Giacomo, I was actually thinking "I wonder if giacomo will reply" since it's such a common (and fabulous) thing in Europe. The one caveat I'd add to your post (interesting info about Kohler case goods, btw) is that in Europe, it's the *whole* inside that is addressed in this eclectic way--mix of architectural elements which may have been there for hundreds of years with interior appointments which may be next year's state-of-the-art. Much of their best building stock is way older than we can ever hope ours to be, and the quality of building was often inherently better even if it was constructed 200 years ago. I have often heard/read European commentators/designers say that they don't believe in tearing down a building just because it's old; they respect their elders over there :) and want to have the old coexist with the new, have the two play off each other in intergenerational, historical dialogue. I *absolutely love* that look, myself. It's like a story that reveals fun and surprising twists and turns as you go through the home. That said, lisachip, my suggestion to you would be to make sure that this bathroom isn't the modern cheese left to stand alone, as it were, in the midst of an otherwise completely Dutch Colonial idiom. You need to have other aspects in the house (not just furniture, IMO) that relate to the new aesthetic, or it will really look jarring. If you have a kitchen or other significant space that has been given the modern treatment, it will help a lot to convey that lovely dynamic of new-inside-old, which is completely viable if it's done consistently. So unless you've already got modern somewhere else in your Dutch Colonial, now your little bathroom project *has* to experience project creep--it's an aesthetic must :)

A little hint from another Californian with that little Title 24 thing. We just added a family room with a back patio, last year. Our inspector told us, on the inspection BEFORE that one was going to be going in, that we needed either a fluorescent or a motion-detector/auto-off light. Okay, the one I bought had an auto-off/auto-on feature. But what is evidently "okay" is when your contractor installs it with a regular on and off switch inside. If you leave the inside switch in the OFF position, it will NOT come on. Our inspector was fine with that. Your mileage may vary. But I do understand "rather intolerant neighbours, who would give me a really hard time if the lights went on at odd hours." Our neighbors across the street leave their front porch lights on ALL NIGHT. One of their lights, outside of their garage, is SO bright and it shines in through my front door all the way through my house to the back family room. I do NOT need a night light in my house - I already have one at THEIR expense. When their light burned out last month, I did NOT tell them. But when they discovered it on their own, I was sad to see that they replaced the bulb. I'm sorry, but I wish they hadn't. If someone needs to sleep on the living room sofa bed, they'll have a bright light to preclude any sleep. DonnaR/CA

There's something seriously amiss if the wire it getting that hot from an ordinary light bulb and the primary concern would be that overheating could lead to a fire. Not to mention that fixtures hanging from wires isn't such a good idea either. If she can't afford to get it fixed properly, it might be best to avoid using the light and investing a flashlight. Your friend might also consider talking to her pastor or leader of any groups she might be involved in. Certainly she has marketable skills and perhaps there's an electrician that would be willing to barter.

From my experience replacing four bedroom fixtures: 1) "UL approved" doesn't mean a d... thing. Any Chinese manufacturer will print that on a box, and practically all lights are made in China now, even expensive ones. Examine the wires carefully - watch out for aluminum. Your lighting department clerk may tell you that copper is legally required and the silver color is because the copper wires have been dipped in solder. No, they haven't been, unless the silvery part is limited to a little unstranded cap at the end. Silvery strands = aluminum wire = fire hazard when connected to copper house wire. Examine all the fixtures - one out of three otherwise identical fixtures from HD had the aluminum wires. We removed a light fixture that had aluminum wires - some nasty charring going on there. 2) A fixture open at the top collects more insects, unless it is open at the bottom too. 3) Children will stand on the bed with a baseball bat/ ninja stick in hand so that they can see themselves in the mirror, and they will leap off to see themselves flying with the stick held high...get fixtures with standard measurement replaceable shades. 4) If you use compact fluorescent bulbs, be aware that the "brighter" bulbs are longer (longer twist for more light, but not more intense light) and that the longer bulbs may not fit in your shade.