skip to main content

Lighting Design Dilemma

Lighting a Niche: How big is too big?

3 years ago

we are in the home stretch of finishing our kitchen renovation. Before you get into the kitchen proper, a guest will first see a small windowed niche. the space is 4' x 2.5' and there is an olive ash burl cabinet in the space below a window (stone top pending selection). Since this is the first thing you see when you enter, I wanted to go bold with lighting and install a statement piece . DH would thinks smaller is better. I quite like the freeform piece which is 28" L x 28" W x 22" H. The crystal drops chandelier and the retro gold disk chandelier are both 13" diameter. Would live to hear thoughts and opinions.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

PRO
RL Relocation LLC
3 years ago
The issue then becomes, it will not be usable space if you go bold, it would be ahead knocker. 28" is just about filling the entire width. too big IMO
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
3 years ago
I think also for it to stand off the window, you might need something with a little more contrast.
Related Discussions
Zucchini: How big is TOO big?
Q
Comments (14)
Funny to ask. I sell at 3 markets, in three different towns. In one town, everyone sells these monster baseball bat zuchinni. I came in and offered small ones and they sold very well. I had several people comment that they love the small ones, but no one grows them. Then I had some people come and tell me that my Zuchinni is too small and has "No Flavor". SO I keep picking on the small side and I usually take one basket of bigger stuff to that market. I have found a quick way to measure squash and try to get an even sized crop. I look at the recommended length on the seed packet and then take a heavy gauge wire and bend it in a u shape. If you watch Deadliest Catch on Discovery, this is how they sort crab. I thought it was a great way for squash! I also have round ones for the 8-Ball, One Ball and Cue Ball round squash. At our county fair, we have a "Largest Summer Squash" contest. This will be the third year I will enter. The first year, I won first. I am not sure if it is an award you want to win! It was close to 10 pounds. Last year, I was second by less than a half pound. This year, I am going to try to win again. The first prize is $5. Yea, $5 isn't much, but you have to look forward to something!
...See More
Schefflera cuttings- how big is too big?
Q
Comments (2)
From what I've seen (never done it myself), you should be able to root larger cuttings (truncheons) of this plant as easily, or maybe more-so, as smaller cuttings. If there is significant new growth at the tips, you may have to prune back to firmer wood. A moisture tent and rooting hormone should improve your odds.
...See More
How big is too big?
Q
Comments (16)
Thank you Loribee, boxerpups, deedee, and Computermom for the compliments on the room. I don't like to post pictures of my rooms because we have dark woodwork, and that's kind of anathema here. (I love that word, and don't often get to use it!) And deedee, I did have some berries wrapped around the candles in my lanterns and liked them. I'm going to try that too. Igloochic: I've had books there, and didn't like dusting them from the amount of dirt dragged in by my two aussies. But I have a couple downstairs I'm going to hunt up to see how they look. Les: Yes, I love orchids, and may do that. Suero: I used to really covet a chocolate set. Thanks for the suggestion. Thanks bumblebeez and gayle for your input. I spent the afternoon shopping my house, and tried a bunch of different things I had. I'm kind of like a magpie; I like shiny things with glass and pottery. I'm missing the texture thing. But, thanks, allison, for your idea about the natural. The funeral thread reminded me I had a lovely piece of driftwood in a pot from my FIL's funderal 24 years ago. I'm going to use it in place of the horn you suggested, if I can get everything together. Thanks, all! Dee
...See More
How big is too big of a gap?
Q
Comments (6)
My take is the installer did a poor job of measuring. Can it work with that opening, certainly, but you will need to pack that opening in with some solid blocking but then you will need to figure a way to hide the blocking which kind of defeats the purpose of the custom ordering to fit the opening correctly. Up to you but I would think about making the installer reorder a larger window.
...See More
tedb1973
Original Author
3 years ago
That's a great imaging tool. thank you. I see in the third photo you put in different fixture. I was also looking at this 12" diameter fixture which is similar.
Tracy
3 years ago
I like the first one. Nice and airy.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
3 years ago
I still think there is something to be said for it standing off the window, do you plan to put any covering there?
tedb1973
Original Author
3 years ago
I misread the airy one's description. The part with bulbs is 22" plus the shortest road and the backplate would make it to 29" H. Now that hangs even too low for me! (sad face)
tedb1973
Original Author
3 years ago
Not a huge fan of window coverings although living room and dining rooms are fully draped. RLR, you and my DH would get along well. We have the Pablo Design Swell lamps in the kitchen which is just to the right of this space and they are very similar. (please don't mind the mess we are still trying to figure out where things belong.) I'm trying to bring a little flair to the niche, that's why I asked for a cabinet that didn't look like the kitchen cabinets. We have a lot of antique Art Deco furniture in dining room. This cabinet is a light hearted play on that, more light and airy, less shiny.

Related Stories

HOLIDAYS How to Host a Big Holiday Meal in Your Not-So-Big Home

Here are 7 things you can do to make your dinner party a success

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Bright Lights, Big Circus

By Mari Richards

Red and white stripes, a menagerie of animals and a tattooed lady bring big-top style to a nursery or a child's room

0

LIGHTING Super Domes: Pendant Lights Hit It Big

By Mary Jo Bowling

What’s that creating zones in open layouts and bringing down high ceilings everywhere? It’s the newly popular extra-large dome light

LIGHTING Bright Light, Big Lantern

By Becky Harris

Surprisingly large-scale light fixtures that wow

LIGHTING New Classics: The Big Bang Chandelier by Foscarini

By Becky Harris

Origami-like yet futuristic looking, this striking light fixture adds a modern touch to rooms from traditional to contemporary

Go Big With Sculpture at Home

By Love Your Room LLC

Give One Big Piece of Art the Spotlight in a Room, Niche or Tabletop

DECORATING GUIDES Love Your Living Room: How to Take Advantage of a Big Space

By Elements of Style

Go from cavernous to cozy in your living room with defined areas, warm colors and lighting that's up to the task

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Bye-Bye, Big Red Wall

An in-the-way wall disappears to bring in a large island, built-in cabinets and lots of light

LOFTS Houzz Tour: Designer Divides and Conquers a Big, Open Loft

By Kathleen McCleary

Clever design and a creative use of space turn a loft in a historic building into a cozy, light-filled haven

HOME TECH Small Solar: Big Home Tech Trend in the Making

New technology enables everyday household objects to power themselves by harnessing natural light

Sponsored

More Discussions

New light fixture for dining room. Ceiling fan to be removed.

13

Moooi Random Light II vs other brand

2

Help decide on new lights for our kitchen?!

7

Toe kick lighting

2

Kitchen lighting help needed

4