On Friday, an electrician installed a new fixture to replace the ceiling fan in the dining room. It's not quite right. Actually, I hate it. :( I'll have to choose a different one.
The electrician also installed a bathroom light/fan in place of the empty box in the ceiling. That didn't go quite right. The duct isn't long enough to reach the roof, so the fan exhausts the air into the attic. (Maybe that's why the previous homeowners never finished installing a fan.) I'll have to hire someone to run a new duct.
In addition, the new light isn't quite big enough to cover the (badly cut) existing hole. I'll have to patch the ceiling.
But the light/fan looks nice, and it's great having additional light in the bathroom. :)
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So I bought a smaller version of my first choice fixture and installed it myself. That didn't go quite right. The mounting plate would not work with my outlet box. Luckily I was able to use the mounting plate from the fixture I'd just removed.
With the fixture finally attached to the wall, I added the glass globes. That didn't go quite right. The globes are too short to cover the light bulbs. I'll have to get different globes.
I'll also need to repair and paint the portion of the wall which was behind the old fixture.
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In the midst of all the not-going-quite-right events, inspiration hit unexpectedly.
When I unpacked the second-choice vanity light fixture, I saw that the glass globes used the same kind of plastic nut attachment as IKEA light cords, several of which I had bought but never used because I didn't like any of IKEA's shades.
The globes fit the IKEA cords, and I decided to hang three of them on existing hooks in the dining room ceiling. That didn't go quite right. The hooks were ancient, and snapped off when I touched them. Fortunately, replacement hooks were easily attached.
I wanted to plug the lights into a power strip with a switch so I could easily turn them on and off. That didn't go quite right. The cord from the furthest light was too short to allow the power strip to sit on my desk.
As a second option, I decided to plug the lights into a "magical" outlet controlled by a switch. That didn't go quite right. The outlet is on the other side of the room - typical - and the 15-foot extension cord I had on hand wasn't long enough. Purchase of a longer cord solved the problem.
The lights are almost directly over the dining room table, providing plenty of light exactly where I need it. Perfect! :D The cords are visible, and the switch is across the room, but I can live with that for now.
Now I can look for a replacement overhead fixture without having to consider light output as the main criteria. I should be able to install it myself... though it won't go right the first time.
I'd love to meet the renovator lucky enough to have anything go right the first time - certainly wouldn't be us! Your new fixtures are definitely an improvement over the old ones, and that was a brilliant idea hanging the fixtures over the table as you did!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The hanging lights are turning out to be just what I needed. It would be great to have hardwired pendant fixtures installed there in the future.
DeleteAw! I'm sorry things aren't working out the first time. You'll get there though! I'm excited to see the new additions to your house...in a non-creeper-stalkerish sort of way of course. :D
ReplyDeleteOf course! ;) Thanks! I like to think of it as a lesson in patience.
DeleteIf it went right the first time, Home Depot would go out of business.
ReplyDeleteWhat's Home Depot
DeleteIndeed! Should I ever buy another house, I might consider proximity to Home Depot as one of the main criteria.
DeleteOh man! You are amazing because you keep trying and trying! If it were me, all the "not quite right" stuff would just stay that way which is why my house looks like a constant half-finished project.
ReplyDeleteI like the hanging lights as a quick fix. You are very inspiring. :)
Home improvement is all about perseverance. ;) My house is basically one big half-finished project.
DeleteThank you!
Regarding the vanity light fixture in the bathroom where the globes are too short to cover the light bulbs...
ReplyDeleteOsram Sylvania offer several spiral CFL bulbs which are significantly shorter than those of similar light output from other manufacturers. I use them in older light fittings which were made to take incandescent bulbs (now almost unobtainable here in the UK).
If you can get these easily in the US, it might be a simpler solution than trying to find replacement globes.
Here's a link to what I'm talking about.
(These are of course 240 Volt Bayonet Cap for use in the UK).
They're only 88mm long.
They are "very warm white", but for shaving, make-up etc., I'd say they render skin colour pretty good.
The mini CFL bulbs are readily available, and I may end up having to use them. It irks me that off-the-shelf vanity fixtures won't work with regular CFLs, which are pretty much the standard now. The light fixture came from a "mix and match" line that offers about 20 different globes, so first I'll see if there's another style that will do.
Delete> 'It irks me...'
DeleteWelcome to my world !
I'm just putting an order together for bulbs (I buy them online nowadays) - so far: 3 different types, 2 different cap styles ... not finished yet !
I suspect a collusion of fixture companies and makers of expensive specialized light bulbs. :P
DeleteI love when accidents turn into inspiration!! Love the lighting solution for the dining area. Maybe you could hide the cords with molding or something? Or if you were extremely ambitious, drill some holes in the ceiling and get up in the attic!
ReplyDeleteWe just replaced two of our bathroom fan/light fixtures thanks to your previous post on the subject. :) One of them went perfectly (the one that already had separate switches for the light and the fan). The other... not quite right. ;) It only had one switch and my dad assured us he could wire everything to the one switch (he has a degree in electrical engineering) but no light. We'll fix it... someday.
I considered drilling holes to run the wires through the attic - it wouldn't be difficult. But I like the lighting so much, I think it will be worthwhile to have hardwired pendants installed there, with a switch next to the garage door (the door shown). I typically enter from the garage, and it would be nice to have a light switch at that door.
DeleteFabulous! One out of two is pretty good in the home improvement world! :) My fan only had one switch; with the new fan/light wired to it, the fan and light come on together. That's okay with me... or will be once I have a duct run and can actually use the thing. :)
Orlando: Regarding the spam - I get spam comments with some frequency. Most of them are caught by Blogger. I just delete those that make it through. Sorry to delete your comment, but it was connected to the spam.
ReplyDelete