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Good Questions: Transforming An Ugly Overhead Fixture?
Los Angeles

021309atlagoodquest2.jpgKelly asks:
I'm in dire need of some ideas to transform the unsightly light fixture in my new rental apartment to a beautiful and welcoming lighting source. I recently bought a lovely chandelier, however, I can't install it due to the awkward position of the bulb. What should I do?

Got a good question you'd like answered? Send your queries and a photo or two illustrating your question, and we'll see if the ATLA team or our readers can help you out.

 
 

Kelly, here's our own personal experience with ugly overhead fixtures. There's also swag lamps, which work to cover ugly fixtures with a myriad of patterns and colours. And a similar question was posed over at AT NY that might help you with your decision.

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Good Questions, lighting, overhead fixture

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Comments (6)

I do not understand the question.

" recently bought a lovely chandelier, however, I can't install it due to the awkward position of the bulb"

Why would that lamp (bulb) stay with that fixture if you were going to hang the chandelier?

If you are going to hang a fixture, pendent or chandelier
it might be nice to install a Ceiling Medallions.

http://www.gallery803.com/ProductList.aspx?Category=81

I had this ugly track lighting in one of my rooms and did not want a hanging fixture and to hide the ugly hole I bought this from Ikea- its very simple and looks nice.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10149500

posted by LoriSF on February 13th 2009 at 7:30pm
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I'm confused, too. I'm guessing you bought a shade for the existing fixture (pictured), but it doesn't work...?

Here's the deal. The fixture in the photo is from the 30s or 40s. It is fitted with a shade and looks something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1930-Sweet-aRT-DeCo-Ceiling-Light-Chandelier_W0QQitemZ250370551766QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArchitectural_Garden?hash=item250370551766&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

The bulb in the photo looks unusually large. Or you may be trying to use the wrong type of shade. You can get shades for these very inexpensively on ebay! Shades come in all colors and styles. They are usually pretty inexpensive (under $50). Good luck.

posted by arroyo on February 13th 2009 at 7:55pm
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Agreed. Don't understand the issue. The current fixture/bulb should come down and the existing wiring should be hooked into the new fixture.

posted by kimg924 on February 13th 2009 at 11:08pm
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I installed the Norm 03 as a part of the Fall Cure. By myself. It was my 2nd project of that kind (and yes, I'm a girly girl). It really is straight forward (I assume, you had some wiring labs in school physics class, like using a battery and 2 cables to "wire up" a light bulb). Just get the whole thing out; if you only bought a shade (Norm in my case), you'd have to go to hardware store and buy a pendant kit, and a medallion [optional].

Also, since it is a rental apartment, your super SHOULD help you with the installation once you get the pendant kit (about $10).

posted by Nudik on February 13th 2009 at 11:09pm
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Literally anyone can hook up the wiring for a new light fixture. There will be three wires in the new fixture; a white , a black and either yellow or green. In the ceiling there might only be two if the building is old enough. A white and a black and maybe an exposed copper. Hook the whites together, the blacks together and the green or yellow to the copper. Use pliers to twist the ends of the wire together and then twist a murret (the little plastic caps with the threaded sleeve) over the ends of the wire. Make sure you've turned off the breaker before you do this if you have access to it. Alternatively just turn off the light and you'll be fine.

If this all seems rather daunting then go to the library and borrow a book on basic wiring. It will have pictures that make it obvious.

posted by HeritageWoodworks on February 14th 2009 at 12:23pm
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It's really hard to tell without being able to see more of the room, but you might consider hanging a pendant light instead of a chandelier. It's more modern and if you buy through Alluminare, you can customize the patter and colors to match your room. I think pendants are much better for "warming" a room's decor than chandeliers.

posted by anabelle on February 15th 2009 at 12:00pm
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