I prefer the black lantern.

I like the lantern, too, but it might be easier to judge if you could take a picture from the hall to get a better feel for it in the room. I do think you may need larger, more substantial accessories that can hold their own with it rather than the dainty plates on the wall, which are lovely, but don't quite do it for me with the lantern.

Here is a photo of the lantern taken from the hallway. Those white iron sconces on the wall have to go, I know... long story involving chinoiserie half-lamps that were going to be mounted there but found the electrical panel was directly behind the wall where one of them was to be placed. That aside, even in this photo below you cannot tell how massive this lantern is... it has sort of sucked up all the oxygen in the room and now I feel that everything else needs to be changed to accomodate it.

The second photo is of another alternative light. I am trying to keep this expenditure between $1200 and $1600.

I am looking for something airier, less heavy, more feminine. What about this one:

What about painting the black parts white?

The lantern is for an entry way. Either chandelier you chose would be elegant and perfect in your space.

I think that you'd do best to go with the more delicate looking chandelier.

The lantern is entirely too heavy for the room, as well as being the wrong style.

I like those plates on the wall, and the chandelier would go better with them.

Okay, now another question. The first chandelier picture is very similar in style to the one in an adjacent room---it is a black wrought iron chandelier in our living room, with crystals and is about the same size (46" tall) but is hanging from a 14' ceiling. So would it be odd to have two such similar lights (although of different metals and the DR light would not have shades) in adjacent, but not visible from each other, rooms?

My original intent was to update the tired brass chandelier that was in the room. Although it was a nice light, I was ready for a change. Here is it (and the table has one less leaf in this photo). It looks smaller than I remember, but measured about 30 inches wide by 36 inches tall. Unfortunately, the next size up is 36 wide by about 45+ tall, which I am now thinking might be too big---although the lighting store "experts" said I could go even larger!

Here is what I originally intended to replace it with, which I now realize looks much better over a round table, not a rectangle like mine. The finish was not black but hand-rubbed, antique brass. The dimensions are 20" wide by 30" tall (plus chain)

Maybe I need two of these? I like this light and the updated look of it... I am thoroughly confused... I need a vision of the finished room and I just don't have one!

I agree with all here, that is a foyer light as is the last one..why spend all that money check lights at Overstock.com, great prices low,low shipping.

Susieq, I've looked through Overstock.com and it doesn't have a good selection of what I am looking for--actually, there was nothing that fit my size and style parameters. I certainly would not mind spending less :) but the budget is for a particular kind of lighting and we're willing to spend that.

Have you checked out lampsplus.com? They have several chandeliers that would look nice in your room.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lampsplus

I really love the lantern light in your room, but from the pics it is difficult to get any perspective about how big it really is. Do you have any pics from the hallway or another doorway that isn't such a close up? Or is it that big that they all come out looking like a close up? :)

I googled dining room lantern and found lots of pics and most of them show as oversized, like yours. The second lantern you posted is not so heavy, so even if large it might be better visually. I think it's a great look.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dining room lanterns

I would be sure about what your vision is before buying another chandy. Honestly, I like your old one (pre-lantern) better than the ones you are showing as an alternative.

My issue with the lantern style is that it doesn't feel like it fits with the rest of what is in the room. It seems to be a very traditional space, so the lantern being the only non-traditional piece, just feels odd, in addition to being too large. Plus the square lines of the second lantern don't work with all the curves in the decor, furniture and window.

Where do you want to go with the space - what are you trying to achieve? Traditional with a twist, a more casual room, something funky? Are you also making changes to the window treatments, furniture, wall color?

Is there another place in your home where you could use the lantern look you love, that would be a better fit - perhaps over the kitchen table, or in another living space?

Hi Les, thank you (and everybody else) for looking in on this mess!

Old light has already been given away....bright brass, albeit a good one, looked colonial to me. So right now all I've got is this too big, too regency lantern. :(

My thought was simply, Let's Update the Dining Room by getting rid of that brass chandelier. Everything else is staying the same except that in the not too distant future I am going to reupholster the chairs, possibly in that pretty sea green/blue of one of the checks in the curtains. (not sure I'd that color shows up in the photo)

The lantern is just too darn big for anywhere. It would go in the library, with the really high ceilings, but there are two fans in that room on 3 ft rods with schoolhouse lights. Every place else has a light I like better. The kitchen has two new lights that I love.

So perhaps this is the place at which you either offer this for sale on CL or take it down and save it for another time, another use, another place. Or perhaps you have a friend or relative for whom this would be the perfect item.

I don't know what you paid for it, so I don't know what your financial investment is. Is is worth trying to sell to recover the money, or better to keep it because you won't get back what you paid?

Whatever you decide, don't be hard on yourself about making a choice that didn't work out. It isn't a spouse, just a light. LOL We have all chosen things that we thought were the best choice, only to later figure out they weren't such a great selection.

The right light will call your name when you see it. You have a lovely room, and everything will come together.

I saw this lantern when I was looking for something that might appeal to the lantern yearning, yet work in the room. I think the finish is very pretty with the antique mirrors and seeded glass, and I like how the top arches echo your window shape and the curves on the pediment of the cabinet, yet the squares pick up the design in the cabinet door glass. Feels a bit more modern, yet still elegant.

corsica lantern

Maybe the black lantern is too big - it doesn't look that way in the photo, but all that matters is that you don't like it.

It is really hard to tell whether something will work in your room because we can't get a feel for the size of the room or the size of the chandelier you are considering. From the photos, the two chandeliers you are considering have that Donald Trump/ Palace of Versailles over-the-top look to me.

Your first step (and maybe you have done this) is to measure the room and your table and then see if the size of the chandelier is correct for the room.

Here's a website simply chandeliers, and free shipping
you can shop by size, style, color to your hearts content!

Here is a link that might be useful: simplychandeliers

Have you looked at Circa Lighting? They have a lot of beautiful fixtures that fall squarely into your price range. I have always loved the Eric Cohler Double Twist chandelier. (And there are sconces to match!) It is certainly traditional, but has a bit of a contemporary edge to it. Substantial, but visually clean and airy. I love the Barbara Barry scroll-y look. :-)

Can you put your finger on what kind of "update" you are looking for? Just new? With a slight contemporary edge? Something more fashion-forward? Just trying to get to the heart of what you feel you need in there. Maybe you should post pics of the light fixtures in adjacent rooms in this thread so we can see what's going on. (I am pretty sure I've seen your rooms, but it would help to have a reminder here.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Double twist

That's a gorgeous fixture amy!

I like your original chandelier better then either lantern style. I think the other poster is right, the lantern style is better for an entry.

My daughter had a shiny brass chandelier and she spray painted it glossy white and it looks great! If you still have your original one you could try painting it, either white or some other color you choose. My daughter hung hers in the garage to paint it.

I agree that it's hard to tell what's going on in that room with those pictures..... If you had a photo of the lantern from the same view as your original brass fixture photo, that would be helpful.

With that said, I looooooooove lanterns, but that one/a lantern is definitely not right for that space.

I think the chandeliers you are drawn to above are going in the right direction, but they are also overwhelming (all the details are overwhelming for a small-ish room.... just my opinion :)) Also, I think what Amy suggested, or something similarly less frilly would work in the space best. You could find something that was a happy medium, perhaps ....... more "airy" like what Amy pointed out, but with some frills like you are wanting.

What I would be drawn to for that space:

{{!gwi}}PB

{{!gwi}}PB


RH (although probably a bit too small)

Finally, I think your original chandelier was a tad on the small size for that space (it looked fine, but it could be bigger.) I think you could afford the space for 36" w if you wanted to and trended towards something airy :)

Olychick, thanks for that link! The second lantern I posted, the black simpler one I was considering in rubbed antique brass, is the second photo from the right in the fifth row! That picture is what got me thinking about a lantern in the first place.

Notice that on that link, all the lanterns hung over kitchen or dining tables are much higher than a chandelier would be.. . . . They are supposed to hang higher. Mine absolutely dominates the room when it's lower, it's hard to explain.

Now another thing about those pix of lanterns over tables---- it has just dawned on me that it looks best when the table is round or square. If the table is a rectangle, two lanterns looks best. With the ceiling medallion and all the other expense, I don't want to put in two. So now I am thinking chandelier again. Amy srq, I love circa lighting and that second lantern is theirs. I like the twist light but worry there's not enough of it to carry the room. ???

Happy, the original light is long gone ......

Lauren, I like those light but they feel sort of minimalist and spare---a great look but not what I have going on there.

I measured the room, it is 18 x 15, with one clipped corner ( please dont ask, design of house result of unholy alliance between an attorney and an architect).

kswl, I think one of the crystal chandeliers, while not as trendy, would work very nicely with your traditional furniture and more feminine accessories, as long as the size was right. JMHO. Btw, your room is very pretty. (And I don't think it's odd to have the two similar chandeliers in adjacent rooms).

No feedback from me, I think a new chaddy is such an
important decision, and one that I couldn't make when I
wanted a new one, only because I still liked my old one, (a twelve light chaddy)
but not the shiny bass, so with some encouragement from
people here, we painted ours, and I love it.

Funny thing is, I think it's the same chaddy as your
old one.

What about something very simple like this candelabra type chandy? It's similar to your old one, yet updated...

Here is a link that might be useful: white chandy...on sale!

i would keep looking for crystal chandys, i would prefer that look more than a lantern in your dining room, but i also think the 2 you show are probably too big for your room... looks like your ceilings are 9'?? there are lots and lots of great chandeliers out there-take your time and find one you love!

Yes, i Guess i will keep looking or call designer and ask him to find one. Ceilings in this room are 10 ft.

We were at a restaurant over the weekend and saw these chandeliers. They looked great, slightly vintage-y but really pretty: This is the 12 light version, which is 44" tall and 36" wide:

{{!gwi}}

Here is the smaller version that is 40" tall and 34" wide:

{{!gwi}}

I think I really like this one, and it is only about $800... opinions?

topping hoping someone will look at the last chandelier!

i like it and i think the 2nd of the last two might work with 10 ft ceilings...i think anything more than 40" would be too tall.
there are 2 'tiered' chandys that are shorter and, imo something closer to 36" might look more in scale with a dining room... the 2 tiers tend to look 'grander' and provide more light... but of the last 2 you show, i think the 2nd would be better over your table!

I think so too, busybee. I will have to measure... I am thinking there won't be much chain--

The table height = 30"
Light hangs 3 ft above table = 66"
Height of light is 40" = 106" *8.8 feet)
Height of room is 120", so 120 = 106 = 18" of chain.

Is that enough chain? Palimpsest?