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Before and AfterRenovating my House

Just Blink Twice and It’ll be Black

By 08/01/2012October 6th, 202023 Comments

 Renovation update #28

Every single light fixture needed to be replaced in my new house. When I first arrived at The Lighting Warehouse in Richmond I had the good fortune to work with Anne (one of the owners). She was fabulous.

I had spent a bunch of time on-line already selecting everything and then when I was ordering, there were some lights where I had not found exactly what I was picturing in my head or it was way over my budget. Anne walked me through my order, helped me re-select either from their extremely well-stocked showroom or through a catalogue.

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When we discussed the flush mount that I wanted for the entry, I told her I wanted it in black–remember a while back I was telling you how the lighting manufacturers have still not transferred over from oil-rubbed bronze–anyway, she just looked at me and said:

‘Maria, just blink twice really fast and it’ll be black‘. And she was right.

It finally arrived, because it was on back-order and it’s perfect. If I had worked with Anne last year when I ordered my lantern chandelier for my last house, it would have been the right size, haha.

By the way, the trend update on lighting is that Chrome is huge! Anne said that’s all everyone seems to be buying these days! It’s exactly what I did in my new kitchen for everything, faucets, pulls, lights. . . countertop reveal coming soon!

Here is the before

After with new light

It’s Day Six in my 37 Days of Learning Undertones series that I’m hosting on my Facebook Fan Page. Join us for the conversation!

Related posts:

The Real Reason your Lighting Sucks

 Don’t Make this Mistake with your Lantern Chandelier

How Light Affects Paint Colour

 

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23 Comments

  • StagerLinda says:

    Absolute perfection! I adore the huge globe with the chains and rim. Again, you got it just right!

  • teresa says:

    The light fixture looks great and I can’t wait to see the countertops.
    I’m really excited about the chrome;I’ve always preferred it and have it on all my plumbing fixtures, except the oldest (100yrs) which are a nickel plated. My MB chandelier is chrome and clear glass balls. Maybe now I can get an inexpensive match for my chrome swing-arm lamp with a round base. Yeah.
    CTD

  • You’re right, it does look black. It’s the perfect proportions for the hallway. Nice choise.

  • Louise says:

    I love it – perfect for that spot. I just recently replaced the light fixture in my foyer. Ended up getting a funky piece with small crystal balls (about half size to golf balls) on chrome stems going off in various directions. It’s cute but kind of wish I’d gotten something a little more traditional, like your’s. Paid too much for it to ditch right now so it’ll have to do.

  • Hi Maria,
    I love this type of lighting, but am wondering how easy it will be to clean the inside of the glass. Won’t it get full of dust? Please let me know if you have any suggestions for how to clean the inside, does it just unclip and you can take it down to wash.
    I have purchased your e-book on undertones I am trying to find the perfect shade of grey or greige for my house.
    Thank you

    • Maria Killam says:

      Hi Lana, Yes it’s really easy to unclip and wash! Thanks for buying my book 🙂 Maria

      • Mary says:

        I was thinking the same thing. That’s going to be tough to keep clean. That’s good that you can unclip it to wash.
        I have been wanting to put something up in my foyer. Right now I just have a recessed light. Since it’s only an 8ft ceiling, what is the best height that I can get away with for a new fixture?
        (My husband is tall)

  • Mary says:

    Sorry, I forgot to mention how much I love your yellow foyer!

  • Maria:

    You mention chrome is huge in lighting — can’t wait to see examples of this! Wild!

  • Valary says:

    What brand/color is that in your entryway. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it….

  • Love your new lighting fixture Maria! It is amazing the difference in Oil Rubbed Bronze finishes, so buyer be ware. Not all are equal to what you see here. 🙂
    Regarding chrome finishes, IMHO it may now be popular in North America but I feel within the next five years as in Europe, it will be phased out. The mass trend over there has already began. ie: Brushed golds and silvers paired with ‘winter gold’ finishes. (A blend of both silver ‘n gold.)

  • This type of lighting is great! And changes you made looks very cool!

  • Joy says:

    Hi Maria,
    Love the look and the yellow hall. I dont think I could be that brave to stray away from neutrals. Looks wonderful.

    Wonder how the chrome trend compares with the trend in the states. Though I’m not sure, I think the trend in the state is towards polished nickel. Any thoughts on this.

    Watching everyday for the big reveal of your kitchen. Also looking forward to pictures of your Sister’s kitchen.

  • Maureen says:

    Love love love the bright yellows you use. That last photo is a perfect example of how to carry the colour from one room to another, with the dining room chairs seen from the hallway, re: the post you did about taking the toss cushion test. Loving the undertones series, it really helps to solidify the lessons from your e-book. Thanks for the great work, Maria

  • Lucy says:

    I too will be blinking when my new foyer and bathroom lights arrived. If they match what I see online, I’ll be one happy girl. There is one island light I’d love to get, but I don’t think blinking will work — I’ve seen too many versions of the bronze on the various lighting websites. So the hunt continues.

    The bad thing about online shopping I can waste an entire day. Hubby came home around 5:30 p.m. yesterday. About 4:30 I loaded the dishwasher, folded some laundry, made the bed, took a bath. Spread out stuff in my sewing room .When he asked what I did all day. Oh I – sewed. 🙂

  • Veronica says:

    I love the light and the color in the hallway. What color is the yellow in the hallway? It looks bright and cheery.

  • Kristi McManus says:

    Maria,
    Love the yellow entry! What is the color?

    • Maria Killam says:

      BM Honeybell

      • Kim says:

        Hi Maria. I know this is an old post but I’ve looked at dozens of on-line images of Benjamin Moore Honeybell and all of them are an orangey/cream sickle color. Are you certain the yellow in your entry is Honeybell, I’m very interested in your hall color?

  • Adriana says:

    Hi Maria,
    I really thought that the new trend is brass! All over HPMkt all you would see is brass and some chrome paired with the bright corals and teals.

  • Jane says:

    Lighting fixture looks great. I love your yellow foyer.

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