Monday, July 21, 2008

Gotta Wear Shades?

This is the current state of our dining room. It's still needs some work and I could use some opinions. I still have to hem the drapes up as well as figure out if I'm going to use the window seat as a seat OR as a plant ledge. That's a decision for another day.

The walls are freshly painted in BM Silver Fox.

I have some etchings that I'd like to have framed like in this inspiration photo (drooling over that door and bench!!) to hang on the main wall in the dining room.

My question for you is this...should the light fixture (it was left by the previous owners and it seems to be this one from Restoration Hardware) have shades or not? The room is definitely more on the traditional side, so I thought that keeping the fixture shade free made it look more modern. It's also installed a tab bit too high for my taste. What do you think?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Personally, I really like shades, so I may be a bit biased, but I vote for shades. Especially if you decide to lower the fixture a bit b/c the bare bulbs may be too bright for comfort if they're brought down closer to eye level. That said, it does look more modern shadeless - so, like most things it just depends on the look you're going for.

Freckles Chick said...

It's coming along beautifully!

I'm not a shades fan when it comes to my own house (I honestly think it's b/c I hate to dust......) so I like the fixture w/out shades. Also feel like shades would weigh down the delicate lines of the fixture.

But the previous poster has a good point--if you lower the light, shades would diffuse the light so they don't blind you.

Not much help am I? =)

Eloise said...

I like the shades on the chandelier - think they would add a little more heft to the fixture (that's not really the word I'm looking for, but hopefully you get my gist). I would also lower the chandelier a little.

The room is coming together nicely! I like your drapes. Is that "puddling" look no longer in?

Suzie said...

I think it would look better with shades! I'm going to do the same thing with the photos in my dining room. I bought cheap black frames from Target and a gold leafing kit!

Anonymous said...

I think shades would add some much needed pizzazz...but not the plain white ones.

Katie said...

I love your plant ledge! Keep it with the greenery for sure - a window seat is nice but I personally wouldn't want to curl up with a good book in the dining room :)

and I vote for lowering the chandelier then assessing the brightness damage. If it is too bright, a dimmer can be easily installed.

Great job - I am impressed!

Amy said...

looking good- the rug is really pretty. I vote for at least trying out the shades. You can always return them if they don't work for you.

Gwen said...

Beautiful dining room! I also think the shades would go well in the room and as Eloise said, add a little more "heft" (I can't think of a better word either) to the fixture.

Teresa Meyer said...

Great! Shades it is - thanks for all of the opinions everyone!

Anonymous said...

...no shades...lower...lovely laney

Blog said...

I say shades, lower it and seating in the window. Right now the room looks small ( and it is). You want to have more of a visual openess to the outside to open the room up. It also looks bottom heavy. Shades will help with that. It also looks like at holidays an extra place to sit in there might be useful. Not for eating but conversation, wine, girls night, chatting. You get the picture. Love your blog and your ideas!

columnist said...

I think I'm too late. I would leave the light as it is, both shadeless, and at it's current height, and preferably on a low wattage. Also, I think long drapes are perfectly ok. Don't know how long yours are, but if they only sweep the floor, it's fine, and actually quite chic I think.

niartist said...

Ok, so I'm glad I read this ... because I was wondering where that chandelier came from. What a perfect piece, and I love it so much more with shades as shown in your dining room update!