Carla's Dining Room Light

Hi Christine,

My cabinetry and trim is all cherry -- And as you can see, there's a lot of it. My floors are hickory, except in the hall, which is multicolor Rajah slate. The walls are a light-manila folder/butter color. Overall I'm happy, but there's just so much wood to deal with -- and it makes the interior quite dark, even in daytime.

In Oregon, in winter... it's darker still.

What I think I need is:

1) A unifying chandelier over my dining table. The present 3-pendant fixture is just not cutting it. Hung too high, style is wrong and, worst of all -- it doesn't provide nice light to eat by. I envision something like the Niermann Weeks beauty I saw in an old post of yours. Would that I could truly afford such a thing. Anyhow, it had an antiqued acanthus white/gold thing going on, plus a whole lot of candelabra lights. Ah, found the photo, attached it for you. Thoughts?

- Carla

Hi Carla-

1. I would not go round over your table. You have a rectangular room, a rectangular table- an oblong/ oval chandelier- would really fill the space nicer.

2. Also- the style is really wrong for your room. You have a very clean line- somewhat craftsman interior- with more contemporary furniture and rug- that distressed look is not going to fit in. I would consider a look more like the one below- or this onefrom Visual Comfort. If you want to change your furniture and rug- you can go more traditional- but even then- not as distressed as the one you selected.

Personally- I like shaded light in a dining room. I prefer the light quality in a dining setting that you get from shaded light rather than direct light. It is forgiving and romantic. This is not task light- light over a kitchen island. The object in a dining room is to have more atmosphere from your shadow, with areas of light and areas without light. If a light is too bright from above- you lose all atmosphere. This is the difference from dining at a fast food place compared to a sit down restaurant. Remember that your dining room should be the sit down restaurant. If the room needs to double as homework or scrapbook central- add can lights that operate separately from the chandelier- for options in different layers of light.

If your concern with your current light was that it does not provide enough light- or is too bright- I would go to a real lighting store- not a big box or chain store- but a store where the people who work there could answer the question- "How many lumens does that light have compared to that light?" If they can't answer the question- and act perhaps like they don't know what a lumen is- go to a different store. ;) Find a knowledgeable lighting designer that can help you get the light you need in your room. It is an awful lot of work to get a light installed only to find out that it does not give off enough light (or is too bright)- and know that some stores will not allow a return or charge a re-stocking fee for already installed fixtures- especially if chains are cut- etc.

I hope this wasn't too disappointing- as I can see that the lights I suggested are incredibly different from the one you had selected- that is the beauty of me- I tell it straight. ;) I will tell you what will really work well. I split your questions up- and will address the others in another post.

Thanks for writing in,

Christine