Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Lamps Plus. As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own.
As I shared yesterday and in other posts about our 1970s home, one of our goals is to brighten it up. So far, we’ve removed unnecessary window coverings, added recessed lights in six rooms, and pulled out or trimmed overgrown landscaping that blocked natural light. Little by little, we’re noticing a difference and the house is becoming well-lit, which is not only welcoming, but it’s practical. We can actually see what we’re doing!
An area that still felt so dark, though, was the hall. It is the only space in the house (excluding parts of the basement) that doesn’t have any natural light. It relies completely on the windows from the adjoining rooms. My boys like to keep their blinds drawn and doors closed (they are teenage boys, after all), so that blocks most of the natural light from coming into the hallway. So, we use the hall lights, which were honestly lacking. Three 60-watt bulbs were just not enough to properly light a hall that is over 25′ long. The photo below is a pretty accurate reflection of how dark the hall looks and feels, even with the lights on.
(And, yes, that’s a fish taco cat toy on the floor. A favorite.)
The lights have a sort of quirky charm and I do like to reuse pieces original to the house when I can, but these have lived a good, long, life, and I didn’t feel bad about taking them down.
Especially when I could replace them with THESE…
Let me back up a minute to share how I arrived at my decision that the Casa Star Ceiling Lights from Lamps Plus were the best choice for this hallway. With 8′ ceilings, we obviously needed flush-mount or semi-flush-mount lights. That was given and already narrowed the search. The other two main criteria for me were 1.) more bulbs, and 2.) something that felt classic and would work with my aesthetic and the house. It couldn’t be too rustic or too farmhouse, too rustic, or too glam. And, it couldn’t cost an arm and a leg. I needed three of them, after all.
When I saw the Casa Star Ceiling Light, I knew it was perfect. I’ve always liked star-shaped light fixtures and I have seen them work successfully in a variety of decorating styles. It’s transitional enough to bridge the gap between the mid-century age of our home and my more traditional design aesthetic. Plus, we would go from three bulbs to 18! I wasn’t 100% sure of what the difference would be, but I was 100% sure it would be brighter.
Jeff, who doesn’t enjoy changing out light fixtures, was such a trooper and helped me hang them. Some lights can be fiddly and frustrating to install, but the Casa Star Ceiling Light is well-made and went up surprisingly fast.
And the antique brass finish looks so lovely against the Light Blue walls. I can’t wait to get everything painted and the trim installed. (I’ll also lay the antique kilim rug back down once we’re finished with all of the painting.)
The lights truly are a feature of this pass-through space now.
I was smitten with the lights as we were installing them, but the real moment of giddiness came when we turned the power back on at the breaker box. I had been the “runner” to turn off the breaker, get the lights out of the box, bring the tools, etc., but I asked Jeff if he would turn the lights back on so I could be the first to experience the newly lit hallway. My response was to laugh. It was so, so, sooooooo much better.
It’s impossible to capture it in a picture, but this hall is now so bright! The boys have jokingly asked why I installed the sun in our hallway. If you’re someone who likes well-lit spaces, as I do, then you get it. It is glorious.
And, it’s a little detail, but I love the shape of the shadows cast by the Casa Star Ceiling Light. As another added bonus, the light bulbs can be changed without having to take any of the fixtures apart. Pretty and practical.
As a note, this view down the hall to the kitchen will be changing when the kitchen renovation begins. The wall at the end of the hall will be removed (we’re moving the basement staircase to a more out-of-the-way location), so you’ll be able to see through to the kitchen and light will come in from the kitchen window and side door. I cannot wait to see how that changes the feel of the hall as well.
Renovations are all about little steps that result in a big transformation over time. Installing the Casa Star Ceiling lights from Lamps Plus is one more step closer to a brighter, more Marian-ized home.
We do have more plans for the hallway. We obviously don’t spend a lot of time in it consecutively, but we do spend a lot of time in it throughout the day and we want it to feel homey and welcoming. Since it’s just a very, very long rectangle, we want to give it some character with a chair rail, picture frame molding, some low-profile beams, and crown molding. I also plan to hang our collection of antique family photos on the wall. This hallway is very different from ours, but this is a loose inspiration for the trim work…
photo via North Shore Nest
I’m going to work on painting the trim today and Jeff and I are going to work together to install the chair rail and picture frame molding this weekend. You can find a tutorial on installing picture frame molding HERE.
We also have some more light fixtures to change out! We will be replacing all of the exterior lights with more gorgeous fixtures from Lamps Plus and I’ll share about those soon.
I’m not normally a fan of the star style of light but this one is really pretty and the multiple bulbs are great. I love it when sponsored posts actually highlight things I might not have found on my own, thanks!
I love the light choice! I’ve been looking at Lamps Plus for awhile now trying to decide on fixtures for bedrooms and a hallway. Not sure why these didn’t stick out to me, but they do now!!!
I’ve always wanted a star shaped light fixture but I’ve never made it happen. I’ll live vicariously through you and your hallway. Lighting makes such a difference. I underestimate the importance of Lighting far too often.
Those star lights are GORGEOUS!! Modern and classic, all at once. I particularly like that you can change out the bulbs without taking something apart!
And even better, I am thrilled to see that your light source will ship to Canada, where I live! Lots of nice choices on their website!
My favorite comment is the one from your son(s) about having installed the sun in the hallway. Especially given their dark bedroom colors.
Those lights make your hallway look so pretty and fresh! Having grown up in the 60’s and 70’s in a 1950’s mid-century modern raised ranch, I can’t say that it a favorite decorating style of mine…I’m more of a modern farmhouse with some industrial and rustic style kind of girl. However, I am really enjoying all the pretty transformations you have been making to your 70’s ranch. I can’t wait to see your new kitchen come to life! I am looking for a new overhead bathroom light, so I will have to check out Lamps Plus.
Looks like you are going a little to the modern side in this house.
I love the new lights! They look perfect. We have outdated (from 2002) light fixtures all throughout our house except in rooms we’ve recently remodeled. I do get frustrated sometimes by how many and how expensive it will be to change them out. But I have gained new patience after reading one of your recent posts about ‘waiting’. I’m now looking at replacing one or two at a time. Thank you!
Good job with the fancy graphics and the lights going on and off ! I should have known you’ll take the simplest feature in the house and by the end you will transform it
Could you share with m e the brand and size of your miter saw to cut your framing
My first reaction to the photo of the star-shaped fixture was: I hope that’s the one they’re replacing! But as you went on to give your reasoning and to show the final pictures I am won over. There’s nothing like sparkly shadows or the ability to change bulbs without removing anything! As always, you have made a classic and tasteful choice.
Beautiful new lights. We have a shorter hallway and put in a solar tube skylight. Looks like a recessed light, but lights the entire hallway. When first installed, I thought someone kept leaving the light on!
The lights are stunning and classic! I also love to see a long hallway in a floorplan and the extra length to the kitchen will be gorgeous. That is such a good idea all around. Once you have gussied up the hallway even more w trim it is going to be so beautiful!
Perfection! Modern and classic wrapped into one!
Love the new light fixtures! Have you ever looked into solar tube lighting? We had it installed in a very similar long dark hallway and it brightened things up considerably.
Yes, we actually installed a solar tube in our Pa house and I am a fan of them, but we have a new roof on this house and Jeff is not eager to cut any holes in it! So, we’ll see if I can win him over.
So pretty, Marian! What a difference these new lights make. This hallway will be so beautiful once you are finished.
Wow what a difference! Love the paint color – that soft blue looks amazing with the floors. Question – would you paint the ceiling the same color? I think the brass would be even more gorgeous directly next to the blue. It’s so fun to watch your progress.
Possibly, but I left it white for now since it’s a loooong hallway.
Marian, I prefer the lights in the North Shore Nest hallway rather than your stars. Just my opinion But the paint job you did on the walls is beautiful not as yellow as before !
Oh, those lights are pretty, but my ceilings aren’t really high enough for a style like that.
I bet you really did play with the light switch, turning them off and on repeatedly, once the installation was complete! I also have a dark, dungeon of a hallway that I want to use as gallery space for photos and art. You have inspired me to get started on it. Thanks.
Wow, what a difference that made!
From a gloomy long corridor to a sunny room, just two lamps have transformed a dead dark space so incredibly. Because the lamps are not hanging low, the ceiling looks higher than it is. And you are not done as you reveal the future transformation with the addition of moldings and hanging old photographs etc.
Make sure that the star point is centered, one is but not the other.
Anyway, all good already.
Absolutely LOVE those lights! Good choice! They look absolutely gorgeous and make a big difference.