Front door light battle: Fixture size or house style?
Can you help solve this lighting problem?
The facts: We have a somewhat plain colonial style house with wiring for a fixture above the front door. The current fixture, which we chose on purpose, looks just plain wrong. Really wrong. See pictures.
The physical constraints: Very limited space. The fixture can't be taller than 6" from center of the backplate to the top due to the overhang from the 2nd story. The backplate itself can't be larger than about 5" diameter due to location of the box for wiring. The total fixture height can't be taller than about 11 inches so as not to interfere with the storm door.
The old (original?) fixture was a very small lantern type, maybe 8" tall. It's now on the shed in our back yard and has a wasp where the light bulb used to go. Picture included.
The challenge: It's really hard to find anything to fit the space that isn't a barn light style. I REALLY don't want a barn light.
So what size and style would look right for this house? Should it be tiny? Should we choose something very minimal like the bar light example at the end of this post? Should we evict the wasps and refurbish the old light?
I'm guessing people might add suggestions about shutters (presence, mounting, size, color), front door color, the fact that the fence needs repainting, that the front garden looks untidy, etc. All comments are perfectly welcome. I will read them and consider them. I might not do anything about them, but they'll make me take a fresh look, so that's good. But please don't forget to weigh in on the lighting question, too.
Old fixture, very small
Would this look dumb?
Comments (24)
PRO4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoMount the larger light on your siding
A lantern held with brackets.
I know I have seen mustache brackets that are straight, and as soon as I find the picture I will post it.Here it is
petula67 thanked BeverlyFLADezinerRelated Discussions
Finally - Front Elevation of Shingle Style Inspired House
Comments (20)Yes, well that is why we are trying to give the front the look of 1 1/2 stories while not putting living space in the attic. There is a full, walkout basement of which 2/3 to 3/4's will have windows due to the slope of the lot. From the rear, it is a 2 story house. This is typical of many homes in the area we are building (Greenville, SC), particularly in the Cliffs. This is a home for our retirement, so we want to have all of the everyday living space on the main floor. I wish we could have kept the footprint smaller by going up for some of the living space, but we're just being realistic about living on one level as we age. And, we don't need 2600 sf on the main level, plus a 2nd story, plus another 2600 sf in the basement. That amount of square footage would not be justified for resale. The basement will have my sewing/crafts room and, eventually, bedrooms & a rec room for when we have grandkids. It had been suggested to us that we leave room for an elevator so we can get down there if we have trouble with the stairs. My contention is that if I have trouble with the stairs, I will have just as much trouble standing at a table to cut out a pattern so I won't be using the sewing room much, anyway. OTOH, if we hit granite when they go to dig the foundation like our next door neighbor did, then we will end up with a two story house to accommodate our future expansion plans. I think this plan will be flexible enough with the gambrel and the Dutch gables for the main roof if we need to go to a backup plan. We know that this will not be an authentic Shingle Style house & we've accepted that. We just didn't want another brick sided traditional or faux French or Craftsmen-esque or "Mountain" style which is so popular Upstate. We decided to take our inspiration from the Shingle Style and be as true as we can to the aesthetic....See MoreHelp me decide on size of sconces for front door and garage
Comments (2)A simple way to solve your dilemma. Cut out templates the size of the 2 lights and tape them up on the house. You didn't mention how tall your house is or how much space you have on the garage where those lights are going. Remember that when someone is standing at your front door, those lights will appear larger than they will when viewed from a street in front. Most errors occur when the lights are too small when viewed from the street. Try the cut outs and you will be able to decide. Brown paper or brown cardboard are good to use. If the fixtures are going to be dark, use a dark material. Anyone can have an opinion, but it is your opinion that really matters, once you have a visual reference. There is no right or wrong answer to your question. A lot has to do with the visual weight of the fixtures. Is all of the length in fixture body or is some of that a bottom finial or top and bottom scrools ? Make sure your cutouts replicate the shape as well as the size....See MoreHow to size back door lights? Same as front sizing?
Comments (6)Several back doorsways. They are doorways that are in relatively large walls.This may be too difficult to explain....but I will try. House is a ranch with walk out basement. On the main level: One doorway is a 8 foot tall set of double French doors flanked by two foot windows toward the end of a 40 foot long x 12 ft wide screened porch. Entrance is straight on from porch. The porch will have three fans with led lights so we are thinking no light per se for this doorway as neither wall sconces nor an overhead would work. Another French door is from a sunroom onto a 6x6 landing. This landing entrance is straight on and also connects to the screened porch. To the side of this door is the 20 foot wall of sunroom windows. We are thinking a 21" tall x7.5 w fixture here on the sunroom window side. The sunroom walls are in Hardie plank, so it has an exterior look. Inside the sunroom are two entrances both of which are French doors. One is straight on entrance and the other is a 90 degrees turn on the wall abutting (doors are basically together in a back corner). Each of these single French doors is 3/0x6/8. We are thinking same fixture as 8/0 door but in 16" height x 6"w one for each door. Finally on lower level, under the porch is a 3/0x6/8 French door. It is almost in the center of the 77 foot length of the house. We are thinking same fixtures as above in the 16" height. The lower level ceiling will be finished out with three overhead light fixtures..flush type same line as the doorway fixtures. We were also going to use the same 16" high fixture on the garage stoop door. Straight on, 18" overhand at the end of a 24 foot wall. We are a bit concerned the fixtures are too big....See MoreWhat size chandelier/light fixture for 10' ceiling front hall?
Comments (3)Eighteen inches of fixture will allow six plus inches of chain AND attachment......and nicely clear the entry door and trim. Hang center on door in most cases....See More
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- PRO4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
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- 4 years ago
The non-traditional fixture option in my original post disappeared. This one wouldn't require any re-wiring. I wondered if the horizontal element might look better than a small pimple over the door. It's about 20" long and is a bronze finish. Although it might inspire gasps of horror, here it is.
Nexus 120V Flood-Light Light, Bronze · More Info - PRO4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
A light fixture requires an ELECTRICAL BOX so the fixture can be secured to the structure effectively. This lantern has a backplate that must be secured to the electrical box.
You need to speak with an electrician. You are trying to figure out something that is above your pay grade. First, find the fixture you want to use..........then call an electrician to discuss this.
petula67 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner - 4 years ago
- PRO4 years ago
I don't recall suggesting anything to the side of your door. I would not go in that direction either.
Here is your Hinkley Sign Light It's 19" wide. Another version comes wider
I was suggesting a lantern with brackets be mounted on the siding above your door. No one is suggesting you touch the stone. The surround that is around your door is wood and can be patched.
petula67 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner - 4 years ago
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- 4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Anna (6B/7A in MD)