Kelly Electrics

Another wonderful detailed elegant tattoo by Tris V Tattoos in Streatham, London https://www.trisvtattoos.co.uk

Before working with Kelly Electrics our electrician Elly used to work with a charity called SolarAid. Their goal is to tackle poverty by improving energy access in places where people don’t have electricity. Elly got to see first hand how solar powered lights like this are helping children who live in rural Zambia to do their homework at night. It can also charge mobile phones and has a phenomenal impact on quality of life, when the alternative is kerosene or candles. If you’d like to know more about how solar is revolutionizing energy in Africa and support SolarAid’s work then take a look at their website www.solar-aid.org  

This new market for solar products is also providing amazing economic opportunities for enterprising women, all over the world. Including those trained by Solar Sisters, another charity that we love to support (and think you should to!). Check out their work here: www.solarsister.org

In the UK our electricity is made from different sources but the good news is that an increasing proportion of this is coming from wind and solar, instead of coal, oil and gas. In April-June 2017 30% of the UKs energy was made by renewable power!

You can support this shift to clean energy by switching your own supplier to one that only provides renewable power. Changing to a green energy supplier is just like switching from any regular electricity company and you can use sites like moneysupermarket to compare deals.

I’m currently signed up with Good Energy on a fixed tariff but companies like Green Energy also let you switch to a time-based tariff scheme. These allow you to benefit from using cheaper electricity at times of the day when there’s less demand. This means you would pay less to use your washing machine if you do it after 10pm, rather than at peak demand times like 5pm. If you’re a night owl and think that would work for you then make the switch, ask your energy company to install a smart meter, and see how much money you can save!

This is particularly good for people who have solar, as they can use their solar panels in the day and the cheap rate in the evening. Or installing a Tesla Power Wall would be another way to take advantage of this. The Power Wall is basically a big battery that can be charged up at night like a giant mobile phone, on the cheap rate, and the energy then used throughout the day so that peak rates are avoided.

When it comes to bulbs the amount of choice on the shelves can be quite overwhelming these days! LED bulbs use a lot less power and replacing bulbs throughout your home could help reduce your consumption. You can do this yourself by taking a trip to the supermarket or a DIY store but here are our top tips!   

• Watch out if you have dimmer switches as not all LED bulbs are designed to dim. Look out for this small symbol.   

• If the bulb starts to flicker and its on a dimmer, it probably means the switch isn’t compatible. But its ok as this is simple to change! Your switch will need a new module so that it can control the new bulb at its much lower wattage.

• LED bulbs claim to have a very long lifespan, and under perfect operating conditions they do. But in London our homes often have a higher voltage supplied than the normal 230v that should come from the national grid. This can cause bulbs to blow more often. Installing a voltage optimizer to stabilize your electricity supply at 230v will help stop this.

• If you have down lights and you find that the bulbs blow regularly then, asides from high voltage, this could also be caused by poor installation. Down lights shouldn’t be installed in insulation or near to wooden joists in your ceiling as they can overheat. If you can’t afford to change your lighting then simply swapping the bulbs to  LED may help, as LED bulbs don’t get as hot as the old halogen ones. They’re also less of a fire risk.

• Lastly, when buying the edison style industrial bulbs think about what you are using it for. These bulbs are often designed to be decorative but don’t give off much light, so might not be ideal for a centre pendant if you need bright light!

2016 is coming to and end and we've had another brilliant year. We've met some amazing people this year, completed some exciting projects, and we are still working hard offering inspiration to other women about getting into a skilled trade!

I was on the front cover of the very reputable Professional Electrician and Installer magazine, and in November they did a special feature on us where I discussed my journey into the trade and what I love most about being a female electrician in a predominantly male industry. Here's a link to the feature, don't we look smart!!

My passion to get more women into the trade is still burning strong, we have another curious young woman coming to work with us in December to get a taste of working in a skilled trade. I have no hesitation that she's going to love it! If you're reading this, and thinking about a career change but are nervous about making the leap, or unsure about construction, drop me an email and I can answer any questions you have and we'd love to have you come along for a day or two and experience it for yourself!  

I have nieces that come out to jobs with me when they are off from school for a bit of work experience. They're still young, but it’s super important for them to see that women are more than capable of doing this job. Even if she doesn’t become an electrician, it's important she learns not to let gender based views of careers stop her from pursuing her passion.

Elly and Imogen have both been amazing this year, Imogen is in her final year of her Architecture degree and doing fantastic and Elly's passion for green and ethical technology is leading us into solar panel installation in the New Year. We will be fully trained solar panel installers by May 2017 so get in touch if that's something you've been thinking about!

I’m so sorry I haven’t been blogging. I’ve missed my blog so much.But I’ve been super busy doing my first home renovation. It was such a huge family project. My dad is an amazing builder and his team for tradesmen were top-notch. My entire family took part in the project – my niece and nephew even did a bit of wallpaper stripping!

I’m so proud of all of them!

Here are a couple pictures of the home before we started.

And me getting to work! Ha!

And here’s the front of the home after we finished! I love this beautiful front door.

It’s no secret that I love design – that’s what this blog is all about! – so I had a ton of fun picking out all the fixtures. Check out this chandelier.

This kitchen is super swish too. I love the light coloured countertops.

My beautiful bathroom, complete with underfloor heating!

For the techies, we added smartphone compatible heating.

Garden lighting, of course – check out this blog, if you want some ideas on garden lighting.

We all enjoyed working together so much that we have just completed on our purchase for our next project in Streatham. This time we’re going for a more industrial style with natural and raw materials! Watch this space!

Really proud of our girl Imogen. She’s just returned from Summer Build 2015 where she volunteered to build a barn to hold woodchip fuel for Hooke Park’s biomass boiler. The aim of the project is to design a building to hold fuel to make Hooke Park energy self-sufficient. Check out some of these pictures of Imogen working on the project.

Imogen has been working with us part time in term holidays for the last three years while she completes her degree in architecture. (You may have seen some of the pictures of her going through some very tight holes). Imogen applied for the programme to learn more about experimental construction, such as using materials that aren’t usually commercially valuable, like found natural junctions and forks in trees.

“I've been helping the students final project which is the woodchip barn, learning joinery, prefabrication of wall and roof panels and assembling,” Imogen said.

What do I want this winter – nice toasty toes. That is, I don’t want the shock of my bathroom’s cold tiles when I stagger in after hitting my alarm’s snooze button multiple times.

Underfloor heating is something that I’ve dreamed about for a couple years. I first experienced it when my sister was house sitting for friend. Getting out of the bathtub to a warm floor felt wonderful.

I tell my clients that it is an affordable luxury. However, I wouldn’t advise that you have underfloor heating installed unless you plan on remodeling your entire bathroom or buying a newly built home. Remember, you have to rip up all your old flooring to have it done. It’s also important that if you’re having hardwood flooring installed, it’s done correctly, so that the wood contracts with the heat.

Yes, it’s a bit cheaper than using a radiator to heat your bathroom – about £20 a year in heating costs according to the Energy Saving Trust – but note that it also takes a bit longer to heat up the room. The room also won’t be as warm as when you use a radiator, but the heat will be distributed more evenly across the room. Heat will also be retained in the floor, instead of escaping if you open a window. From a design perspective, it also gets you away from those pesky radiators, which are completely impossible to hide.

Autumn means the return of early night. And although I love the long and bright summer nights, I think it’s incredibly magical to see trees lit up with twinkle lights on a cold and dark night. It’s just really romantic too.

That’s why I love these garden lights from John Cullen. They’re really different from what I usually see when I install garden lights. I love the perforations that create a twinkle effect and the long tube that looks like a candlestick. These lights are LED and can be hung from a tree, shrub or pergola and come with a one metre chain. You can purchase them directly from John Cullen with prices from £91.63 for the 180mm, £97.63 for the 260mm and £103.10 for the 330mm plus VAT.

These lights are connected to a transformer, so that you can easily turn them on and off, and also not have to worry about candles burning. I highly recommend that you have these installed by a qualified electrician. Electricity is very powerful, and although we use it every day, I think people forget that it can harm you. See the safety advice section on my website if you’re in any doubt.

The legal limit of volts which UK Power Networks are allowed to supply into your property is 252 volts, however, appliances and electronics are designed to operate at a voltage between 220 and 240 volts. I've been seeing homes with more than 246 volts, one in particular had 251 volts incoming, and my client was experiencing all kinds of issues - the last straw was when she turned on her hairdryer it started smoking and then popped with a bang!

Have you heard about voltage optimisers? Having installed a good number in my clients homes over the last few years, it's time to tell you all about their successful results! It's an amazing little device that sits next to the fuseboard, and reduces the usage of appliances by reducing the voltage to 230v. At the moment our favorite is this one from Apex Energy UK. I like it because it’s easy for you to monitor your volts – there’s a screen on the front of the box that tells you how many volts you’re using, and it's simple to install.

Check out this before and after picture. Before the home had a voltage optimiser it was using 252 volts (hence the possibility of an explosive hairdryer!). With a voltage optimiser this went down to 231.

Recently I've been doing a lot of work with my dad, Keith McBride. He’s a building contractor and qualified plumber, and he’s put together some of the most beautiful kitchens and bathrooms I’ve ever seen. No job is ever too small (something I’ve always said, and learned from him!) or too big – from spacious loft conversions in Grafton Square, Clapham, to compact side extensions in Epsom, Surrey.

I definitely think my dad is an artist. He really understands that people live their lives in the rooms he builds, and goes out of his way to make them beautiful. I don’t think many people understand how creative you have to be to work in a trade profession. It’s not just not replacing pipes or running cables, it’s so much more about design and working with families to create something they’ll love!

Check out some of these before and after pitches.

Seeing my dad transform a home is one of the reasons I decided to become an electrician. I made the change after working in administration in the NHS for ten years. I didn’t know where my career was going so I went to my father for advice. And I've never looked back!

I’m really excited to be working alongside the fabulous team of women at Industville. They make fantastic retro light fittings featured in restaurants all over the UK. You can see them at some of my favourite places like: Costa, Café Nero, Jamie’s Italian and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

You may also remember that I blogged about them – my first ever blog – telling you all about their Edison inspired light bulbs. They look awesome in their vintage and industrial styled pendants and fittings.

Here are just a few of my other favourites.

I’ll be joining Industville as part of their new Bespoke Lighting Service. That means I can work with you to put together a light fitting perfectly, and just for you by mixing and matching their fittings, ceiling roses and flex – the cost of custom building each pendant will only set you back £20 and you have the option of hiring us to fit the light in your home or office too!

One of my favourite things to do is help people design something special for their home, you can add so much personality to your home with the right lighting.

And if that isn't enough, Industville offer a really cool range of stools that I have already fallen in love with, perfect for that kitchen island for your friends to prop up and amaze at your up-to-the-minute style!!

Did you know that in the coming months the European Commission is due to vote on whether to ban halogen light bulbs? If it goes ahead, the ban could be in place as early as next year.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a huge fan of LED light bulbs. I’m always advising my clients about how much money they’ll save, and also how good they are for the environment. Yes, they are more expensive to buy initially, but you save so much money in the long run. For example, according to Trade Skills 4 U, when they compared halogen lights and LED lights, LED lights saved 80-90% more energy and they can last for 25 years!

If that doesn’t make you want to consider changing, check out these photos of poorly installed halogen light bulbs.

I see the damaging effect of poorly installed halogen bulbs all the time. Because halogen bulbs are hotter, they can melt the installation and transformers around them. LED lamps are cool, dimmable, warm or bright depending on your preference. They have a wider spread of light meaning you don't have to have as many installed to cover the area of the room. I also think they’re a really good investment if you’re thinking about re-decorating a room.

Time has really flown by this year. I’ve been so busy fixing your electrical problems that my blog has kindof taken a backseat. But now I’m back, with lots of ideas that I can’t wait to share them with you. So here we go!

Can you believe it’s summer? I definitely can’t as I look out my window at gloom and rain! Will BBQ season ever happen? Perhaps, but in the meantime I want to share these outdoor patio heaters I’ve been installing.

These are Firefly patio heaters. I like them because they hang. They’re so much more discreet than those bulky standing ones that can take up so much space in your garden. And they’re really good value, at only £100. Take a look at these before and after pictures.

These patio heaters come with a remote control so they’re really easy to use and are energy efficient thanks to the LED light. The bulbs last for 5,000 hours, and you don’t have to worry about gas, storing bulky cylinders or getting them serviced annually. They also only take us about a day to install, so really you’ll be able to enjoy your outdoor space in no time – without freezing, of course.

Me and my dad, Keith McBride. 

As the holiday season approaches, I think it’s very important that I thank all of my clients who I’ve had the pleasure to work with this year and hopefully for years to come. I’m also really grateful for these wonderful people who have helped me build my business and who have supported me.

My dad, Keith McBride, of McBride Décor has always taught me to be honest and go above and beyond what is expected of me. He does every job, no matter how big or small, with pride, and always keeps his work tidy and organised (which has definitely rubbed off on me because I pride myself and my team on being clean and tidy – at all times). I’m so proud whenever I visit a client who has used my dad and they tell me how charming he is. It’s not often you meet a personable, friendly and genuinely caring builder, and it’s so nice to hear people talk about my dad like that.

My mom, Linda McBride, is the hardest working women I know. She has pushed me endlessly and every time I’ve felt close to giving up and has encouraged me to keep going. It’s hard setting up a business and she’s taught me if you want to succeed, you have to work hard and be determined – there are no shortcuts!

Lastly, I’d like to thank Trevor Kimber a Building Services Engineer and James Baron of JB Electrics. Trevor is the one who took me on as a trainee after I searched for a position for two years. He showed me the importance of business management, policies, procedures, risk assessments and certification which can often be overlooked with training as an electrician. He also gave me an amazing opportunity to work alongside him in a managerial role, which helped me become more entrepreneurial and setup my own business.

Trevor then introduced me to James Baron who helped me with my practical training. Trevor told me I’d like working with James and that I’d learn a lot from him – and he was right! Although James is younger than me (I came into this career a bit late – but made it here in the end!), he had ten years’ of experience and is a perfectionist. His standards are constantly high and he expected me to have high standards too. He always said to me, “If it’s not perfect, then it’s not finished!”. I absolutely live by these words and expect that all my electricians and trainees do the same.

One of my favourite High Street shops for lighting design has released its autumn/winter 2014 range. Heal’s Junction light series is a bit industrial, a bit rugged and very minimalist. The chandelier comes in two colours, matt black or copper. The copper looks like a really cool industrial pipe – like back to the ‘retro’ 90s (although the 90s don’t feel that long ago!). It's also very affordable at £150.

  As you know I’m always searching for new and innovative lighting design, and thought this one was just the ticket. I could see this in a modern flat with a funky LED lighting design – like the one I did in Clapham not too long ago. The colour changing lights make such an ideal place for entertaining – what do you think?

I’m really excited about Nest. It’s a really cool device that controls the temperature in your home. I just installed one in my own home and am loving how much energy I’m saving by using it. Now I no longer need to guess when to change my thermostat or stress about how much money I’m spending if I forget to turn it down when I leave the house.

  Nest is controlled by your mobile phone. It learns how you live and automatically turns up the heat when you’re home or down when you’re away. It has built in sensors and knows when your home is empty so it automatically turns down the heat. Within a couple days of installation it learns the temperature changes you make and continually adapts to you. There’s also a little green leaf that appears on the thermostat so that I know when I’m saving energy.

In addition to the thermostat, there’s also Nest Protect that detects smoke and carbon monoxide. Instead of the usual alarm that goes off when your detector suspects something wrong, Nest alerts you on your mobile phone and tells you where it’s happening. If you have both the thermostat and carbon monoxide installed, the two work together, and when the carbon monoxide alarm goes off and there is an active WiFi connection at the time of the event, the thermostat automatically turns off the boiler, which is a frequent source of carbon monoxide leaks.