I am decorator-challenged and have always had good luck with my home improvement questions on this website so here's another one. I am shopping for new light fixtures for over my kitchen table and my dining room table. I have selected a chandelier with glass lamps that turn up (so bulbs shine up towards ceiling) for my dining room. I want a chandelier from the same family of fixtures for my kitchen table because the two rooms are open to each other. My kids often do homework at the kitchen table (if a computer isn't needed), and my husband and I like to read the paper at the table. I was looking for a fixture with the lamps facing down (bulbs shining down) for more direct light at the kitchen table for homework, reading, etc. I did find something, but it wasn't easy and there is a lot less selection in that style. The woman who helped me told me the lamps facing up are much more popular and stylish. Do you think I need the direct light for the kitchen table or are five 100 watt bulbs shining toward the ceiling providing indirect light sufficient for our purposes? Is it true that the lamps facing up are more in style? Any other advice or recommendations regarding light fixtures is welcome.
I have no idea about lights shining up or down, but, is there a way you might be able to put some sort of mirrors or tile, something above it to reflect the lights downward?
Also, I would think 5 - 100 watt bulbs would be plenty to give you enough light. If not, if there a way to bring in a light for reading, homework etc......maybe a stand up lamp that can be moved back and forth?
Just a thought. Good Luck.
I tutor at a lot of other people's homes and many of them have the lights that shine up. There is plenty of light to do homework. Also, I remember having lights that shined down when I was a kid and the reflection of the intense light off the paper almost hurt my eyes and the shadows created from my hand was darker than when lights are shining up.
The trend is definitely with lights that face up.....that would be the route I would go! :) Hope this helps!
No. It is a matter of task lighting vs ambient lighting. And you are right. You should have the light directly over the surface you want to use for studying, reading. Make sure the there is a consistant light spread from the fixture has more than one bulb. You may want to put the fixture on a dimmer so you can adjust the lighting according to what you need it for (brighter for studying and not as bright for dining).
The fixtures do not need to "match" exactly, try keeping the finishes similar.
Try www.lightinguniverse.com, www.lampsplus.com, www.lighting.com and some modern sites www.gusmodern.com and 2bmodern.com.
Good luck from a veteran interior designer of 20 years.
Have you been to an actual lighting store vs. a home improvement store? We found the options there were much better and not that much more expensive.
We have just what you're looking for - 5 sconces pointing down over our Kitchen table and 5 lights pointing up (with shades) in our dining room (which is a play room for the kids)
You'd probably be fine with what the lady at the store recommended - that's a lot of light. I guess it all depends on how formal you want the space in the kitchen to be.
I am apparently not in 'style'. We just put a light above our table 2 days ago, and the lights face down. We have 5, 40 watt bulbs in ours. The others were way too bright. But it lets out great light with the 5, 40 watt bulbs facing down on the table. Not sure if it helped at all. But I wish you luck. :)
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I am apparently not in 'style'. We just put a light above our table 2 days ago, and the lights face down. We have 5, 40 watt bulbs in ours. The others were way too bright. But it lets out great light with the 5, 40 watt bulbs facing down on the table. Not sure if it helped at all. But I wish you luck. :)
