Hi AT! We're looking for a new pendant light for our dining room but need some help. The one we currently have is too “ice cream parlor” / “interrogation-room.” Most of our house is a mix of traditional and modern so we're torn between going modern and having the light stick out too much or staying with traditional and not being adventurous. Also the house is from the 1930’s. How far should we push it? Thanks so much! Sydney
Follow the jump to see Sydney's options or to suggest your own...
Here are the lights that they have considered. What do you think the new light should be?
- Ktribe Suspension Lamp
- Nelson Bubble Lamp
- Wolfers Lamp
- Duncan Chandelier from Crate & Barrel
- Le Klint LK172
- Horby from IKEA

Comments (27)
How about something from Roost? The natural and organic feel of the Roost lights would provide some interest. Good luck.
http://www.velocityartanddesign.com/lighting-orderby-up-c-803.html?all=true
Out of the ones you've thought about I really liked the dark antiqued brass Duncan with the off-white shades at Crate and Barrel for your place, I think it would be a lovely fit.... and the mental image of an 'ice cream parlor/interrogation room' really made me laugh!
I vote for the Bubble Lamp!
I vote for the Le Klint! I feel like the bubble lamp is too ubiquitous right now. Also, the artichoke shape is clean and modern but not too minimal or industrial, which I think would stick out too much with your existing decor.
I just added a Progress Lighting globe in my 1913 dining room which looks quite similar to yours and I LOVE it. It almost disappears when turned off but looks like a beautiful full moon when turned on. It's a classic.
Couple of things to consider:
1. Everything in this room is traditional, even down to the ceramics and curtains and seems within a certain early 20th century period. A modern lamp might turn into a case of "one of these things doesn't belong here" and look very out of place. Alternately, a modern lamp would certainly make a statement.
2. The room is fairly sparse and boxy. I would add something bigger, with some round elements to add visual focus and balance the room out.
3. A pendant with more than one light and a dimmer would cast a warmer glow over the table and the room as a whole and be a whole lot more versatile for different moods.
My pick would be something like the Berkeley 4 light hanging pendant from School House Electric which comes in several finishes and a whole bunch of shade styles to choose from. You can even choose the length of the pendants: http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/fixtures-detail.asp?FixtureID=119
The room is very flat it needs some texture and color-
How about a Chandelier like this one, for a focal point to give some interest-
http://www.roomservicehome.com/prodinfo.asp?number=hc224601
or understated then add some bold art on the walls-
http://ylighting.com/tec-2kd-700tdlexp.html
I think the sol from cb2 would be clean and modern without clashing with your interior.
this room definitely feels more on the traditional side to me, so i think a modern light fixture would feel really off, unless you plan on incorporating some more modern pieces.
as it is right now, i think something with the pottery barn aesthetic would look nice. i like these:
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p4710/index.cfm?pkey=call%2Dchandeliers%2Dpendants
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p2129/index.cfm?pkey=call%2Dchandeliers%2Dpendants
if you did want a more modern look i think a simple large drum shade or bubble pendant would look good.
I think the pendant that's there now serves the purpose and fits the purported style better than any of the proposed ones. How about looking into a patterned rug, some non-sheer drapes that go all the way to the floor, and some larger scale artwork to define the style of the room? The lamp seems like the most important thing now because it's the biggest thing besides the table and chairs in the room.
I don't think a Nelson lamp would look out of place, i think it would look cool. With the room setting shown the style could really go in any direction, the room is light and airy which is why a mondern lamp would look good, it also has traditional pieces so a more trad lamp would look good too. I like it!
Out of your given options, I would probably go with the Duncan Crate & Barrel fixture....its modern, but traditional with the shades. Plus, I think they space could use the brightness of the white shades and polished nickel, and the added texture of the cloth.
That being said, I think the fixture you have works fairly well in the space. I would consider putting the $400 you would spend on a new fixture towards accessories, art, linens....a great mirror on the wall, for instance. It would tie everything together, perhaps making the current light fixture fit in better for you.
Good luck!
yes....a rug would help to balance the space out.
i actually like the current fixture -- it seems to be in keeping with the style of the house. it has a retro-flavor to it which is in keeping with the traditional elements, yet is very clean-lined which is modern. i don't think that a chandelier would work. too frilly. i do think that those black chairs completely overwhelm that lovely table though. maybe paint them a lighter color? and i agree that a rug is very needed.
Also consider your lighting needs/preferences. For me, the bubble lamp would produce lighting that is too diffuse. I like more direct downward lighting for my dining table.
Going *modern* doesn't have to make an overwhelming statement if the fixture disappears. Hence the Ktribe might be a good one. But sometimes, the more recognizable the fixture (iconic status) the harder it is to make disappear.
Some other ideas:
http://www.ylighting.com/romeomoons2.html
http://www.dwr.com/product/lighting/pendants/glo-ball-s2-suspension-lamp.do?sortby=ourPicks
Lastly, if you go period...take a look at:
http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/fixtures-type.asp?type=Pan
as well as lighting from Kovacs and Sonneman (I think they do a nice job of blending modern with traditional).
Sorry - this isn't a response to your question, but what paint color is that? It's exactly what i was looking for. Thank you!
I also heartily vote for the Le Klint LK172. I have one and I ADORE IT and so do all my friends and neighbors.
The two I like best is the Wolfers lamp, that you picked out and the Laurel Chandelier from Room Service Home. One of the two would complete the room!
I suggest a Poul Henningsen hanging light because I love Poul Henningsen lighting more than any other (and also think one would work well your room).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30429594@N00/sets/
i would put up a george nelson pendant
I like what you currently have, actually, but have myself been contemplating this lamp and it might look good in your place too.
http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=120&f=4694&viewall=1
I also think this rug might go well.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10056317
I also like the current light fixture--a dimmer would help to control the lighting. I agree with others that the money would better be spent on accessories to tie everything together!
If you have an extra $2K, this is my all time FAVORITE, and would look great... http://www.jaysonhomeandgarden.com/product.php?productid=2579
Maybe there is another similar one out there somewhere. I would love to know myself!
Jen's Romeo Moon or Lizzy C's Berkeley would look great. The Rochester at schoolhouse electric would look cool, too. I agree that an iconically modern fixture like the bubble lamp are too modern for what you have going here.
Id stick with a big plain drum shade..in either a dark color to match your furniture (paint that table to match those chairs..cuz right now it sticks out like a sore thumb in that room) or a shade of green to go with the painted walls or just white...
my favorite drum shade is the one with the birch trees painted on the inside..so you can see them when its lit...would help to tie the dark brown furniture in with all the white trim a bit better...and then you could paint your table white and put a nice brown table runner on it that would bring all the colors together.
you can buy it at Lekker home in the south end on washington st.
http://www.lekkerhome.com/CollectionDetails.asp?CollectionID=197
Can't help you with the lighting, but you should think about painting the black chairs and the chest in the corner a different color than black (personally, I think white would look great, but perhaps you'd like a stronger color).
The dark color forces my eye to them and really weighs down the room in a bad way. The rest of the room is so light and airy...it looks strange to have such "heavy" objects in the middle of it.
Sydney: Someone asked about the color: Clarksville gray (HC-102)-Benjamin Moore