Advice for changing a chandelier on an extra-vaulted ceiling
5 years ago
We are in the process of purchasing a townhome built in 1983. The stairwell between the 1st and 2nd floor has a dated chandelier that is attached at the ceiling. The challenge is, the the ceiling in this area is vaulted well beyond the 2nd floor. I plan on hiring an electrician, but I don't really want to have to build scaffolding and risk injury just to change out a light. Can the cord just be cut at the fixture (with the power turned off obviously) and a new fixture rewired to the existing cord (using the existing chain as well)? Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated--the light has to go!
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PRO5 years agoI don't think so. You'll have to get a professional electrician/installer in there. Just make sure he's bonded and insured and make sure your homeowners policy has the right kind of coverage in case there is an accident.
I would suggest a chandelier that cascades or has multiple pendants at varying heights vs. one long extension chain or cord. Without having seen the rest of your home, here are examples of what I mean:
MODERN LIGHTING FOR FOYER, MODERN ENTRY STAIRWAY LIGHTS FOR HIGH CEILING FOYER · More Info
TANZANIA | Custom Two-Story Glass Chandelier | Contemporary Style Lighting · More Info
Stairwell · More Info
5 years agoRelated Discussions
HELP!! Change ceiling height or vault??
Comments (34)Though a lot has to do with personal taste, I'd vote for different ceiling heights to suit the home's design, architecture, roof style and region of contruction. While architecting our home with hip roofs with, we (I) had crazy ideas about superhigh ceilings for our large home, currently under construction, however decided to have a blend of ceiling heights for entryway, bedrooms, living areas and even garages, which made more sense and glad we did. We used a blend of 9, 10, 12 and 16' ceilings with 16' for the two rear garages only. Instead of using ceiling heights which do nothing for the physical space, we opted for very open spaces, very wide hallways and corridors which can be experienced and felt every day....See MoreNeed room dimension advice and photos of cathedral/vaulted ceilings
Comments (22)Cubes where the room is not wider or longer in at least one direction than the ceiling is high are not particularly comfortable, similar to how large rooms with low ceilings are not particularly comfortable. In a cube, the room tends to start feeling shaft like, where a large room with a low ceiling often seems to sag or press down in the center. Also, cubes are static and rectangles are not. It might be better if the ceiling was 15-16 if 24 is the largest dimension of the room. Peaks are a little different. I lived in an apartment where the original parlor floors were essentially a golden rectangle. They had been lofted at one end (about 1/3 of the space) and it made the high ceiling in the remaining area kind of elevator shaft-like. The apartments that maintained the original proportions were more comfortable spaces. Of the above pictures Mutiny and Rufty seem fine because of the length of the room and the ability to experience the height from the opposite end of the room in some sort of perspective. I actually find the Shades Creek kitchen proportions unpleasant. It makes a good picture but I don't think I would like working in that kitchen. I am curious as to how many people with 8-9 foot ceilings vacuum or clean them on a regular basis. I am not sure the extra height makes rooms extra dirty? That said I had to clean my 14 foot LR with elaborate plaster cornices with an extention pole with brushes on it...I purposely did not have any lighting in that ceiling. I think the people who bought the apartment from my buyer put in recessed cans. (Not right in a 1830s house and very hard to change. A ten foot ladder is much harder to manage than an 8 foot ladder)....See MoreWhat white or light gray for this living room with vaulted ceiling?
Comments (6)I love greens so it is a first pick for me. I am not a pro at any of this but love figuring out colors. To my eye the silver grey in the kitchen is fighting the granite a bit. The cabinets look good but they are more of a neutral color. I can see you have a wheat color in the hall, so more warm colors. I used BM edgewood grey in my house - prior to the remodel we are working on - and it worked well with my 1950 orangey red oak floors but was not overly warm/yellow for my taste. Read grey in some rooms/light and beige in others. Lots of grey and cool colors on these boards but honestly it doesn’t work in every house. Your dining room is really pretty and could be stunning with a bold color. Maybe let that lead and find a soft white or greige for the adjoining rooms. Good luck!...See MoreVaulted wood ceilings & expansive water view: wall & floor ADVICE plz!
Comments (18)Painting is the last step in any reno project. Generally, paint color is chosen to work with the fabrics and upholstery. I would drywall over the wood walls for sure; that angled wood style is really dating things. In a new to you home, there can be lots of hidden issues to deal with. Foundations, plumbing, roofing and HVAC can impede the functionality of the home, but you can live with the form as it is for a few months while you work out any glitches, test out the kitchen, and see how your own furniture looks at different times of the day. I see a few items that I'd deal with right away. The railing on the loft appears not to be to code, and I would replace it with a pony wall or close that area in completely if it is to serve as a bedroom. Noise from downstairs will rise and disturb anyone sleeping there. The lighting throughout needs an upgrade. Back to paint; it is said (and you can test it out yourself) that a view shows best when surrounded by a dark frame. You might get white and black poster board, tape it around a window and check for yourself whether the view is enhanced by the color surrounding the window. That could be an influence when you get around to choosing colors, but don't neglect the fabric/textile aspect of the design. I understand that tile is the best flooring to conduct radiant heat, but you can also do that under Marmoleum, and Warmly Yours can install a product under carpet....See More
5 years ago- 5 years ago
PRO5 years agoIf you select an LED fixture you'll not have to change a bulb in your life time.
- 5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
- 4 years ago
Just a quick closing follow up. My electrician was able to splice the new light into the existing wiring. It was pretty easy just using a regular ladder and pulling everything over to the upper landing while he worked on it. The new light came with a chain too, so it spliced in nicely. And no glass to clean :)
2 years ago- 2 years ago
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