Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Lamp Love: Kitchen Light

Today's Wednesday Lamp Love isn't a link, because there isn't one. This is a very special edition of Lamp Love, because it's showing off a new find of mine.

I've currently got an ugly, non-descript, home-improvement store bargain, white ceiling fan in my kitchen. Word, sisters and brothers, can you see in your mind what I'm describing? Amen.

It has to go.

Not only that, it wasn't going to be replaced by another ceiling fan. List this as one of my odd little persnickety issues, but I can't stand having ceiling fans over kitchen or dining tables. I can't explain it. Only that it is not right in my little world.

You know how it is when you want to change up something in your house with a vintage fixture? You look and wait, look and wait, look and wait, look and wait. I looked in barn sales and on Etsy and Ebay. I found lovely light fixtures that were shockingly expensive (a copper and slag glass shade 1930s era fixture for.....gulp....$900). Eep.

I found all sorts of light fixtures that would have "worked," meaning they fit the era or the color or the style I sorta liked, but nothing really said "I AM THE ONE" and commanded me to buy it immediately. I wanted that reaction in myself, because I spend a lot of time cooking, and didn't want a light fixture that made me say, "it's all right," or even worse "pfffft," because that's just no way for momma to stay happy in her kitchen.

Until this:


Everyone, meet my new kitchen light fixture. In this photo she's hanging from the chain hook above my dining room table just so I could show her off better. Hum a few bars of "Isn't She Lovely" from Stevie Wonder, because I think that's what tune burst into my mind when she appeared in my internet browser. I was that excited.

The seller (Etsy) dated this fixture to the 1940s, and to be honest with you, I'm not sure. If it is, it's perfect for my house. If it isn't, (and my next guess is 1960s), it's still perfect. I wanted a dark metal or aged copper metal fixture, but I didn't want anything too dark and heavy and I knew I wanted white glass involved somehow and......don't ask me what I was seeing in my mind's eye. I didn't have a clue until I saw it. Then I said "YES."

Here's another angle:

I spy: yellow daisies and green handled scissors. Can you? 

Above you can see the metal lace trim and the glass connector on the stem of the fixture. The shade is about 17 inches in diameter, perfect size for my kitchen. In the background you can see one of the corner built-ins in the dining room. Really, it's the reason I bought this house.

Here's a detail of the shade:


Now that I've got it, I need to do several switcheroos all over the house. This needs to go in the kitchen and the ceiling fan needs to go on the yard sale. Then the other ceiling fan from my mother's house needs to go where the screen porch's weird 1980s crystal light thingy is now. Then the vintage Lightolier in my bedroom needs to come downstairs to the front room so the track lighting there can go on the yard sale....why is it always so complicated? Isn't she lovely?

8 comments:

  1. Wow! It's really pretty! And just perfect for that room. You did good, girl.

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    1. Thanks! I'm really glad I passed up all the "also rans" for this one. I think there is such a thing as Lamp Karma. You just have to wait for it. :)

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  2. BEAUTIFUL!!!! I'd agree, 1960s. Gorgeous! And it seems to suit your room -- with the cheery built-in and lovely vintage wallpaper -- perfectly! Congratulations -- and way to go for waiting it out til the right light found YOU.

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    1. Thanks, Pam! This was one of those perfect finds!

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  3. Where's your brother in law when you need him?

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    1. I could definitely keep him busy for a day here! Next time he's in town I'll bake him pie if he'll hang a fixture! :)

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  4. What a pretty fixture! Enjoy! :)

    (I'm the same way about ceiling fans in kitchens and dining rooms... I don't want stuff blowing on my food, for one thing.)

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  5. Totally and completely fabulous! It's a gorgeous light and I can't wait to see it in action in your kitchen!

    ps- That built-in hutch---AWESOME!!!!

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