Choosing light fixtures for a house can be overwhelming – it can be difficult to envision them in a space and it’s not always easy to find photos of the exact fixtures in a real home. (Apparently, there are fancy professional stylists and photographers who always make catalog photos look good. Who knew?)
Plus, if you are anything like me, you want to make sure that the fixtures are the best scale for your space and also coordinate to each other.
So, I thought I’d share the fixtures we chose for our home, along with links to the exact products.
So far, I’m really happy with everything we’ve gone with. While light fixtures are pretty simple to change, I’d prefer not to have to do it anytime soon.
Today, I’m sharing the downstairs fixtures. If you remember, Ryan and crew installed a LOT of recessed lighting in the home. (I’ve been told you can see us from outer space.) I feel like it gets a bad rep, but recessed lighting is such a great way to get even light throughout a home – to avoid shadows in corners and nooks. I think that the more the merrier when it comes to recessed lighting. Plus – you can even put it on a dimmer.
But I also think that you need a little extra variety in light fixtures to keep it from being too stark and boring. On our first floor, we have a few other statement and task lighting to finish off the spaces.
First up – the island lighting in the kitchen. I chose two pendant fixtures in oil rubbed bronze – Portfolio 13-inch width pendants. These were around $90 at Lowe’s and I had a coupon from the spring insert. They are no longer available online, but they are still in some stores at the time I’m writing.
I really like the shape and nautical details at the top of the shade – and I especially like that there is a glass on the bottom (instead of staying open). I prefer this look and it keeps me from having to clean junk that splashes up inside. (It is a kitchen.) They are also a great scale for the space and provide some nice task lighting on the island.
Now, onto the dining room – this was the first fixture I purchased for the house. I just love the Arturo 8-Light Rectangular Chandelier from Ballard Designs and bought it almost a year ago when it was on sale and I had an additional online coupon. I paid $254 for a $449 light. Which I think was a killer deal.
This fixture really is gorgeous in person – the wood tones are lovely, the hanging mechanism looks really modern and unique, and I love that it looks like 8 pillar candles. (And that the fixture takes normal light bulbs instead of candelabra bulbs. And I don’t SEE the bulbs. Which was a pet peeve of mine in past light fixtures.)
But know this – the light is GIANT. I stored this honkin’ fixture in our garage for almost a year (in a honkin’ box). And I began to wonder if it was too big for the space. Because the dining space is really a bump out nook. I was afraid the light would be overpowering and Ryan seemed a bit concerned that it would block our beautiful view.
But I think our fears were unfounded. And I love the fixture so much that I am glad I broke all the “rules” I read online about size of fixtures. It’s really a statement light – and it seems very solid and well made. We did hang it a hair higher than the “experts” recommend (it’s hung about 69 inches above the floor). We could lower it if we need to, but I think it works well and is almost the same drop as the island fixtures.
Next up is the ceiling fan in our living space. For this space, we wanted a large, understated fan. We didn’t plan on installing one with a light, but my in-laws took this one down and offered it to us. It’s really a nice fan for the space. And at 60 inches wide (larger than the standard), it fills the large room nicely. It is the Harbor Breeze Saratoga fan – it’s also available in stainless.
The only downfall (in my view) is that it has a remote. I seem to be in the minority with this, but I’m worried about that silly remote getting lost. Because everything gets lost in our house. But, it works well and it looks great. And I like the curve of the fan blades a lot.
Finally, our hallway fixture – I wanted something to light up the hallway going up our stairs and the Hadley (Small) 4-Light Pendant from Ballard Designs fit the bill. I also waited to get this on sale, and it was $159 when I bought it. (So, my moral is to find some coupons at Ballard and wait for sales.)
I had a smaller, slightly different version of this lantern in the entry of our last house and loved it. It is open (no glass to clean), and it’s classic and pretty. This one is even better, in my opinion. It’s larger than I expected, but I think it works for the space and puts off plenty of light. My photos don’ do it justice – but you’ll take my word for it.
So, that’s a little lighting tour of our first floor. I’ll be back at some point to share the sconces and fixtures in our bathrooms and bedrooms, if you’d like.
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Gretchen says
looking great! love that dining room fixture! We, too, leave our fan remote in its little wall holder, and every once in awhile Abe DOES try to take it out. And then I freak out and don’t let him because I’m so worried it will get lost.
Darnetha | ChippaSunshine says
Everything is looking fabulous Kim! I really like the hallway fixture!
Oona says
I am desperate for new light fixtures on our main floor. I love the ones you picked! They’re so perfect for the space.
Our fans have a remote. It’s not a nice little dainty one with a wall mount either. It’s bulky and white and actually bigger than our TV remote. Now I’m all freaked out it’s going to get lost or broken, once Delilah is old enough to start playing with everything in sight. Although, if my filthy man-child husband hasn’t busted it or lost it yet, maybe it’s indestructible! lol
FunnyGal Kat says
The light over the dining space is killer. I love it! And love that it’s such a statement piece.
The light in the stairwell is also fabulous. You have great taste!
Kim Woodward says
Thanks so much! I’m loving all the lights so far.
cathy says
Kim … your fixtures are fabulous! I find most fixtures are much too small for the space. Yours look amazing!!!
But I do have a question … how far from the top of the island countertop is the bottom of your pendant light??? That ceiling measurement is causing quite the discussion at our house …… and mine can’t be adjusted. I don’t want to order them too short (even though I am!!) but I don’t want the light shining right in his face!
Kim Woodward says
Ugh. We have gone in circles about this. We ended up about 69 inches from the floor and I think it works well. It doesn’t seem to shine too much into the eyes and I don’t bonk my head on it.
Ally says
In the picture of the honkin’ fixture I noticed the views right away. It looks so great!
Kayla AKA Kilo Bravo says
Seconding what a few others have said – we had a remote fan in a holder on the wall in our last apartment and in the 8 years I lived there, I never once took it off the wall. We basically treated it like any other switch. Hopefully you can find something that fits!
LOVE the dining room light. Go big or go home baby 🙂
Kim says
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think mounting it is a good idea.
Adrienne B says
I think you could get a hard-wired controller for it (and maybe also use the remote). http://www.lowes.com/pd_103185-1811-WC-100L___?productId=3127495&pl=1&Ntt=harbor+breeze+control
Kim says
I will have to look into that.
KNatGU says
YES, we had that in our master bedroom perfect compormise. Remote to turn off the light in bed. Wall mounted so you can turn the light off as you leave the room.
deb says
Great fixtures! The remote for our fan came with a holder that had some way to “stick” it on the wall (can’t remember how now, and I don’t want to pull it off to check!). The holder has been on the wall – and we’ve kept the remote in it – for about 10 years now. We just use it and put it right back in the holder. Maybe your in-laws had one? Or you could order one from Lowe’s? Just a thought…
Kim says
Yes, you are totally right. The remote does have Something to hang. and you are also probably right that it will be fine. I’m just concerned that Henry will be grabbing it and losing it if it’s accessible to him. I don’t know why that silly remote bugs me so much.
Kathy says
Um, don’t want to scare you, but not totally unfounded fears. We had the same model & brand, and my middle child was obsessed with that remote. He dropped it so many times that we ended up having to have my brother-in-law recode a replacement. Get in the habit of mounting it and turn it on like a switch. Wish we had…..
Kim Woodward says
Thank you for confirming my suspicions! Everyone else was making me believe that I’m just being neurotic but I knew IT COULD HAPPEN! 😉
Linda Carson says
As if you aren’t neurotic enough about that remote… I hope my experience will save you some more anxiety down the road. I have had a Harbor Breeze ceiling fan with a remote for 10 years. A few years ago, the high and medium fan speeds stopped working. Then last year, the lights got so dim, I thought for sure that rodents were chewing on the wiring in the attic. So I went back to Lowe’s, bought a new fan, and called the electrician to install it. He arrived, started playing with the remote, and voila! The thing was spinning off the ceiling with bright lights. Turns out, the remote can be used as a dimmer if you hold down the buttons long enough. Maybe you know this because you are smart and probably read the user manuals. Clearly I did not.
Kim Woodward says
Totally glad you told me. I would have probably worried about that!
cassie @ primitive & proper says
those pendants are amazing! i also love your light/fan combo- great choice!
Kim says
Thanks! The pendants are definitely a favorite of mine.