Why Fred, so nice of you to consider a pillow for my head. I prefer a neck contoured pillow if you please ;) my legs may have to be shortened tho LOL

At least you will have light to read by :)
But really, I think it would look fine if you tied it into the rectangular beams and posts color wise. Hard to do on a phone.

I can't tell if the lamp is white or ivory. If you paint the hardware the same color as the shade it will help it disappear.

I would first check on your return policy for the light, if you don't have an option of returning it, I would probably try to sell it (using the manufacturer's picture) on CL or Ebay or whatever. My thought is that if you purchased it because you thought it would look nice based on the picture, there is a chance you could sell it the same way.

If both of those ideas don't work out, I would contact my local lighting store (the type that can rewire a lamp or sell you custom lamp shades). I would talk to a lighting specialist about what could be done, and then I would go forth and do. The reason I say that I would speak with someone is because all lamps have been UL tested, to ensure safety and it looks like this fixture has a few spot lights on the underside that might pose a problem if you are spraying them. The other thing that I am not certain of is what sort of finish is on the black. Is is rough or smooth? Most likely, you would be able to spray the black all one color, like the classic mid century bronze color already suggested, but you might want to test in an area that won't show (like the underside of the mounting hardware) to make sure that the paint will actually stick to surface and look the way you want it to.

Nobody has said this, but your chairs are fantastic. One more thought...can you remove the cream enclosure on the fixture and expose the lights inside? Maybe place large hurricane glass around each of the lights so they look like the are sitting on a tray? Hope that makes sense.

http://houzz.com/photos/5751083
I think this is kind of what was suggested. The light seems too high to me, also. If the part next to the ceiling could be extended, I think it would help.

If you are not going to return or sell it - my suggestion: You seem to have " gold " tones in your room (which I understand is going to be "in" vogue) how about you find some gold/white scroll wallpaper and paper over it. The scrolly thing would compliment the scroll pocket door in your room.

Sgander, you could try your idea of wrapping twine, it may take the coffin feeling away, or only do it on the metal parts so they don't look so stark.

Thanks for the comments. I can't return it but if I absolutely have to, I can sell it on the secondhand market.

Cfollowell I do like the idea of the hurricane glass around the inside bulbs as it might make the structure less heavy-looking. I thought the easiest would be to re-cover the shade with another fabric but I'm stuck as to what to use.

Curlycook thanks for the photo as I did need a visual for it! It's a great idea that I'm willing to try.

Angel18432, I'm worried that anything with scrolls might be too much as it is quite a busy area already.

Mforr, great to hear from you again. You helped me with my Spain bedroom too and I was hoping you'd weigh in on this! I might try wrapping the metal with twine as I hadn't thought of that. I'd still like to change the shade though...

Take away the shade and install Edison-style light bulbs.

http://houzz.com/photos/3790174

What Jen said. Lose the shade and you have an updated see through light fixture.

Sgander, I knew your name was familiar, I had so much fun with your bathroom discussion, what a wonderful result you had with that. :)
I'm sure the fixture can be salvaged. I like the idea Jen has above here. But if you are more comfortable keeping shade on, I wonder of there's a possibility of someone painting on it? Have you ever seen lampshades where they've painted the inside, so a pattern shows when light is on? Or perhaps a watercolor scene on the outside? So the shade becomes a piece of art in room, not just a large rectangle above table. Another idea might be applying a wide ribbon in either vertical or horizontal stripes, in a color that coordinates with your room. Not a shiny ribbon, it could even be something like a burlap stripe, I'll take a look and try to show you some examples :)
So nice to run into your dilemma. :)

Here's a few burlap ribbons that could give your shade a more interesting look. :)

:)

Twine wrapping

Here's an idea with a really wide patterned burlap ribbon

Something like this could be stenciled on shade, or fabric in a similar pattern could be applied, with trim to cover the edges.

Thank you so much for your wonderful ideas! I love the stencil idea above as it is beautiful and quite understated. I'm terrible at DIY but the wrapping doesn't look too difficult so I might attempt that! At least I can remove it if it looks ridiculous! Thanks again.

Your welcome, I'm so glad I could post pics for you, you know how much I enjoy that, lol.
Don't forget to show us what you end up doing, try not to have Margo hanging above your table. I'm sure there's something unhygienic about people pretending to be dead above your food. ;D

I might just wait until Halloween is over -- meanwhile, I'll just stencil RIP on the side! Not sure I'll ever get over that image so I might end up ditching the shade!

Don't worry, it's not really that bad, plus I really like Margo, so it wouldn't be so awful to have her up there, wisecracking, it's good entertainment for dinner parties. :)

LOL :)!!!!

People- I am in the room!!

sgander- please except this gift for letting us have soo much fun with your post.

Love it Margo! You must have teleported to Hong Kong. I can feel your presence here!!

P.S. I sleep walk, so please chain lock the refrigerator at night. I am trying to diet;)

WOW- you are in Hong Kong- how fun is this!

Yes! On the 13th Floor. How spooky is that?!

Are you a native? transplant?

Wooooooooooo, spoooooooooky :)

I'm half-English, half-French. Grew up here but have a place in Spain as Mforr knows. She helped me with my horrible blue bathroom there and was super encouraging with all the work.

Late here so I've got to nag the teens to get to bed. It's been fun!.... till tomorrow!

Mforr is special :) Night!

Really need to get on something other than the phone to PhotoShop.

Ieuw!

You have a mid century look. Stay in that look. Yes light is too big for table should hang 36" from top of table. Can you return? Google mid century modern chandlers see what comes up. Could be wood like on chairs.

Hahaha, Fred, too funny. Poor Margo and her baby arms.

Somebody mentioned Halloween, and I'm sure Margo put them over here just so I would do that.
I even had it waiting for when she did :).

That's very good preparedness, former Boy Scout? ;)

Is Margo and Margarethope same person?
Margarethope is the one who saw the coffin and we all just see that, no more chandelier!
:)

No, two different people :)

Fred S- so nice of you to offer a helping hand LOL.

See, now someone makes a smart alecky remark and I get blamed. Poor Margo, she gets NO respect LOL NO, sondramartina, I am not Margarethope, I would NEVER makes such remarks;)

There is really nothing wrong with the light, it just doesn't suit the rest of the room. It is starkly modern. If it's too late to return, sell it or donate it, but just live with it in the meantime without painting or trimming. That's just going to look like mutton dressed as lamb.

Margo I know you are always careful with the words ;)

Why sondramartina- so glad you have noticed my subtleness;)

SheaJoy- adds to the embellishment, so now we have a coffin in sheeps clothing LOL- you can't pay for entertainment like this!

Who can forget the coffin lamp dilemma? Is it still hanging?

Hey there Margo! Good to hear from you! Yes, the coffin is still suspended above our dining table. At Christmas, we took off the "lid" and added these amazing no flame candles that MForr told me about.

The effect was a bit stark and weird until I decorated around them with holly berries, fir and pinecones. Everyone loved it!

But now it is back to being just the coffin again.... haven't really found a solution. No one in HK wants to buy it on the secondhand market.

*waving*... sgander, good times with this post tho. 2013 was the best of Houzz;)