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Help me avoid "matchy matchy" without getting too eclectic. Please :)

8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

New house, new lighting dilemma. I've just ordered these pendants because I absolutely LOVED them in my old house (pictured below) so I just ordered 3 more for new dining room. So that piece the puzzle is non-negotiable. However, I also need an entry light and a light to go over our kitchen table. None of these rooms will be visible from one another, not as open floor plan as our old home. The fixtures and cords are black (not ORB, just fyi.) I'm tentatively planning for chrome hardware in kitchen and bathrooms (faucets and knobs, that is.)



closer up



I currently have THIS in my entry, and I do NOT like it. It's approximately 28" across. (Measuring this high up was tricky lol) I think we could go a little smaller and be fine. I'm not one for really grand chandeliers. Our foyer is not large. Here's a picture of it from a few days ago (it is now demolished, but you can see the size.)





So I need to choose a new fixture for this area. I'm thinking of something like one of these...Some options I'm considering (in no particular order)











And I need one for over kitchen table. My kitchen is currently gutted, but this at least shows you the current fixture. New kitchen will be all white, with some light gray. (Predictable, I know lol, but I love it.) It is not currently centered in the nook, so we plan to move it closer to window so that fixture and table are both centered in that area.



Some fixtures I'm considering. Actually I haven't really gotten any further than this one. I'm just not sure. I think flush or semi-flush is probably better since it's a small area and our ceilings are only 8 feet. I'm also debating whether I can do a chrome type fixture over table or if I should stick with black like in dining room (the rooms/fixtures will not be visible from the other, but I want to maintain cohesion throughout the house, but I know mixing can be done if done well.) I don't want anyone to bump their heads. But I guess if it doesn't hang below like 24" it's probably ok? Been sort of stuck on entry light so I haven't looked much yet for kitchen table light.



Ideas or thoughts??

Comments (30)

  • 8 years ago
    Thanks Bev! I like that one a lot too. I’ve contemplated doing that one in entry and the 3 light version (with shortened cords) over kitchen table. But maybe that’s overboard with the “glass pendants on black cords” look? lol
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I like them but I’m afraid that that dust on the clear glass would drive me crazy hung high in the entry. I’m OCD about things like that. Also, from what little I can see of your house, they appear a little too contemporary.

  • 8 years ago
    That’s actually a really good point about the dust. Hadn’t even thought about that. Ugh. But what then?? To give you an idea about our style, this is our old kitchen and it reflects what we are going for again... and yes the grouping of pendants is more contemporary than the bell pendants I’m putting in dining room. Any ideas?
  • 8 years ago
    And I’m probably putting this in the powder room. I like it and it’s inexpensive :)
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Omg... your old kitchen looks like a copy of mine ( except that we have a light celery greenish color on the walls). Even your window is the same, lol.

  • 8 years ago
    K Laurence - well then you have good taste ;) I have ordered my dining room pendants but no closer on the others lol!
  • 8 years ago

    You asked for our thoughts and I would like to share the first thing that came to my mind with some of these fixtures is the fact that, with a clear glass, you really have the equivalent of a bare bulb. I have never known that to be attractive and I think that I would find it quite objectionable in any room in my house.

    Even with a dimmer and some expensive bulb, I would not like that.

    A bulb with some sort of diffuser glass, or a shade of some sort, softens the light.




  • 8 years ago
    Thanks Wednesday! I appreciate your honest thoughts :) I was a little concerned about that with my dining room pendants, but never found it bothered anyone. Maybe in another room it would be more bothersome. I used the Edison style bulbs which are warm and not as glare-y, so that probably helps. But I definitely see your point!
  • 8 years ago

    Isn't there a gizmo that can be installed to allow lowering of chandelier to be cleaned?


  • 8 years ago
    Dining is the small bell.. so far I’m thinking one of these chandelier types for entry and a single pendant or flush mount one of something like these...
  • 8 years ago
    All of them would be great!
  • PRO
    8 years ago

    For the kitchen table area do not do a semi flush, do a chandelier- something in a round shape. For the foyer, your current light is not too big. Instead of just thinking about lights that you like, think about the overall style you are going for. Is it industrial? Is it traditional? Is it casual or formal? (I think you are definitely more casual from what you are selecting). You may not be able to see these lights from the same vantage point, but you still need to have a flow throughout your space. Some of the lights you are looking at for your foyer are the wrong scale and type of light for that area. I suggest you go to your local lighting store with the dimensions of the space and the ceiling height. They can tell you the proper size you should be looking for and will be able to help you. Good luck!

  • 8 years ago
    M&M - That’s exactly what I’m hoping to accomplish...a flow with pieces that work well together without seeming like they came as a boxed set. I don’t think the current chandelier is too big, but I think it could be slightly smaller and still work. But a lot smaller would be out of scale. I am still looking...
  • 8 years ago

    I think maybe the first (existing) light was chosen because your window isn't tall, it's wide, so it fits better than something long.

    That said, we have a foyer like yours with a window and it's horrible for cleaning. We literally have to rent scaffolding from Home Depot to clean it. So I would go for something more like this, but in black..


    If you absolutely have to have glass, stay away from anything that has glass in a horizontal position (top or bottom).

    I think that the cost of installing a chandelier motor might be a bit cost prohibitive? I would love one, but it's not likely to happen.

    Just my 2cents.

  • 8 years ago

    Have you looked at the open lanterns from Ballard Designs for your foyer? They come in black or very dark bronze finishes, several styles, no glass to clean, and extra large versions that would maybe work in your foyer.

  • 8 years ago
    Very good points about the glass! I’m not set on glass at all. I really like that one you posted pennydesign! Caroline, I’ll see if I can find the kind you mean. Thanks!
  • 8 years ago
    Here’s another question - is this the appropriate height for chandelier? The ceiling is I guess 16 feet since these are 8 foot ceilings on both floors. Should it be visible in the window as they have it or should it hang lower?
  • 8 years ago
    Google is telling me maybe the current chandelier is too high? But if I hang it lower it won’t be visible through window. Not sure which is correct...
  • 8 years ago
    So if I go by the guide that the width of chandelier should be the length plus width of room in feet only as inches, then the current one is a bit too wide technically. The foyer is only about 10x8. So I need just over 18” width, I think?
  • 8 years ago

    Are these foyer "guidelines" or dining room "guidelines". I don't follow guidelines myself, so I'm not much use. I don't think the current one is too wide at all...

  • 8 years ago

    Also, my preference would be to hang it in the window, so it SHOULD be substantial..

  • 8 years ago
    These are the foyer guidelines... so you think more substantial but keep it super high up so it’s showing in window?
  • 8 years ago

    Yes. That's where mine is and hanging it lower would, in my opinion, look like I made a mistake. You want to see it from the street. The alternative would be something like this:

    that hangs down lower, but is also seen through the window.


    I like the one that's up there, but I understand if it doesn't' go with your current look

  • 8 years ago

    I really like that one that you posted pennydesign, with the 3! Very cool looking. I had thought about that idea of hanging multiple big pendants. Right now, thinking about dusting glass I'm backing away from my earlier ideas, and these are my top contenders... at the moment :D


  • 8 years ago

    I like all of those and I think you're making a wise choice that you don't have to have experience with!!

    Personally, I think the black (upper right) will have big impact there...

    And bigger is better...I imagine your window is 48"? How wide is the black chandelier?

  • 8 years ago
    Good question - I’m not sure how wide the window is. I’ll try to find out!
    I like the black one and the two-tier black one. I think both are around 32-35” wide. This one is kinda cool too! Same size range...
  • 8 years ago

    Your window is more like 6 feet across...looking at the size of the doors and room.

    So four feet wouldn't be too small...however, that's massive so you'll have to get one as side in diameter as you can. I think the one above (top right) has more presence than the lower one.

    I think you have another thread going on this topic? I didn't look but maybe you can ask there, too...

  • 8 years ago
    Yep that question was supposed to be a simple “how high to hang chandelier” but it morphed as these threads do often do lol! Thanks for the help!
  • 8 years ago
    Ok so the door area from edge of trim to edge of trim is 68” so I’m going to guess the window is around 58”. It’s a bit smaller, there’s more wall on either side than around door but it’s too high for me to measure exactly.