"...we are keeping it to save on costs and because we don't mind it. The important thing is the other fixtures need to work with it..."

Why on earth would you purchase new fixtures to "work with" an old, outdated chandelier? If you're determined to keep it, why not stay with your more modern fixtures and finishes and let the chandy stick out like a sore thumb until you can replace it?

It took me a long time to pair up your sketch with the potential fixtures, but I think I got it. It appears that you plan to purchase 22 new fixtures. Why so many sconces and ceiling lights? Could you not use table or floor lamps in some locations and use the money saved for a new light over the dining room table. I definitely would not buy S5 just because it's in proximity to the chandy.

One last suggestion: If that chandelier stays, why not take it down and give it a makeover. Repaint that old brass for sure and perhaps frost the glass.

Hi Tomatoefreak,

Oh dear, more hate for the old chandy LOL. I am not going to worry about the old antique brass chandy we are keeping. If it sticks out like a sore thumb to some it won't bother me. I just want to make sure the other lights I choose are pleasing and match with each other (if they don't go with the old chandy that is less of an issue and I take that part of the statement back that was in my original post you quoted). Thanks for letting me know you would not choose fixture S5 -- that is helpful to know and the kind of info I was seeking.

The reason we are planning so many sconces is we don't want only down lights (pot lights) and we have read you should try to balance up lights with down lights. The sconces will offer nice up lights. We can't have many ceiling hung up lights (cove, semi-flush) due to low ceilings that are only 8 feet. We will also use lamps, but I have not drawn them in (nor have I drawn in the pot lights we will use).

As for taking down the chandy, technically it has been taken down and boxed some time ago as our house has been gutted and is being re-build DIY. The old chandy has decorative glass in it already, and I like the antique brass finish (seems antique brass is back). The picture I have posted of the old chandy was cropped greatly so I could post it, and as a result the photo is blurry so you can't see the glass detail. But, I agree that it is dated (it was bought 20 years ago), but was not inexpensive at the time. To me dated does not necessarily mean ugly.

Carol

In a bit of a rush but--

I think you have too many different finishes in a pretty open space. Antiqued brass against gray is beautiful and very modern now, and the Visual Comfort/ Hudson Valley lines have good brass finishes. Your lighting doesn't need to match your kitchen fixtures, etc.

Your foyer lighting looks too contemporary for the Hudson Valley reinvented traditional look.

"The reason we are planning so many sconces is we don't want only down lights (pot lights) and we have read you should try to balance up lights with down lights."

Don't believe everything you read! I think you are utilizing far too many lights, particularly sconces. In some areas they are much too close, i.e., S2A, S3 and S4. And why have two on the same wall in the foyer? Why not just have a hanging light and leave it at that? I appears you have lots of light coming through the door during the day and you won't be reading there at night, so soft light should do.

Why do you want S5 at all? Again, you have windows for daylight and you're not going to spend much time at your dining table. You have two seating areas in the house and again - imho - too many sconces. Less is more.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that the chandelier is ugly, just that it is out of place with all the newer lighting. I have some vintage lamps that I'm sure qualify as "ugly" but they don't occupy a prominent place.

Thanks Marcolo for your reply. I will look again for some more foyer options. You may be quite right that it is too contemporary. That light was listed as transitional, but still. I hope you will come back and add some more comments when you have time. I like the look of mixing metals and have tried to stick to 2 per room and 3 overall in the open concept space. But if that is too much let me know where to cut.

Tomato,

Thanks for your help. I appreciate you taking the time to look over all my plans and share your thoughts on the location and number of fixtures. You may be right that we could eliminate a few sconces. However, I do love sconce lights and have definitely read in numerous books (I have been obsessing about lighting for over a year LOL) of the need to balance up lighting and down lighting. I think the idea of eliminating S5 is definitely an idea worth exploring more. We had planned on those two small sconces in the foyer to frame the large mirror we are planning in the space. Also the ceilings are so high in that area that we thought the sconces would help bring the light down closer to the floor.

What do others think about the number and location of the sconces?

Carol

Tomatofreak has me wondering again about sconce placement. What I had planned in many spots was placing two identical sconces on either side of an art display or large picture. It was pointed out above that many of my sconces are too close together. Is it wrong to plan on having twin sconces to frame art? A single one of the styles I have chosen seem out of place. Now, some sconces like (S5) seem just fine to me on their own, but the up light ones (such as sconce S2, S3, S4) seem to look better in pairs. What do you think?

Carol

This post was edited by OntarioMom on Tue, Nov 11, 14 at 13:27

Well, I would be inclined to choose one or two types of sconces to use throughout, one type of flushmount and maybe a coordinating semiflushmount. Both to be cohesive and for ease of selection ;-)

Thanks Oaktown for your input. I did try where possible to look at repeating lights from the same collection, but they did not always have other options in the same collection that worked. Perhaps I can repeat some of the sconces more as suggested.

Carol

My honest opinion is that you have too many lights, in too many finishes and styles. If it were me, I would try to have some consistency in an open plan.

I wouldn't put sconces where you have S5 and S3. I don't think you need them. I would eliminate P3 and put a few recessed pots in if you need overhead lighting. I would use the same sconce, S2b, everywhere you want sconces. If you are using them to frame art, I'd make sure you have measured *exactly* where you want them, both width and height, and keep them small.

I am not a fan of P1 in the kitchen. I would use the same pendant, P3, in ALL three spots, and put in pots or under-cabinet lights if you need task lights.

C1 looks more like a dining fixture, and I'd use it there :-) I'd use F1 for flush mounts.

In the foyer, where your ceiling is higher, find something you love! Get something big & dramatic.

Just my two cents. Good luck with your remodel, how exciting!

Carol, will you have any recessed lighting?

Originally I did not want to use any recessed lighting in our house, but ended up with some because of fixture-choosing-fatigue, and because in the end I think it made sense for certain locations. I would suggest eliminating the S2 sconces on your plan. Next to the closet (S2a) consider the placement of your lights, it looks like an open closet door might hit sconces?

For the other sconce locations, consider a "family"? I don't have much design savvy but have looked at lots of fixtures lately. [These are just examples, I couldn't tell the size of the fixtures in your alternate photos] For example, Visual Comfort/Circa Lighting's Vendome sconce comes in single, double, triple and different finishes (and even a chandelier).

[Traditional Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by Falmouth Interior Designers & Decorators Banks Design Associates, LTD & Simply Home

[Traditional Family Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by Washington Architects & Building Designers Neumann Lewis Buchanan Architects

I like the Hicks-style pendant (your Alternate 2) but maybe in the two-tone? Your cabinets are blue, right? I think it might look nice with blue cabs and also in the foyer. There are different sizes and finishes . . .

[Transitional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2112) by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators Angela Free Design

(Check it out, I even found a photo with a Hicks pendant and a Vendome triple sconce!)

[Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Santa Monica Interior Designers & Decorators Christine Markatos Design

Good luck!

This post was edited by Oaktown on Tue, Nov 11, 14 at 20:41

jlc712:

Thanks for taking the time to give me so many ideas to think through. I have already decided to nix sconce S1 and replace with s2b (so I will be repeating that sconce in three locations total). I would not want to repeat it everywhere -- I need more variety than that. P1 that you suggested leaving was chosen because we felt it would go very well and compete in size with the big island hood. However, the idea of three school house sconces in the kitchen is worth exploring more. I am not sure how large the school house sconces comes in. If it is to replace P1 and go over the island it will need to be large. I will research this more.

As per too many finishes that you and others have mentioned, I am using the blog attached below as my guideline. I like the idea of using more than one finish and feel the designer/blog author does a good job of explaining how to mix metals. As per too many styles, that may be a problem. I have tried to choose only lights listed as transitional, but atlas that is a broad category. I have also endeavor to repeat other features (stripes, circles, drums etc) to connect the lights. Could be some more work is needed in this area.

Oaktown,

Thanks for your help and inspiration pictures. I appreciate you thinking through the lighting with me. We will definitely have some pot lights too (probably more than I would have liked). Pot lights are very unflattering light when shinned on a head, so we are trying to avoid having pot lights over head in any seating areas. You mentioned eliminating the foyer sconces (S2) due to it being close to a closet. There is no closet there, just a very, very narrow niche that we will use for wicker baskets maybe to hold a few purses, umbrellas etc. There is no door on it, so I think the sconces can stay. Our house is a rebuild/addition and previously we just had a large hanging light in the foyer. I know from living in the house with one large hanging overhead light that the light in the foyer was insufficient. I am looking forward to seeing if the sconces will improve the lighting in the foyer.

Your inspiration photos are gorgeous. Is the Hicks light from Circa? We chose one sconce light from Circa, but I will take another look at what they offer. Most of our chosen lights are from Hudson Valley or Elk.

As per my kitchen cabinet colours, the perimeter cabinets are off white (SW Alabaster) and the island is a dark stained chocolate brown. The blue cabinets that you are correctly associating with my username are going in the laundry room (good memory BTW).

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: mixing metal finishes

Oaktown said S2A, which is between the laundry room and bedroom. I was wondering about that too. I know your kitchen sconces S3 are to highlight your B&G plates, but do they really need it? What about S5 in the family room? Would you want an end table and lamp next to the sofa in that corner? Or a floor lamp for some height? Is S4 impressive enough for the fireplace? They look like basic bathroom sconces to me, which I've seen my fair share of recently as I'm remodeling my MBR. I'd want something special as the focal point there.

"We will definitely have some pot lights too (probably more than I would have liked). Pot lights are very unflattering light when shinned on a head, so we are trying to avoid having pot lights over head in any seating areas."

Unless they are completely dimmable, you will hate them anywhere. At the very least, make sure you use eyeball lights in the ceilings that you can turn to bounce off walls, highlight an art piece and, most of all, avoid the Frankenstein appearance it causes on the people below. (I speak from experience!)

Hi May_Flowers,

Thanks for pointing out my error in reading Oaktown's comment and for your help in general. You make good points. Yes, of course there is a closet near the S2A sconces. The good news is the sconces planned for that area only extend 4.5 inches and are only 4 inches wide so I think they will fit. I will double check though. I don't expect that closet to be used frequently. If they fit, it will provide a nice focal point at the end of the hall and nicely flank the mirror at the end of the hallway too. Good memory about the B & G plates. I have moved them around in my planning. I now think they will not end up on the kitchen wall. I like that the sconces against the kitchen wall will give more flattering light near the seating area of the kitchen . The ceiling fixture near the bar stools also offers ambient light. S5 light and location may be nixed. I will replace S4 over fireplace with the light below. If I keep a sconce in locations where I showed S5 I could use the below sconce too as well as over the fireplace.

Tomato: LOL about the Frankenstein lighting effect from pot lights. We will be sure to use dimmers!

This post was edited by OntarioMom on Wed, Nov 12, 14 at 13:09

Hi Carol,

Are you committed to all the pendants? I just re-read your original post where you mention the 8' ceilings. I probably am biased because we lived in a house with 8' ceilings and the only hanging light we had was over the dining table -- DH is 6'3" and didn't even like the flush mounts in the bedrooms. In an open space I might be tempted to do nice semi-flush mounts in the kitchen and fireplace room.

For example, the bottom of P1 in your kitchen at 26" tall would be below 6' with no hanging chain, and it is pretty wide, too -- would you feel like it is "in the way" of your prep area? Mamadadapaige's kitchen has a setup with the a similar light and prep area but pretty sure her ceiling is at least 9'. Just something to think about.

For the recessed lighting, I had been thinking that might be useful in your kitchen and hallway areas, just for general lighting -- and fully dimmable would be ideal. Since this is the first floor you shouldn't have to worry about air sealing. FWIW, we have some 4" recessed fully dimmable LEDs as extra lighting in our living/dining area and kitchen, and despite my initial misgivings I now think it was the right solution for us. I was surprised that our architect pushed us in that direction (albeit only after vetoing many of our initial flush mount lighting choices).

Sorry if this seems way off base (and that I mis-remembered your cabinets). The electrical/lighting selections were the ones we struggled with the most so I feel your pain . . .

Thanks Oaktown for your comments. Yes, this lighting/fixture selection is painful. The only hanging pendant we have in our plan that we might regret is the one over the coffee table. However, I want up lighting in the middle of the great room more than I am worried about a low hanging pendant there. We will cut the chain and make it more like a semi-flush height. If we move the coffee table and re-arrange, we would need to change it to a flush mount.

I will search Mamadadapaige's kitchen to see her similar pendant. We chose the large pendant over the huge island that is over 10 feet by 51 inches wide to balance the fan. I hope it will not bother me too much given the generous size of the island -- but I will mock up the size of this pendant to be sure before ordering. . The other two pendants are over counter tops on the perimeter of the kitchen, so we won't be standing under them either (we will reduce the size of their chains a bit as well). The foyer is 11 feet tall, so we are good there with a hanging foyer there. Mind you, no one in our household is anyway near as tall as your DH -- I totally imagine ever inch of ceiling height would be missed in that case.

It is our low ceilings that have led us for the most part to want sconces. We might have had more ceiling fixtures otherwise for the very reasons you comment on.

We are absolutely going to do pot lights on dimmers as well -- I just have not drawn them in. In fact, many of them have already been roughed in. We just have not roughed in all the sconces and ceiling fixtures.

I think it is very kind of you to have helped me on so many different projects and that you remembered things about my other queries.

Carol

Thanks to your help, and suggestions I have made some changes to my plan. These are the changes we are considering:

We are no longer going to have two sconces (S2a) at the end of the hall, as many pointed out it would be tight fit for two sconces with the closet door nearby. We also want to have room for a wider mirror at the end of the hallway. We will place a sconce over the mirror. We are thinking of using this one at the end of this hallway (we would orientate it lengthwise). Wondering how high on the wall we can place it? Any chance it can go higher than the door ways that are adjacent?

We will no longer have the antique brass sconces S5. There will not be sconces here. We will remove S3 that was proposed for the area near the sink, but keep the other two S3 on the kitchen accent wall. We are removing S1 and replacing with two smaller sconces S2b but they will go on either side of the window seat to accent the window seat. S4 (over the fireplace and at top/bottom of stairs) will be replaced by this one:

I am sure about using two of the above over the fireplace, but less sure about having one at the top and bottom of the stairs. They look like sconces that are best used in pairs. Maybe I should place two at the top of the basement stairs with art in between?

Carol