lighting aesthetics question

13 years ago

We moved into a 1930 Dutch colonial revival recently. We were having a hall light switch fixed and found the whole thing needs to be rewired, switches and everything, so it is an opportunity for us to improve the lighting. There is one ceiling fixture in the upstair hall that lights that (tiny) upstairs hall and the winding stairs. That hall creates a shadow on a landing that is directly underneath. It is hard to describe, hopefully the pictures can illustrate. We are having a handrail installed next week on the wall, so we are wondering about period-appropriate sconces on each "leg" of the stairs. Since the handrail will be projecting, the projecting lights, I think, will be ok. (?) I kind of drew in the handrail and where I'm thinking of sconces. Also, the stairs are an issue for changing a bulb, so wall sconces are really the only solution I can see working. Will this look ok? Any other suggestions? (Whatever we do has to be sympathetic to the period of the house, so nothing modern.)

The sconce I am thinking of:

This is the landing that is too dark. There are 2 more steps to the left.

The stairs from which we would need to change bulbs:

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Comments (9)

palimpsest
13 years ago
That's the John Day, right?

It should be fin because you are going to have a handrail and you are that plus a shoulder's width away from the wall, and the don't project *too far. Plus with the chain link they will swing if you do bump them with something.
jmc01
13 years ago
Position them higher than your circles.
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camlan
13 years ago
I agree with jmc01--the scones look like they will be right at head height. I know the railing will be going in, but people don't always do exactly what you expect them to. Either someone will hit their head, or they will bump the glass part of the scone with something they are carrying.

I would move the scones higher and get one of those gizmos that lets you change lightbulbs in high fixtures, or I would beef up the lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs so that there is more light on the stairs.
bungalow_house
Original Author
13 years ago
pal, yes it is the John Day. I see similar antique originals on ebay. I will likely go that route for budget purposes. Good point about the flexible arm.

jmc, that top sconce height does bug me. From the hall upstairs it looks as if it is about 4 feet high. The problem is the height with respect to the stairs and changing the bulbs. We can't put a ladder on those stairs. I am now wondering about forgoing the top sconce and reinstating the overhead light. It would accomplish the same thing but it is situated so you can put a ladder in the hall to reach changing the bulb.
bungalow_house
Original Author
13 years ago
cam, I forgot about those bulb-changing doohickies. I will keep that in mind!
jmc01
13 years ago
if you are 5'6" and lift your arm, you can change a bulb that's about 7" from the floor/step. We have vintage sconces in the same style and I manage bulb changing just fine. Plus, we've switched to the right color LED lights and bulb changing happens very infrequently....like never since we made the change.
bungalow_house
Original Author
13 years ago
I'm only 5'2", but I could go up a step or 2 and reach over instead of straight up. Maybe it *can* go pretty high. I'll have to make a mockup of cardboard or something and try it out.

Thanks all for helping me think through it!
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BeverlyFLADeziner
13 years ago
Not sure about the selection of such a Victorian light fixture for your stairway.The fixture should be mounted higher, and instead of shining down and having the exposed bulb be seen from underneath as you walk up the stairs, I would consider selecting a wall sconce that shines the light up to illuminate the staircase.
bungalow_house
Original Author
13 years ago
beverly, I wondered about up vs. down. I am going to look for a real vintage fixture, so I may wind up with something more along the lines of your examples. I appreciate the mock-up!