Hey everyone! Just wanted to get a quick poll on how many of you are getting the eye-ball recessed lights over your fireplace. I currently have this as an upgrade, but now I'm rethinking my decision and may go ahead and delete it. Here is why I'm recanting my decision:
1. The eyeball lights look a little 80-ish to me;
2. I plan to place a TV over the fireplace, will the light cause a distraction;
3. Do you think it is easier to do the lighting now, or wait later to get the smaller recessed lights, and is it cheaper etc?
Overall, I wonder why Ryan uses the 7 3/4 sized recessed lights? Is this size used because of the 9 ft ceilings on the first level? Looking forward to your feedback on this one. I know it's only a charge of $250 but maybe I should invest that in recessed lighting in the family room opposed to the "eyeball".
Also, next Friday we will have our Guardian appointment. I know we can't afford to do the security system--are we crazy for not getting this? Can someone give me the breakdown on what wiring is necessary to have in the house to make it wireless or can we just get a cable jack and run wireless through a cable company? I am so confused and really need help to be prepared for this meeting. I'm thinking we would just add 3 more cable jacks and be done with it--so help me out Ryan Blogger Family…give me a breakdown, and if possible what type of cost is associated with these upgrades. By the way, have any you asked Guardian to supplement a second phone jack for a cable jack? I would like to know what type of bargaining I should try with the sales rep of Guardian. Thanks!
On point 3: We did get the eyeballs, as well as every recess light we could possibly want. My father is an electrical contractor. Unfortunately, his company doesn't work with RH, so they can't wire our house (bummer!). But we did have him consult on what to get now and what we can add later. Plugs, under-cabinet lighting, upgraded fixtures were all easy adds later. Recess lights are not. In our area, anyway, the price is comparable to market rate. And it is more difficult to cut in and get those recess cages in later. So his advice: get them now. He had the same advice about floodlights. Can be added later, but for the price RH is charging, it's easier and more cost-effective to do now.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much…great points!
DeleteDanielle, on point 1: we are getting the "eyeball lights" and all the recess lights my little heart can stand. I love lightening. We are getting the floor to ceiling stone fireplace and will have the "eye ball" lights above it to highlight it as the focus point in the room and placing the television on a different wall in the family room. I am a bit concerned about the lightening over the television, it may cause a blur if the lights and television are on at the same time; so you may want to consider the recess lights in the family room. It costs $125 per recess light. Just as WJ stated, it's easier to include structural items in the home now. Can't give you any support with Guardian....the meeting gave me a headache! lol
ReplyDeleteI love lights too…I really like the stone too. Sounds like your family room is going to be gorgeous!
DeleteWe got the eyeball lights. I liked how they looked in the model. We aren't putting a television above our fireplace though. We are going to have an accent chair on each side of the fireplace and I plan on using the lights for reading. If we were going to have a television there, I don't think I would have put in the lights. If you don't like the look of them, you could probably ask for regular recessed lights. I think the regular recessed lights are actually cheaper.
ReplyDeleteAs for the security system, I have read that other bloggers were able to get 3-6 months free monitoring from Guardian. They won't offer this to you. You have to ask for it. Unfortunately I learned this too late. Thomas - Ravenna Speed - wrote a blog on cheaper security systems. Here's the link: http://ravennaspeed.blogspot.com/2012/04/home-alarm-system.html
We spent A LOT with Guardian. My husband works in IT so he went all out with Guardian options. We even paid for a built-in wifi hot spot. We got the networking package. It came with so many cable jacks that we were running out of places to put them. I have heard that purchasing these individually can get pretty pricey. We got the security system too. I just liked the idea of it already being installed when we move in. I also like the fact that we can arm and disarm it from our cell phones. We even paid for some window censors. I don't plan on having window dressings for a while so all of our stuff will be on display for anyone who peeks in our windows.
Hope that helps!
CMM, thanks for reminding me about the 3-6 months free monitoring system. I do not believe we were offered this option. I am including this on our list for our follow up meeting.
DeleteThanks Danielle for putting this question on the blog!!
Like CMM, my hubs is in IT and we spent some dough with Guardian. Even though we will be in a nice neighborhood, I cannot sleep well at night knowing we don't have an alarm on...and honestly, I never thought that way until I have kids!
DeleteThanks for the reference CMM :-)
DeleteThere are lots of good options for wireless alarm systems that you can install yourself later on.
Ok - For the Guardian question:
ReplyDeleteEach additional cable, phone, or high speed data port is an extra $100(all prices quoted were in the Northeast Ohio area. Not sure if its different elsewhere). So if you are going to get 3($300), you might as well get the 6 pack bundle they offer(around $475, or maybe it was $495 i think). You can substitute jacks, as I remember.
As far as the security system goes - the install and basic equipment is free, as long as you agree to use their service. They will try to automatically sign you up for 5 years, but there is a 3 year option(which we took). the service is around $45/month. We did add an additional security pad in the master bedroom, cant remember how much that was, maybe $200.
I recommend putting a Cat 6 high speed data port on the first floor and one on the second floor. That way you put your modem in the basement and you can use a wireless router and/or WAPs(Wireless Access Points) on each floor of the home for very strong whole home wireless covereage. Luckily the modem from our cable company is also a wireless router, so we will have full coverage in the basement as well. If yours isnt, you could add another AP in the basement.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
We didn't get anything extra from Guardian (in all honesty, we might have gotten the security system, but the guy was such a jerk that I didn't want to give him any money). The benefit of the security system through them is that it's hard-wired to the house. But almost every security company out there will install for free (with a contract for service). We have that kind of security system at our house in Philly right now and it works just fine. My plan is to wait to see how I feel in the house since it's a pretty nice area (your area is too!) and if I feel unsafe, I'll get one installed down the road. I've never had more than two cable jacks in every house I've lived and it's been fine so we just stuck with the standard... we use wireless for the internet. That's probably a good idea to try to swap out a phone jack for a cable jack if you only plan on having one landline (who needs more than that when everyone in the house has a cell phone!?). I probably wouldn't get the "eye lights" if you plan on putting a TV there.
ReplyDeleteJR, thank you for the feedback! We got this package that will allow for my husband to use the television in the media room and for me to use my ipod system in the basement and in the loft for my trainings/workshops and a whole lot of other stuff that confused me about the set up. I told him exactly what I wanted to do throughout the entire house but the mechanics of the conversation gave me a headache. We plan to sit with him again for clarification and I intend to cross reference your suggestion above with what we chose and hopefully we can reduce the price.
ReplyDeleteWe were advised not to do the eyeball lights if we were hanging the TV above the fireplace (which is the plan) so we did not get them.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are awesome! Thanks for your great suggestions, knowledge gathered and advice. I have decided against the eyeballs for now, but elected to keep the recessed lighting in the kitchen and to add 3 lights in the family room--at least that is what I'm thinking to do for now. But, I may change (so indecisive). I will share all of this with the hubs and see what he says as well. Thanks again everyone…I feel so supported!
ReplyDelete