It would help to see the rest of the surrounding area to get a feel for your style, but do any of these appeal to you?

..or?

The Moravian star seems a bit big(I checked the diameters)..the plus is: they have the Moravian Star in flush mount as well( "they"-Ballard Designs. two last pics are from their site)

PS the rest are from Shades of Light if I remember correctly..except the second one..I think it's Schoolhouse Electric, and they have options of shade color(white or gray), cord color, and finish. This one is the most expensive one..

We have a similar stairway ceiling and earlier this year finally got rid of the awful 80s pendant that was there when we bought the house. (Kept waiting for the bulb to fail, but after 12 years I gave up!) The stairway ceiling is double height, and the landing is only about 3x3, so a relatively tall, narrow space. After some advice here, I wound up with a Ballard basic, Carriage House chandelier. I also replaced a flush-mount light in the upstairs hallway with a super cheap option from HD. I originally had my heart set on a bigger lantern-style chandelier, but I'm really happy with the Ballard one, which I'm sure I got on sale, and the HD flush mount looks great.

Whatever you decide on, definitely get something that allows you to change the lightbulb without standing on a ladder! For example, open on the bottom, with the socket above the bulb. I forgot this rule in our high-ceilinged living room and now I seldom use the lights in there, because if the bulbs burn out it will be a major project to replace them.

Do you have one of the bulb changers on an extension rod?

I think I would be looking for a multi light. Something that hangs down, very linear, more than one bulb on different levels.

I just remembered something..our GC told us recently there is some sort of ..um, mechanism that you can install and use to lower your chandelier/pendant..for cleaning or whatever else you need to do.

For example we have these ginormous ceilings in our current place..if the bulb goes it goes:) But I never thought such mechanism existed, until now. I thought that only very-very long ladders existed:) And people who have them:)

Great idea of several bulbs btw, and open on the bottom, but wouldn't go with cascade probably-the diameter might be too large?...

I didn't give link to the light I'd gladly install, since it's bright scarlet color...:) But yes, it's an open lantern, with four bulbs..Also expensive as hell. By Currey and Co

We replaced round hall lights with Feiss Vitner 11" LED lights. Great for 8 foot ceilings. Bigger but not too big and much more light If you like these they might have something else in the line that would work for the other spot.

Thanks so much everyone, I really appreciate all the ideas and suggestions.

Aprilneverends, thanks for all the pics! I love the last one you posted at the top, lantern, style wise I did see quite a few that are similar so I'm sure there's something available in our budget. We actually have one of those folding ladders, I just won't let my husband use it. LOL. I lost my dad to a ladder fall and DH does things without thinking so it scares the bejippers out of me.

An open bottom for easy changes in the future is a great suggestion, thank you!

Smalloldhouse, love the choices you ended up with, the forum didn't guide you wrong, hadn't looked at Ballard but will give it a peek. Since your stairwell appears to be very similar, is there anyway you could post a pic?

Arcy, Thanks for the pics! Those are really pretty and I've seen them on the sites. Any one of them would fit beautifully so I'll put the option on my list! thank you!

Graywings, yes. That would be a great fix wouldn't it? The bulb thing makes me a bit nutty, it's so unpractical!

I'm so sorry lukkirish. I understand this..I had a relative who was a very highly regarded electrician, worked for many years with very high voltage, for the city projects..nevertheless with all his experience-he had this electrocuting happening..he lived but his heart went so bad, and in the end they performed a surgery on an open heart-didn't save him..

Since then I'm going totally crazy when my husband attempts any electrical work. He's getting mad with me, but what can I do? It's beyond rational maybe, but yes, things like these scare us and scar us..

Sorry about this sad off-topic...

Back to the lights-it was interesting to learn such mechanism, for lowering and bringing up again, exists..not very costly as per our GC. Would be interesting to look into this one. I just don't know how to google it lol. "The button that you press in order to lower your chandelier"..?:)

It's ok April, thanks for the kind words and I'm sorry for your friend as well. As I tell my DH we can learn from each others experiences right?

Is the thing your electrician referring to a pulley system?

I've seen lamps like this, it's kind of industrial looking but it would certainly work.

This is HIGH up! Put a can light up there - easy to change the bulb with one of those long poles, no dusting needed etc. The area is too narrow and tall to do anything else. You just need light.

As for fear of electrocution, just turn off the power at the circuit breaker - if you're truly freaky about this, turn off the entire house. Professional electricians can become rather cavalier about working with live wires and will take chances rather than turn off circuits. NEVER a good idea!

Really a can light would give you the light one wants all along and way to the bottom of those stairs? Changing bulbs and yes the dust is always an issue on staircases. I think I would have to make it just something I did each year on a certain date sort of like Disney land. They change all their bulbs on a schedule--they don't wait for one to burn out. LEDs have longer life. This may be a spot for expensive long lasting bulbs.

lukkirish. No, no, gosh, of course not. He was talking about some internal mechanism..you see just a button on the wall, that's it.

Anglophilia. Of course I know that. Of course my husband turns off the power. I'm still freaking out.

By the way am really afraid of the ladders too. Of heights in general.

Ah, and not so fond of cars as well. Lol.

Actually, a canned light is an excellent idea, functional and practical. Thank you for the suggestion Angelo, I will put it on the short list.

Ha!. Your response has me laughing April!. It's not that terrible looking is it? Not so fond of ladders, I can relate but cars??? Not using one can make life pretty complicated!

Arcy, it is a good idea and one I'm going to seriously consider, especially because of the height issues but I have to admit, as a lover of decor, I was hoping for a prettier solution. Now my practical side will be fighting with the "I want it pretty" side of my brain. LOL

Regardless of what we choose an Electrician will be hired....I'm not taking any chances!

Use your decorating dollars where you'll get more bang for your buck.

So true, Anglophilia. Most of the time I have my eyes on the steps when using the stairs. If I was looking up at a pretty light so high up in the air I'd probably trip!

I like the simplicity of a can light with artwork on the walls. If you are hiring an electrician anyway, maybe he could do some artwork lights, or even some of the led's that light up the stairs at night. They make the stairwell feel safer, and then you don't even have to turn a light on late at night.

I don't know if anyone else found the name for you as I didn't read too carefully, but search for "light lift" or "chandelier lift" or hoist.

I'm going to differ here and say you should get a pendant that hangs down to about 8' above the landing floor or at eye height from the top of the stairs. (Am I reading your photo right? That is a landing with a turn to the left, correct?) Then you'll see it every time you go downstairs -- so choose one you love! I would choose one with frosted or "white" glass, so you're not staring at the bulb, but it still sheds light throughout the area.

I personally think can lights should only be used where functionally necessary, and not as a design choice. I think this stairwell is a perfect place for a beautiful pendent, like so many of the options above. You will see this from the hallway upstairs, and when coming down the stairs, right?

Here's the Ballard chandelier, size extra large, with round globe bulbs for a bit of edge. Please ignore the dated peach paint I chose when we first moved in and the various swatches I've been testing in the months since we did the lights. We're putting in new floors next month so that will force the issue of paint and wall decor.

I spent the evening pondering the canned light idea and have nixed it. Both Chibimimi and Aimeekm's responses pretty much echo my thoughts because the stairwell is seen from the entry and the living room and when coming down, it would be nice to have something pretty there, so thank you.

Smalloldhouse!. Thank you for the pics!. I love it and I'm surprised the larger sized one fits so perfectly! I had a room painted with a very very light apricot once. In some lighting it looked off white but in sunlight, it glowed and I love love loved it! I love the picture wall too :c)

I have an open future similar to the Ballards one above. Went with that style as I didn't want something that could collect dust on a horizontal surface.

Here a link to a chandelier lift by Alladin.

And a YouTube video on HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN!