The Source: Shining A Light

I've really done it now. Come, join me in a reverie of light switches!

Really now, there seems to be no end to the little corners and minutiae that we can customize, put our fingerprints on, make our own by some lil’ scooch of measurability. And, as you can probably guess, I really thrive on, exalt in these details. Especially when it comes to hardware.

Imagine, then, if you can, the jump I felt while reading the Secret Strategist newsletter last week, wherein they offer up a more budget-friendly brass light switch option, comparing it to an expensive, coveted, and apparently already widely-known luxury variety (how I missed this, truly a mystery). Reader, I lost myself.

There are a lot of different light switches.

True, I have been in the slow-but-steady process of switching (excuse me) over our light switches to the black-and-pearl pushbutton variety. But, I hadn’t realized the real depth and variability in this category. Imagine! At press, I have currently lost hours to uncovering light switches.

A note: I am not talking about switch plates. I can’t. Not today. I don’t think I have the stamina (or the space!) to also do switch plates—that will have to be for another time.

BRASS

Brass switches—in either a toggle or a handsome round dimmer—are abundant. Some are a little sleek to be my thing, but many options come in “raw” or unlacquered brass, which is fun for those patina fans among us.

Unlacquered Brass with Rotary Dimmers from Forbes & Lomax

Brass Switchplate (comes with toggle) by Yamazaki Yoshiki and Oji Masanori for Matureware

So many different combinations and customizations from Etsy seller GetSwitch

See also: Buster & Punch; Meljac; Zangra

CERAMIC

Oh boy, the ceramic ones really make me want to start over from the beginning, move to a little ocean-y villa in Portugal, and change out all the light switches.

Zinzi’s not here right now. 💀 “Garby” Collection by Fontini

Brass and Ceramic Single Switch by Etsy seller Porcelain Craft

Retro Rotary Switch from Zangra

See also: Fontini “Garby Colonial"

AMERICAN PSYCHO

Some of these custom switches get a little “my house is so dialed that I’m personally very scary,” but for completism’s sake I thought I should include them in case maybe you happen to be a terrifying person and want to put a couple dozen all over your house. Who am I to judge?

Scary techy LED and glass from Level Decor

Immovable to humor, toggle switches in a variety of finishes from Soho Lighting

These toggles sure are reminiscent of something, what could it be, what could it be, from Level Decor

COLORS

Phew! Now that all that due diligence is done, something fun: COLOR! And lots of it.

Le Corbusier color collection by Jung (also they have their own fun colors outside of this collection)

SO MANY colors in porcelain by Katy Paty from Dyke & Dean—definitely worth a click-through

Infinite combinations of colors and possibilities from Hager

See also: Etsy seller Switch Concept

MISCELLANY

Still with me? Here are a few last light switch offerings for you that I didn’t ~quite~ see enough variation to warrant their own category.

The aforementioned Push Button with Mother of Pearl switches, some of which live at my very own house, from House of Antique Hardware

Bakelite! from THPG

Is switching out the light switches in your house worth your time? Your money? Your attention? I don’t really know you and I cannot say. But, I love that this exists and the extent to which it does. What a world.

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No listings this week because I actually wrote this last week and I am currently away! Be free! ✌️