Building a Home Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Porch Sconces vs Overhead Pendant

last year

last modified: last year

We are building and realized the porch light is not overhead, but on the side wall. Need advice if we should add another to the opposite side or move it overhead.

You would see the sconces from the sidelights and are we are concerned it would look too busy vs overhead. A solution would be a low profile fixture.

For overhead we aren't sure what placement height would be best since we have beams.

Thanks

Current wiring only on right side

Inspo for pendant height

Inspo for low profile sconces

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Comments (8)

PRO
Margaret Carroll Interiors
last year
Hi! Can you post plans or a reflected ceiling plan? Even a hand sketch will work! Tough to say without a bit more info. Is the porch big or small? what is the beam spacing? where is the door located? are there windows on the porch?
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last year
Just have an overhead light.

Have all gable roof overhangs the same.
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I'd definitely want lights spread out over a 12 ft island. I think multiple pendants have been fashionable for many years, as I know I put them over my island in 2000. I've actually noticed recently a trend towards fewer larger pendants/fixtures. At the end of the day, it's really whatever you like. But, you do need more than one light fixture in that large a space. Lighting standards recommend MUCH more lighting in a kitchen than a living area, since a kitchen is a working space. I'd really look for at least two large pendants, and more likely three. If you only do two, I think they really need to be BIG -- 12" or more in diameter, for sure. If you go with 3, you could get away with smaller ones. I did three 8" diameter simple pendants over my 7 ft island . . . My ceilings are 10 ft, and the larger pendants look balanced with the space, whereas I think the smaller more common pendants would look a little silly with those huge ceilings. Assuming you have tall ceilings since they are sloped . . . and knowing you have a gigantic island, I'd lean toward either two large (14-18" diameter multi-bulb) fixtures or three medium sized (8-12 inch, with one or two high watt bulbs). That fixture linked above is only a bit over 4 ft wide, still leaving about 4 feet on each end, which seems a bit much to me to leave without an overhead light (since presumably each of the bulbs will just be 60 watt or equivalent). I'd want two fixtures, about 6 feet apart . . . or better yet, I'd really want three fixtures, each about 4 feet apart (i.e., end of island - 2 ft - light - 4 feet - light - 4 feet - light -2 feet -opposite end). That's what I'd do anyway.
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thank you for all your comments today! I also like the lighted mirrors, but thought that it would not 1) be enough light, and 2) be a little plain Jane. Some of the sconces I have seen look lovely and would add a bit of "jewelry" to the room. As for an integrated mirror with lights, and no fogging, and all that stuff... Are they really worth $1000 and more? I will be posting pictures to this post when we get moving.
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carrierebekah
Original Author
last year
@Margaret Carroll Interiors are the photos of the front of the porch plan and the current roof not enough? They also show the porch only has sidelights and the door, no other
decoenthusiaste
last year
Sidelights should be 1/3 of the door's height. Not sure about a hanging pendant/lantern.
PRO
Margaret Carroll Interiors
last year
Hi! thanks for showing the photos! Altho...im slightly confused...does the plan and elevation match? the sidelights look v slim in the elevation. Are you showing the lights for ideas only? Because the sleek wall mount doesnt go with the traditional pendant...but maybe I'm reading your post incorrectly! I think id 2 wall mounts near the door on each side. then id also do a pendant. you can even switch them separate. I think I like the yellow dot location.
PRO
PPF.
last year
You don't seem to have room for lights flanking the door -- maybe 3" of wall, and with the porch being rather deep -- about 12' from the door to the edge of the concrete, maybe 11' to the inside of the columns and beam, I'll vote for 2 pendants spaced along the 11' line, or even recessed lights in the ceiling.

Keep the bottom of any pendants above the door.
PRO
PPF.
last year
3onthetree
last year
Both the original drawing concept and electrician's field-compromised location of the wall mount fixture was terrible placement. So eliminating "sconces" completely and going with a pendant or recessed is a no-brainer. Don't worry about seeing the pendant from the front, no one is 9' tall to get a straight view through the kingpost timber. A pendant height should be based on the style of fixture, where it directs it's light, how far down the ridge (or any other rafters not indicated in the drawing) comes, and the overall proportion of space.

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Porch Sconces vs Overhead Pendant

Comments (8)

Margaret Carroll Interiors

Mark Bischak, Architect

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carrierebekah
Original Author

decoenthusiaste

Margaret Carroll Interiors

PPF.

PPF.

3onthetree

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Porch Sconces vs Overhead Pendant

Comments (8)

Margaret Carroll Interiors

Mark Bischak, Architect

Related Discussions

carrierebekahOriginal Author

decoenthusiaste

Margaret Carroll Interiors

PPF.

PPF.

3onthetree

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

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carrierebekah
Original Author