Help be my decor-ah-TOR: lighting troubles

[stoney321]

Who doesn't love decorating someone else's things, huh? So here's the situation: I have an entry light that I do not like at all. It came with the house, it's not my style, and I am going to be all up with the scaffolding this weekend to hang my dining room chandelier, and thought I'd knock that one out, too. BUT I CANNOT CHOOSE.

My house is a traditional home architecturally, but I lean towards mid-century design, because I like clean lines and random organic shapes. Under the cut is the poll with choices.

Here is the dining room chandelier, it looks WONDERFUL lit and hung. I suspect. (This is the one the husband tried to hang with fishing line, btw. Ahem.) It was eye-catching in the store where I bought it, which is why I bought it. :)



And the underside, so you see how the light gets out:



(The orange fabric is for pillows in another room, that isn't staying in the dining.)

Things to know: to the right of the entry is the dining room where the rattan chandelier is - the room has loads of natural elements, but in crisp clean lines (minus the light fixture.) You aren't seeing all of the neat art work on the walls, or my fabulous curtains or my happy-making trees in the corners.

Beyond the entry is my living room where I have gold curtains. While I love silver and chrome and nickel, it won't work in the entry because of the 23 foot (no, really) gold curtains in the other room. My walls are greige, because I love true neutrals. /random

[Poll #1705672]

Note: I hate my dining room set. It's old, it was available when we needed it, but it's served its purpose, and I'm ready for it to go. My husband points at the pool and tells me to chill. FINE, WHATEVER, BE THAT WAY. Ze Chairs:




And here is the fabric I bought to make chair covers to jazz them up: Nope, ti's decided. It's going back. The pattern needs to be, like, 33% smaller and it's too expensive to cut and regret. BOO TO ME. BOO.




Crisp, straight lines, no ruffles or bows, and possibly only have a short "Centurion" skirt. Lol. (Meaning: a few inches so you can see the legs, not a floor duster.) Scale too large? Now that I'm not in the fabric shop, I think it might be too large a scale, now. Should I just make a kick ass duvet with that material instead? I am filled with doubts. Also Cheerios, but that's neither here nor there. *burp*

Thoughts?

Comments

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I loooooove teh second one, too. There's a monster one that's 3 feet across, but that's too huge for my entry way. (It's also close to 2 grand, the big one. Dang.)

I will totes make us maxi dresses out of it and turbans and burquas! Lol, my cats were all, "Oh, a hiding place for me? HOW LOVELY."

[dampersnspoons.livejournal.com]

Exhibit B matches your house the best. I like the other two, but they would look like thumbs what are sore.

And I say make removable pretty tailored pads and/or chair covers for the chairs you already have, and don't let any of that fabric touch the ground or it'll look like a bed suit.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I like B the best, too. I LOVE IT. I've been fawning over it for almost a year now. (They have a whole series of them, wall sconces, etc. V v cool.)

I thought a short skirt would be good, too. Tailored, crisp, & a few inches hanging below the seat, but not much more so you can see the legs. LOL at bed suit - I was thinking of scrapping the whole project and just making a new duvet with it instead. :)

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

JMO, that fabric is a little too bold for chair covers. I'd go with something in the same shade of color, but with a pattern that's not as busy.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I'm leaning that way, too, but I'm going to sleep on it so I don't cut in haste and repent at leisure.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

That second light is so elegant. I like the chair fabric and I think the large scale adds drama.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

You should see that light in person - it's SO DRAMATIC and awesome. <3

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

I like the most expensive fixture best, but they're all a little too modern for my tastes! I prefer more old fashioned styles (but not ornate stuff.) I LOVE your chairs.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I'm all about modern. If I could, I'd live in a glass rectangle with built in sectionals and nothing else. :D

When I get a new dining set, you are first in line for my old set (the table is a farm-style trestle)

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

Whoops, I got caught up with Manet! But I think I like the very first fixture best.

And my only issue with chair covers won't be an issue with you -- I've seen them where people have let them get a bit dingy (and I totally fear I would let that happen). But I'm sure you will keep yours in tip-top shape and they will look terrific!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Ahahahahahah, thank you for going with the Jack Handy. (I sure hope he likes enchiladas, because that's what he's getting.)


Oooh, I would be all with the whipping off and delicate washing and ironing with starch and the crispness! Does that have any affect on the vote, knowing how anal-retentive I would be? (Hee.)

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

B is the coolest, hands down. Sorry about that.

Dressing up the chairs you already have is an excellent stop gap measure. Come over and dress mine up, too. They need new pads. I'm thinking something mid-century and nubby to go with my garage sale decor.

Oh, I like Manet and Monet. And mayonnaise.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I know, I always find stuff that I go gaga for and then see the price tag. And word to the wise: Design Within Reach is a misnomer. It's also a day sucker, because I can spend the WHOLE DAY looking at the pretties.

I found a great nubby kinda tweed (very 50s-60s mad men fabric) for curtains in the dining room - they're a few shades darker than the background on the material above. I feel like I need some pattern in the house, and that's why I got that material. Plus it's a good transition between the traditional styling of my suburban home and the more modern look I wish I could pull off inside. I DON'T KNOW, AUGH.

I'm off to Ikea to get chair pads, because their fabric covered pads are cheaper than the bare pads at the fabric store. =/

[ryokomusouka.livejournal.com]

B, definitely. It echoes the color of the other and a bit of it's materials (from what I could tell) without being an awkward-looking near-copy (like A). C - no. Just no.

That fabric - WOW. That needs large expanses to breathe and allow folks to see the pattern. It might work for chair covers if you can finagle it so a repeat walks down the backs of your chairs. That needs an extremely tailored chair cover - one with the skirt of a piece with the rest. Otherwise you're in for a helluva time matching patterns, etc., and breaks in the design of the cover would distract from the fabric's pattern.



I'd be more concerned with how those suckers like to shift around and get skewed and sloppy-looking. And seriously - they wouldn't last two weeks in my house.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

(C was the trick question, lol. I love love LOVE B.)

And imagine that chair cover you posted but with hospital corners/inverted box pleat at the corner instead of the loosely flowing hem, and that's exactly what I was imagining. The pattern would obv. go in the middle, I bought enough to be able to do so. (Girlfriend, I've been sewing since I was 11 years old, come on, now. Hee.)

Seeing the fabric on a bolt in the shop and then seeing it in my home... Honestly, I'm leaning towards a neutral/solid dark linen for the chair covers and moving that material to a duvet in my master room.

I HATE SECOND GUESSING. *head desk*

[oatmellow.livejournal.com]

I love the material you've picked for your chair covers, but I wonder if it's not slightly too 'heavy' for the chairs...does that make sense?

My first choice on lights is the first choice...but my 2nd choice would be #2. I think choice #1 is worth the wait though. It's gorgeous. And so fitting!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the more I look at it, the more I think it's off to become a warm weather duvet. BOO at buying fabric that was pricey and not using it for what it was purchased for! I almost wish I had Queen Anne chairs so I could have a big splash of that pattern on the back round, and have the front and seat be a coordinating neutral. But that would require buying all new chairs.

I love the idea of having two designs from the same designer, but I think I'm leaning towards B, it's been my favorite from the start. I just wish it wasn't so pricey. Why can't I like brass and glass, Mel?

[bitchygrrl.livejournal.com]

I love the second light but I think A will be a better compliment to the chandelier. Then again it might be too matchy. Maybe B. C is right out.

I love the fabric, but I don't think it's the right scale for chairs.

We get to see pics when everything is done right? :)

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I just packaged up the fabric, it's going back. *siiiiigh* It's too expensive to cut and regret, you know? Then I can put the money towards the light fixture, huzzah! :D

C *is* right out! That was the "well, I guess if I should be sensible and spend a handful of change..." (But we both know I don't roll like that, lol.)

Oh, you bet!

[flyingichthyo.livejournal.com]

I like the third light for, like, a quiet powder room, away from everything else. I like the second one, but it looks kinda small, and I don't know how large your space is. And I like the first one, but for some reason, all I'm reminded of is tongue-depressors from the doctor's office. Do they have this one in a nice color wash? I'd totally say go for the first if it came in a different color.

The material? You could use it to cover a large cushy chair... I suppose. :/

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Just ordered the second one - it's 2 feet across and high, so the picture doesn't do it justice.

And I added a strike through - fabric went back. siiiiigh.

[captainofidiots.livejournal.com]

I'm in love with the second light. LOVE.

I worked at a Benjamin Moore retailer for almost a year, so I got to do a lot of picking and choosing stuff for customers that didn't want to pay for a designer. Haha. If I'm picturing the color you have on your walls right, that's a good color to work with.

The design on that fabric is a bit large. :( I really like the colors of it, though.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Me too, just bought it! (It's even cooler in person)

The fabric went back. I either needed bigger chairs (like a wingback) or the pattern needed to be a bit smaller. :(

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

*holds sides from laughing*

WOOOOOOOOW.

[prophecygirrl.livejournal.com]

I actually did say "wow" when I saw the third choice -- go figure. Me likey lots.

#2 would be my 2nd choice.

BUT, if you love the second one, and it will make your toes tingle whenever you look at it (as much as a chandelier can make one's toes tingle -- I'm all "Don't ask don't tell" about that one -- then I say go for it! Life's too short.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I think it's cute, I just don't know how it fits in with my darker decor. (But yeah - I like the organic shapes and the Nelson bubbles)

HEE. I like your philosophy. ;)

[ivyfree.livejournal.com]

Lights: I rather like the third one but I looked at it and thought: how the hell do you clean that? What is it made of? The second one made me literally dizzy to look at. By default, I went with the first one.

Chair covers: Tailored chair covers. That's because personally I dislike froufrou and because they'd be easier to press after cleaning. Seriously, I'd spot myself a drink every time I went in there and save my pennies to buy new dining room furniture- but that wasn't an option. That fabric needs to become a duvet or something; it's too busy IMO.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Good point - I'd use my upholstery attachment on it, but it would be a pain in the neck. The others are microfiber duster a-go-go.

The fabric went back - it's just too big a pattern. That's the trouble with looking at swatches and ordering, something I rarely do.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I too love that second fixture. (Although I do like the first one a lot also. Where is it from?)

You made the right choice in taking back the fabric. It's a bit too overpowering for a chair.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I bought the second one today! The first one is from Design Within Reach, a fantastic site for all things modern/contemporary/mid-century. <3

I mentioned to the salsewoman that if I had wingback chairs (which look awesome as Host/Hostess chairs - the ends of the table) with nail head trim, it would be fabulous. But. I have ladder-back Parsons, so. Boo.

[zyrya]

B! B B B B B B BBBBBBBBBBB!

OMG I love B. If you love it, it would be worth the extra money because you'll be looking at it a lot.

I also really like those dining chairs, and I would tie on a padded cushion and leave the backs plain. But I do understand wanting to break up with one's furniture so tailored covers would go a long way to reconciling this relationship.

I answered "so so on tailored chair covers" and because I am waiting in TERROR for the council architect to come over and tell me I can't build extensions to my house (TERROR), I shall make some reasonings.

Chair covers are often made quite poorly, or people buy pre-mades that don't fit their chairs, and the poor chair loses its integrity to some cheap imported slut. The ineptitude of the fit is invariably managed by tying a bloody great bow around the back.

Chair covers seem to have a history of being used as Elements of Whimsy by interior designers, and thus feature oversized patterns, beezarrrre fabrics, silly colours, and mismatched designs. So there will be one in lime green faux fur, one antique rose damask, one Mondrian print, and one random, off-centre shabby-chic art nouveau tapestry off-cut from a 1913 pattern sample book which is too small and has to be edged with velvet that doesn't quite match any colour in the tapesty.

Chair covers are otherwise used as wedding decor to disguise plastic lawn chairs as meringues.

By the end of dinner people who don't sit up straight make their chairs look like unmade beds.

To me, a chair cover says "I don't like my chairs". But that's a reasonable sort of thing, and I'm sure you'll make beauty happen!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I BOUGHT IT TODAY. \o/

I would really love something like THIS or THIS for my dining room, but it seems like I have to wait. BOO.

Oh, I hope you get to build. Now, what are you building and how does it relate to tailored slipcovers? :D

Ahahahaha. Well, I do have banquettes for the length of the table and two chairs at the host/hostess ends, so those were the only two to be covered. I honestly just want to trash the whole set and get something sleek, like I linked above.

I'm totally lol'ing at your explanations, though, because you are COMPLETELY RIGHT. Hee.

[anelith.livejournal.com]

If it were me, I would go with Exhibit A because it does harmonize so very well with the (incredibly cool) light fixture in the dining room. And I like it just for itself! So, you have to wait a few days, it's worth it to get something that looks so good.

My second favorite is Exhibit B, and I'm not fond at all of Exhibit C (it doesn't go well with the theme you already have, IMO).

I know you're enjoying the decorating! Have fun with it!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I really like A, too, but alas, the siren song of B called, and I bought it yesterday. :D

And soon I'll be turning my attention to the garden, because it's going to get a major overhaul this year, too. WHEE!

[denelian.livejournal.com]

i am possibly very late on this, but i agree with you - unless you do something VERY specific with that pattern, it's too large [if you could manage to cut it in such a way as to have the ONE example of the design on the back of the chair, it could be awesome - but i see NO way to do that. it's actually a very nifty version of paisly, and if you could do it so you have, say, a white on the "back" and a black on the "front" of the back of the chair, that would also work - but the way the pattern is arranged, i'm not seeing that either]

what you COULD maybe do is cut out the paisleys and add them to another fabric, to add the specific design singly to another. i'm not totally sure how that would work, either. i'm also not sure i'm being clear. so, short answer: i think you're right, that pattern is too big. what could be AWESOME is finding the same pattern at about half it's size, and using that for the chairs, and cutting the paisley out of this one to make matching placemats or wall hangings or "for show" napkins, etc.

[i'm good on design, but i couldn't DO any of the things i suggested. it's weird of me, i know, but crafts pretty much BLOW UP if i try them. even things that are fire resistant. maybe especially things that are fire resistant]


but DAMN you have good taste! lovely eye :)