If this post were a fable, its moral would be – when something in your home just doesn’t feel quite right, do something about it. Or wait for it to randomly die on its own accord and take it as a sign. We’ll use this light hanging in our living room as our story’s lead character.
You may remember that there’s always been something “off” about it – it’s the only permanent fixture in that huge room, and it’s placed awkwardly in a corner (which is why Sherry tried to distract us from the annoying placement by adding a bit of color to the glass shade to cheer things up while I was out for a run).
But soon enough we both agreed that was not the solution. The blue tint was nice and soft in “real life,” but whenever we snapped photos of that side of the room (which is often thanks to this ol’ blog), it would cast an odd blue tint over that half of the room. I affectionately called it our alien invasion corner. So I eventually nagged convinced Sherry to wipe off the paint, which is why many of you noticed that it was naked again. Three cheers for reversible projects.
Returning it to its natural state was a big help, and we even talked about spray painting the chain oil-rubbed bronze (to match the curtain rods that we’ll eventually bring in and Karl the sectional’s legs) but we always ultimately admitted that it wasn’t our style. In other words, we’d eventually like to replace it with a nice drum pendant or maybe even recessed lights that we’ll get installed throughout the room. So we wondered how much effort and time it was worth to keep attempting to pretty up something that we eventually wanted to replace or remove.
Then the light fairy took care of everything for us. Because the light stopped working. I’m not even kidding. It just up and died about seven days after Sherry’s big wipe-down. At first it flickered a bit. Then it wouldn’t turn on at all. We futzed with it a few times (changing the bulb, etc) but had no luck – it had given up on us. Maybe it could hear us complaining about how oddly it was placed (you can see just how randomly it was plopped into the ceiling in this house tour video that Sherry shared a few weeks back) and just lost the will to live. Poor guy.
We definitely weren’t devastated by the premature death but it was kind of a surprise. How dare it die (the nerve!) before we had a chance to nix it on our own terms. But since fixing the wiring wouldn’t fix the whole off-center placement issue (it’s neither centered in front of the window nor between the ceiling beams), or the fact that it just wasn’t a light that we’d pick for ourselves (and eventually wanted to replace) we decided to call off any further resuscitation efforts and let the darn light rest in peace.
As I began to remove the light once and for all, my autopsy uncovered the cause of death. It appears that a wire had torn or became disconnected right near the base. Which is something I probably could have fixed, but by this point we were set on removing it entirely. Smell ya later good for nothing not centered old broken brass lamp in the corner of the room.
We took the fast route in terms of concealing the junction box and installed a white plastic ceiling cap over a metal junction box cover to the tune of $2 (50 cents for the metal cover and a buck fifty for the white cap to help it blend in). We’ll get the whole junction box removed, or more likely shifted a bit to a more centered location in front of the window by an electrician at a later date).
Not the prettiest thing ever, but it’s certainly less intrusive and noticeable than the oddly-placed, non-functioning, outdated fixture that preceded it.
The best part is that we now get an unobstructed view out the window. No more gazing at the backyard and being distracted by thoughts of “I really wish I could yank that light two feet to the right so it made sense in front of the window instead of dangling over the left corner of the view.” Seriously, it takes a lot of energy to lament bad lighting placement. But now our ol’ pendant light is in a better place. Literally. All light fixtures go to heaven, right? Either that or the Habitat For Humanity ReStore (which is actually where we sent it).
It does make that corner a bit dark at night, obviously. But that will be remedied once our this-thing-is-taking-forever console table is finally completed and we’ve got a table lamp on that side of the sectional. And someday we’ll probably get an electrician to wire some new lights in all the right places (maybe some recessed ones, perhaps a crisp hanging pendant that’s centered in front of the window, etc).
R.I.P. Weird Light. You will be missed. Okay, not really. It just sounded like the polite thing to say.
SouthsideShellyP says
Hey John: that space looks better now that the ceiling pendant is removed. In the meantime, you might try a paper globe with light kit. It hands from two hooks and you can center it over the table. I know you guys don’t believe in “interim” but you can DIY the paper globe by painting it or adding accoutrement (search apartmenttherapy.com for more info) and it will add soft lighting to that corner and keep the fresh, modern vibe you kids are working towards. I have two orange paper globes in my sun room and the vibe is right, baby, the vibe is right.
Elisa says
This would be a *really* cool idea!
Stacy says
Hmm…did the autopsy results indicate death by natural causes or is there reason to suspect foul play? There was defiantly motive and opportunity. :o)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, wasn’t me. Nobody can vouch for Burger’s whereabouts all the time though…
xo,
s
Melissa says
LOL – That is the most ridiculous commercial I have ever seen. I was actually feeling really bad for that lamp and then that crazy guy came on the screen and I laughed out loud. You two are hilarious. I don’t know where you find this stuff.
christi says
it looks so much better! i have one for you … our guest room’s light switch, for the itty bitty, off-centered, above the closet light, is OUTSIDE the room. yes, that is correct. the light switch is in the hallway. what the huh?! and this room isn’t an add on — it’s in the original 1962 blueprint. geesh, crazy people and their hallway light switch! i added a few table lamps and a conveniently placed, inside the room, switch. one of those $10 remote ones.
YoungHouseLove says
Woah- that’s a good one. You might win so far.
xo,
s
ALittleBite says
Our kitchen’s light switch is outside, too. And it’s a new house… ugh. Plus, it has a door to the patio, so if you’re having dinner outside during the summer and you go inside the kitchen from the patio, you have to walk to the other side to turn on the light… crazy!
Maggie Rose says
Our bathroom lightswitch is on the outside of the door! Usually we remember to tell people when they come over, but we’ve forgotten before and the poor girl opened the window blinds in the bathroom so she didn’t have to pee in the dark! We would just leave the blinds open cause it has good natural light, but also looks into the neighbor’s bedroom…
Pamela says
Back in the day, before those circuit breaker switches, bathroom switches were outside the room. Maybe that itty bitty guest room was intended as an optional bathroom.
Laura says
Random question for you two! Is there anywhere on YHL that shows questions to ask when touring a house? I looked on your “projects” section but couldn’t find anything! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, here’s a post about how we tried to evaluate what we wanted in a house while house hunting: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/10/make-a-wish-list/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Steph B. says
We have a similar oddly placed light fixture in our dining room. The builders managed to hang it off-center to both the right and to the front of the room. Result: there is no way to get the table centered under it. Odd! The worst part is that we have textured ceilings (ugh) so I can’t even have it easily moved.
I have always loved that IKEA commercial too. Pure gold. XD
Erin says
It looks so much better without that light!! I wasn’t sold on Sherry’s blue treatment. Sorry Sherry! :)
I have all kinds of lighting problems. We have no overhead lights in any of the bedrooms. Each room has one outlet that works from the light switch. But they are all in the most inconvenient places! Usually where we want to place a TV. So we have to run an extention cord from an outlet not attached to the switch so the TV doesn’t come on and off with the lights. Then we have to run an extention cord to the lamps on the nightstands so they will work on the switch. It’s really frustrating! One day I’ll hire an electrician to fix it all.
Janel says
The house that my husband just recently bought has a light over the front door which is on a down rod with a pull chain. So every time you open or close the door you had to move the pull chain. My fabulous electrician husband took care of that problem. He removed the down rod and then tied the light on to one of the switches by the front door. The current light is not permanent but it works for now.
We also had a triangle of ceiling fans with mismatched light kits on them (the fan part was a silver finish and the light kit was gold. So with some spray paint, swapping out of some ceiling fans and removing one completely we are happy now.
Liz A. says
Hmmmmm…I am seeing a pattern here…strange things somehow “dying” in that house of yours…first the ceramic Fido, then this, and how ever many other oddities that I have not read about. Is is possible that your house is built on an ancient Indian burial ground? Are you making someone “unhappy”? Although, I still would not let John off the hook for the dog…I would still hold him suspect. lol, seriously, I am so enjoying your blog. It is the only blog that I read…it certainly has inspired several home improvment projects overe here….
Erin N. says
You could consider placing a wired smoke detector there. I’m of the opinion that you can never ever have too many. There was recently a terrible house fire in our neighborhood and it came out that the home’s one (!) smoke detector was non-functioning. We’ve installed wired smoke detectors all over the place now, and I still have battery powered detectors as well.
YoungHouseLove says
We’re with you on having that base covered! We got a bunch of new ones wired into our whole house alarm so they actually connect to the fire station in case of emergency. Can’t be too careful!
xo,
s
Elisa says
Hurray for easy and cheap fixes. :D
I can’t believe I’ve never seen that commercial!! I just watched it five times. Yup.
Melissa says
Sometimes just getting rid of something that annoys you is the way to go. Seems that way in this case and it looks a million times better. I did the same with my front porch sconces which were seriously ugly.
http://houseography.blogspot.com/2010/07/exterior-update-bye-bye-brass-ugliness.html
allison says
As I was wondering how anyone could ever have a favorite light commercial, I played it and genuinely lol’d. You win. Now the commercial has the dubious distinction of being my favorite light commercial, too (dubious because it’s the winner out of a field of 1…are there other light commercials?).
CostumeDiva says
We live in Queens in a house that was clearly a one family home that at some point got “cut” into four units, so things are a little wonky in general. I dont have as much a problem with the fixtures as I do with the switches. The one for our living room is smack in the center of the wall where our couch is so you have to fumble all the way into the room and reach over the couch to turn on the light. I always have to point it out to guests otherwise they wonder around looking for it.
Hannah says
When we moved into our house we not only had to deal with one ugly fixture… we had an array of them in the center of every room AND ceiling fans placed in the corners! The previous owner was an electrician and must have had a hard time editing down to one light fixture per room. J
Holly says
I’ve never seen that commerical before – it’s so sad. :( Poor little ugly red lamp.
Jessica says
Hello! I was directed to your website by a friend that has been following the house remodeling (looks fantastic by the way!) My husband and I just moved to Richmond and we have a 6 month old daughter. I was curious if you knew of a great way to meet other young families or knew of any “new mom” groups to meet? :)
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe sign up for something like a music class or a swimming class with your daughter? Any sort of mother/daughter activities should help you find other families like yours I think. There’s also a message board called Richmond Mommies (http://www.richmondmommies.com/) that could help you find some locals with similar interest. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Robin @ Our Semi Organic Life says
My husband and I are moving to Richmond soon! August at the latest. Although we don’t have kids we’ll be interested in meeting new young people.
skye says
i have never seen an ikea commercial but that commercial is hilarious! i still feel bad for the lamp – feelings or no feelings :(
i’m ready to see the console – though not nearly as ready as i’m sure you are to have it DONE!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes we win for being the most ready. It’s taking forever, but hopefully it’ll be worth the wait!
xo,
s
DebInNYC says
Hi!
In my development many of the kitchen lights are completely off center and do not hang centered above the kitchen table. My neighbors and I joke about it saying the the lighting crew had a liquid lunch the afternoon they put in the lights. This would be scary if it weren’t so odd that they are all like that. We are each replacing ours, SO weird!
Josh says
Every bathroom and almost every room in our house had a weird lamp hanging in one place or another… my fiance couldnt stand the ugly brass-chain lights so I’ve installed recessed lighting in all the rooms… brightens everything up as well as a cleaner look! Love the site, keep up the great work!!
*Michelle says
AWWWW!! The commercial is funny, but at the same time – I still feel bad for the lamp!!! But maybe thats due to too much “Brave Little Toaster” as a child…. further reinforced by Pixar! :)
Traci says
Prior to buying this house, we walked through 3 times. The first time, I took lots of pics; the lighting was hideous and was the first thing I vowed I would change. Somewhere between the first and third time we saw the house, the homeowner had new fixtures installed and the hideous ones were removed. What I don’t understand is WHY the light in the dining part of the eat-in kitchen was moved over about 8 inches. It throws the whole room off, and we have an extra hole in the ceiling (no white cover). It would have been PERFECT right where it was. :-( Wish I could upload a pic.
Kristina says
My issue isn’t so much with the light placement in our house, but the complete lack thereof. What’s the deal with 1950s housing and a complete lack of overhead lighting?!?!
Jenna @ Spitzer Stories says
I’m not gonna lie, I’m glad that lamp has gone to lamp heaven. That space looks so much better without it!
You guys are so good at DIYing I am sort of shocked when you talk about hiring professionals. I just assume you’ll be doing your own recessed lighting! It’s good to get a reminder every now and then that you’re human and not just DIY machines!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah when it comes to adding electrical stuff behind the walls and keeping things up to code we love to lean on the experts. Haha. We had an electrician pop in an extra outlet at our old house (and add a pendant light over the new dining area we created) and it was only around $100 a pop, which is so worth it to have someone who knows what they’re doing.
xo,
s
Hans says
Ha! You read my mind! Weird…
I’m in the process of creating a modified version of the living room in your previous house. Behind the dining room table, I’ve made floating shelves (I combined your desk-door project and the floating shelves project to create 2 floating-door-shelves from one hollow-core bifold door and the frame is made from the frame of a slatted bifold door…all re-purposed from my house). For my room to work, I have to put an LCD television above the top floating shelf (yes, behind the table).
One major hang-up is an off-center ceiling light above the dining table (imagine the location of your previous dining area with a leftward ceiling light as you look at the table). The light will be in front of a television and ugly to begin with.
I came to your website (5th time today) to look for ideas and VOILA! I’m suddenly empowered to just plain remove it!
BTW, I’m a single dad of two young boys who is trying to not raise them in a bachelor-pad style home. After a LOT of web searching, finding your blog has finally helped me begin to restyle our house! Thanks.
…Now I just need to get hardwood flooring where the table will go.
JMB says
Glad the weirdly placed, hanging lamp has moved on! Now, totally off subject…just found out we’re closing on our house in 3 1/2 weeks (WAHOO!) and I thought there was a post about your move that talked about how to organize for a move in an organized fashion, but maybe it was just in comments to you posts about moving???
YoungHouseLove says
We did these two posts about moving (they have lots of helpful comments too):
https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/12/pack-it-up-pack-it-in-2/
https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/12/i-like-to-move-it-move-it-2/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Laura says
We have terrible lights in our 1980’s kitchen! Of course they WERE hidden by these equally terrible plexiglass quarter-circle, brass framed things…YUCK! When we trashed the coverings we discovered four fluorescent lights (two on each side of our kitchen, above the cabinets). On one side of the kitchen the fluorescent lights are recessed in the ceiling, on the other side they are mounted on the wall. SERIOUSLY TERRIBLE!!!! We have been living with them until I call the electrician to change the wiring around and install recessed cap lights.
BOO for bad lighting!
karen @ our slo house says
The house that we are currently renovating was outfitted with art deco lighting. Gaudy stuff. The ‘best’ was the fan in the living room that also glowed blue, kind of like a beer sign in a pub. The kids loved it and begged us to keep it. Um… no.
Now, we’re looking at gorgeous, cool cable lighting options but man is it expensive!! We’re easily talking $1000 just for lighting. Yikes. We’re going to have to do some serious bargain shopping.
Tash says
I hated that thing. Good riddance.
In other news, I am totally impatient waiting for you guys to work your DIY magic and finish all your projects. I was late to YHL and your last house was finished when I was introduced. I got to gorge myself on new posts every single day. It was glorious. Now I have to wait like everyone else. WHHAA!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, so sorry Tash! Our last house took us 4.5 years to finish (and even then we had about a million projects we’d love to have tackled if we stayed) so this house should take us at least that long (it’s bigger and we have bigger plans). So it’s definitely going to be more about the journey than the destination! Haha. But we’ll share every last detail as we go- the good, the bad, and the ugly (like this lamp, ha).
xo,
s
Emily S. says
We just bought a house built in 1958 and the lighting in the dining area is off-centered too! It is centered over the table but not centered to the room. It is making the wall decorating a little more challenging but, old homes are all about little challenges right?!
Dana says
That does look a lot better. =]
Jen says
15 wall scones in 9 rooms. brass candle style. ‘nough said.
chrissi says
I have never seen that commercial but I am so glad you shared it! I totally WAS feeling sorry for the lamp & then I was brought to tears with laughter when the guy pipes in with his thoughts….OMG, love it :)
Jennilee says
Oh man, in our (rental) dining room, the overhead light is perfectly balanced in the middle, however, it’s not centered on the built-in buffet, and it’s impossible to balance it above the table without making it difficult to walk around the room (part of our dining room is a hallway). However, the worst lighting problem is the lack of overhead lights in the main two bedrooms. There are none! In both rooms the outlet (solitary) is on the wall opposite the door, so we have to walk to the other side of the room to turn on a lamp. Not the most efficient! To our house’s defense, it was built in the early 1900s.
Sarah says
We have an enormous living room/TV room, and the light is centered in one half of the living room by the fireplace, but there is no light in the half where we have the couches and TV…just plain weird! So, the fan that is hanging in the living room does wonders for cooling one half of the room, but does nothing for the otehr half. When we eventually replace the ceiling, we’ll move the light to the actual center of the room.
Sara says
It is amazing what such a small change does to balance that side of the room better.
I’ve got hideous 1980s ceiling fans wired through drop ceilings. They are so unsecured we can’t even use them. So, they’re ugly and useless.
I’m curious about your feelings/ thoughts on recessed lighting. My living room has no lighting fixture. We’re about to remove the drop ceiling.. I’m paralyzed at the thought of putting in a light fixture in the wrong area of the room but I then was thinking I don’t know if I’ve seen recessed lighting in anywhere but a kitchen…. I’d appreciate hearing your or anyone’s thoughts on the mater.
YoungHouseLove says
Candice Olsen (one of my favorite designers) uses small recessed lights all the time in living areas (even basements) and it sparkles like diamonds when she’s done so I love the look in a number of rooms! It’s definitely one of those personal preference things though! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
the artist says
How handy that I was dropping by with a light related question, and here you are, discussing lights.
Firstly- I totally copied your blue light idea (http://thesmartestandhisartist.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-painting-light-fixtures.html if you have a burning desire to know how it went)
Secondly- Do you have any advice about under cabinet lighting? I have terrible lighting in the kitchen- no matter where I stand, I cast a really delightful shadow over the counter (which, being a clumsy person, doesn’t bode well for my fingers staying intact while cutting things). I’m thinking that under cabinet lights will solve this problem, but I’m not positive. Any kitchen lighting ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, under cabinet lighting should definitely help! Maybe just google around for more info? Or visit your local home improvement store to see what they recommend for DIYing it (you could probably hire a professional for a few hours of work to add then for you as well). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sassy Apple says
This may have been in an earlier reply (I didn’t take the time to read each one), but I installed recessed lighting with a dimmer switch in my large, 1920’s kitchen complete with bay window (I had to throw that in because it’s drool-worthy), and we absolutely love the lighting and the dimmer switch makes it even better. Food for thought.
Steph N says
My hallway light is terrible. It’s wedged in a six-inch gap between the attic opening and the wall, which is really the only place you COULD put a light. The only thing I could think to do for it was to find a glass cover for the bare bulb (though I may steal your glass-painting idea).
Ted says
I would suggest that you look into mounting wall sconces. Lights do not always have to be on the ceiling. A hallway is a perfect place to put in a series of wall sconces that traverse the hallway and can all be connected to one light switch. You can get them for as little as $20 new or less old, depending on the style that you want. There’s also a tutorial for how to mount them on ehow.com.
Laura Lewis says
Ugh, yes! Half way up our stairs there is a sconce light that is awkwardly high and as you go up or down the stairs it just looks like such a random blob on the wall and no matter the different sizes I try out it all just looks so wrong.
Erin says
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72432132/antique-skeleton-keys?ref=ajax&src=favitm
I saw these keys on etsy today, I thought you may be interested by chance.
YoungHouseLove says
Cute!
xo,
s
Plein Jane says
No light in that part of the room gives you the excuse to have a little candle-lit dinner there!
You know, now that I’ve read all these posts, it’s a wonder our houses haven’t all gone up in flames.
Rhonda says
There are so many little wonky things going on in our house, but the one that bothers me most is a simple globe light fixture over the kitchen sink and window. it’s completely off-center! I can’t understand why it would be placed there!
Laura Lewis says
Oh and I just died laughing at that commercial. It’s pathetic how emotional I get over ANYTHING, and that just proved it. So felt horrrrible for that poor desk lamp. LOL
Emma says
I haaaaaate out kitchen lighting – one long, hideous, fluorescent in the middle of a big space, so our kitchen has this weird green glow and is totally dingy. I just got two industrial style white pendants to replace it (to eventually go over an island bench, once the mister makes it, also the project that never ends) as well as some directional lights over the bench spaces. When I’m doing things in the kitchen on the benches my back is to the hideous light so I cast a shadow and can’t see a thing! BAH!!!
Lindsey says
I do feel bad for that lamp mr. random man in the rain so step off!! lol
Robin @ Our Semi Organic Life says
my favorite part/word: futzed
love it!
Leslie says
Yes, we bought a new home, but didn’t choose to have the dining room chandolier centered, didn’t even know it was a choice… so the “standard” placement was not over the table in the only space it could be… finally we added more chain and wire and swagged it over, it worked for us :) then we sold the house and moved! :)
A.J. says
We’re actually under contract for our own little 50s rancher. The lighting choices and placement are…special.
First we have the spotlight (?) that my mom lovingly referred to as “the only thing uglier than a ceiling fan.” http://tinypic.com/r/b6atfq/7
next there’s the odd little lantern over the front door: http://tinypic.com/r/2wdr0gh/7
and finally we have the lovely circular fluorescent light in the kitchen (bonus: corner ceiling fan!) http://tinypic.com/r/2qcmt7r/7
so yeah, odd lighting out the wazoo with this one.
Brad says
Buy a shade for the fluorescent and paint the base white and it won’t look so weird.
Remove the lantern over the door and use it outside. It would look cute painted red and put in a backyard shed.
Ditch the hideous box light completely.
Mary says
Y’all killed the light. That’s all there is to it. It had probably hung there for 20, 30 years, minding its own business, when suddenly, one day, someone new comes in and paints it and then whips its paint off. It gave up and kicked the bucket. A moment of silence for your dear departed light …
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahaha. We’re murderers. MURDERERS!
xo,
s