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Hanging A Moravian Star Light In The Foyer

Dude, things just got real in the foyer.

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We found this light at the local lighting outlet here in Richmond called The Decorating Outlet for $135 (down from $455 at Shades of Light, just because it had been returned). I had always pictured something big and architectural in there – most likely in an oil-rubbed bronze finish because there are a bunch of ORB doorknobs going on in the foyer and I thought it would look nice. Thankfully John was game too since the guy’s down with geometry and shapes and stuff. UPDATE: Here’s an incredibly similar moravian star pendant on Amazon since the Shades of Light version is currently out of stock. 

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Boom. The foyer is now my favorite room ever in the history of rooms. I want to sleep in there and eat in there and braid its hair and tell it all of my secrets.

In keeping it real news, it took us forever to hang. Like the longest it has ever taken two adults to hang a single light fixture. Someone call the Guinness Book Of World Records, for real.

Foyer Light Install

That’s the only shot I got of the process (snapped one minute into things, before this turned into the longest lighting installation known to man) but picture both of us on different ladders next to each other trading off on holding the weight of the light and messing with wires. The hanging hang-up (har-har) had to do with being sure to hang it high enough for my tall hubby to have clearance under it, while still being sure the canopy would thread (if we made it too short, the canopy had nothing to catch on, and if we made it too long, John would graze his head on it). Ten hours later – ok, that’s a slight exaggeration – we’re high fiving under it while holding one arm up with the other one because they were so tired.

I also hung some art and a mirror (the mirror’s heavy so it got 2″ anchors and screws while the art just got a few nails each). This mirror used to hang in our guest room at the last house (from Joss & Main a while back).

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Gotta love when a detail shot reminds you to go dust the mirror.

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I hung an Ikea Ribba frame with some linen-ish fabric and a favorite instagram picture next to the coat closet door.

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Eight of these were over the sofa in our last house, so I let John pick the one he liked best for the foyer. Turns out it’s me in a bathing suit. Men.

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I also hung our favorite swimmer girl next to the door (that’s a print we bought for our last house’s kitchen).

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We also have two favorite paintings by our friend Lesli (one of Burger and one of John’s Granny’s house) that we hung next to the bathroom door.

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And with that, the foyer makes every other room in our house look a whole lot worse by comparison (why do pretty rooms do that to the other ones nearby?!). But we can’t even stay mad. Oh foyer, thank you for making me see stars. Literally. You are the Hershey’s bar to my s’more. I can hardly remember when you looked like this…

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Love you. Mean it.

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UPDATE: We’ve finally transitioned our entire house to LED lights (they save tons of energy & money, and they’re a lazy person’s best friend because you never have to change them). For anyone wondering, these are our favorite interior LEDs. Their glow is warm & natural (not weird/blue like some of the others we’ve tried) and they use around 90% less energy.

* This post contains affiliate links

Comments

  1. Karen F says

    The foyer looks awesome! I’ve wanted that same light forever for my foyer – I just showed my hubby the pics in this post and he’s on board! Now to find as good a deal as you did!

    Reply

  2. Jo says

    Noticed you were on the hunt for a rug in the foyer in your comments. I was recently in the same boat (but I actually needed a few). I got one from Dash and Albert (further from the door and more of a statement piece, plus needed a 4×6, which is hard to find) and one from Amazon of all placed. I had found the rug on Overstock but then checked on Amazon and noticed it was on there for less.

    Just some thoughts.

    Foyer looks great!

    Reply

  4. Elaissa says

    Love Love Love the light! I really want one in my house (50’s ranch) but I am not sure where…
    Love how the house is coming along :)

    Reply

  5. Sam Frank says

    Love the light! It’s SO pretty, and really gives the room a whole new feel. And I second (or third or fourth, lol) the request for a shot of it at night, lit up!

    And I’m so happy to see some of your art go up – I have a big wall in our new house across from our bay window that’s begging for lots of frames! I hung a few pieces in our tiny hallway and smile whenever I walk past them!

    Reply

  7. Lauren says

    Love the light! And all the art you hung including the mirror! This space, like the rest of your house, is really shaping up. I’ve been so excited to see this evolution!

    On the critical side, I’m not loving how that entry table is styled…it feels a little cluttered to me. Like too many same height pieces on the surface? And I also feel like there’s too much going on underneath it too. I’m a huge fan of texture, but I feel like the basket and the weave ceramic stool are too much. But mostly, it doesn’t feel like “you.” You guys are really good at editing. I know you guys are in a transitional phase and still trying things out here and there, so I’m sure this table will evolve. Or maybe this more cluttered look is the new thing and I just haven’t caught on yet? Either way, I know guys will make a space that you love and that’s why I keep coming back to read and see what you’re doing.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, someone else said that too! I just get excited sometimes, but I can totally see how it could look cluttered. I’m sure I’ll calm down soon. Haha!

      xo
      s

  8. Taya says

    I’m in love with it. All of it! Love how things you already had from different rooms in the last house work so well together in the foyer in your new house! Also, I have a thing for Moravian stars… Again, LOVE IT!

    Reply

  9. Janel says

    I have a confession: I want to marry your foyer. I promise to love and cherish it. =P

    But seriously, sooooo crushin’ on this room. It came together so quickly and simply. Love the fact that it’s not overdone and that everything that is there (from the table, the basket, the art, etc) looks like it was MEANT to be there all along.

    Oh, and my theory on how pretty rooms make not-so-pretty rooms seem prettier: it’s like when you see a super hot Victoria’s Secret/firefighter calendar model friend be a wingwoman/wingman to that not-so-hot friend at a bar. It’s all by association. Boom…mind blown!

    Reply

  11. Alison says

    It always makes it feel more like home with things hung on the walls. I can’t imagine paying that much for a light. Wow. I bought a lamp shade for $100 but it is hand crafted stained glass. Your entry sure looks a lot like The Weekend Homemakers. Was that your inspiration?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We always link to other bloggers if we’re drawing inspiration from their space (like we’ve done for our sunroom project or our whitewashing post) so I promise there would have been a big ol’ link if we were modeling our foyer after Crystal’s (we love sharing the love). I bet she and I have just been ogling the same magazines with neutral walls and moravian stars (they’re pretty hot these days along with blue doors). I love that we’re long lost foyer twinsies though!

      xo,
      s

  15. sarolabelle says

    I know y’all said in one post that y’all chose edgecomb gray because it had to be neutral enough to go up the stairs and into the upstairs hallway. How does it look upstairs? I would love to see a pic of the landing again painted with edgecomb gray. Also, looking forward to seeing what kind of pictures you put going up the stairs.

    And on a side note. I picked edgecomb gray for my foyer thanks to this blog!

    Reply

  17. Ali Burtt says

    So glad you changed out that light fixture! Out of everything crazy goin on in that house of yours, that was seriously bothering me the most. You care about that, right? :P

    Love the Decorating Outlet. Whenever I’m in Richmond I make it a point to stop by. I’m waiting for a certain rug to show up! If I’m patient, it will happen! I know it.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, you just have to go there a bunch of times and will it to show up and eventually you’re a maniac running towards said item and screaming “come to momma!”

      xo
      s

  18. Sarah says

    I agree with painting the ceiling a shade darker, think it will look really nice. The area really looks great guys!

    I know it’s hard to get a good picture at night, but would be neat to see what the light looks like on in evening/night time. If it doesn’t work, it’s ok, I can use my imagination haha!

    Reply

  20. Barbara in CT says

    We have the same pendant in our entry. We have had it for over 40 years now and when the time comes to sell our house, the light goes with us even if it is to a nursing home. It is also called a stellated dodecahedron. My husband is a math geek too. Ours was originally brass but the finish dulled quickly and we’ve let stay dark.

    Reply

  21. Riva says

    I am totally jealous of your new light fixture. What a great price, what a great look, and what a perfect place in your house to put it so you can enjoy it constantly. I would love to find the same light but even if I did, probably the only place in my entire house I could hang it would be over the kitchen sink. So I’m just going to live vicariously through your beautiful foyer … don’t mind me!

    Reply

  22. Laura@JourneyChic says

    This is truly stunning! I love Moravian star fixtures – they add such an element of interest to any space. We have a flushmount star light from Ballard in our foyer and it’s one of my favorite fixtures in the house (aside from the chandelier in my daughter’s room). Love all the art too; really lovely and welcoming all around!

    Reply

  26. Pat S says

    Looking good!! So much fun standing on a ladder holding heavy things over your head … right!!!?
    Love the portrait of Burger.

    Reply

  28. Heather W says

    LOVE the light.. I have loved these for so long and hoped you might put this exact style in your foyer. It looks great!!!

    Reply

  29. Lauren says

    My husband and I had a similar hang up trying to install our big heavy dining room chandlier ( imagine me kneeling on the table trying to hold up this games of thrones style metal ring while hubby adjusts the length of the cord and wires for the third time!!) I think we clocked that install in just under 3 hours! Iove the Moravian star, I bought its hanging cousin version that lives in my breakfast nook. It’s by far one of my most favorite things in the house and I bought it at the same place (because of your ravings – thanks for the tip!) last time I was in Richmond visiting my grandmother.

    Reply

  30. DianeG says

    The star light is awesome. I have been saving for one for my upstairs hallway, since I currently gaze at a brass-and-glass boob light from my bed. You have inspired me to move it up on the priority list!

    Reply

  34. Charlotta says

    Love, love, love the foyer! And the light is just gorgeous! And the swimming girl (I almost typed fish girl, haha) really fits in nicely.

    Reply

  36. Ida says

    Love love love the change. The lighting fixture is spectacular and the door color is my favorite. You always do such an amazing job!

    Reply

  37. Katie says

    Do you mind sharing the size of your light. I have been going back and forth for weeks on ordering a similar version I found online for our hallway. The size of that one is 15″ dia.

    Reply

  39. Jihane says

    WAW I really love it! It’s crazy how a light can completely change a room… Too bad I can’t buy your “Love Metal Strap Drum Pendant” (or another one, your whole collection is so beautiful) I live in Italy and on the website Shades of Light only allows you to select the US :((

    Reply

  41. Kaesey says

    Love! I saw these star light fixtures one summer when I lived near Bethlehem PA – there’s a large Moravian community there and they called them Moravian Stars. I’d never seen one before that but they became my favorite porch or front hall fixture from that point on. Can I come hang out in your front hall? ;)

    Oh – and I say go for it with the ceiling! Our living room ceiling is a very pale blue, and, thanks to a ton of white trim in that room, it balances things out. After eight years, we’re still glad we painted it.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, I hear Moravian stars are common on porches (we decorate with three of them for Christmas out on the porch!) and in foyers, so it’s funny that ours ended up in the foyer! Maybe it has to do with being welcoming or something?

      xo
      s

  43. SM says

    Gorgeous! Have you thought about getting a pretty runner or a rug to break up the slate a bit? Someting neutral on the floor would make this room look even more complete.

    Reply

  45. Deb says

    Love the whole room, but at the moment I’m particularly obsessed with that vase holding your wine corks. Where’s that from?

    Reply

  47. Vanessa says

    I love watching all these awesome changes you’ve made in your homes – this one especially! Such an inspiration for the changes I’m constantly making in mine!

    The first thing I thought of with the title of this post was an old song (you know, late 90s, early 2000s :) ) by Ace Troubleshooter. Anyone? I’d guess no… :)

    Reply

  48. Brigid says

    Ah, I am obsessed with this light. We just replaced our old light in our bedroom for this stunner, right over the bed. :)

    Reply

  49. Allison says

    I am so in love with your foyer. Can I please have permission to marry it?!

    Seriously though, I’m repainting my living/dining room and my inspiration is your foyer.

    Reply

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