical wiring through your walls.

The PoE smart shades are compatible with standard CAT5e and CAT6 ethernet cables. You can connect the shades to an ethernet switch with PoE-enabled LAN ports, or you could use a separate PoE injector to add power to your ethernet cabling if youre using a non-PoE switch.

PowerShades new line of PoE-enabled smart shades are compatible with standard Cat 5 and Cat 6 ethernet cables.

The PoE-equipped motors that comes with the new shades features a low-voltage design (less than 50V, PowerShades says), which means they can be installed without the help of an electrician.

Like PowerShades other smart shades, the new PoE shades are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Creston, ELAN, Control4, RTI, and other smart home systems.

The shades, which are available in roller, pleated, horizontal, and honeycomb styles (among others), can be grouped together, allowing you to control all the shades in a room at once.

You can also create schedules and scenes that automatically open and close the shades depending on the time of day. Other features include soft start and stop and a favorite position setting.

Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he covers smart home and home entertainment products.

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PowerShadess new smart shades can be controlled and powered using a single cable - TechHive

It starts with a mysterious scraping inside the wall. A clatter in the attic. The strange rattle of tiny feet.

These are the sounds of a squirrel infestation.

With temperatures dropping in Alberta,the rodents will try to takerefuge in homes returning to stockpiles of nuts and seeds they've foraged over the summer.

Chewing their way through vents, pipes, shingles, and siding, they seek shelter in attics, making nests they will use as havens for litters of babies in the spring.

"It's usually one of two things, they're nesting up there ... or they're just storing food for winter,"said Joe Woodcock,owner of Northern Pest Control Edmonton.

"As soon as they don't want to be heard, they can be quite quiet so you can go years and years without hearing them or ignoring them and then you can end up with a big problem."

"Squirrel invasions" are extremely common in the city, said Woodcock, who has been in the pest control business in Edmonton for 12 years.

"Every month is squirrel season in Edmonton," Woodcock said in an interview with CBC Radio's Edmonton AM.

"They don't care about anything, not even Christmas."

If you suspect that you have a nest, act fast as the tiny critters can do a lot of damage in a short period of time, Woodcock said. Using their formidable teeth, they will chomp through electrical wiring, insulation, wooden furniture and beams.

In the worst case Woodcock has seen, squirrels levelled an entire building.

"Someone had an old car that they had saved for years in the garage and the squirrels were upstairs and eventually the garage actually collapsed on the car," he said.

"And even though the car wasn't worth anything, it was horrible for the old guy who owned it and thought he was going to restore it one day."

When blockingoff any squirrel entrance holes in your roof and attic, rely on a professional. Leaving a squirreltrapped inside the walls of your house is a "worst case scenario," Woodcock said.

A trapped squirrel is unlikely to perish from starvation.

"The second to last thing you want is a squirrel trapped inside your house, because they will get out. They'll gnaw right through into your kitchen."

"It's one of those, don't-do-it-yourself type things."

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'Squirrel invasion': Destructive rodents ready to invade your home this winter - CBC.ca

Ahead of forecasted near record low temperatures, Atlantic City Electric has taken essential steps to ready the local energy grid to provide customers with safe and reliable energy service this winter. The local energy company has completed hundreds of projects and tasks, including performing maintenance and inspections, targeted upgrades, and other critical work all to meet the energy needs of customers across the area.

Each day, we work hard to further enhance reliability for customers and to fortify our system against severe weather, said Gary Stockbridge, Atlantic City Electric region president. Our preparation efforts are essential to not only providing the reliable service our customers have come to expect, but also ensuring we are ready to respond safely and quickly when customers need us this winter. Its this seasonal preparation, as well as year-round investments in reliability and resiliency, that havehelped us deliver the most reliable service in the companys history in recent years.

On the local electric grid, preparation includes inspecting and upgrading equipment; trimming trees, which cause about 30 percent of power outages;building new underground equipment; and installing stronger, tree-resistant aerial cable. Atlantic City Electric also continues to install smart technologythat can automatically identify the location of damage, restore servicemore quickly,or isolate damage. Ongoing investments in the local energy grid have resulted in a 22 percent decrease in the frequency of outages and a 17 percent reduction in outage length for customers over the last five years.

Atlantic City Electrics preparation efforts also include conducting emergency response drills, testing computer and emergency systems, reviewing emergency processes and procedures, and coordinating closely with government and community partners.

The company also participates in collaborative emergency response exercises with its Exelon sister companies BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco to ensure each can provide seamless support during a storm. During last years winter storms, and a recent hurricane season that impacted the southeastern seaboard, this coordination allowed mutual assistance crews to quickly respond and support power restoration efforts in the hardest hit parts of the East Coast.

Just as Atlantic City Electric prepares, customers should also prepare.

Being prepared is a responsibility everyone should take seriously. If a severe storm hits, monitor local weather reports regularly and follow the advice of local emergency management officials.

Immediately report a downed wire or service issue by calling800-833-7476, visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, or through the companys mobile app.

More tips, resources and safety information are available at atlanticcityelectric.com/storm.

Readers are encouraged to visitThe Source,Atlantic City Electrics online news room.For more information about Atlantic City Electric, visitatlanticcityelectric.com.Follow the company onFacebook atfacebook.com/atlanticcityelectricand on Twitter attwitter.com/acelecconnect.Our mobile app is available atatlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.

Related

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Atlantic City Electric Ready to Keep Homes & Businesses Warm & Bright This Winter - South Jersey Observer

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Electric Drive Train Systems Technology Evolution and Global Market Potential in Commercial Vehicles, Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Electrification in Commercial Vehicles (CV) will increase globally with the framing of strict emission regulations. The growing electric CV market will open up opportunities for new technologies and components that drive the vehicle.

This study provides an overview of the key technology trends in the electric drive train component market and also provides the component market revenue forecast between 2018 and 2030. Several architectures and types of drive train components in electric CV are studied in brief.

This research predicts that the electric drive train market for CV will reach $44.72 billion in revenue in 2030 globally, growing at a CAGR of 17.7% between 2018 and 2030. This research study covers battery, motors, inverters, and wiring harness used in electric CVs.

China will clearly dominate, with approximately 64.8% share of the global market by 2030, driven mainly by aggressive incentive structures for electric vehicles, technology readiness, and the installation of recharging stations in large scale. Europe and North America are expected to be the next largest markets after China, with more number of product line-ups planned by native manufacturers.

Batteries will be the largest segment by value, with revenue crossing $40.82 billion by 2030. With the increasing demand for batteries, the price is expected to fall to below $100 per KWh by 2030 and the lower battery cost will make the trucks commercially viable for fleets. CVs will largely adopt the Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery chemistry due to high discharge capacities and optimal pricing.

Mostly, light-duty trucks follow central motor architecture and medium- and heavy-duty trucks follow the wheel hub architecture, that will adopt in-wheel architecture in the future. Permanent magnet motors will be widely used in small GVWR segments and induction motors will be preferred in large GVWR segments. Switched reluctance motors will gain popularity after 2025. The xEV motor market's revenue is estimated to be $2.46 billion in 2030, with China leading the market.

Power electronics is another large segment in the EV component market. Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors will be preferred over silicon semiconductors for improved performance and packaging benefits in designing inverters. The inverter market is estimated to grow to $1.32 billion in 2030 from $0.28 billion in 2018.

Single and multicore wire harness made from aluminium or copper alloys with high-end fluoro rubber insulation will be the key technologies to address high-voltage safety and durability at higher voltages. OEMs are looking for new wiring harness technologies that help in weight reduction. The author forecasts the wiring harness market to be $130 million in 2030.

Along with technology acquisition, intense competition is foreseen among component manufacturers to adopt technologies and gain market share. With the increasing potential, OEMs will soon start manufacturing the components in-house, rather than sourcing from Tier-1 manufacturers. With a growing demand for electric trucks and buses, the component industries in Europe and China are expanding their production goals and investment strategies, as the market value is expected to be more than $44.72 billion by 2030.

Key Topics Covered

1. Executive Summary

2. Research Scope, Objectives, Background, and Methodology

3. Market Environment and Dynamics

4. Electric Commercial Vehicle Market Outlook

5. Key Trend Impacting Battery Chemistries

6. Drive Line Architecture and Motors

7. Power Electronics

8. Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action

9. Key Conclusions and Future Outlook

10. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4rf0xi

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Electric Drive Train Systems Technology Evolution and Global Market Potential in Commercial Vehicles, Forecast to 2030 - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

But as voters moved to the South, the West, and city suburbs, politics changed. Assistance to cities peaked in 1978, the same year Jimmy Carter said in his State of the Union address, Government cannot eliminate poverty or provide a bountiful economy or reduce inflation or save our cities or cure illiteracy or provide energy. Between 1980 and 1988, during Reagans presidency, total intergovernmental aid to cities fell by half.

Mandatory balanced budget rules forced states to reduce funding to cities. Lacking support from federal and state governments to meet urgent obligations, cities turned to the bond markets, subjecting themselves to market volatility. The recent financial crisis revealed the unsustainable position of cities that resulted from the risk and leverage they acquired. During the crisis governmental support continued to fall, leaving cities without a buffer against the market downturn.

Meanwhile demands for social services in cities increased. In order to maintain solvency cities turned to the limited options available to them: reducing services, raising taxes and user fees, borrowing more money by issuing municipal bonds, and competing for private investment by offering tax deals and incentives to companies. Not all cities had the capacity to stabilize their budgets through these actions.

Bankruptcy offered federal and state governments a way to avoid bailing out the cities that lacked the capacity. Politicians branded municipal budget shortfalls as the fault of entitled municipal workers and retirees and reckless borrowing by municipal leaders. In 2012 Stockton, California, became the then-largest city to file for bankruptcy, and the bankruptcy process rewrote Stocktons union contracts. By the end of 2012 three more California cities had filed for bankruptcy, and nine more had declared financial emergencies.

In 2013 Detroit broke Stocktons record and assumed the mantle of the largest city ever to enter bankruptcy. Detroit became emblematic. The problems Detroit confronted paralleled problems in many other American cities. Though a few unique cities have attracted the optimal industries and population to win the spoils of the modern economy, many cities have failed to manage persistent unemployment, stagnant wages, and rising inequality. Without outside help from their state and local governments, more than 70 American municipalities since 2007 have entered bankruptcy and been forced to write down their debt on their own. Several hundred more cities now struggle on the brink of default and are shrinking public payrolls, cutting services, and selling public lands. Cities have suffered the brunt of mortgage foreclosures and declining property values and have generally been home to the largest numbers of poor and marginalized Americans, those most dependent on public services.

Detroits bankruptcy offered an opportunity to test whether bankruptcy could affect cuts to cities pension obligations. Many states constitutions, including Michigans, protected pension contracts against modifications, but federal bankruptcy law allowed any contract to be changed during bankruptcy. In one of the few rulings in the case the Detroit bankruptcy judge found federal bankruptcy law could supersede state pension protections.

Through bankruptcys exclusive focus on cities culpability for fiscal crisis, its lack of attention to the people affected, and its implicit demand for cities to solve their problems on their own, we have overestimated the ability of cities and their residents to combat powerful forces like automation, suburbanization, the recent financial crisis, and deindustrialization. We have underestimated the resources and tools necessary to change the trajectory of cities and the importance of sustainable cities. We have neglected our fellow citizens, who have been forced to endure reduced services, high taxes, and insufficient human investment.

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Broke: Hardship and Resilience in a City of Broken Promises, by Jodie Adams Kirshner: An Excerpt - The New York Times

A Calgary retiree says he was "sick to his stomach" after learning his bank wired more than $800,000 of his savings to fraudsters despite security red flags.

Rod McLeod, 75, was a longtime customer with Cidel Bank one of dozens of private banks in Canada that handle wealth management for people with high incomes or sizeable assets.

"It has turned my life upside down," says McLeod, a retired lawyer. "I expected them to protect me."

McLeod is suing, alleging "negligence, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty" by Cidel in a statement of claim filed last week.

It's one more case of what's become a multibillion-dollar problem in Canada and the U.S., according to authorities.

Wire fraud is a "huge problem" and "so rampant," investigator and former FBI agent Don Vilfer told Go Public, that better laws are needed in Canada and the U.S. to protect bank customers.

"Legislation in both Canada and the U.S. is behind in terms of requiring financial institutions to take certain steps [to prevent] this kind of thing,"Vilfer said.

In September 2018, McLeodwas excited to make an offer on a condo in Rancho Mirage, Calif. just north of Palm Desert.

He had Cidel wire a deposit to a California bank account and waited for instructions on the outstanding balance of $619,000 US ($820,000 Cdn).

A few weeks later, an email supposedly from the realtor handling the sale, said the balance should go to a different bank Chase Bank in Denver, Colo.

Even though his escrow agent had cautioned him, two months earlier, against any sudden changes, McLeod says the warning was forgottenin the push to seal the deal.

The seller, he'd been told, was a billionaire."So it made sense that he banked in several places."

McLeod sent the new instructions to his contact at Cidel.

But the email wasn't from his realtor,Brady Sandahl. It was from a new email address, created byfraudsterswho hadtransposed the last two letters of Sandahl's nameso that, at first glance, it appeared legit.

When that email arrived at Cidel, it appears the bank's mail server flagged it, tacking "SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE" onto the subject line.

Despite that warning,a bank employee emailed the fraudster, asking for the address of the bank account owner adding a senior Cidel employee and McLeod to the email thread.

McLeod says his excitement about the condo got the better of him. He didn't notice the email had been flagged, and, he says,had no prior experience wiring money to another country.

"I don't do this every day. This is something that's totally new to me," he said.

"My wife said, 'You wanted it too much, you ignored the red flags.'"

McLeod and his wife authorizedthe wire transfer. The money went to Denver, where fraudsters quickly transferred most of it to the Bank of China in Hong Kong.

Days later, when McLeod made inquiries about next steps, it became apparent he was the victim of fraud.

"I thought, this can't be happening," he says. "It just can't be happening."

Chase Bankwas able to keep $26,000 US from being transferred, and that money was returned to McLeod.

McLeod hired Vilfer to investigate. Since leaving the FBI over a decade ago, Vilfer has testified in over 100cases, often providing expert testimony on digital forensics in cases involving wire fraud.

"It's very profitable for the fraudsters when they can pull it off," he says."We had one client that lost $14 million and they're [fraudsters] doing this all day long."

In his report to McLeod, Vilfer says the realtor's email account may have been compromised and recommended further analysis of the realtor's devices and accounts.

"With email hijacking scams of this type, in my experience, it is the realtor or mortgage broker who is targeted," he wrote.

Sandahldid not respond to calls for comment from Go Public.

The case is an example of what investigators call "business email compromise" a type of wire fraud that targets businesses and their customers. Typically, the fraudster hacks into a business's email accountand impersonates the sender, instructing the customer to redirect the money.

Go Public recently investigated this type of scam,and spoke to a Toronto-area businessman who lost almost $3,000.

Compromised business emails particularly in the real estate sector led to an estimated loss of $12 billion US over the past five years, according to the FBI.Such scams were reported in 150 countries, and all 50 U.S. states.

Vilfer says McLeod's bank Cidel should have stopped the scam in its tracks.

"You have the flag on the email that it's a suspicious message," says Vilfer. "And with this kind of fraud that's so prevalent that should certainly cause some sort of alarm,to take an extra look at this and seewhy is this being flagged?"

"Good technology ... apparently was ignored," he said.

In the statement of claim against Cidel, McLeod's lawyer, Brett Code, alleges the bank's actions "represent a marked departure from the required standard of care, and constitute gross negligence."

It seeksfull compensation for McLeod's loss.

None of the allegations has been proven in court andCidel has not yetresponded to the statement of claim.

In one of two emails to McLeod,Cidel CEO Craig Rimer wrote:"We are very sorry that you've had to go through this terrible experience and for the financial loss you endured."

However, he wrote, Cidel has no obligation to reimburse McLeod.

In a second, one-line email, Rimer blamedMcLeod for the wire fraud, writing, "The introduction to the email address came from you and you authorized the transaction after much back and forth between them [fraudsters] and you."

Rimer declined to be interviewed but sent Go Public a statement saying, "We acted in accordance with the express written and signed wire instructions that were delivered to us by our client."

He would not outline what policies exist at the bank when it comes to conducting wire transfers, but wrote that Cidel acted in full compliance with all industry standards and that the bank will continue to assist its client in recovering the funds from "an unscrupulous third party."

There is no legislation in Canada or the U.S. that requires a financial institution to confirm the identity of a bank account holder who is receiving a wire transferto prevent fraud and protect customers.

It's considered a best practicefor banks to confirm they are sending a client's money to an appropriate destination, but Vilfer the former FBI agent thinks that needs to become law.

"We're just relying on the banks doing the right thing," he says. "It would be a good idea for both the United States and Canada to stiffen up the statutory requirements; require policies for protecting against this sort of fraud."

The largest insurer ofU.S. banks, ABA Insurance Services, said recently it's "critical" that banks start making phone calls toauthenticate wire transfers, among other procedures.

McLeod knows his lawsuit against Cidel could drag on for years.

"If I don't win this, I'm throwing good money after bad," he says. "And they can outlast me. I'm 75 years old."

He's also moved his remaining assets to another management company.

Submit your story ideas

Go Public is an investigative news segment on CBC-TV, radio and the web.

We tell your stories, shed light on wrong-doing, and hold the powers that be accountable.

If you have a story in the public interest, or if you're an insider with information, contact GoPublic@cbc.ca with your name, contact information and a brief summary. All emails are confidential until you decide to Go Public.

Follow@CBCGoPublicon Twitter.

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Bank wires fraudsters over $800K of retiree's savings, despite red flags - CBC.ca

Good lighting can transform a room. Lighting at home needs to be practical, of course, for reading, studying, cooking and so on, but it can also be beautiful and eye-catching, from a grand, sparkling chandelier to a simple wall light with an attractive shade.

The capital boasts a treasure trove of lighting stores, from those that specialise in classic fittings inspired by antique designs, to the latest in high-tech control systems and everything in between. Whether you need help in selecting the perfect LED bulb, a ceiling light to grab attention or a table lamp to brighten a gloomy corner, here are Londons most shining showrooms.

Zurich Lanterns from Vaughan Designs

Founded by Michael and Lucy Vaughan 35 years ago, this firm is well known for luxury decorative and timeless table lamps, wall lights and pendants inspired by the owners unswerving passion for art and antiques. Lights are made using traditional manufacturing methods, all to Vaughans exclusive designs, and can be seen at the smart showroom in the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, alongside furniture, mirrors, rugs, fabrics and cushions.

John Cullen shelf lighting

This is the place to visit for architectural lighting for the house and garden, not to be confused with decorative lighting, such as table lamps and chandeliers. The team is led by creative director Sally Storey, one of the countrys leading lighting experts, so you can be confident of a first-class lighting design service. Also great for technical advice, energy efficient fittings and control systems, plus regular lighting workshops that will show you how to select the best LEDs and use creative techniques to transform your home with lighting.

Hexoganal Treaty Port from Charles Edwards

There are two showrooms, opposite each other on the Kings Road, which specialise in lights inspired by English, French and American designs from the 19th and 20th centuries. Charles Edwards continues to run the well-established business, which has a particularly strong reputation for beautiful lanterns and ceiling lights to suit all scales of room, made at the companys workshop in Wimbledon. There is another store on Rumbold Road which sells alabaster dish lights, as well as antiques and door furniture.

Atom Pendant, Holloways of Ludlow

Another well-established firm, trading since 1985, Holloways of Ludlow offers an extensive selection of contemporary, traditional and period lighting from many of the big-name brands, plus an inspired choice from smaller names and designer makers, even a favourite selection by owner Mark Holloway. There are several London showrooms, with the biggest for lighting at 115 and 117 Shepherds Bush Road, which has been recently extended. Theres also a deep offering online, featuring decorative designs, plus switches, sockets, bulbs, cables and fittings.

Hector Finch, New York design studio

This shop has been a landmark on the Wandsworth Bridge Road since 1995 and is still run by Hector and Emma Finch. It is an excellent source of high quality outdoor lanterns, bathroom lights, library and wall lights (some of which hang in the American ambassadors residence in London), plus smart pendants to suspend over kitchen islands and counters. Lights are assembled at its workshop in Shropshire, using precision-engineered metalwork from the UK and components from across Europe.

Stand alone lamp by Christopher Wray

Seen from its entrance on the Kings Road, this showroom looks modestly sized but with over 1,000 lights on show, it is one of the largest of its kind in London, extending from the front door to a warehouse-sized premises at the rear. It offers a particularly impressive selection of chandeliers and statement lighting, and sells brands such as Slamp and Foscarini. Lighting design and re-wiring services are also on offer.

Buster + Punch light installation

On a mission to end ordinary home fittings, Buster + Punch has succeeded in transforming the humble light bulb and socket into an object of desire. Ideal for lovers of industrial style, its Heavy Metal pendant has already become a much-copied classic. The Shoreditch store is also worth a visit for its individual take on traditional hardware, from cable hooks to dimmer switches.

More:
Where to buy lights in London - Spectator.co.uk