Your advice welcome! Foyer lighting.
Hello! I’m seeking lighting advice and ideas for our 2-story foyer.
The existing lighting (chandelier and sconces) are ugly and doesn’t provide enough light.
One chandelier or two? How high above the floor? Where do I find chandeliers with long wires and maximum length ~120”? Much of what I find is too short (<80”). What else? Can I find fixtures for $1k?
We prefer polished nickel, chrome or satin nickel for this space since the floors and paint color are dark. And my eye is just drawn to those finishes. Mixing finishes works for me!
My husband and I both like Sputnik lights and prefer symmetrical styles. We are open to other modern and transitional styles.
See pics of the space and a few styles we like.
DIMENSIONS
Room width: 9’
Room length (front door to wall w/white table): 18’
Ceiling Height: 218” (~18’)
Existing chandelier hangs 124” above the floor.
*Front door faces north so entry is dark on our cloudy days in Portland, OR.
- Siding will be replaced soon and we plan to add 3 more square windows with same spacing.
THANK YOU for your advice and ideas!
Comments (20)
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Comments (14)moc, you always amaze me. I have a had time taking pictures standing on my feet and you've taken your standing on your head. tee-hee! It looks like your BS from MITS is two different hostas in the same pot. It never occurred to me to feed the squirrels corn as a distraction from my hostas. It seem not natural to reward the little evil ones by feeding them. I'd like to wring their little necks. But planting acorn squash seemed to distract voles from eating hosta crowns and I hate voles also. I LOVE El Nino, which is why I was attracted to Blue Ivory-very similar coloration. When we lived in Arkansas I'd seen squirrels chew through smooth plastic cylnders on finch feeders to eat the tiny seeds. I doubt plastic bird netting would slow them down. I've read that squirrels dig where the smell of recently turned dirt might indicate another one buried a nut. So newly planted small hostas aren't the target but an interference to them. Of course if we don't replant in time it will kill the young hostas as their roots dry out. If this is the case why did I spend an hour today pulling out walnut seedlings? If I could be a squirrel teacher I would hold classes teaching them where to find walnut not hosta plantings. I never had this problem living in Arkansas, but then the problem I did have was walnuts everywhere. The squirrels drove me crazy though sampling my peaches every spring. They would pick a peach, take a bit and drop it and pick another one, only to do the same. Do you wonder why I call them tree rats? Of the 4 hostas I have listed, how much sun should I look for in bedding them? I have Paul's Glory & Old Glory doing well, which are very similar to Paradigm. Would Brother Stefan do well in the same sun/shade conditions. Yes, I always check Hosta Library for EVERYTHING when I purchase a hosta. But what we have in ur gardens, and what the developers show as their registered hostas might be different altogether. For example our Blue Angels are awesome compared to those shown in HL-in my opinion. The best hosta pictures I see are those here in Hosta Forum. Theresa...See MoreSaving Newspaper Articles - advice welcome
Comments (20)Talley, Enquiring minds want to know--how do you spend that down time? You know, the time you are sitting at the kid's lessons, those 10 min. while you are waiting for the pasta water to boil? We have a regular coffee klatch going while waiting for the kids to practice Irish Dance. Everyone brings some type of handywork and it creates ways to develop friendships. The mom who sits in the corner punching her PDA makes it pretty clear she's not interested in getting to know us. Her loss. I'm not there. I'm at work. And I don't have a PDA, cell phone, etc. If I *am* there, I just talk to people, or I watch the kids. I don't DO anything. I sit there an enjoy the down time, and listen, and talk. Believe me, nobody gets a message from me that says I don't care. I sometimes bring a book, but if there are people there, I don't read it. I'm not even the one waiting for the pasta water to boil, LOL! (If I am, I'm cutting up veggies while I wait.) I'm not anti-crafting. I just see so much of it as creating something that will turn into "clutter" quite rapidly. And so I have a huge caution about it. Scrapbooking in particular sets off my alarm bells--and really less because of the clutter factor, and more because I think there's a sublimation of the important stuff--the memories--to the unimportant stuff, the embellishments and creativity of the creator. And while I admire the skill of crocheters and knitters and embroiderers, etc., very few of them produce anything I would want in my home. It's mostly too ornamental, and not practical enough. Or it reflects THEIR tastes, and not mine. (The days of my grandma embroidering a book on a pillowcase because *I* like to read are over.) And sometimes it reflects what they *THINK* my tastes and interests are, which only makes me sad to realize how little they really know about me (yes, I collect penguins, but that doesnt mean I want a penguin pillowcase). Which is why I keep my fingers crossed that no one will give stuff like that to me. I'm also tired, I confess, of having my home NOT reflect me. I want stuff *I* picked out. I don't even want to have to display stuff my KIDS made me anymore. I want a streamlined life, that pleases MY eyes, and seven pieces of lumpy kid pottery are seven pieces more than I want in my living room. And an afghan that's wonderful to sleep under, but misshapen and pieced together isn't what I want on my bed, even if Nona Rosa DID make it. (I'm sad about that particular one, bcs if she hadn't pieced it together to get it the right size, I'd use it daily instead of keeping it for a spare, bcs it's so warm, and because she DID make it for me.) As Maura said: "I cherish the one-of-a-kind items given to me (luckily not too many)." I *do* crafty stuff. I just spent the last week 1) making a dragon piñata, complete w/ pipe cleaner/tissue paper wings, plus papier-mâché head & tail; 2) finding a dragon picture to reproduce on the top of a cake; 3) making shields for all the "young knights of the realm" to decorate; 4) figuring out how to have jousting in the church fellowship hall. I steer all my creative impulses into birthdays and holidays, so that I can use up the stuff I've created. I go way overboard for Halloween costumes, spending several lunch hours scouting fabric, and discussing how to recreate Link from the Zelda video game, etc., with my kids, and with my colleagues. Also, if the act of knitting, and the creative work of picking a yarn, and a pattern, make you happier, then your craft is NOT a waste of time. But *I* don't want to have to speak in hushed tones, and treat your end product as though somehow it must be more valuable to me simply because you made it. Somebody designed and made that Pottery Barn afghan too--and it's prettier, and more to my taste!...See MoreHelp me turn my Split Foyer into a welcoming plan
Comments (11)Let me just say, you guys are just the best. I have actually LOL at some of your comments. I love it. Ingrid: As mentioned in my post, I'm painting the railing back to black, its original color. It's been white for more than 10 years, and I'm tired of it. I think I have a picture of it when it was white last week. I will post in my next set of pictures. I'm not sure the picture will look good with a black frame. I will post it also and you can give me your critique then. The black chandy is exactly my thought process. Graywings: I like your idea of a bench, but space is premium in that small space. I'm afraid a bench might really congest it more, but I am willing to give it a try as that never occurred to me. Moving the shelf off the wall will allow me to see the bench. Lighting is definitely the key as the ceiling is quite high and I don't have that lovely window Oceanna has. During the holidays, I place poinsettias on every other step and have gotten lots of compliments, but a few of you are poo-pooing the plants, so that's probably a scratch. The word art on the risers (every other one), may be enough. You may be on to something about the clock wall and I may just have the thing to try. Where are you suggesting I put chair rail in the foyer? Love my black wrought iron railings. Enailes: Yes, I love pastels. I'm loving the idea of cream walls for that area. HD finally has samples that can be purchased for $3.97. I bought three today. Just remembered, I have sconces, not brass and glass, that I purchased from JCP at a ridiculously low price. Will pull them out to take a look. The swing doors are going away-just not yet. I consider them part of the kitchen so they will be in kitchen redo. The kids love those doors, as does my contractor. What does he know at 33 :). Teacats-You just blow me away. I am lol at your post. Simple and to the point--stop apologizing-this is just what I need. Got my big girl panties on today and nothing you can say offends or hurts. I asked for it remember? The railings were white for 10+ years--time for something new. Door wouldn't look good in white, imo. It's solid and it will either take black or remain as is with a redoing of the stain. You are the second person to suggest a bench. I am going to try it. Will "borrow" a bench just to get an idea. I still think the area's too small but you guys have me just about convinced to do it. The swing doors are addressed above. Joanie: Got three paint samples from HD today. Will mark up more of the wall and take pictures. Enailes suggested neutrals also. The colors are more creams than tans. I like Behr paint and will choose from one of their palettes. I think I have an idea what you might have over your front door. No dried flowers-I promise :). I saw that Design to Sell show. I love my wrought iron railing, so it'll have to stay. I have a large family room downstairs with bookcases. I think once something black is hanging from the ceiling-the railing will seem a good choice. Magazines and HGTV are killing me. When I was updating my two small bathrooms, I used several ideas from both and loved them. I have two months of DTS taped for other ideas. Always something good. Please, keep the good critiques coming. I'll wear the "big girls" for a few more days :)). Peachie...See MoreAdvice on layout - which option and would welcome critiques!
Comments (15)When the Prep & Cooking Zones are so far apart like this, a prep sink is usually needed to make the zones work efficiently...sometimes just to function at all! Right now, you have to cross a very wide aisle (> 7 feet) and through a very busy thoroughfare just to empty a pot of boiling water. Not very safe! Nor very functional! The reason NewbieRemodeler's layout works so well is b/c she has the Prep & Cooking Zones together (the prep sink on the peninsula) and her Cooking Zone and range are protected from traffic (again, the peninsula does this). Also, notice how much workspace she has in the right places...around the range and on the peninsula. Your workspace is very spread out and you do have a lot of it, but it's not in the right places. Ideally: Prep Zone...works best when it contains a water source and is next to or across an aisle no more than 48" wide or so from the Cooking Zone. Trash & recycle bins should also be in the Prep Zone. If across from the Cooking Zone, the aisle b/w them should not be a busy aisle (i.e., no through-traffic and very little other kitchen traffic). Cooking Zone...works best when next to/across from the Prep Zone (see Prep Zone). It's also nice to have a water source nearby as well as trash & recycling nearby. Cleanup Zone...works best when separated from the Prep & Cooking Zones. This can be on the opposite side of the sink in a one-sink kitchen from the Prep Zone or it could be in a completely separate location (the latter usually only works well if you have two sinks). Obviously, it also needs a water source and the DW. Right now, you have the Prep & Cooking Zones separated by an aisle more than 7 feet wide...much too far. While having the Prep & Cleanup Zones together isn't bad (see above), in this situation it doesn't really work. Here's one idea that might work. I have other ideas, but I don't have time right now to draw them up...I'll work on it some more later, if you like. [Let me know.] One idea, btw, is to switch the table and kitchen...but that depends on how high off the floor the bay window is as well as how flexible you are with water, etc. Are you open to a banquette? A banquette might solve some problems regardless of the table/kitchen configuration. So, how high off the floor is the bay window? .. [You could reduce the prep sink to an 18" sink base and gain those 6" for either an 18" cabinet on the left or a 21" cabinet on the right.]...See MoreBrianne Margolin
3 years agoThanks Beverly! I like how you added the chandelier to a pic of the space. Really helps with visualizing. Do you prefer one chandelier as opposed to two? The area by the table is dark but maybe sconces or lamps would work.
PROBeverlyFLADeziner
3 years agoBrianne Margolin
3 years ago
PROGalilee Lighting
3 years agoHi Brianne Margolin,
We specialize in Foyer Lighting and high ceiling chandelier fixtures. Here are some examples of the amazing projects we had the pleasure to be included in. Please keep in mind we do offer FREE DESIGN SERVICES as well as a concept drawings/graphics to make sure all the measurements and final project come out just how you like. Multiple colors and glass sizes are right here for you to choose from. www.galileelighting.com | 305-807-8711
Trem Wills
3 years ago
PROLight Vision Concepts, LLC.
3 years ago
Maureen
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI’d use a black chandelier and sconces (since you already have the electrical in place) to work with your staircase. The chandelier below feels symmetrical and modern and comes in various sizes.
PROptreckel
3 years ago- PRO
Light Vision Concepts, LLC.
3 years ago 
PROArlene Awarda Architect
3 years agoBrianne Margolin
3 years agoBrianne Margolin
3 years agoArlene, thanks for sharing the link to Hubbardton Forge. Very unique! I struggle to find larger fixtures (120’ total length, 36”+ wide and tall fixtures), and they have numerous. They also have options without traditional candelabra shapes. I probably should have mentioned my husband doesn’t care for that style and he’s quite involved with the design throughout our home. A more modern candelabra might work for him. See examples...
- PRO
Galilee Lighting
3 years agoHi Brianne Margolin,
Come take a look we some of our long chandeliers we can do any length including 120' at 36' wide space. We can actually help you with all the necessary measurements and show some different colors and style. Always offer our free design services. All you pay for is the chandelier. www.galileelighting.com | 305-807-8711
- PRO
RL Relocation LLC
3 years ago Brianne Margolin
3 years agoWe are thinking this chandelier...the 41”x43” size fits the space well and it comes with long wire and chain. We like the black and brushed nickel together. What do you think?
https://m.quoizellightinglights.com/product/quoizel-lighting-alana-chandeliers-ana5015k.html
Brianne Margolin
last yearI just realized I never uploaded the pics with the new light. We love the geometric design and the mix of black and chrome, which carries through other spaces in our home. The bigger fixture looks more balanced. The design it casts adds interest. We replaced the wall sconces too. I still wish it were brighter (foyer faces North and we live in the cloudy PNW). Maybe painting the ceiling white would help? Not sure recesses ceiling lighting can reach the 1st floor.
salonva
last year
BeverlyFLADeziner