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Which dining room light?

9 years ago

I'm cross posting this is lighting but hope someone can help me. We're building and I'm totally in lighting overload. Up until now I've held up under the stress but this is making me crazy!

Our house will be simple yet classy, friendly not formal. We enjoy cooking and having friends over. I imagine an inviting lake house vibe but not rustic lake lodge.

Im posting a few pictures but we've started prep and painting this week so I'd like to make this decision fairly soon.

Here's our delema. The lighting lady has shown me the grass cloth rectangular light which I DO like. She said it creates a soft look. But.... I've been in love with this cage light since I first saw it. The big issue is it's WAY over budget. So, my question to you all is:

1. If I could pick either one which would look better and 2. Does anyone know of a less expensive (around $400) version of the cage light?

Our table is farmhouse style and 6 feet long plus extension to 8 feet.!Haven't picked chairs yet. Cabinets are white shaker with a little detail on the inset edge to soften it a bit. Hardware is simple satin nickel round knobs and handles. Wall color is SW Sea Salt. Island will be SW Tricorn black distressed.

Front of house:

Lake view from all main living areas.!


The living, dining and kitchen are open. The dining area is the far corner of the pic below.

Celings are 9'.

View of kitchen (being painted tomorrow) cabinets are white and island will be SW Tricorn black distressed. Dining area on left of kitchen and kitchen would be to the left in the pic above.


Dining area is 14' x 12' but has room to expand.

Now for the lights. First is the more modern grass cloth. I like the simplicity of it and like the idea of a softened look.

And second would be my first pick IF I found something closer to budget. This just makes my heart stop I like it so much!!!



So, let the ideas flow. While we're. At it I have a black grand piano that will be on the other side of the living area- opposite kitchen and dining. What would compliment the piano and dining light??

Thanks so much!

Sunny

Comments (21)

  • 9 years ago

    I definitely prefer the second one and see why you love it so much. Here's something from Ballard Designs that is only $499 (though I don't love the jute cords).

  • 9 years ago

    The grasscloth one doesn't go at all!

    Find a more affordable cage. I like the one you picked because of the nice swirly loops. Some can look sort of, well, cagey. :)

    (Have you checked the home decorating forum?)

  • 9 years ago

    I guess I'm odd man out. I like the grass cloth light, although I think the white looks a bit stark. I'd like it better in a natural color.

    As for the cage fixture, it seems more formal than you described you want your house to me, and I don't like exposed bulbs in general.

  • 9 years ago

    Y'all are wonderful!! I'm really leaning towards a metal or cage look. It seems to fit our lifestyle better.

    Sheepla-I like the Ballard light a lot. That might be a great option. And much more in budget.

    Fori is not pleased- I agree totally about some looking too harsh.

    kim K- I like both of your ideas but unfortunately, they are double what we have loosely budgeted for this light.

    Cawaps- I did like the grass cloth light but agree that it's too stark for us. It is a lovely light just not "us".

    So, if we do the basket style over the table what would you suggest to compliment over the sink and as island pendants? We like the mason jar lookbut most of the reviews say the glass is too thin.

    More ideas??

    Sunny

  • 9 years ago

    The cage is just prettier than the other light. If you want a shade you need to look again.

  • 9 years ago

    Practical I think so, too!!

    So this brings me to another question about mixing metal or finishes. If my hardware is going to be brushed nickel (cabinet and door hardware) how would something like the dark metal look if we went with what sheepla posted? In a way it would be nice to have something dark to mix things up but my OCD might get in the way of mixing things up.

  • 9 years ago

    I have exactly that mix of finishes in my current house (brushed nickel cabinet and door hardware and dark metal light fixtures) and I am EXTREMELY OCD and it has never bothered me at all.


  • 9 years ago

    p.s. And Ballard Designs has 20% off everything on their site right now!

  • 9 years ago

    Sorry to hijack your thread, but my DD also has OCD. (She isn't OCD, she is far more than this.) She was diagnosed at 17. The category of intrusive thoughts that she suffered from (there are several types) involved thoughts of terrible harm to herself and others. Of course she had hidden the fact that she was having such thoughts because she thought she was a psycopath. The rituals she used to overcome the thoughts finally led to the diagnosis. We then realized that she had never picked up a sharp knife in her entire life; she would walk away from emptying the diswasher if it contained a sharp knife. We were very fortunate that our university psych department included a Dr. trained in OCD habituation treatment. That included having her sit with a butcher knife at the other end of the table and moving it closer over a matter of weeks. I have to be one of the few moms who has called her daughter to remind her to put her butcher knife in her purse.

    OCD is treatable with habituation and cognitive therapy and medication. Our DD was just accepted in graduate school! I am sorry to hear you are very OCD and hope you also have found help with this terrifying illness.

  • 9 years ago

    Wow barbkatz I had no idea. Glad to hear things are improving.

  • 9 years ago

    Sheepla- thank you for the info on the discount! I think this might be the one!

    would I need to keep darker lighting throughout this open space or could I do this over the dining table and the rest of the kitchen and living area in nickel tones since it's near the island which will be dark. Our last house we had ORB lights and satin nickel hardware and it looked great.

    Barnkatz- first I love your name. I spent summers on my grandaddys farm and he had barn cats! They'd have babies up on the stacked hay bales and we'd climb up to see them. DD is a barrel racer and where she stables her horse they have some very sweet barn cats! So, cool name.

    I also want to thank you for sharing your story about your daughter and for educating us on OCD. How fortunate that no harm came to your daughter and that she's doing better.

    Mine has lessened as I've gotten older. As a child, I'd stay awake some nights and organize my closet. I've had difficulty opening my linen closet and seeing it wasn't perfect. I've learned though that if I want DH or my kids to help me that I have to let things go. Now, when I reach in for a towel I might see them not perfect but can close the door and go about my day. I still like things in perfect order but am able to walk away.

    So, again thank you. I send gentle hugs to you and your family.

    So, now back to lights....

    Does anyone have any other ideas?

    How would I mix the metals?

    Thanks so much!

    Sunny

  • 9 years ago

    I found this as well

  • 9 years ago

    They're all trendy, but a light fixture is something that's pretty easy to replace down the line. I like best the second one you showed in your original post.

  • 9 years ago

    Andria- that's a great light and at a good price!!!

    Lily's mom- I actually suggested to DH that if we didn't find something by today that we'd go to Dallas which is an 1 1/2 hrs away. But.... we found something we both like!! I went to a large lighting store yesterday and as soon as I walked in "the light" was there on my right. You know that means it's expensive if it's at the front. It had a type of burlap lining which had been removed in the picture I posted and looks better without in my opinion. What struck me is how big it is! Huge!!! I felt it would've been too big for our space. So... easy to move in. Today, DH and I went back and found a beautiful light tucked away at a price DH likes much better.

    This is our light!!! Not very farmhouse but really fits us much better than something more rustic.

    My new question is what island pendants would you pair with this?? The collection suggests mercury glass but I'm open to ideas.

    Sunny

  • 9 years ago
    Do you know the brand on that light? I am trying to replace our island light (single ceiling mount) and am trying to find a solution that doesn't involve me drilling two new holes for pendants and patching the old one in our textured ceiling.
  • 9 years ago

    I keep thinking about the new light and looking at the pictures so I believe it stole my heart.

    Andria- Its from Capital lighting.

    I'll post pictures when it's installed.


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