You might remember a month ago when I mentioned we were having a light fixture installed and I was stuck at home with the electrician? Well I figured its about time I show you what all the noise was about. I absolutely fell in love with this over-sized filament chandelier from Restoration Hardware. Even with a coupon in hand, it was a bit of a splurge, but we just knew it would make the kitchen pop. It was installed, then reinstalled six inches to the right (not kidding), and then the ceiling had to be patched up and painted. The whole thing was quite an ordeal. It was totally worth it though, and I love the feeling it gives of an old French bistro. The only thing is that I now have to clean that cloudy glass. I tried Windex and it was a bust. Up next is a mixture of distilled water and ammonia – a weekend project all its own. Its the light fixture that keeps on giving people.
But lets back it up because we’ve been busy with lighting in a few other ways. When we built our house last year, we knew we wanted under cabinet lighting. It just makes chopping veggies, not your fingers, SO much easier! Well the builder was going to charge us an astronomical amount for something we just knew we could find a way to do for less. So what we (aka Floyd) decided on was to have the builder strategically place outlets in specific cabinets that all lead to the same light switch. We then bought two packs of these lights from our home away from home, Home Depot, for less than $100. Floyd then drilled a hole in the bottom of each cabinet with the outlet inside, and was able to mount the lights underneath and run the cord through the cabinet and plug it in.
And voila, things got even brighter!
But we didn’t stop there. Ohhh no. We took the need for wattage to the next level and bought a pair of these Bancroft bedside table lamps from Pottery Barn! They are even better than I’d imagined and I now can read my mags before bed without squinting, which means less wrinkles, which in turn means less future Botox, which is really expensive so…you can see that these were actually quite a deal! At least that’s how I sold it when I got home, ha!
How about you guys? Any home projects that you’ve been up to? Ever buy a great lamp only to ask yourself what took you so long?
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{ 73 comments… read them below or add one }
I love bright, and that light fixture in the kitchen is awesome!!
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Totally lusting after your bancroft lights – so sleek!
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Lovely kitchen! I bet you just loving cooking in it!
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
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I LOVEEEE the bright kitchen lights!!! That’s definitely so perfect for cooking! and not cutting your fingers.. haha
What a handy man he is!
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The one in the kitchen looks gorgeous!
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Oooh, love this post! We are moving sometime soon and I already have the place decorated in my head. Haha.
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wow, i really like that chandelier in your kitchen…i’m sure it will be a conversation starter
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WOW! Everything looks so good! Vinegar/water might work on the big fixture?
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I love it!!! The chadelier is just amazing! Congratulations you guys, really beautiful:)
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It all looks great!
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love the light in the kitchen!!!
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Erika @ ~Tiptoe Butterfly~
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I LOVE your new kitchen lights! They look fabulous!
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I have no words for how awesome your new kitchen lighting fixture is. It completely makes the room. Bravo!
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LOVE IT! LOVE IT ALL! Can’t wait to see it in person!
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I LOVE all the lighting!! Your kitchen is stunning =)
Have you tried a brand called Sprayaway Glass Cleaner?? I love this stuff and use it on our dining room table — husband thought he would be brilliant and buy one with lots of glass (this was before me lol) it works fabulous and doesn’t leave streaks =)
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Oooh love! I am all about BRIGHT! I keep saying we need something brighter for our hallway.
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I love the “strategery” of out-thinking the builder. Your kitchen is so bright and cheery..love it.
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Your kitchen looks great!
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Love those bedside table lamps.I’ll be havin’ to shell out some “pocket change” for good table lamps in the near future. Man I wish they weren’t so expensive, but they really do pull a room together. Good work on your kitchen project, looks great…and bright!
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Loving your light fixture!
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I love the kitchen fixture!! It really makes the room pop!
To get the glass clean, try a mix of glass cleaner and vinegar and then wipe with a newspaper. Sounds odd but it works!
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Love love love your kitchen! What a great taste!
Those bedside lamps are simply wonderful!
B xx
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oh i love the lightning! it looks so good.
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Love all the new lighting
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Your kitchen is gorgeous!
http://www.poolovesboo.blogspot.com
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Love the lamp!
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GORGEOUS! Love the new lighting
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I love that lamp over your island! It’s beautiful! And way to go on the DIY under the cabinet lighting.. Floyd is quite the guy : )
-Samantha
http://sincerelysamantha.com
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My kitchen is way jealous of your kitchen! By the way I love that orange color on your walls! i am painting my kitchen that color this weekend!!!!!Yay for home improvement
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I love LOVE the fixture. Definitely worth the splurge!!
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You have the dream kitchen! I bet it makes cooking a whole lotta fun!
http://www.glamlatte.com
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the kitchen looks great. i love it. so much better with all the lights. no projects for me at the moment but i’m sure something will come up soon.
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It’s gorgeous!!! A great pick and it adds a certaim “oomph!” to your kitchen!
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Beautiful kitchen! I have no home projects because I still live with my parents. However, I finally put away all my spring/summer clothes and put out all my winter/fall clothes
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Oh my gosh, that kitchen light is stunning! I would be cooking all the time if mine looked like that, haha!
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That looks gorgeous!!! Love it! And you’re absolutely right… that fixture really tops it off and it gives it that extra flair =)
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wow that is gorgeous!
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Oh lady!!! Lady, lady, lady! I just ADORE your kitchen. From the light, obvs, to the cabinets, countertops, etc….it exudes elegance!
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funny post…a we are buying a new chandeleir and I want it installed by thanksgiving…b. we need a new family room lamp and c. I hate my kitchen lighting and want to redo it! I am jelous of your under cabinet lights!
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I said it once and I’ll say it again- your kitchen is phenomenal! I am gushing over it so much! ANd I do love the light fixture- it truly adds a special touch. Hope you can find an easy way to clean it!
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so jealous of your kitchen
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Well Megan,
You have certainly got your lighting sussed those lights under the cupboards have certainly made a difference haven’t they ?
The lighting in our Victorian house is pretty abysmal !! These old Victorian houses are often dark, so it’s something that we have to address. XXXX
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Nice…I love seeing how other people decorate!
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All I can say is ; i WANT ONE!
Looks beautiful! =)
I’m currently working on my kiddos’ playroom, for the past 6 months to be exact. lol
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What a gorgeous kitchen!
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Your kitchen is gorgeous! LOVE it!
Next time I buy a lamp I will tell the same tale haha
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I love that light fixture. And your kitchen is gorgeous. I just moved this weekend and I’m on the hunt for a great lamp for my living room.
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The fixture above the island is amazing!! We have also been doing some remodeling and found a beautiful chandelier on eziba.com.
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What a dream kitchen you have! You wouldn’t even believe what I have to work in. Damn NYC apartments
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Oh, I am LOVING your kitchen–the lighting under the cabinets really adds a great touch!
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We did a lot around the house this weekend. M sanded/painted his “new” trailer to pull his yard equipment and I riped carpet/staples/tack strips out of the spare bedroom. Now I need to clean and Murphy’s oil my new found hardwood floors!
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I covet thy kitchen!
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those are great – both installations. really like the look of the kitchen and great pick on the lamps – i love the glass bottoms!
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Gorgeous lighting, darling!
Especially loving the kitchen fixture!
xoxox,
CC
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that light fixture is awesome with your kitchen! i love under cabinet lighting too. as soon as i figure out how to make that happen, mama will be a lot happier in the kitchen…
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What a gorgeous kitchen! I bet once you get that baby cleaned it will sparkle and shine! And yes, I’ve had this lamp that needed the perfect lamp shade for over a year sitting in my closet and I think I may have found the perfect one! xo
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Loving the kitchen light fixture- what a statement piece.
And thank you, Kristin, for the crockpot recipe!!
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Absolutely beautiful! I love the way it brightens up the whole kitchen. I love bright rooms. I mean, a girl with glasses has got to see, right? Lol. Your kitchen improvement project is quite inspiring! Must get the boyfriend to start working on our (my) closet!
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Wow….what an amazing fixture…LOVE it!!! I had to take a doubletake……..your kitchen looks EXACTLY like mine…….from the cupboards to where the appliances are….really cool to see!!!
I just found your site, now I just have to figure out how to “follow” you:)
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i love a man with a drill….
~laura
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Great lighting, love it all!!
xx
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I LOVE your over-the-counter light! Stunning.
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com
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I love the light over your island!! It looks awesome and you are totally right about the vintage feel.
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Your kitchen fixture is absolutely gorgeous!!
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I’m loving all the lighting! We splurged and got awesome lamps for our end tables in the family room, and for Christmas one year, I asked for (and got!) Pottery Barn wall sconces. Lighting and light fixtures are often overlooked but can do so much for a room. Love your choices!
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Love the lamps.
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Gotta love Restoration Hardware! I really like your new lighting fixture!
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wow, I love it!
xoxo
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I’m so stinkin’ jealous!
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Well your kitchen is absolutely gorgeous!! I love the lighting under the cabinets it looks so great. I’m a light love I need my rooms to be bright so I totally dig it! Great lamps in the bedroom too
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omg cool lighting choices! I love what you chose for over the island, but it def does commit you to filament bulbs for awhile!
LoriSpeak
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Oh my goodness! Your kitchen is beautiful and I LOVE your choice of chandelier! Great job on getting it up and running! What a smart idea to have the outlets built in the cabinets… and Yay for a husband who is a handyman! My hubby replaced all the brass knobs and hinges in our home to brushed nickel ones. They really look great.
Blessings & Aloha!
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I love all the updates! I would be so happy to get undercabinet lighting, but maybe in the next house…I’m not as handy as your hubby!
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