Jul 15, 2013

i like big lights and i cannot lie...

oh my! so sorry for that lame post title.
i just couldn't resist!
(i pretty much love all 80's music, as i suspect anyone growing up in the 70's and 80's can relate!)

if you remember from this post, i purchased the stockholm sconces from restoration hardware for the front of my house.


i ordered them in january, but they didn't arrive until a few weeks ago. in the meantime, i had these $5 beauties hanging as place holders: (what light wouldn't look huge next to these??)


when they (finally) arrived, they were in a HUGE box. of course, i had looked over the measurements when i originally ordered them, and so i knew they were "on the large side", but i still was NOT prepared for how large they really were!
we took them out of the box, and i had my husband hold them up against the front of the house while i walked across the street to get an idea of the scale.
we both started laughing.
...and joking that maybe we should have built a castle to house these behemoth light fixtures!

oh! but i really loved them anyway! i mean,  really, REALLY loved them---the unique shape, the weathered zinc finish, and the fact that they are a little large. i always like to say "go big or go home!" hanging these light fixtures would definitely be going BIG!
i went back and forth for the last several weeks, and i swear that i changed my mind every day about whether to keep them or sell them. i finally decided to keep them.

here is a picture of my two daughters, standing on the front porch with one of the lights.


here are some of the factors that helped me to ultimately decide to keep and install the lights:

1. yes. they are BIG. but because my house sits a good 6' above the elevation of the sidewalk, and since there is a large retaining wall in front, they don't look as large as they might on a house with a flat yard.

2. i had already purchased the semi flush mount RH light (also in weathered zinc), and i knew that if i bought another light fixture, the finishes would not match. not a huge deal, but i really like the soft black/uneven finish of the "weathered zinc".


3. we currently do not have any landscaping, so right now, the ONLY thing to look at is these lights. i figured that once some trees, bushes, and other architectural elements (like shutters and window boxes) were added, there would be a lot to "soften" the house.

4. i figured that if i sold these lights, i would be able to get about what i paid for them ($159 plus shipping), but i also knew that every other exterior light that i really liked was double or triple the price of these. that would mean more money than i wanted to spend. a lot more. plus, there are about 457 other projects in the house that need some attention!

here they are, getting installed:



 and here they are, in all their large glory!
 quite honestly, when they first went up, i was thinking they were too big, and that i was going to take them down. but after a minute, i got used to them,  and now i love them!


**my husband and i are still "debating" about whether they are too big. he thinks they are, and i say they are FINE.
what do you think? i promise i wont get upset if a majority of you think they are too big, and i need to get some smaller lights...i am just curious to know your opinions!
please leave a comment!
too big?
or just fine?
(thanks in advance!)

71 comments:

  1. I love them! They are big, but I'm with you, once landscaping is in, they'll be perfect.

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  2. I really like them!!! I agree that once landscaping is installed it will soften the heaviness of the lights. Keep them!!! :)

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  3. They are big...but I think you're probably right, add in some landscaping and that will help. Are you doing shutters at all on the lower level? That would balance them out, too, I think.

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  4. Sorry. I LOVE everything rlse in your new home and have loved watching it come together, but those new lights, while beautiful on their own, seem too big to me. (I really would never had said a thing, but you did ask for opinions) :)

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    1. totally happy for any opinions! i had the same opinion just a few days ago...and may just change my mind again next week!

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  5. I really like them!!! I agree that once landscaping is installed it will soften the heaviness of the lights. Keep them!!! :)

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  6. I LOVE THEM! I would keep them for sure. Like you said go big or go home.

    Blessings,
    Nancy

    ps... I have the tune in my head for that 80's song you based your post title on! so funny

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  7. They look great and add real drama to the front of your home. Great choice!

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  8. LOVE. THEM! They are the jewelry to the front of your house. Once everything comes together out there the size will make more sense.

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  9. LOVE them!! I actually think anything smaller would be too small. They are classic and beautiful and add the perfect amount of drama, even without the landscaping. They give the house presence. I hope you keep them!

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  10. The bigger the better! I love them - they definitely give your front door some presence!

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  11. I vote to keep them!!!! They look great!!!!

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  12. I think they look a little large now but that is because there isn't any landscaping and they are the only thing to look at --but when the landscape is in they will be perfect!

    Maggie S

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  13. I actually thought about it from this perspective - if I were driving down the street would I look at your house and think wow those people love big lights! I cannot lie.....but absolutely no, I would not think that. And you are right that once the house is landscaped they will blend and be less of a focus. I love them - beautiful lights!

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    1. ha!! yes. we DO like big lights and we cannot lie! :)

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  14. I like them. I think they add a lot to the front of your house.

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  15. I am sorry i think they are too big. If you add landscaping and shutters you might balance out the front facade and make them look smaller but if you aren't adding shutters I say they are too big. Sorry Love your blog!

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  16. I love how big they are, looks great and will look even better with the landscaping and shutters

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  17. Seriously love them! I did think the same thing about adding shutters, though.

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  18. The lamps are gorgeous. I don't think the lamps themselves are too big - I think they are a nice scale for the house. What is bothering me is the stuff on the top - all the bar stuff. It makes the lamps look like drop earrings - if that makes any sense? Which makes the lights look bottom heavy and like they are hung too low, which is fighting with the beautiful portico trimming that is trying to bring your eye up. If you hung them higher (which it doesn't look like you can without messing up the door trim) or if the top stuff wasn't there so the lamps where sitting higher in the entry, it would look perfect scale wise.


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    1. I agree! The bar at the top really throws these off... and makes them too big for the house. Maybe if the bars were repainted the same color as the house so they blended in they would look less intrusive.
      They really are gorgeous, but I have realized when sizing chandeliers from RH, that their lights are just really BIG.

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    2. yep. agreed. there is an element of the top of the light that is a bit "much".

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    3. my husband agrees with you both!

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  19. I prefer larger lights, but there is something not quite right with them mounted on the double casing around the entrance. I would suggest mounting them to the SIDES of the double casing (maybe centered between the windows and the double casing) so you can enjoy the trim detail and the lights on their own. This would also "open up" your entry. Get your hubby to hold them up for you one more time!

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    1. i totally see your point! however, at this point, the electrical boxes arent going anywhere. i do agree that moving them over might help with proportions!

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  20. I actually love them but think they make the door opening look too crowded mounted where they are. I think they might look better balanced if they were mounted directly next to the opening on the face of the house. Between where a shutter would end and the framing of the door opening.

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    1. yes. i can see how they would look better spaced out further from the door. im hoping the shutters and the landscaping will camouflage any weirdness.

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  21. They're not just fine. They are great!

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  22. They are big, but I really like them. I think they just stand out right now because there's not any landscaping. Once there's other stuff in the front of the house your eye won't go straight to them. Trust your instincts! You have good taste.

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  23. I think they look great!

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  24. I don't think that they're too big, but I agree with a previous commenter that they look "off" due to the brackets that they're hanging from.

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  25. okay....so i laughed out loud at your post because my husband and i went through the same reactions and thoughts as you guys!!! your photoshoped pic is hilarious!
    i scrolled right down to the last pic and thought..wow..those are big...and GORGEOUS!! The first image that came to mind was large green boxwoods or evergreens that would definitely balance them out. so i really think they will look even better when you plant your softscape.
    they really are such beautifully designed lights and add great character to your home. that price CAN NOT be beat!

    and i don't know about you...but we had so many issues with the glass being broken. terrible packing from RH!

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    1. we didn't have any issues with the packaging! it was really solid and nothing was broken. sorry about yours! nothing worse than trying to get replacement parts for a light fixture that you wanted installed YESTERDAY!

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  26. These lights are awesome!! I love that they are BIG. You can use their largeness to point out your house to visitors. :) It makes your home look like a welcoming east coast colonial.

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  27. With landscaping they will look amazing!

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  28. They look awesome! I think most exterior lights you see around are under scale and dinky looking. These add a certin richness, especially when your landscaping goes in. great job!

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  29. I like big lights too so I think the size is just fine, especially after other things go up to balance things out. I may agree with some previous commenters about possibly moving the lights further apart/up to make it perfect but in the grand scheme of things I don't think it'll matter much once shutters etc are in. I think they're gorgeous!

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  30. I'm still seeing perfection w/your home and the plan as it plays out. :) As I scrolled through your post, I was anticipating something much different. These look fine...truly.

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  31. Perfect! I was anticipating something different as I read through your post; but truly--these are GREAT! I sit and smile as I read your posts b/c you are executing your home plan so perfectly as per my personal taste. Good job, Autumn!

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  32. Love them! I think they look great.....and what a good deal, too!

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  33. Love them! I think they look great.....and what a good deal, too!

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  34. They look wonderful... Also as you said once you have landscaping etc they will blend more. Just think of diamonds and TV's.... they seem big at first but look smaller as you own them!!
    Enjoy your blog and style...congrats on your new home.

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    1. ha!! i have never heard that saying, but i LOVE it. so true! we bought what i thought was HUGE tv last spring, and sometimes, i walk into our bonus room and think "is this really the tv we bought?? it looks so small in here...!"
      and who doesnt dream of a bigger (or just better) diamond?
      :)

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  35. I think they are great and not too big at all. Definitely keep them!

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  36. Love them and with landscaping in place you'll look like a design genius.

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  37. Autumn, the lights are awesome! When I was researching size and proportion for my own outdoor sconces, the standard I found was this: lights should be 1/3 to 1/2 the height of the door or opening. Also, if you have to err one way or the other, err on the larger side. In addition, most information I read said that lights will appear 50% smaller from 50 feet away. BTW, I love the bar across the top of the lanterns--it makes them unique!

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  38. First.... I love 80's music too.
    Second.... I love those lights more! Okay maybe not but they are pretty flipping fabulous.
    Third...Keep them.
    Fourth...If you don't keep them then my address is.....
    Fifth.....If anyone tries to take them from me. Back off!!!!
    Sixth...No wait, I changed my mind. They are WAY TOO BIG! Again my address is.....

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  39. they are gorgeous! I agree with most posts, once the landscaping is in, they will look even better

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  40. They are keepers!

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  41. Go for it! They're fantastic. The shot from the road shows them off beautifully.

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  42. I LOVE the! And I think the hardware above the lantern is what makes them different and awesome. Are you adding shutters? If so, the placement is perfect!

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  43. BOLD, not big. I fyou lived in TEXAS you wouldnt even be questioning them. :)

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  44. I like them. I think most people (including myself) tend towards too small when it comes to these elements, so it seems big now, but it won't when everything is in place. And actually, in the pic with the girls, I thought, oh, that's not bad. I laughed at loud though with the castle pic. Perfect!

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  45. I say keep them! Can't beat the price, and it's alright to have a statement piece out front. They look great!

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  46. I love the lights, and I love your house (watching it come together is so exciting!). But I don't think I love the two together, sorry! Sure shutters and landscaping will balance it, and maybe my opinion would change if I could see that. But I don't like how the portico detailing is being covered, how they are mounted in a weird (to me) spot, and I don't think I like them wall mounted period! (Unless it was on a darker wall). I think they would be perfect as lamp posts though! But I think, if you can, hold off changing until everything else comes together more!

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    1. my husband is so happy that you commented! i keep telling him that i am "winning", but it is nice to see that others are seeing what both of us also saw....and that still really bothers him!
      :)

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  47. I love the lights, and I love your house (watching it come together is so exciting!). But I don't think I love the two together, sorry! Sure shutters and landscaping will balance it, and maybe my opinion would change if I could see that. But I don't like how the portico detailing is being covered, how they are mounted in a weird (to me) spot, and I don't think I like them wall mounted period! (Unless it was on a darker wall). I think they would be perfect as lamp posts though! But I think, if you can, hold off changing until everything else comes together more!

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  48. I'm a fan. They are pretty. Just keep them and move on to the next project. When everything is finished out front you will love them even more and be glad they stayed.

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  49. I will take one for the team and buy them back for you. i will even bring you homemade cookies. so..... one of my friends wears those headbands on her forehead that makes her look like an indian. it is terrible. what an ugly trend ;) no offense to those of you who wear these. However my friend is a babe! (dont get any ideas i am happily married for 15 yrs) with her orange red lipstick, indian band, and a smile on her face who cares what she wears her smile and confidence is what makes her a babe! Now i am not saying the lights are ugly, however I am saying that being a babe means being your own kind of babe! I am a babe, You are a babe, your husband is a babe..... lol. jk I have never seen your husband. ;) If your house is a girl.....it is a BABE!!!! You will get millions of compliments on those lights! We are Americans. Bigger is better.

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    1. hhha!!! oh my goodness. TOO funny. i agree. those indian headbands are pretty awful. and they make me feel OLD because i totally think they are oooogly and then i start thinking that maybe i am just too out of style to fully appreciate them. and then i remind myself that i am awesome and have good taste. or at least classic, timeless taste. (thats what i tell myself anyway!)
      thanks for the encouragement! my house is a BABE. even if her those lights make her butt look big.
      :)

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  50. I think that most lighting people use is too whimpy. Once you have the landscape installed, the lights will look great!

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  51. This is so perfect! I just received my RH stockholm sconces that I ordered earlier this year too for my new construction house. I think they may be huge for my house too! We are just starting the house framing so I can't see how BIG they will look on my house yet but I made my husband hold them up on our rental house just to see the BIGness. haha! Thank you for sharing a similar story. I also love big lights and I'm planning on keeping mine (even though they are BIG).

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  52. They look large however, landscaping can really change how they look on the house. I would wait and see.

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  53. The proportions are wrong. I thing they look odd and to big. I get what you were going for but they do not work if I'm being honest.

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  54. KEEP THOSE LAMPS!!!! THEY ARE LOVELY AND PERFECT! BRAVO!

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  55. Most definitely, keep them! They are amazing and once the rest of your yard is in, they will look perfect. I really love them. A LOT!

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