We have been working on tearing out all of the old vinyl floorings in our kitchen. As well as tearing out all of the carpeting in the dining room. We are replacing all the flooring with laminate wood throughout. While we were working on this project, we decided it was also a good time to update the kitchen and dining room light fixtures.
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The Old Kitchen & Dining Room Light Fixtures
Bye, Bye, White Light Fixtures! Hello, who knows?
The lighting that was initially in each room when we bought the house was both white and very much used-looking. Both had started to yellow in color and just really were not the “look” we were going for.
The lighting in the dining room was actually loose and not centered in the room. It would easily move from side to side especially when you changed the light bulbs. Which made this not only an esthetic issue but a safety one as well.
Kevin was somewhat worried that the actual light was not installed in a box. We knew that when we moved in, we would eventually want to change out both of these lights. Since we were already in demolition mode of both rooms, we figured we might as well tackle the lighting too.
On The Hunt For Something New
Hoping to gather some inspiration from all the options of light fixtures!
When deciding on what kind of lighting we wanted for the kitchen and dining rooms, we really didn’t know exactly what we wanted initially. So off to Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Menards, we went looking for some inspiration.
It always seems like, when you go looking for something, you can never find exactly what you are looking for. But when you are not looking, you find everything you don’t need at that specific time. As is most things in life!
We eventually decided on a more traditional chandelier light fixture from Lowe’s for the dining room. With one light picked out, we decided we would install the dining room light and keep looking for what we wanted for the kitchen.
While we were shopping for lights, we didn’t find anything that we really liked for the kitchen. Mostly because we were somewhat unsure if we wanted the lights to match, be similar, or if it really mattered.
Related: Kitchen & Dining Room Paint Makeover
Our Dining Room Light From Lowes:
Portfolio 5 – Light Chandelier
Installing The New Dining Room Light Fixture
The process is always more involved than planned, it seems.
Hoping that installing the new dining room light fixture would inspire our decision on the kitchen light fixture, we headed home and surveyed our new light.
I have to say, Kevin was thrilled to find out that the old light fixture had indeed been installed in a box, properly. Which meant, it was going to be a lot easier to install our new light.
Grayson was far from thrilled about the fact that replacing the light meant we had to turn off all the power downstairs. He did not understand why the power was out. Mason, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the whole thing.Â
Since things are never as easy as you plan.
It always amazes me how handy my husband is. He knows how to fix, build, mend, you name it, he will do it or at the very least figure out how to do it.
The light fixture came with the option to have the shades facing up or down. I, of course, wanted the shades facing up. After figuring out how to get all of the pieces together and wired up, Kevin was quite frustrated at the fact that the lights wouldn’t turn on.
After some investigation, he realized that somehow the internal connection for the wires, which were reversible, got warped. And of course, the only way to fix it was to take the housing for the wires from the opposite side of the chandelier and hardwire them to the current side.
Kevin informed me that if he did that, I could never change the orientation of the shades. I told him that was fine because I had no intention of them ever facing downward.
Though he was not that convinced that I wouldn’t eventually change my mind, because let’s be honest, I like to change things up sometimes! Though it’s more furniture rearrangement than anything. He was still not completely convinced but he fixed it anyway.
Onto the next of the light fixtures, the kitchen light!
You never realize how much light affects the feeling of a room.
Though, it took us a little time to finish the floor, before we could really enjoy our new dining room light fixture.
We were all VERY excited to have the dining room table back in the dining room instead of in the living room. Space is valuable when you combine living space with eating space. Especially when you have two little ones.
The new light added so much more, well light, to the room. I really like the looks of the light and how much more traditional it makes the room look.
Related: It’s Pumpkins Here & Pumpkins There
Kitchen Lighting Up Next
This One Took Some Time To Decide On
I didn’t really like the matching pendant light that Lowe’s had for our dining room light. So I had a hard time deciding what type of kitchen light I wanted since I didn’t want the lights to completely match. The only thing I was certain about was I wanted the same brushed oil-rubbed bronze finish. Beyond that, I didn’t really know.
I eventually got tired of looking at the white pendant light that was still up in the kitchen. So off to Lowe’s, we went with the intention of not leaving without a new light. I initially thought I wanted a more industrial-looking light. but in person, it wasn’t really doing it for me.
We eventually settled on a pick-your-own type of pendant. We decided on a fixed pole, instead of the swinging type we were replacing. As well as a new clear bubble glass shade. It was kind of one of those decisions that we weren’t completely sold at the store but just needed something.
Installing The New Kitchen Light
At this point, anything was better than what we had!
We brought the new light home, and Kevin installed it in no time. I have to say I absolutely love the light more than I thought I would. It really is the perfect addition to our new dining room light. The new light adds a lot of character and adds more light to the room having five bulbs instead of the three that were initially there.
It is definitely nice to be on the other side of the kitchen/dining room floor project. Especially since we did it right before Thanksgiving. Something that I told Kevin we would never do again. Projects around holidays are a no-go from now on!
Our Kitchen Pendant Light From Lowes:
Portfolio Antiqued Haze Seeded Glass Shade
New Kitchen & Dining Room Light Fixtures Project Complete
Another one crossed off our never-ending house project to-do list!
Now that both light fixtures are installed AND we are finally finished with our flooring, which will have its own post here shortly, Kevin is trying to decide on which of our many projects he will start next.
Since it is about to be his busy season at work whatever project he starts next definitely won’t be a big project. Well at least not until next fall! However, it does amaze me how sometimes the smallest projects make the biggest differences.
The Before & Afters
Kitchen Lighting
Dining Room Lighting
