Ack. Lights centered over table would be off-center in room...

17 years ago

OK, I have this with both our round dining table and round kitchen table.

The existing hanging light fixtures are positioned in the center of the open dining area (flanked by three walls and an overhead ceiling beam)... but the round table is by necessity of size a bit off-center. If we replace the hanging fixture, should we just move it to be over the table (which we're keeping) without concern for centering it on the ceiling?

In the rectangular kitchen, there are two hanging fixtures - each is centered near either end of the room. But the round kitchen table has to be off to the side or it would get in the way. If we're replacing those hanging lamps anyway, should we reposition one of the new ones to be over the center of the table, without regard for its being 'in line' with the light at the other end of the kitchen?

Also, any bets on how much it might cost to relocate a light just a couple feet, if the guy who would be replacing the lights would simply charge $35 per replacement if they weren't moved? (Haven't asked him about moving them yet.) Thanks.

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Comments (5)

sierraeast
17 years ago
Keep in mind the ceiling would need to be repaired. How much repair depends on the person relocating and what is involved up above.
sewhappy_2007
17 years ago
Have you considered leaving the electrical box in the center of the room but swagging your light fixtures over the table? That is a very common solution to your problem and allows you to be able to rearrange your furniture later without any major rewiring.
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raehelen
17 years ago
We have the same problem in our dining room. And the real 'ACK' part is that we gutted our whole kitchen/dining area and removed the old ceiling, so we could have addressed it properly the first time.

Once the new dining room table was in, it was obvious we would be moving it off centre (pathway to deck is behind table), and we're kicking ourselves. DH is planning to buy a plaster medallion to put up on the ceiling, so that the edge of it will cover the old hole. Luckily, he is an electrical engineer, so he can do the rewiring. I COULD patch the hole, but what a LITERAL pain in the neck. So not only will the fixture be off-centre, but medallion will be too.

I am pretty sure it will cost you more than $35 extra on top of the first $35 to rewire in a new location- assuming there is enough wire up there to allow the move. Ours is accessible from the attic.
oruboris
17 years ago
I like SewHappy's solution: most dining fixtures look fine 'swagged' [surely there's a less... silly sounding word for that], and if you decide you don't like it, you only have a small screw hole to fill and paint.
macybaby
17 years ago
We've always "swagged" our light over the dining room table. Looks just fine. This was in our last house.

{{!gwi}}

Can't really tell in this picture, but the "box" is over a foot away from the hook.

In our current house, we sloped the ceiling, and since I had no idea exactly were the table would end up (or even what size it would be) I deliberately put it off center. It also gave us the opportunity to attach the box so that it is very stable. This picture was taken before we finished the room

I don't have any pictures what it looks like finished. We're remodeling the bedrooms now, and the dining room is being used as my dressing room now. I found the perfect table for the room at an auction - It will be so neat to be able to see what it will look like when everything else is cleared out!

Cathy