electric feel

Last week was pretty exciting, minus the whole packing up and moving part. There was more real life progress! We all know how much I love lighting, so you know I was pretty damn excited to see those things get some electricity. It has been pretty dark in the house over the past few weeks months in more ways than one. 

Starting with the kitchen, let there be light:

You know nothing can go off without a hitch, so there are a few places where there are more holes than there should be. I am not even going to stress about it as I am currently practicing the Disney Frozen method known as "letting it go".  

And also because, when I popped in from work to check the progress, I found my BRAND NEW counter tops covered with things that are unmentionable. Things similar to those that littered my floor on the first day of demo when it looked like this:

Not cool people, not cool. Was there damage? Yes. Am I ready to talk about it? No. Why am I not in complete hysterics and on another crazy rampage? Again, I am practicing the let it go method. For now. That battle will be crusaded at a later date. 

Moving on...

Between the master bedroom, guest bedroom, and the sunroom, I decided to do a little switch-a-rooskie with the lights. The light from the master bedroom found a new home in the guest bedroom. The light from the guest bedroom (and star of a blast from the past post) found a new home in the sunroom. And the master bedroom got a much needed upgrade from the $10 ikea light that tops out with one 40 watt bulb. It was time. 

So what once looked like this in the master bedroom:

Now looks like this:

After raising the ceiling in the guest bedroom, I was worried the light fixture we had in there previously would be too small. Let's just go ahead and say I was right, because it is too late now. 

So what once looked this in the guest bedroom:

Now looks like this:

(furniture install to come if we ever finish this renovation)

And lastly, the guest bedroom fixture now happily resides here, in the sunroom:

Which will go above my sweet little DIY table project from earlier this month:

Also of note, the hardware for the kitchen was installed as well. I lazily snapped one single picture. It was not a true measure for my level of excitement, I promise. And you obviously know I will take more pictures. Come on, it is the colossal over sharer we are talking about here. 

I think we can officially start counting down the days! And not because we have a definite end date, but because I am going on vacation in September come hell or high water and not even this beast of a project will stop me!! 

You Light Up My Life

If you know me at all, or managed to follow my ramblings three years ago when I started this bit, first of all what are you doing with your life, and second, you know I love light fixtures! All of the lights! All of the lights! All of the expensive lights! Sean Paul, gimmie the lights. 

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I have been going through quite the saga due to the loss of the Gabby Morgan pendant. Quick reminder and ode to her beauty: 

via Terracotta Design Build Co. 

As a coping mechanism, I tried to go ahead and move on, and find the quickest replacement. Let me introduce a decent rebound: 

via Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. 

Good enough, right? Wrong. And I was in too much of a stupor to even realize it until right before I pulled the trigger to order them. Maximum length: 39.5". Not even close to the length I needed. Total rebound. I asked about ordering an extra pendant to take apart just for the rods and Schoolhouse Electric advised they would never, under any circumstance, recommend that to anyone. Ok, maybe I'm crazy. Would it really be so bad if the pendants were hanging 104" above the floor? Ok, that is ridiculous. This is why people are designers for a living. Ain't nobody got time for this.  

I was crushed. Again. It really shouldn't have been that big of a deal, but I think the change in ceiling heights sent me over the edge. So then I decided to change directions entirely, and allow myself to really move on. Friends, meet the light fixture I wouldn't even mind gaining a few pounds just to have:

via Hudson Valley Lighting Alpine Pendant

Clocking in at a mere $1600 a pop, sure, why not? Sign me up for four. I then showed it to Jack just to try to make me snap out of it, and of course, he thinks it is the Gisele of light fixtures too. Then I told him the price, and he says I can order as many as I want as soon as I start making Gisele's salary. Hmphff. I would like to look at two last pictures so maybe I will see that it was never that great anyway...

via Design Manifest

via Design Manifest

That is just rude. Come on. 

So then it was back to trying to replicate Gabby. Here are a few decent options: 

Hudson Valley Concord Pendant

Long enough: check. 
Brass: check. 
Less than two grand: check. 
Clear globe: no check. 
I was going back and forth with the manufacturer about modifying the globe, and then I got bored and started to seek out other options.


Next up, a pendant that really needs no introduction. I am sure all of you have met her many times over. 

Circa Lighting Hicks Pendant

The Hicks pendant--it's a solid option, but I kind of feel like they are like farm to table restaurants at this point. They are everywhere. They are amazing, but everywhere. I looked at a few other similar options like the Restoration Warehouse Lambert Pendant in brass and the Reeves Pendant by Arteriors. Jack was never sold on them either, so it made it a little easier to pick up and move on again. 

Another old favorite, you may remember from here. 

Tom Dixon Copper Pendant

Then, I thought, what about Tom Dixon copper pendants? I've always been a huge fan, but I don't have any copper in the kitchen, and I'm a little paranoid about having so much brass already. Also, in my 12x12 kitchen (yes, not kidding, 12x12), the solid copper shade would chop up the view quite a bit. 

I've always been a big fan of an industrial light, but again with the chopping of the line of sight. I can't win. 

Hudson Valley Pelham Pendant

I know I said I didn't have any copper in the kitchen, but is it too late to change that? Total swoon. 

via Mix and Chic Blog

Then my dumb ass tries to go and really mix up things. I thought, what if I just did one linear style chandelier instead of two or three pendants? Maybe that will be less expensive? Worst idea ever in all of man kind. I remembered seeing a few of Lindsay Adelman's fixtures and loving them so thought i'd just price one on a whim. I am clearly in the wrong profession. $46k for a chandelier. Shut your mouth. I wonder if that includes Edison bulbs? And the house that it goes in? Jesus. Still pretty gorge though. 

via Lindsay Adelman

I found a comparable style light with a much different price point via Currey & Co.'s Shelly Chandelier, but I think the sticker shock of the earlier one just turned me off to the style. It was also too similar to two other chandeliers I already have. It appears I have a thing for brass, spikes, and clear globes. 

Currey & Company Shelly Chandelier

I could go all day on lights, but you guys clearly also have a life, and maybe a job or Instagram to get back to, so I will cut this short. I ended up going with the great people at Schoolhouse Electric and am doing somewhat of a custom order. The company is based in Portland and has great customer service and would pretty much work with all of my asinine requests. What's not to love? I chose the Rhodes pendant with a round clear glass globe. I will keep all of you eager beavers posted as soon as it arrives! 

TRAGEDY STRIKES

Is there anything in the world worse than the phrase "SOLD OUT"? Actually, there is, and it is sold out's bitchier sister known as "DISCONTINUED". I hate her. I hate her. Why must this happen every time??

I have the insanely useful quality of becoming helplessly fixated on random items I catch a glimpse of, and then I spend countless hours trying to maybe track down a breadcrumb about the manufacturer or style name. Then, per usual, as soon as I might be able to locate the item, I learn it is sold out or has been discontinued. 

Take, for instance, this recent tragedy:

via Terracotta Design Build Co. 

Lovely enough kitchen, right? And how about those light fixtures. Of course I became obsessed and knew I would not be happy unless they were hanging from my newly hoisted ceilings. Everything about this situation was perfect. They were showcased in a square kitchen (my layout) with every feature I love: carrera marble subway tiles, mixed metals, brass, amazing natural light, the list goes on. 

I knew I needed something that wouldn't completely cut off the line of sight, the brass was on point, the price was amazing ($198!!!), and they were actually long enough for the 12' ceilings at 57"!). As a side note, do you know how difficult it is to find brass glass globe pendant fixtures with rods (not just chain extensions) to go above and island for 12' ceilings that don't cost as much as a mortgage payment? Well, if you don't, now you do. The struggle is real. 

Annnnd insert scary music here. Not only did I spend about 60 hours and two months of my life attempting to track this specific item down, I became so fixated that literally nothing else would suffice. 

Well, spoiler alert for anyone else recently taken with these beauties... They are SOLD OUT and DISCONTINUED. The horror. I am not even too embarrassed to say that I may have a new pen pal at the original manufacturer. We went back and forth several times, and sadly, there is nothing they can do to help me. I guess I thought they would just have a few remnants lying around waiting for me to discover and request them two years after production ceased. Total tragedy. 

via Top Home Shops

Everyone pour out one for the Gabby Morgan pendant tonight. I know I will. 

More on lights later this week. It will never be the same, but a replacement has been chosen. I know everyone is on the edge of their seat. 

I will never forget you, Gabby Morgan pendant. One love.