Review & DIY: Updating a 1-pole light switch to an Adorne Switch

I’ve got a pretty old home but the good thing about being a homeowner is being able to customize and update your home if you don’t like the way it currently is. I bought a house about a month ago and so far, I’ve painted some rooms and I’ve changed some lighting fixtures as well. I still have a lot to do but today I decided to check out the Adorne switch system by Legrand.

I painted my current office to the color, Palisade Blue, by Valspar and despite how beautiful the color was, the old wooden light switch was a sight for sore eyes. I was determined to change the light switch.

I’ve been looking at the Legrand system and I decided to pick up the Paddle light switch in Magnesium (they also have this switch in white) and I got the gang plate in Titanium. I wanted to get the Satin Nickel gang plate and the Touch switch (this is an amazing light switch) but for the sake of trying something new, I decided to get the more affordable options just in case I didn’t like the finished result. I got both the light plate cover and Paddle light switch for under $13 at Lowe’s.

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I’ve changed light fixtures in the past so I figured the principles would generally be the same.

So here comes the how-to part (note: the color of the photos are a bit off since I was working during sundown):

1. Disconnect power from the breaker before you begin so you don’t end up electrocuting yourself.

2. Unscrew the old gang plate (light switch plate cover) from the wall.

This ugly-old thing ...
This ugly-old thing …

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3. Pull the old light switch towards you and disconnect the wires from the terminal holes. You’ll typically find three wires. For this DIY project regarding a one-way switch and not a three-way, we’re going to be focusing on the black and the red wire.

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* if the wires do not come out of the terminal, you can also cut them and then use a wire stripper to reveal more usable wire.

4. Unsnap the gang plate cover from the metal frame of the new gang plate. Mount the metal frame to the wall where the old gang plate was with the two provided screws. Be sure not to over-tighten.

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5. Insert the one wire into the 1-pole terminal of the new electrical switch (Paddle) and use a screwdriver to tighten the screw at the top of that terminal to secure the wire. Insert the other wire into the HOT terminal and secure the wire in the terminal as well. (my home is wired insanely weird so in a sense, everything is backwards regarding wire colors. Be sure to use a circuit checker if you are having difficulty identifying which wire is hot.)

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6. Ease the electrical switch back towards the wall and snap the switch into the gang frame.

7. Snap the wall plate cover to the metal frame. You will hear three audible clicks meaning the cover is secure.

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8. Switch the power back on from your breaker and enjoy your new Adorne Paddle switch and gang plate.

Review: Overall, I really like the Adorne system by Legrand. Be sure to check out their website for more options and solutions for anything from under cabinet lighting to cable management. You can spend as little as $10 or as much as $150 for a wall switch plate/electrical switch(or a dimmer/USB outlet/etc.) so there is something for everyone. I am pretty excited that this part of the room has taken on such a modern and finished look with only $13 spent. I look forward to investing in more Adore outlets and fixtures for the rest of the house.

I hope you enjoyed this article and look out for more DIY articles now that I have a new home to work on!

My First Kiehl’s Facial and Life, Lately

So I wanted to separate this from the last post because it just felt like that post was so full of negativity that you can’t write anything else but negative things in it.

I love Kiehl’s and I am currently in despair because I seem to have forgotten to stock up on my Creme de Corps body lotion. i usually get the 1 liter bottle with the pump but when I went to the local Kiehl’s store at Lenox to get another bottle, they said that they weren’t carrying that size until later on that year. WHAT!?! Ever since I discovered the miraculous benefits of Creme de Corps, the only product on the market that makes my skin look remotely human and normal-looking, they decide to hide the size. The 1 liter goes for about $72 and it lasts me for 6 months. They have various sizes available but the next thing they have is the 1/2 liter, which will last me exactly 3 months and be about $48. If I get desperate enough, I might just go get the 1/2 liter although I could easily order the 1 liter from the website too. Sigh, decisions decisions.

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I went to see Stephanie, the store manager of Kiehl’s, for my facial the other day and she recommended I try a few other products. I know the Midnight Recovery Serum is the next best thing in this world to a Klondike bar because whatever you skin concern is, it will correct it. My skin drinks it up and I always end up looking so much healthier. It is loaded with essential oils and despite it having oils, they are not the kind that will break you out. I recently got my hair cut and since I have bangs, I had a few whiteheads and acne begin to form on my forehead despite me being typically dry. I used the Midnight Recovery and the all cleared up. From the reviews on the Kiehl’s website, everyone is raving about it because it’s like solution to everything from acne to texture, to dryness and wrinkles. Even insomnia because the lavender essential oil in it will put you to sleep as well when you use it at night according to the directions. I walked out with better skin and a whole lot of freebies.

I am also glad that I finally got my haircut. I was getting so depressed from looking at the same type of hairstyle every single day. Now, I can do full bangs, side bangs, put my hair up etc. I really like the whole sixties look to it. Here’s a photo of my new haircut:

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I think life has been a lot better to me but there are still occasional surprises that I am not too fond of actually.I just wish everything would even out so that my life would be a lot more stable.

I’ve been talking about painting the apt for months now, since February, and I haven’t had the time to get around to it. I have been piecing color and design schemes together in my head and once I get around to it, I will definitely show it.

I got all A’s on my final and I was anticipating all A’s for this summer term but I just found out that I got one A+ and a B+. Argh, I was 1.45 points away from that A. Hmm … well I’m just going to have to try harder next time. I’m already signed up for four classes for Fall 2012 and I’m going to have to work my ass off to get my grades but then again, who doesn’t lol? Class starts again in a month … stress. I want to get my GPA up as fast as I can so I can get HOPE back but Pell has been generous to me and I’m thankful for that.

I’ve been eyeing the Samsung Galaxy S III way before anyone has been eyeing it and I think it’s a fabulous phone. After about an hour playing with it, it’s definitely the phone with all the bells and whistles if you ask me. Aurora has just gotten the phone and I was taken back today when she told me she hadn’t figured it out completely yet. I’m like, I’ll figure any phone out within an hour. The trick is to have a curious nature about what makes that item different or special from the others, not because if its name/brand. But hey, no one can have it all. Most people just get things because they look cool or because of personal preferences. I think what truly is to brag about is whenever you make any kind of purchase after doing tons of research and I don’t mean asking a friend what they think is research. Half of the time, people get all personal and have no idea what the hell they are talking about. I’m waiting for the commotion for the Galaxy phone to calm down before I get it and I’ll be getting it at an awesome deal. I cannot wait. But I probably can just to be on the safe side :).

Oh well time to have milk and cookies. I haven’t been sleeping well lately but I think it has been getting better.

I also keep forgetting to post my interior design projects but I will. After the apt’s paint job, I’m already thinking about wainscoting, and remodeling my kitchen. I know it’s just a kitchen but who says you can’t live beautifully, fashionably, and comfortably at the same time?