Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Hanging Two Glass Kitchen Pendants

I like big globes and I cannot lie. You other brothers can’t deny. When a light walks in with an itty bitty waist…

Globes 1 After Straight

… and a round thing in yo face you get sprung. At least I do. John just gets all blown out and looks angelic.

Globes 2 After With John

The purpose of that photo was actually just to show you why we picked the height that we did. The common pendant light recommendation is to hang it 30″ above the top of the counter (from the top of the counter to the base of the pendant), but we went 31″  because my tall hubby didn’t want those round things in his face obstructing the view. It’s so nice to have some proper lighting above the peninsula since that part of the room has been super dark. As we mentioned yesterday, they were $60 each at a local lighting outlet, which made buying two of them cheaper than the actual retail price of one (they’re $129 a pop here).

Of course we still have some holes to spackle (five to be exact), but things are definitely looking up!

Globes 3 After Angle

As in, I can’t stop staring up at them. And John’s been ogling them too.

Globes 4 Over Peninsula

The lights, not the holes.

I’ve got holes. In different area codes… area codes. Remember that song anyone? Apparently I’m in a singing mood today. I blame it on the eh-eh-eh-eh-electrical. Blame it on the eh-eh-eh-eh-electrical.

Globes 5 Holes To Patch

Ok, I’m done now. Promise.

Anyway, this is a shot to show you that we still have a light over the fireplace to switch out. It’s actually perfectly centered on the fireplace as you face it, although the angle of this pic makes it look all sorts of wonky. This is a pendant that broke pretty soon after moving in so we haven’t used it for about half a year. Can’t wait to hang something better suited to the chill-zone by the fireplace. Maybe a big ol’ drum pendant that’s only dropped a few inches from the ceiling so it’s high enough for anyone 6’4″ and under not to bump their heads (that’s the tallest person we know, haha). So yeah, along with spackling holes and getting a pendant for over the sink, this guy’s on the lighting agenda too.

Globes 6 Fireplace Light

But back to the globes. We actually installed a dimmer switch yesterday, which is awesome because we can blast them all the way up or lower them for we’re-just-eating-spaghetti-but-let’s-fancy-things-up ambiance. We’d love to get LED bulbs for our pendants (they’re compatible with CFLs, halogens, incandescents, and LEDs, which is nice) but since we have a dimmer switch, we have to find special LEDs that work with a dimmer. We’ll keep you posted.

Update: we’re getting lots o’ comments asking if we’ll be ORBing the stools – we’re actually going to wait for the dark cork floors to go in before making any decisions on them either way since that could be a game changer. Oooh cliffhanger…

Globes 7 Off Straight

Here’s how things look in the other direction. See how a big drum shade might be nice for that cozy corner by the fire?

Globes 8 Off From Stove

Mmm, let’s get a little closer, shall we?

Update: We gave edison bulbs a try and they were reallllly yellow in our room (maybe with white counters they’re not the best idea since they left ours looking dirty?) – we also gave clear bulbs a try but they cast a bunch of harsh shadows on the ceiling, so we prefer the frosted guys we have here for now – although we’re definitely still looking into dimmable LEDs!

Globes Off Extreme Close Up

In the words of sandwich-loving Joey Tribbiani: how you doin?

Globes Off Both Close

Oh and see that nice big chunk of sunny grellow wall between the fridge and the half wall into the dining room? We want to get a nice big piece of art for that spot. So we’re on the prowl. Will keep ya posted on that too.

Globes Off Space Over Count

When we were reconfiguring the kitchen we talked about putting an upper cabinet there but knew that the peninsula would feel so much more open to those sitting there (especially the person on the end) if they weren’t staring at the side of a cabinet. It’s actually an area where we do a lot of prepping now, so we love that it’s open. It’s hard to explain, but it feels more like a room and less kitchen-y, in a good way. Just sort of casual and airy and not too wood-riddled.

Globes Off Angle

Anyway, next on the ol’ kitchen list is patching those holes (we’ll share all the spackle-tastic details) and hanging (and building in) our craigslist range hood. Then we finally get to add the open shelves that I’ve been over the moon to “meet” since about four months ago when we decided to go for it. We’ve been keeping all of our dishes/plates/cups in a lazy susan cabinet in the corner by the stove, and while it works okay, open shelving will be approximately 957 times more convenient. Yes, I’m a complainer about turning the lazy susan one way to get a dish and having to spin it the other way to get a cup. Plus after we get the shelves made and hung and painted I get to put pretty vases and containers and frames up there along with all of our everyday dishes. Maybe even a ceramic animal or two if I’m feeling crazy. And let’s face it, I’m pretty much always feeling crazy.

Speaking of which, remember my whole self-imposed “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge?

Fascinator

How is it already Wednesday and I have yet to tackle something? Come on $herdog, you said once a week you’d get on that. So GET ON THAT, ALREADY! Hopefully I’ll have a little update for ya tomorrow. Anyone care to join me and share what you’ve done tomorrow morning?

So in summary: work continues and we’re all over the place as usual. Hah. What are you guys up to today?

Comments

  1. Cher says

    LOVE the look with the pendants! HATE that you have “eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-electric” stuck in my head!

    The art thing: I might be able to help with a project I just did. My BF has a woefully bare 2nd bath that I am slowly sprucing up. I found several vintage travel prints I liked, imported them into illustrator and isolated the colors. I then reworked the colors to match the colors in the bathroom.

    Since we live in Chicago, we ended up choosing the Chicago print and I reworked it to be more saturated and changed the blue tones to more yellow/green.

    I printed it out BIG (20 x 30… I like big art and I cannot lie) and framed it with an ORB frame and it really brings the whole room together without looking to theme-y.

    Try vintage posters online or use what you find as inspiration to create your own! Here’s the options I had narrowed down to on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cherrow414/wall-art/

    Reply

  2. Sherry from BC says

    The lights are perfect and the price…..had your names all over them. The kitchen is really coming along. I can’t wait to see what you do next. I am Jonesing for a splash of colour. Do you have a project in the hopper that might put a blast of colour on the counter or the peninsula? I am hoping for a shot of turquoise or lime green? Just asking?????? Maybe an animal or cool platter?

    Reply

  3. jacquelyn | lark&linen says

    I absolutely love those fixtures – and can’t believe you got them for $60. Good work you two!

    If I can make one recommendation (as an interior designer) it’s to switch out the frosted light bulbs for clear ones. My rule of thumb is clear shade, clear bulb. Frosted shade, frosted bulb. The other way around makes for one of those silly little things that I dwell on for far too long (OCD much?)

    Reply

  5. Casey says

    What if Katie Bower took a photo of Clara in her play kitchen with a brightly colored apron for your art? Mainly I’m just obsessed with that play kitchen and feel it deserves homage in the real kitchen.

    Reply

  6. Nancy Powell says

    Love those globe pendants…and your singing today!
    Im working on bleaching some painters drop cloths ( seemingly a hundred times) to make bedroom curtains…

    Nancy
    powellbrower.com

    Reply

  8. John says

    Thought all LEDs were dimmable and only certain CFLs were.
    Try to get 800 lumens minimum equal to a good 60 watt bulb. The wattage required for a LED and CFL are almost equal about 14 watts for the same lumens but the LED is more expensive. You can get both bulbs in a warm light to a daylight color and even a cool color.

    Reply

  9. Kristen says

    Oh Sherry, this post PERFECTLY illustrates why I read this site every day (and I bet a lot of other people thought the same thing). You’ve managed to work in three great songs (and now I have the awesome “Baby Got Back” earwig all day which seriously makes me smile to myself about a million times), a Friends reference (one of the best ones, ever), and also all sorts of details that we are all waiting to hear about with baited breath (plus lots of pictures). Oh and the pendants look amazing as expected. Oh yeah, and then I had one final snort-laugh at the end of the post about your “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge. The name is just perfection. Just like you guys! :-)

    Reply

  10. eileen marie says

    I don’t get the electric song reference -I just keep hearing Duran Duran’s Notorious. I love the new pendants -you have a good mix of industrial, and modern/classic going on. I think a drum (maybe woodgrain?) would look great in the sitting area. -You can make one on the cheap with scrapbook paper or contact paper. I am doing the GetButtonedUp.com (check ButtonedUp on facebook)daily month-long challenge & love.it!! You should check it out!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh it’s not too hard, I think you just have to turn off the power and disconnect them at the top and raise them up. Hope it’s as simple as I just made that sound!

      xo,
      s

  12. RVA Born and Raised says

    Those lights TOTALLY make that room for me. They were exactly what the space was missing, and took the room to a whole nother level. They give the room so much character (as if the four of you living in the house isn’t enough :).

    Reply

  13. Frannie says

    Love those lights!
    I actually bought a dimmer LED recently while planning my baby’s nursery. It was expensive but was supposed to last 10 years so I went for it. She wasn’t even born yet when it died… I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me a coupon, but it was a pain. When you spend close to $20 on a bulb you expect it to work. Could be a fluke but I’m not planning on buying another one any time soon.

    Reply

  14. emmarose says

    Oooo I would suggest making one of those yarnball light fixtures for the fireplace. Itd be big impact but soft and see-through. I think a drumshade would look a little too heavy for the space.

    Reply

  17. elaine says

    awesome, awesome, awesome. Love it. Those globes are fantastic. Oh, and you brought me luck. I’ve been stalking CL for a new bed for my little one’s big boy room conversion and I just scored the one I wanted (Ikea Malm) for $40! Deal! I think your range hood brought me luck so thank you ;)

    Reply

  18. Nette @ This Dusty House says

    So pretty! I love them. Every single detail.

    We have tall friends so we made sure to hang our peninsula pendants a little higher too. I don’t notice in the least. I would have hated an obstructed view.

    Your kitchen is looking AMAZING. Such improvements!

    Reply

  19. Robin says

    So so pretty, those globes!! Have you considered putting clear light bulbs in? They would really really sparkle then!

    Reply

  20. Amy says

    This looks absolutely fantastic! Yall have done an incredible job updating the kitchen (and the whole house, heck!). I can’t wait to see the new flooring, open shelves, etc. Thanks for all that you do, yall are most definitely an inspiration.

    Reply

  21. Chris H says

    I apologize if the issue of LED bulbs has been addressed – I read through a lot of comments, but can’t get to them all (sorry, I know that’s bad).

    But all the LED bulbs that we saw in Lowes and Home Depot said that they were dimmable. We haven’t tried them yet, and from what I have read, they often don’t work in the same way as standard bulbs with a dimmer. We are starting to switch over to LED bulbs in our house, so I’m very much interested in what you end up getting and how the lumens vs. watts works out.

    Reply

  23. Kate says

    I just spent my entire morning as the official pronouncer at our school’s spelling bee. It went over 30 rounds and we blew through 300+ words. And the winning word? Ceremonious. Fitting, huh?

    All that has nothing to do with this post, other than it answers your question at the end. For a truly disconnected nugget of information, I was eliminated in our fourth grade spelling bee on the word little, which I spelled “littel.” Haven’t misspelled it since. Were either of you championship spellers?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, I’m a terrible speller in school. I think I went out on words like “weird” because of the i/e thing. John is better than I am, but not a champion. Love that the last word was ceremonious this morning!

      xo,
      s

  28. KiTx says

    This is one of my fave posts ever, probably because I’m also in a singing mood this morning. =) I cannot believe how far the kitchen has come- it looks amazing!

    Reply

  29. Megan says

    I’m jealous, jealous, jealous of all your natural light pouring into your house. The next house we buy I’m going to pay attention to where the windows are and the direction of the house so we have more natural light. Our house now is nice and cozy but it’s CAVE and that just doesn’t jive with me!

    Reply

  32. partyofsix says

    Love the new globes! Booty-full. While you’re waiting for GE to make an attractive and dimmable CFL, here are two options 1) try a clear glass incandescent. They are inexpensive alternatives to the Edison bulbs and will look really good in the clear globes (and you can dim them); or 2) we used clear halogen porch bulb in a globe light we rewired–not sure if the wattage will work for yours, but you can dim them and they are more energy efficient than the incandescent, and the porch bulb is kind of cool looking since it’s a more interesting shape than the standard incandescents. I can take a picture of it and send it to you if you are interested so you can see what it looks like through the glass.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks for the tips! We tried clear glass bulbs and got weird shadows on the ceiling and edison bulbs were all yellow on our white counters- bulbs are tricky, huh?

      xo,
      s

  33. heather says

    I completely forgot about your “get on it” initiative, but I definitely got on this last night. Ignore the photo quality, I was not caring what they looked like since I’m a little burnt out right now (yay for deadlines next week! – your blog is my 5 minute breather today).

    http://www.likeacupoftea.com/tupperware-meltdown/

    Your lights totally fit your kitchen. That cork floor is going to look awesome tied in with the ORB lights.

    Reply

  35. Wendy says

    Hey Yall –

    Of course, I don’t comment every day because, I mean, how many times can I say I LOVE YOU!! It’s looking fabulouso up in there and all I can say is I’m “Blinded by the Light!”.

    In other news, I’ve actually been motivated to get-er-dun around here and since there were several small projects that needed to be tackled and I don’t have any carpentry skills, I found a great handyman and I got him to come over and quote all the little things that need doing in my house – door jams that need to be put back together once I took them apart to fix pocket doors, door jams that got pulled apart because the dog got locked in a room – you know, the usual. So, although I’m not actually doing it myself, I got off my butt and finally took care of it all in one big swoop – I think everyone needs a great handyman. Well, everyone but you guys I guess.

    Also – heard you are speaking at the Haven Conference – how awesome!!! I’m trying to scrape up the funds to buy a ticket, we’ll see – but would love to hear you guys!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Really? Sorry to offend – it’s never my intention! I’m just in a weird singing mood and I thought omitting the word “butts” was even tamer. Haha. Our parents read along, so we like to keep it pretty PG.

      xo,
      s

  38. Shavonda @ AHomeFullOfColor says

    Loving the kitchen progress AND all the awesome lyrical references this morning. Seriously….$60…..seriously!!!! I’m so glad to see I’m not the only one loving floating shelving on the kitchen. We r removing an entire wall of uppers to make room for a new range hood and open shelving, too. Your kitchen looks like a big burst of happy and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!!

    Reply

  39. Katie says

    Hi there! I’m not sure if I missed the post about the stools or not! (Sorry if I did!) But I love them! I was curious if you plan to paint them? If so, I would love a tutorial, as we have similar ones (a bit shorter) that I’m too terrified to tackle.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  42. Frances Bentley says

    Amazing! I love the pendants. They are show-stoppers for sure! I can’t believe how nice and bright it is. The dimmer switch was a great idea.

    Reply

  43. Melissa says

    Your house makes me swoon! You guys have impeccable taste. Everything looks absolutely gorgeous.

    I have a question while on the subject of lights. The lighting in your house always looks so beautiful and bright – not orange-tinted like the lights my husband and I use in our home (tunsten lighting). What type of bulbs do you use in your home to get such natural looking light?

    Reply

  44. Laeh J says

    A blogger that makes home improvement parody rap songs! You just made my month! So rare and so awesome.

    Love the kitchen progress. Wanna come and do mine?

    Reply

  45. MJB says

    I’ve always steered away from lamps without shades because I feel like I’m staring into a light like some perp in a Law and Order interrogation room.

    How are the globes for someone standing looking into the kitchen? Or maybe I missed it, and you’re getting frosted shades…?

    (Ooh, now I have “blinded by the light” song running in my head.)

    They do look cool, though. :)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Hah, they’re not bad at all. Sort of like any glass pendant (not as searing as a bare bulb but not as soft as something with a shade). It’s nice to have a dimmer so we can lower them if we’d like, but most of the time we have them on full blast and it doesn’t seem to bother us!

      xo,
      s

    • Larissa says

      I was thinking the same thing and decided I must be weird because looking directly at lights gives me a headache. They’re beautiful lights, but I feel like I wouldn’t be able to look away.

      LUDA!!!!

  46. Kristen M says

    SOOOOOO FREAKIN’ HILARIOUS!!!

    We need a “what’s in my iPod post”.

    I’m sure you do that with Clara too, like when we put on socks, we sing “Sock Monkey, that funky monkey” or when we get in the car we sing “Roll Out” (Me and my babies, Roll out)… you get it, you’re the queen of it :).

    Reply

  47. Blair says

    Speaking of the cork floors…
    Will you be laying those on top of the tile, or do you have to demo out the tile and then lay the cork?

    Love the whole color scheme and think you are smart to wait until the cork is laid to paint the stools!

    Reply

  48. Ryan says

    I just want to say that this is the funniest post you’ve written in a long time (not that you’re normally dry – this one is just especially funny). Loved the song references. Cracked me up! :)

    Reply

  49. emily @ the happy home says

    i was about to ask– john is 6’4″?!

    both my honey and i are bean poles, so i’m glad you talked about light height. we had to switch out half the fixtures in our rental, because our landlord is 5′ tall and i’m 5’10, and hubby is 6’1″!

    lighting does make all the difference in a room– especially if it doesn’t give you a concussion.

    Reply

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