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Anything wrong with this light- X post with lighting

marvelousmarvin

11 years ago

I posted this on the lighting forum, but somebody suggested I also post here and I need all the help I can get.

I have a rental that I'm in the process of updating, including getting a new dining room light. Its a rental for a nice area, and I think its important to get a good dining room light because its one of the first things you see when you walk in or when you peek into the window.

The problem is all this design stuff isn't in my wheelhouse so please help me in picking something out. (I never knew that there was anything wrong with the kitchen cabinets being painted a glossy black color).

Right now, this is the dining room light(its my understanding that it is considered dated because of the brass color but I don't know if the shape or style of the light is a problem too):

I know I need get something for awhile, but I've been hesitant to buy something in case I buy something that will also be a problem too.

So, what about something like this? Would this be a good choice for the dining room- something that will appeal to a lot of people, won't be dated soon, assuming its not already; etc..

I'm a bit concerned that the lamp shades are pointing down when I noticed that most lamp shades for other lights point up. I don't know if it means it should be a deal breaker or not? Is there any advantage if the lamp shades point up or down?

And, another concern I had was that since the dining room is next to the kitchen and they're connected together via that breakfast bar, does the finish for the lighting need to match the finish for the kitchen faucet and cabinet handles. (I also need to get a new faucet, and I think it'll be brushed nickel or steel optic).

Or, do I need to be concerned that the chrome finish for the lighting won't match the finish for the door knobs which are brushed nickel?

Finally, I couldn't use this same lighting fixture for the stair lights too, right? The stair light also needs to throw some light into the office. If I can't use the same light for the stairs, I'm looking for any suggestions for lighting that might work.

What are the styles or shapes or whatever for lighting that will makes it dated or not dated?

Comments (6)

busybee3
11 years ago
i prefer the light you have hanging out of the two you show. it's a traditional light-not a 'modern' look. traditional would appeal to some renters, modern others...

BUT, it is hung way too high--lower it about a foot or 2. and you can give it a different look by buying chandy shades for it (larger ones-not the very small ones-your light is too big for those...)and that would cut the harshness of the bare light bulbs which bothers some people.
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
For a rental, I'd go with something like this

Which is in lowes least expensive category. Traditional styling, updated in the brushed nickel, looks clean and modern and no great loss if the tenants smash it.

It should be hung with the bottom of the fixture 60" above the floor.
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marvelousmarvin
Original Author
11 years ago
When we talk about the correct height about a lighting fixture, isn't it a function of the distance between the table or what's underneath the light?

I agree that the light is too high, but if I don't have a table or if I don't know how tall the renter's table will be, how do I know what height to set it?
palimpsest
11 years ago
Tables are either going to be 30" in height or 36" in height if they have a high-top or counter style table.

In a rental I would leave it a bit high. Not every renter will have a dining table. It looks like there is extra wire to lower it from it's current height.

I actually like the original traditional fixture. It does not need to match the kitchen finishes.

If you have to change out other fixtures, I would just make them relatively plain with standard bulb sizes that are easy for the tenant to change.
marvelousmarvin
Original Author
11 years ago
That's interesting that people like the light I already have hanging up. When I had posted pictures of my kitchen, including the dining room light, about what needed to be updated, that light was one of the things mentioned.

I thought that the gold brass color of the light was considered outdated, and have already changed the golden brass door knobs to brushed nickel door knobs.

I had thought about updating the light by adding shades, but it was going to cost $5 a shade for 8 lights for something that I feared would still be ultimately dated- like putting lipstick on a pig.

I didn't know if I was looking at the right places cause $5 seemed a bit much for a shade so little.
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
I would definitely change the fixture esp if you've changed out the other hardware. It's not that expensive and the brushed nickel looks much more modern.

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