Historic Mission Hills Home Gets a Lighting Upgrade Worth Noticing

Older homes have a lot going for them - character, craftsmanship, details you just don't see in new construction. But the wiring? That's usually a different story. In Mission Hills, we wrapped up an electrical update on a historic home where the goal was pretty straightforward: preserve everything that makes the house special while bringing the electrical system up to where it needs to be.

This bathroom was a good example of the challenge. The space had good bones - crown molding, classic tile, clean lines - but the lighting wasn't doing it any favors. We installed a pair of chrome vanity bars with ribbed glass globe shades that complement the home's period aesthetic without feeling like a costume. The warm glow they cast is even across the whole wall, which is exactly what you want in a bathroom.

What most people don't think about with older homes is that swapping a fixture isn't always as simple as swapping a fixture. Sometimes the existing wiring isn't rated for modern loads, or the junction boxes aren't up to code. We handle all of that before anything gets mounted. Updated wiring, properly rated boxes, clean connections - that's the foundation the new fixtures sit on.

Beyond the vanity sconces, this home also got recessed lighting added throughout. That kind of layered lighting approach - recessed for general light, sconces for task and ambiance - makes a huge difference in how a space actually feels to live in. It's the kind of update that pays off every single day.