Am I getting this right? A 300 watt bulb? Inside a house? I didn't know this was possible. That sounds like an awful lot of light to me....

Sorry I don't have any "real" help...I was taken aback by the 300 watts!

I'm sure more will chime in! :)

I agree.. that sounds like an unreasonable amount of wattage. I would search around somemore..for something similar but where you could even use floresant...

Hi Cheri...me again! I just googled "lights with 300 watt bulbs!" Wow! I really had not noticed these!

Goes to show, you learn something new every day!

Were you planning on using it to replace the chandilier? How tall are your ceilings?

Thanks for teaching me about something new (to me)!

I think that a kitchen needs light from multiple sources to get the most effective and pleasing results. 300 watts from any single source will provide a lot of light that can't be controlled easily. Whether I like that fixture or not (and I do) really doesn't matter. The bigger question is, will you be happy with the effect of a central 300 watt fixture in the context of the other lighting in the room?

I agree with the others, it will be too much light coming from one source and will look cold and glary. Plus (well, you asked for honest opinions) I think the cover looks like a great big DD bra cup. Sorry.

Your DR is beautiful! I love the wall color.

I like the fixture, but it looks like something that belongs in a small foyer (hard to tell the size from the pictures). I agree on multiple sources for light in your kitchen. I had only one fixture in a previous house and found I cast a shadow on whatever I was working on.

I love it, and I would love to have a 300 watt light in my kitchen!

That is a classical revival fixture that looks like it would be at home in your house.

Old fixtures sometimes took Gigantic wattages...remember Mogul base lightbulbs? That said, I would underlight this fixture and use it for 'sparkle' or 'motivational lighting' and keep the general lighting with the recessed cans. I would consider switching it completely separately on a dimmer so that it can be used for night lighting or party lighting in the kitchen when you don't want the kitchen lit like an operating room.

(motivational lighting as I understand it is tricking the eye to think that specific fixtures are providing the light when actually the real lighing is coming from less noticeable sources)

If I am not mistaken, you'd be putting this in the center of the room (though not centered) which means that when you're working at the perimeter, the light is behind you, casting a shadow on your work zone. If that is the case, it is not good. You really need to have some cans or another light source directly above where you're working.

I also agree that 300 watts is a crazy amount of light from one fixture. I have four 75W equivalents in a small L-pattern in my work zone and it is great to have that much light, but it is spread out.

Finally, I have to say I don't like the fixture. I don't want to say what it reminds me of, but it ain't a bra. I ran into that shape when I was looking at fixtures for the whole house and time and again it just said...uh...well, you know....to me.

Oh and another thing (I know I said I was done...) your dining room is really lovely. So your claim that you're not a good decorator just doesn't hold water with me! ;-)

I actually am not a fan of the light fixture - the base I like it is the glass dome that I don't like the shape of.

Remember...it is about what items make you feel good because everyone has their own opinions but it is yours that is most important.

Mind you.....

I had a teacher in elementary school who always used to say to us "WHEN IN DOUBT...CROSS IT OUT" (I have lived by that phrase every day of my life since then and has been so helpful in my decision making...("Thanks Mr.Whats-your-name!!").

So I think because you are really thinking about this fixture so much it is not the right one for you. If you really loved it..you would not doubt it or overthink it.

Haley

I love antique lighting and that fixture is certainly a lovely piece, except for the white center. Normally the metal ceiling pieces are all painted or colored metal, verses a big white circle...unless it's ceramic (which I can't tell from the picture).

I'd put it on a dimmer, but the 300 watt thing...that wouldn't bother me :) Well it would if it's not on a dimmer.

I'd be careful of the wiring. Make sure it's rewired with new ceramics (the little cup you screw into). The old cup wouldn't be able to handle that type of power (which makes it a fire hazard).

It's also not going to be UL certified, which can cause a problem during inspections. If you are going to use an antique piece, I'd install very cheap (under 5bucks) fixtures in the spots where the antiques will go, then change out after your final inspection (which is what I did). Having individual fixtures UL certified costs about $2000 and up for fancier fixtures each.

Hahahahahaha...it's like an ink blot test! Thanks for all of the comments. The wattage is of less concern to me than the style of the lamp. I am going to have other lighting including undercabinet lights just thought I could cut down on the number of cans. The lamp has been completely restored and the white is original to the style (looked it up in an old brochure for brascolites). It's just that I wasn't sure if this light was fabulous or hideous...it sort of swings both ways I think. If it were $100 I'd take a chance, but at $450 I may have to let this go. Thanks of the help.

I think the light is kind of cool and funky, but personally I would never pay $450 for it unless it made my heart sing.

I love your diining room. I especially love the curtains. Did you make them or have them done?

For $450 I wouldn't buy it unless it also cooked dinner and washed the dishes afterward.

But seriously... I think you can do better. Style-wise and price-wise.

Are there any bids on it?

How big is it?

I absolutey love that light, but the price - eeek!

Umm ...

Speaking as the old broad that i am, i wouldn't be caught dead under a 300 watt anything.

Soft, muted light. Preferably candle light. Or moonlight. Or even no light at all!

:)

If you think $450 is expensive, you should see the Urban Archeology pendant over in the kitchen forums for $4.5K!

artlover13060: Thanks. The shades were made for me but were quite simple...just a lined and interlined panel with rings sewn on the sides, velcroed to a board thats screwed to the window trim. I'd have done them myself but I always worry about cutting the fabric straight. The fabric is Lee Jofa but I bought it through a discount fabric supplier in the UK and saved a bundle. Even with the shipping it was less than wholesale here. The trim is Scalamandre which was ridiculously expensive but I managed to get it wholesale and since I only needed a few yards, it was worth it.

estreya: I never thought of that....YIKES! You're right, I don't want to be seen under 300 watts either.

I don't know if the lamp is overpriced or not. The seller meticulously restores old lighting but I think he does charge a premium. He has some very beautiful things, though. Lighting for this kitchen is going to be a bit of a dilemna for me, I know, so I'm sure you'll be hearing from me some more. Thanks again.

BTW, I found another UK fabric discounter that ships to the states. I just got a quote of 55 pounds ($80) for a fabric that retails here for $240. If you'd like the info you can email me. Haven't used them yet but will in the next week or so.