A while back we bought this light for $29 at the Pottery Barn outlet. We originally planned to hang it over our sink “someday when we redid the kitchen” but then we got our oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights for over the peninsula, and although we love mixed metals, we just thought this silver + mercury glass light didn’t jive with them. So we started thinking about hanging it in a bathroom or something.
Then I asked tall John to hold it up as if it was hanging over the sink and surprisingly the shape was perfect. But the silver neck, black string, and silver ceiling cap were all wrong. But the glittering mercury glass shade was perfect (it tied into the chrome faucet and the stainless appliances and hardware). It was like a roller coaster. Perfect, all wrong, perfect. So I decided to call on my good friend ORB (oil-rubbed bronze spray paint with built-in primer) to take care of the all wrong department…
I figured giving it the same finish to help tie it into the other lighting over the peninsula was worth a shot.
A few thin and even coats later, I was left with a glossy oil-rubbed bronze fixture…
… that I couldn’t wait to hang above the sink and rinse dishes under.
I gave him a full day of drying time, just to be sure everything cured up and then up he went. It’s pretty cool how the dark finish helps balance the room and ties the pendants together, even though their shades are really different.
The new guy over the sink is sort of the “bridge” between the ORB pendants and the stainless/chrome/silver items touches in the room thanks to the gleaming mercury glass.
With our new stainless steel dishwasher installed (we actually did that this weekend by sliding a few pieces of cork under it without having to do the rest of the flooring quite yet – just have to take pics and write that post!) the room has even more balance now, since we have a silver thing on each side of the room. We didn’t plan that when we redid the layout, but it’s nice that it ended up that way (the dishwasher and fridge used to be sort of next to each other before we moved the fridge across the room).
Oh and we get requests to take photos of light installation but it’s rough to do since one of us holds the light while the other one wires it up (aka: no extra hands for photo or video taking) but if you search light installation videos I think they have a few good ones on youtube.
The little hexegons on the mercury glass shade make me really happy. I honestly think this fixture looks so much better with dark hardware to complement the cool silver shade. It’s so pretty and sparkly yet the dark tone sort of grounds it and makes it feel substantial and luxe.
We totally could have gone with another $60 outlet pendant over the sink like the ones over the peninsula, but there’s something really fun about having a light that goes, but doesn’t match exactly. And it’s a bit smaller in scale, which is kind of nice since the sink is a little less open and giant than the big ol’ peninsula.
Here are some “it’s on” shots for ya:
Now onto the “heading out” portion of this post’s title. As many of you know, we’re psyched and honored to be speaking at the Home & Garden show in Portland, Oregon this Wednesday. Which means we’ll be traveling for a lot of this week (hence us doing lots of projects this weekend, like the already-installed dishwasher, so we have lots to share with you throughout the week as we travel, speak, and travel again). We’re flying all day on Tuesday and are booked to be there pretty much all day on Wednesday the 22nd (from 5:30am to 8pm with just a few breaks for blogging and eating) and we’ll be giving an invite-only blogging seminar in the afternoon (they’re in charge of who gets invites, so maybe check their site/Facebook page for those details). But at 5:30pm there’s a Meet & Greet in the Smart House Remodel in Hall D. Anyone can show up for that, but they suggest your register. We’d love to meet you guys there!
Burger is actually staying back (with a house-sitter of course) since we thought it might be too stressful for him to travel there and back without much down time – but Clara is coming since we’ll actually have John’s mom and dad with us (they have family out in Portland so they decided to join us, which is a fun and very helpful plan).
So please forgive us if this week of posting is erratic and wonky! We’re going to do our best to get posts up at the regularly scheduled times, but there will definitely be moments when we’re in the air or at the show when we just can’t hop on and answer comment questions or get the next post up – so it might get a little funky. We tend to approve comments as we answer questions, so if you submit something and don’t see it pop up, we’re likely just waiting to get a moment to answer it or haven’t seen it yet!
But we can’t even tell you how excited we are to check out Portland (neither of us have ever been, but we have a list a mile long of things to check out, and of course we’ll blog about our home-related adventures during our fleeting two-day trip). Oh and to ensure that we’ll fit right in, we’ve been watching clips from Portlandia. Sounds like a solid act-like-a-local plan, right?
In all seriousness, I’m not the best with public speaking, so feel free to cross fingers/eyes/toes for me. I’m skeeered. But I’m sure I’ll survive and have at least ten highly embarrassing stories to tell you guys when it’s all said and done. We’ve even been prepping Clara for the flight. More on that here. What did you guys do this weekend? Any ORBing or lighting bid-ness in the hiz-ouse?
Sarah Ross says
SO excited that you are coming to town but SO bummed that I didn’t know that the seminar was invite-only and that you have to register for the Meet’n’Greet until every spot was full! I so wanted to say hi! =(
I l-o-v-e the ORB on that light! You’ve got me hooked on the stuff; I’ve been spray-painting everything! Also I’ve been on the edge of my seat every time I check YHL, hoping for the cork floor reveal. I can’t wait!
Safe travels, and I hope you enjoy Portland (but don’t judge us by the suuuuper old, not-very-awesome Expo Center. I wish they had put you in the Convention Center; it’s miles better). =)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Sarah! We hear that although it’s full you can probably still get in (read the little note on the bottom of that page for more info). Here’s hoping!
xo,
s
Amanda says
Wow! I still can’t get over how light & bright your kitchen is now! It’s truely an amazing transformaion.
Have fun in Portland! :)
Alice says
Don’t be skeered, Sherry! I am sure you and John will do great.
I love mercury glass anything, so I was happy to see you used the pendant after all and just ORB’d it!
Jen H says
I live 20 min from portland (live in WA) tho I don’t go there often. Check out 23rd ave… Has yummy food and fun window shopping! Was always a fun place to go and spend the afternoon. OMSI is also fun if you like hands on museums.. They have a great OMNIMAX theater as well. Have a great trip and welcome here! FYI be prepared for rain! :)
Jennie says
I know this will sound incredibly dorky, but your kitchen looks more and more like a fairy tale. We are rehabbing our 1906 house, and I’ve stopped noticing the unfinished old floors, etc. But I remember when I take pics. Ugh.
So ANYWAY, have fun in Portland!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Jennie!
xo,
s
Alysia says
You MUST go to Pine State Biscuits for breakfast in Portland.
TO DIE FOR. It was on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives… the line is worth it!
shannon says
i think that PB mercury glass pendant might be my favorite thing in your whole house! it is lovely and i love that it landed in a kitchen!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks, Shannon!
xo,
s
Lindsay H says
Yay for coming to the West Coast (can you say good coffee and micro brews)! Wish I could come down and see you guys (from Vancouver to Portland), just not sure I can get away from work! Have a great time though.
Gotta love Portlandia, the recycling one cracks me up, as it is kinda true. Try going to any race here and there are like five bins, usually with a volunteer, to help you know where your stuff goes.
Couple local suggestions…Burgerville, they are locally owned and buy all their products local. Voodoo Doughnuts is well known, I think it was featured on Amazing Race and Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Finally, one house place you might try to visit is the lesser well known (Rejuvenation is expensive and well known) Hippo Hardware. It is a great “restore” and a little Portland weird.
Morgan says
You guys are just amazing. I love reading your blog everyday. My boyfriend and I are slowly converting our condo and your site is such an inspiration. Great way to get designer style light fixtures on the cheap.
Jade says
Have fun in Portland! We love it here, and yes, there some of us Portlanders just as weird as Portlandia depicts ;)
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says
And while you’re visiting Rejuvenation, you should pop over to Schoolhouse Electric as well.
Katy
Reva says
Everything is coming together so nicely! I can’t wait to see those floors come in. Looking at that shot above where you can see the blue from your dining room shelves, everything looks so fresh and pretty. It makes me want to see those stools painted a really inky dark blue green that would coordinate but not match exactly the other blues you have coming in. a fun poppy color like that would embrace the schoolhouse vibe of those stools, and by choosing the right kind of complex shade you could hopefully temper the “fun” so it still reads as adult. Of course, this is all just from looking at that one pic and who knows what’ll happen once the floors come in… Good luck on your trip, I’m sure you will be great!
YoungHouseLove says
Always a possibility! Can’t wait to see where we end up!
xo,
s
Laura says
Portland is all about the salvage!! Not that you can take much home with you, but if you have a chance… check out a couple of my favs, Hippo Hardware, and Aurora Mills Architectural. Love!
Liz F says
If you have time, hop over to the Children’s Museum (right next to the Oregon Zoo), Clara will love it! Also: go to Burgerville AT LEAST once. You won’t be sorry :)
Liz F says
PS: I’m in love with your kitchen–I cannot waaaaait to see what the finished product looks like!
Lauren says
Looks like the internets ate my first comment. Boo.
Just wanted to say that your pendant lights are my favorite part of your kitchen, even more so now.
I spend the weekend completely redesigning my blog.
http://www.filing-jointly.com
No home-related designing lately though since we’re moving house soon.
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Congrats on the redesign!
xo,
s
Heidi P. says
That new light made me grin :D. It’s perfect.
So excited to see the dishwasher in!
And I’m *this* close to taking the 14 hr drive up to Portland… :) Have fun!
Kim says
I am in love with that light! I thought it was pretty before but after the ORB treatment – WOWZA! What a difference :) I also love that it doesn’t match exactly – it’s perfect!
Good luck in Portland! Don’t worry, you both will do awesome – you know you’re fans love ya! I soooo wish I could go see you :( Have fun too!
Tiffany says
You’re coming to Portland! Yippee!
Welcome, and I hope you thoroughly enjoy yourselves!
The other comments about things to see/eat/do in Portland are spot on, so I second all of them.
Be prepared for friendly strangers, excellent food, bountiful quirkiness, and every possible hue of green.
I look forward to reading about your adventures here!
eileen marie says
“Put a bird on it!”
Love the new pendant!
mp says
Just remember: you and John are doing your part to Keep Portland Weird (appears in the opening credits of Portlandia)! Good luck and travel safely.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes we are!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Love it! Have fun in Portland!
Elizabeth says
PS, you guys should SO come to Canada :)
Bob says
In the interest of balanced feedback, I wanted to commend you for the light above the sink. Nice work.
However, it just enhances the fact that the other 2 pendant lights don’t work. The bulbs are too big. I suggest you try to find an old-style, clear bulb to go in there instead of the milky white guy. The bigger the bulb the better.
You’re welcome.
Kathy says
Man, that’s a pretty light fixture!
I’m a Seattle-ite and Portland is one of my favorite day trips when I want to browse for books at Powell’s Books or go to the weekend crafts fair. Wish you were going to be there for the weekend instead so we could zip down and see you. Have fun!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the Portland tips everyone! Can’t wait!
xo,
s
rachel says
It all is coming together in the kitchen and looking fabulous, weeks of labor bearing fruit!!!! I know the floors are yet to be installed but something still feels missing to me (not that it matters since I don’t live there) and then I realized I’m thinking of curtains! Are you planning to do curtains or a valance or something over the window? Not to actually block out the sun but to add some pizzazz?
Anyway have fun in Portland. It’s supposed to be super great for really “cool” people and they have tons of great food and weird stuff like offal, etc!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we have talked about waiting for the flooring to go in before deciding between a bamboo blind for texture, something fabric for color/pattern, or just leaving it naked if the floor adds enough on its own!
xo,
s
Julia @ Chris loves Julia says
That first picture of your kitchen…the one where you can see a glimpse of the bold built-ins is money in the bank! Everything ties together so nicely.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Julia!
xo,
s
Jen says
It’s so fab. What a happy surprise, the light looks so pretty! My favorite pictures of your kitchen are the ones with the tealy blue bookcase backing from the dining room popping in to say hello. Seriously, the greens, whites, grays and teals are making my heart sing happy tunes.
xoxo,
Jen
Susan says
I love the light! The kitchen is really looking amazing! I can’t wait to see the dishwasher installed and the floor once it’s all done! I do have a question about spray painting. Did you also spray paint the cord? Is that okay to do?
Good luck in Portland! It’s my favorite city to visit. You guys will be great!
YoungHouseLove says
Yep, we did spray the cord. We figured it was worth a shot and since it was black already, anywhere it rubbed off wasn’t really noticeable.
-John
Alison @ Living Joyfully says
Are the built-ins in the office a different blue? They seem brighter. I saw where you painted them for the book.
YoungHouseLove says
Nope. Same blue they’ve always been because we actually didn’t paint them for the book. I swear! :)
-John
Elizabeth @wakeandgather says
I can’t wait to hear about your trip! Good luck!
Sharee A. says
YES! The good ole ORB makes it’s mark again. I like that the pendant over the sink isn’t an exact match to the onces over the peninsula. Good choice.
Paula says
Portland is my home town and I am so excited for you two to come and pick up the vibe! Good luck with your gig! I have to work otherwise I would be at the show, knowing you two would be there would make it worth it! Yes- don’t miss Voodoo donuts. Maple bacon is a must. If you can also check out the food cart scene- its worth it as well (there is a whole website devoted to helping people navigate this scene. I have only been once- I know- for shame sine I live here- and there is just so much to take in! I love House of Vintage on SE Hawthorne for cheap vintage finds- its a giant warehouse of vintage stuff! I work at New Seasons and have for 10 years- if you can make it to one of our stores- do! The rebuilding center on Mississippi or Community Warehouse center might also be of interest to the pair of you as well. Gosh- look at how excited I am! You would think I never get out! Ha! Have fun! As a long time reader, and minimal commenter – I am just tickled for you both and hope you have some fun with it all.
And yes- Portlandia is spot on in many regards, though you won’t always hear the locals agree on that. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Paula!
xo,
s
Jessica says
The kitchen looks so great! I love the new light! Have fun on y’all trip!
Erica Blackburn says
Hey, guys..just wanted to sen you this link to the AMAZING honeycomb-like hardware. Hope you like it!
http://www.nesteaglerock.com/2012/02/hardware-line-update.html
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous!!
xo,
s
Mary says
What a fab kitchen you’ve done – -just love it! I live in zany PDX — have a great time in our city – -sorry for the rain :). Check out Hippo Hardware – – they sell all sorts of stuff (lots of boxes to paw through) and then grab a snack with Clara at Old Wives Tale (just a couple of blocks away). A very kid friendly place. And yup VooDoo Donuts (east side) is less than a mile away.
My hubby’s a contractor and he’s a fan of your blog too!
Kristin H. says
You know that part in Goodwill Hunting when Ben Affleck tells Matt Damon that one day he hopes that when he picks him up that Damon just won’t be there? That’s how I feel about you guys.. that one day we’ll stop in and a lil sign will be posted “ON VACATION! No blogging! Later peeps!”. I know I won’t be able to convince you to not blog on your Portland trip, but one day.. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha – it might be sooner than you think! We’ve got plans!
xo,
s
Angela says
Ooo Hawaii!?
YoungHouseLove says
You know it’s our resolution to get over there sometime this year for our five year wedding anniversary!
xo,
s
Kendyll @ MakeitBakeitCraftit says
This turned out great. You were brave to spray paint a PB lamp – I usually only go for the spray paint with thrift store finds.
Melissa P. says
I live right outside of Portland! You guys should definitely check out Vodoo Donuts if you get time! It’s a totally weird Portland thing. But they have the best and craziest donuts. Hope you guys have fun!
C.A. @ How To Be A Heroine says
I absolutely LOVE your little pendant light. The little hexagons are reminiscent of a beehive. How perfect for y’all. It’s really coming together nicely. :)
xoxo,
CA
lisa says
Gah! This post makes me jealous. We are building a house and I have had my eye on these pendants to hang over our island. My plan was to paint them ORB just like you did! And it looks as good as I thought it would. But, they are sold out online so I can’t even get them now. :( But… yours looks great!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw man, so sorry! Here’s hoping they come back soon!
xo,
s
Kristin says
I’ll be cheering you both on from Seattle! I REALLY wish I could be there to hear you guys talk but alas I don’t think work would be okay with my playing hookie. Have a great time in Portlandia!!! And if you head North to my neck of the woods (I remember reading that you had family in Seattle) be sure to check out: Pike Place Market, MacLean Park (fantastic views), Serious Pie Pizza (great PNW pizza), Top Pot Doughnuts (yum!), Macrina Bakery (yum2!), and Pacific Place Gallery (super fun/ huge antiques). Oh how I wish I could be your host!!! xo, Kristin
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kristin! You’re so sweet.
xo,
s
Scentsy Candle says
I absolutely love this light! I didn’t think I would like it but it really matches the stove. It looks right at home. I can’t wait until I have a house of my own to do my own cool redecorating. I will definately be using some of your ideas for my projects :)
Courtney says
Portland is so excited to have you three! I wish I could go on Weds. to hear the big speech, but alas I will be working. Have a great trip.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Courtney!
xo,
s
Kate says
LOVE IT!
Anne says
Your kitchen is so bright and happy. It makes me positively giddy– how fun to walk into that bright space everyday :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Anne!
xo,
s
Jennifer says
You guys will love Portland. Welcome to the Pacific Northwest! I just wish antiques and thrifty finds were as inexpensive on this side of the country as they can be on the east. I actually saw your light on Pinterest this morning when I was looking at the Home Decor category and I knew immediately it was your kitchen. So weird! :)
YoungHouseLove says
No way! So weird!
xo,
s
kristin says
Happy travels and enjoy our fair city! I hope you have a little time to explore. There are just so many great things to eat and fun shops to check out around here! We just tried the ice cream at Salt & Straw on Alberta. AMAZING. SERIOUSLY AMAZING. And our favorite place to eat dinner (pizza) is Nostrana, if you’re able to have a date night. :)
Jill says
Hopefully you will have a bit of time to do some shopping! I’m heading down there this weekend to pick up my cabinets from Ikea, and hitting up some of my favorite places like the Pearl District and my favorite old junk/hardware store called Hippo Hardware! A stop in Portland is always includes Fabric Depot just because they have such a great selection of decor fabric!
Brianna says
Love your choice of light fixtures! Have you considered getting Edison bulbs for your peninsula pendants? They would look ah-mazing!
YoungHouseLove says
We tried them but they madeour white counters look yellow!
xo,
s
Fiona says
Love how the kitchen is coming together.
Have fun in Portland!