New front door...what color lighting?

16 years ago

Hi:

I've posted a few times but mostly lurk. I wanted to get some advice as I can't decide and DH is useless in this department (doesn't require heavy lifting or reaching for something high).

We are building a front porch, we resided the front (Certainteed light maple) with white trim. We got a new front door, it's a very dark cranberry (almost brown) and we purchased satin nickle hardware. I love how everything looks on the door.

My question is this: does the lighting have to match the hardware? Would it drive anyone nuts if it didn't (besides me)? The lighting I'm speaking of would be a hanging pendant in the entryway, and 2 lights flanking the garage. I ask this because there really is a limited amount to choose from (besides the normal everyday traditional items, which are fine, but I'd love to do something different, somewhat whimsical and fresh)in brushed nickle.

Pictures are attached for your reference (don't mind the mess though). The door color and wall color in the first photo are a bit more yellow then they actually are (the walls are BM Rich Cream). The area beneath the siding on the garage and along the bottom facing sides of the porch will be stone, tans with some burgundy thrown in.

Thanks for any and all advice...

Front Door:

Front of house:

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Comments (5)

amysrq
16 years ago
I've just purchased lighting fixtures for an entire house and I can tell you that if you look online, there is a seemingly endless supply of fixtures. Every time I thought I'd seen everything, sure enough, I'd find more.

I have satin nickel throughout my house and I have carried that look from the handle sets to the light fixtures. What do you have in mind for whimsical? Maybe if you post some designs you like in a different finish, people here can help you find similar in satin nickel.

Also,if you re-size your photos in photo bucket before you post, they will be easier to see and your text will be easier to read.
fivefootzero
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the reply. I tried to resize but when I do it keeps closing the program, so I'll have to do it at home tonight. In the meantime, as far as whimsical, I'm thinking of curves on the top of the lantern, clear seeded glass, something not ordinary. It seems that most of what I see on houses near me are all the same shape, faded, just not what I like. My contractor joked that what I like just hasn't been made yet.

Here's something like what I'm thinking about...hard to find stuff like this style in brushed nickel, pewter, silver...etc.

Thanks again for any help!

Here is a link that might be useful: Whimsical lighting
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jockewing
16 years ago
Fivefoot--love love love those "whimsical" lights. They remind me of something the hobbits would have from the Lord of the Rings, although I do think they would still work very well in a contemporary setting. They have an almost organic feel which would help soften the lines of your entry. I say go for it!
amysrq
16 years ago
Did you see...

Here is a link that might be useful: these?
amysrq
16 years ago
Since you want something unusual, this might be the right time to let go of matching finishes and just get what you really love. I did a funky mix on my last house (Arts & Crafts style lanterns on a 1970 ranch) and it worked because the roof lines were similar. Sometimes, if there is a different kind of visual justification, or of you just love something, that is enough.