That sounds like a good height!

@beth h.

I like the light. and yes, that sounds about right. you'll be able to judge it a bit better when you go to hang it.

Tonya, except for where you enter the stair, are there any parts of the second floor with open railings that can look out at the Pendant, and if so how far away from the railing will it be? I ask just because you should consider how it looks from above as well if applicable.

How will you change burned-out bulbs? Lean over from the stairs, or get up on a ladder from the ground floor?

In our house, you go up 5 steps, at which point there is a 4'x4' landing. Turn 90 degrees to the left and go up 4 steps, to another 4'x4' landing. Again, turn left 90 degrees and go up 5 steps and you're at the upper level. (I think that's called a quarter landing switchback staircase.) I have no idea what the height level is where the pendant light hangs -- all I know is that I need to be on the first or second step down from the top, and then I have to lean over to grab the dang thing and pull it over so I can change bulbs when necessary. A royal pain in the patoot, but easier than hauling out a ladder and setting it up, then taking it down and putting it away.

First and foremost the fixture needs to be at a level where it will illuminate the spaces/surfaces it needs to illuminate.

Secure a pulley at the junction box a thread a rope through the pulley with one end attached to the fixture. Hoist the fixture to different levels that meet the first criteria and evaluate.

I suggest a much longer fixture that is made for high ceilings and will provide light to all levels of the staircase.

Thank you everyone for all your input! The contractor needed an answer from me ASAP so I went with the 13 ft.

The light is reachable with a pole to grab the cord and bring to the higher part of the stairs, and then change the bulbs out. We did LEDs in hopes that it won’t require as much maintenance.

The light is actually in addition to 4 can lights and a wall sconce in the staircase. So we’re hoping those will give off enough practical lighting, while the chandelier is an accent and something we want our guests to draw to.

Here’s the photos the contractor sent

It matches the hand railing.

I would have a problem with the wood frames of the fixture not lining up with anything in the room! Obviously your GC has no OCD tendencies, or he would have rotated the fixture just a bit to make the wood frames parallel, perpendicular or equal angles to the walls!

@chispa - good call. Any thoughts on best angle? Looking at the advertisement photo they weren’t ocd either. Or maybe it doesn’t matter....

Here’s the advertisement photo

The proper way to hang the fixture is to have the wood framing point north, south, east, and west; regardless of the room's orientation.

It is angled in the advertisement photo so the lights will all show (be seen). If they had been OCD about hanging it, you wouldn't see two of the lights.

It's possible that no matter how you hang a light fixture, it can rotate. This is not a problem with a circular fixture since you don't notice it, but with an angular one such as you have it will not always line up with anything in particular, just go with the wind.

No, even a circular fixture won't save you from symmetry OCD! I have a round (orb) pendant over my kitchen table and a smaller one over the sink. They have metal bands on the circumference at various points, so there is a center line where they meet. Luckily I can reach them to adjust them once in a while! ;-)

for heaven sake, six months after completion this light will just be passed by as you go up and down the stairs!

You cant really look at a light fixture as you go up or down stairs because you have to look where you are going, for the most part people will look at this from the ground floor dont get too hung up on the 4 points.

I would point out that the can lights will have a cut off where the light reaches and the light fixture will cause major shadows, so the balance of wall sconces will be good.

LOL, Timothy. Now that could entertain the OCD for days! Does it light up large spaces?

All of this is a big hullabaloo over nothing!

This 7 small lamps won't put out enough light to be concerned about this fixture.

The light is simply a decorative object designed to be a visual feature, rather than a light to illuminate space.

The can lights will do al the work in the space. This fixture will just hang there to look pretty and gather comments like why is it hanging at an angle! :-)

@Virgil hitting the nail on the head! We left it the way it was and loved the height we selected. It provides some light for sure, but not enough without our 4 can LED’s. It’s our “walk in door” piece.

Art from the ceiling :)

If you want the first floor to be able to see it, I would say that's an ideal height or maybe even lower so you can see more of it?