Light Fixtures for Our Farmhouse

On my last blog post, so many of you commented on which light fixture I should choose for my dining room. Thank you!  I had the hardest time deciding.  I’ve finally committed to this one:

Decisions never come lightly, for myself or for the work I do for clients.  They are scrutinized in every way possible before I commit or present, and I’ll tell you three factors that made me go with the orb (because I loved the white twig chandelier so much)!

Reason #1: Budget

We are still working on finishing many things on our farmhouse, and the orb is more affordable than the twig chandelier.  That being said, I have learned to NEVER make a commitment solely on budget.  If you can’t afford something, but love it anyway, it’s worth it to wait and save.  It will make your home a special, even sacred, place if you follow your heart.  I was pushed to the orb because of two other factors.

Reason #2: Harmony

Remember me saying the orb will hang in a room with these light fixtures?

The orb feels more in harmony with my industrial pendants.

That being said, the twig would have worked as well.  Why?  It’s white color. It is also so stylistically different that it would have been a statement on it’s own.  You can create powerful, interesting statements with a WOW! chandelier. I could have gone with it….. and I almost did.

So what pushed me over the edge?

Reason #3: Visual Weight

Visual weight is a huge thing to me.  I think about it in my paintings as well as my designs, and this is what made me commit to the orb.  When standing in the center of our front room/kitchen, it is really right-side heavy because of my chicken wire hutch.

If I have the dark orb over my black table, it will help the room feel more balanced.  The left side of the room will also have an entire “dark” presence. That is ultimately what made me commit.

I had to weep a little that the white twig chandelier didn’t make it ;), but I think I’ve made the right decision.

In other news, we are also replacing our 30+ year old fan light fixtures.  If you have followed me for awhile, you know how much I detest fan light fixtures.  Luckily, the orb will take the place of one.

The other fan light is in our bedroom.  We need the fan.  We don’t have air conditioning in this house (very common and not needed in most homes in this part of the country), but for about two months out of the year, we need it to circulate the cool night air in to combat 80-90 degree day heat.  It also happens to be the only light in the room, so we need another fixture with a light. (Fans without light fixtures look a lot better).

This is the sad, current state of the one we have:

Only one bulb works, and another is literally dangling from a stretched wire (renovation accident).

I’ve struggled to find one that will work.  The best fan light combos are modern, but this home isn’t ultra modern.

I found this one, and I think I’ll be able to stomach it. It’s streamlined but not so modern it doesn’t fit.

That’s all for today!  Happy Monday everyone!! Thanks again for participating in my light dilemma.  If you have a light dilemma of your own, call me for a two-hour consultation. I’ll get you pointed in the right direction.