ceiling lights, LEDs Halogen, etc etc

[steppemum]

Oh I need your help.

Dh won't have halogen lights. He is very keen on energy consumption and on principle he says halogens use as much as old light bulbs so what is the point. This is an immovable position. It applies to the little tiny halogen bulbs and also to the ones shaped like spot lights.

In our kitchen we have replaced the halogen spots with LEDs. We have tried every variety of LED on the planet and the ones we have are OK, but are a compromise, I don't really like the quality of LED light.

So, now we have to replace the central ceiling light in our living room. I want a pretty light nice feature, brushed steel colour or white. I love the ones with multiple lights. But all of these have tiny halogens, or the larger halogen spots (size G10??) which you could replace with LEDs, but I don't want to.

We finally found one we both liked, very pretty, it is LED, as 24 tiny lights, installed it and it is so dim it is useless and has got to go back.

Now I am stuck. What do you do with lights? We seem to have gone backwards form 20 years ago. I don't know how to find a light which actually gives off light, in a nice clear bright light, which is attractive and energy saving. I don't want a straight single pendant bulb, as we want more light than that. (we have wall lights for evening/mood lighting, but we want to be able to SEE sometimes.)

sigh. Any ideas?

Anyone out there interested in lights

(I know, boring subject, I'll just crawl back into my corner... )

Hmm - could you have a candelabra job with individual energy-saving bulbs?

There are LEDs out there that are as good as halogens (I'm a fussy architect so I like my light).
We bought regular halogen fittings and replaced with LEDs or have used central pendant fittings with shades and energy efficient bulbs. We've got a fab shades from Smarty Lamps that give a fab quality of light and completely hide the bulbs

I can't recall off the top of my head what LED bulbs we've got that are great but I'll try to have a look and let you know what make. I agree though they can be very hit and miss with regards to quality.

LEDs look fine to me and are coming down in price. Halogens keep the house warm and are always blowing, LEDs last.

electricity ain't gettin' cheaper. LED bulbs are.

We have gu10 fittings and got megaman dimmable leds in warm white (6w and 7w). Not as warm as halogen but nice quality light IMO. The bulbs are a bit pricey though hope they last as long as they are supposed to!

thanks for the LED recommendations, I will persuade dh to try some more.
We did just find energy saving bulbs in GU10 size, but they don't fit the kitchen lights, which are supposed to take a GU10 sized bulb

We really have tried a lot of LED though and even the warm light ones don't seem to give the right light, so I will be very curious to try more. Wonkylegs would love to know what you use.

I don't want a candleabra style, or a single pendant, all the lights I like use the small halogen bulbs, (sigh) I have found one that takes halogen spots, so if LEDs work, I could go for that.