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party_music50

What style wall sconces?

5 years ago

I have a 1938 bungalow -- it came with 2 hard-wired wall sconces in the dining room that I've always wanted to replace because they look like Colonial-style candles and seem all wrong for the house. I think the right tiffany-style, A&C, or even Industrial-style sconce would work better, but since I don't use them I don't want to spend a fortune. It's also difficult finding hard-wired ones! My style is best described as "artistic" and I love brown furniture -- I'm a sucker for any table or chair with nice legs. lol. However, I feel that a wall sconce should be appropriate for the house and not just my style, if you know what I mean.


I've chosen 3 old photos that should let you see the character of the house without too much outside influence. :)


Snow photo of the front porch from the 1960s! I had the porch rebuilt to look like this because I have the entire set of original blueprints. I didn't get this photo until well after I had the work done, but it's nearly identical now.



View from inside the dining room, looking toward the LR. The sconces are on the DR wall to the right, and there's another bank of windows on the DR wall to the left.



End wall of LR is rock with windows.



So what way would you lean with wall sconce style for this little bungalow? Bonus points if you can find the perfect example that's hard-wired. lol!

Comments (33)

  • 5 years ago

    I just love your home, partymusic .

    i dont have anything specific in mind but schoolhouse electric is my go to for lighting for our old house Their stuff is often a modern take on an older style. plus i love looking at their inspiration pics on their website

    https://www.schoolhouse.com/collections/wall-sconce-fixtures?offset=48

    party_music50 thanked daisychain Zn3b
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Isn’t this ad interesting?



    It is from a Wards catalog from the 1920s. Even though your house dates to 1938, it is exactly the house my mother grew up in which was built in the 20s.


    Preferring uplights to downlights, this one appeals to me. YMMV

    https://www.brasslightgallery.com/P/408/MissionLantern15WideSemiFlushSconce



  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Thank you both so much for the replies and for seeing what I see in this house! I've been very hesitant to post because you all have such magnificent homes. And I'm a little 'different'. lol.


    Re price, I think I've set my mental limit at up to $300 each if they aren't ideal/special, and up to $1200 each if I LOVED them. :)


    oh -- re metals in the house...... I don't think there is any metal in the house! There's lots of wood -- and all of my walls are the same color of creamy white.

  • 5 years ago

    Can you show is where the sconces will go? And tell us your style in the room now? My go to is Circa lighting.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    We have a couple of these



    from Visual Comfort in our lower level; they look up to date but go with a variety of styles. I bought them from Circa, which is a favorite of mine too. Shades of Light in Virginia, also online, has really upped their wall sconce game with many new, interesting and well made lights. i purchased new vanity lights for a couple of bathrooms from them and they are very nice so i would expect similar quality from their other lighting.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    mtn, remember that I'm not a decorator, and I definitely don't stage photos. lol! Here's a fairly recent photo of the existing sconces. . :O) I'll give. My table is French Country because I loved the legs and inlaid top and with the leaves in it's the perfect max size for the room. The 'buffet' (?) on the wall is an old one that my parents gave me and it fits linens and things, so works well for me in that spot. I know it's a mish-mash but I'm definitely connected to my things, so please don't criticize and/or tell me to change it all. My basket piles constantly build, and I've decided to hang all new original art on the wall you see and the one that's to the back/right of the viewer.



    And, if you must know, I have a cut-out on one of the walls you don't see. It's not ideal, but it gives me lots of light and a *perfect* view from my tiny minuscule kitchen. There it is. It's in the open now. I have a tiny kitchen. :( :( :( So -- I've just decided to put lipstick on the pig and hang all new original art. Here's that side of the DR -- sconces on left on either side of that buffet. I just started hanging new art and took this photo to see if I'd like it. Since it's my art, I do like it. lol! I'll add to them and move them around, but it gives you an idea where I'm going with it.

    Houzz is giving me fits trying to post this photo!!! Maybe that's an omen. lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



    eta: omg, with all that french country and colonial-type buffet, those candle-style sconces are starting to look right to me. But I want the sconces to match the house -- not the stuff I happen to have in the house.

  • 5 years ago

    Can outdoor sconces be used indoors? I assume that all outdoor sconces are hardwired, but I really don't know. I thought something like this look might suit the house, but it's an exterior light.

    https://www.build.com/vaxcel-lighting-ow50573/s633778?uid=917972


  • 5 years ago

    I think your sconces need to be a bit larger, but many styles would work. Maybe a double with cute shades?. Yes, you can use outdoor sconces indoors AFAIK. I think those are pretty but really look very outdoor or maybe in a lodge against stone or wood, not on drywall IMHO.

  • 5 years ago

    maybe something like this, but neednt be this much $$



  • 5 years ago

    @daisychain Zn3b, thank you! That site is new to me. I checked their wired sconces and saw a few that could probably work.


    @DLM2000-GW, thank you! oh wow, the light(s) at the first link isn't like any I've seen. Very nice! I like it and will need to take measurements and check specs. I'm having internet problems right now and nothing is loading right. I will need to look into this later.


    @bbstx, thank you! I don't know whether I prefer uplights or not because I don't use them! Yes, I love seeing old ads!!! I found this 1932 ad from a local newspaper. Check it out!



    @mtnrdredux_gw, another new website for me to look at! Thank you.


    @User, thank you. Those are very nice sconces and would probably look good in my DR. That's 2 for Circa. :)


    Thanks everyone! now that you have seen my photos you've probably lost interest. lol!


  • 5 years ago

    Scroll through some of these to see if there is anything you like:


    lamps plus


    I like this one..


    ps... I think your house and furniture look great!

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Just a few from Shades of Light… these range from under $100 to around $300








  • 5 years ago

    @party_music50 you are WAY too hard on yourself! Your home is a reflection of you and reflects a person with a lot of warmth. After seeing the pictures, even though you say you like the first light I posted I am not seeing it in your space. I understand wanting to work with the house over furnishings but I think both need to be considered and balanced - you have options!!

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    @mtnrdredux_gw, thank you. Larger and double shade? I will need to take various measurements....

    @czarinalex, thank you! I was looking at lights similar to that, thinking the art glass would look right.

    @User, thank you, those all look good. I'll need to check the specs.!

    awww, thank you, @DLM2000-GW! That's so sweet. But I made a mistake -- It's the light at the second link I like! The floral sort of light! :)

  • 5 years ago

    LOL! Me, too! That is a gorgeous fixture, I especially like the old brass finish.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I LOVE your home!!

    Since you like wood and could use something with a little more presence on that wall, what about something like this? I didn't price these...





    https://missionstudio.com/




  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    party_music, I love your home. I could move right in and be very comfortable.

    I like the examples Kswl posted, esp the first one. I like metal in my house, esp. black/dark oil-rubbed bronze.

  • 5 years ago

    I love your home!


    This one might work with the styles of your home and furniture.

    https://www.vintagehardware.com/static/j_morgan_wall_sconce_2_14_fitter_295aces.php


    This is a traditional arts and crafts fixture from the same company, although I like the Mission Studio ones posted by Olychick better.

    https://www.vintagehardware.com/static/j_morgan_wall_sconce_2_14_fitter_295aces.php


  • 5 years ago

    @Olychick, thank you! Those missionstudio lights are gorgeous.


    @Bunny, thank you! I like too many of them now and this will take a lot of research on my part.


    @ljwrar, thank you! That light would work well and is very much like some lights that my sister had in her old house in this area. Somehow your two links are the same though?


    fwiw, the current sconces are about 11” tall, 5” in width, and are mounted with the center of base plate at 5’. Does it matter whether it’s replaced with an up or downlighting sconce?

  • 5 years ago

    I’m still looking through all the sconces at the websites you’ve all provided and am running into two problems: 1) I keep liking sconces that say outdoor or bathroom. lol! and 2) I need the type of sconce that is hardwired and operates from a switch on the sconce, rather than a wall switch. I’m not finding them. Is there a special search term I need to use to find the right kind?

  • 5 years ago

    @party_music50 that's something a qualified electrician can add at installation. It can be a thumb screw like most lamps are, a push button or a small pull chain. As for the indoor/outdoor there is no reason you can't use an outdoor rated fixture indoors. An outdoor fixture simply has added safety features for exposure to the elements. Labels are given like bath fixture but again, that does not mean you can't use that fixture elsewhere. Just be careful as some fixtures really do look like they belong in a bathroom and might look odd in a dining room.

  • 5 years ago

    @DLM2000-GW, thank you. But I had to research it more to understand it and use what I think is the correct terminology. Here's my problem: I do not want to add a light switch on the wall to operate these sconces. The current sconces are hardwired and each has a built-in switch to turn it on and off. I believe that uses a keyed socket -- vs a non-keyed which is used when there's no built-in switch. So if a new sconce didn't have a built-in on/off switch, someone would have to change the socket type in the sconce to add that feature. Correct? That wouldn't even be possible with most sconce designs.

  • 5 years ago

    I understand you don't want a switch on the wall. A switch of an appropriate type can be added on each fixture and the type of switch and location would depend on the specific fixture. A push button might be added in an inconspicuous place on the body of the fixture or a thumb screw on the socket. An electrician can do this unless there is something unusual about the fixture you choose so showing a picture of the one you are considering to whomever you would hire would be head that off.

  • 5 years ago

    Ok, thank you!

  • 5 years ago

    @party_music50


    Here is the correct link (I hope) to the second fixture.

    https://www.vintagehardware.com/proddetail.php?prod=28673


    And here is a link to all the mission style lighting on the site. They have a mix of antiques and reproductions. They offer switches on some of the reproduction pieces.

    https://www.vintagehardware.com/vintage-lighting-by-period_arts-and-crafts-craftsman-mission-style.php?keyword=All+Arts+and+Crafts%2C+Mission%2C+and+Craftsman+Style+Lights&cat=295&pg=1#topprod


    party_music50 thanked ljwrar
  • 5 years ago

    Check out Rejuvenation. It’s my go-to for fixtures and many/most? have a switch option.

    party_music50 thanked Sueb20
  • 5 years ago

    Rejuvenation has one called Deschutes that is an A & C style on clearance now for $67. They offer several metal choices and if in doubt, you can order a sampler of metal chips to see the actual metal. They also have a pair of antique ones for $799. I have ordered brass door knobs from them and the quality and service was great. These may be too plain if you are liking the stained glass.

    party_music50 thanked lizbeth-gardener
  • 5 years ago

    Arghhh… just lost all my typing so will make this short…


    Thank you, all! I’m still searching all the recommended websites. I saw these at lampsplus and thought they looked interesting, but they don’t have a switch and it seems one can’t be added because other people wanted a switch on them too. Leaf & vine



  • 5 years ago

    Here's something in a similar vein with switches, but much more deco in styling.

    https://renewgallery.com/products/art-deco-wall-sconce/

  • 5 years ago

    @ljwrar, I love that sconce from the front view!!! but I really dislike the shape in the side view. I am reminded of Henry VIII’s cod piece. lol!!!

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I’m disappointed that the leaf & vine don’t have a switch. I think something along those lines would work. Here’s the mock-up.