I am moving and need to replace several light fixtures in my home before I put it on the market. Had a bunch a realtors in and they all said if I want to take them, which I do, I need to take them out before and put others in instead of dealing with buyers who want my "stuff" because it is there. I currently have a Poulsen PH5 over my Saaarinen kitchen set that looks just beautiful and need to put something up that would give it a similar look. I am looking at spending under $100 for a cheap fixture that doesn't look cheap. Any thoughts? I also need to replace a entry ceiling fixture that currently is a Waterford cut glass dome ceiling light and put just a plain Williamsburg brass chandelier for that room, but can't find anything inexpensive. (I realize that the other two lights are not in the contemporary vein for this board, but my tastes are rather ecclectic.) Just came back from Home Depot and Lowes and they have totally changed their stock and have very little to offer. Y lighting is just too expensive for what I am trying to do. I am going to check out Craigslist to see if anything might do there. I am just not willing to leave everything up and then have to shell out over $2000 to repurchase everything knowing that whoever moves is will probaly not know the value of what is up and trash everything. Any thoughts? Help!!!!!
Ikea
Hi Woodywood. You read my mind. I just checked IKEA after I posted and thought that the Kalcium might work just fine! I don't want anything overstated and in your face contemporary, as I live in New England, the land of colonial style and I might send the buyer screaming out the door!
I can't believe that I am having a problem finding an inexpensive brass Williamsburg chandilier for the dining room though. Last time we moved and replaced fixtures(5 years ago) Home Depot and Lowes were loaded with $40 ones, now it's all this oiled bronze and alabaster stuff and it would really look bad with my cherry shaker dining room set. And forget a flush mount for the entry. Boy, lighting has suddenly turned VERY UGLY! or uglier than it had been.
~L...it need not be so important....
Even with the lousy real estate market, depending on the house you're selling, the fixtures shouldn't be so important...chances are unless they are historically original to the house, the buyers will probably want to replace them, anyhow.
Get something appropriatre and clean and don't think that people who the house are going to pass because of those fixtures.
Try buying used fixtures
While it is time consuming I suggest shopping thrift stores and building re-user retailers. If you can spare the time for a few trips and accept that some will yield only disappointment, eventually you will find replacements.
I second IKEA for quick, cheap and painless lighting given your needs.
Yeah, IKEA has a Le Klint...
Yeah, IKEA has a Le Klint inspired light, the Knappa (about $30 US), that would look great over the Saarinen table. There's the CALYPSO ceiling lamp and HORBY chandelier for more traditional contemporary options, about $30-40.
Then there's this Montreal-based company, mmdh, if you want something similar to the PH5, but for really cheap. Their L108 model is a teardrop aluminum pendant lamp, but with a cutout in the centre to let light filter out, a la PH5. It's $30 CAD (Canadian). They also have a PH5 knockoff for $50. Thing is, they're online but I don't know if they ship, especially internationally.
http://www.mmdh.ca/mmdhLights.html
I would also look at Craigslist and Kijiji for more traditional offerings. But really, I don't see why a buyer would expect lighting fixtures to be included with the house. It's not like you're renting a furnished room.
Think I'm set except for IKEA ;(
Thanks so much! Just ordered two traditional lamps online from Home Depot. (they have a much better selection online than in the store) I'm am certain they are perfect for any hardcore Connecticut Yankee. As far as a lamp for over my Saarinen table and chairs, the one I LOVE is the IKEA Kalcium. It would be perfect and shed the light that would look good over the table. As luck would have it though, the lamp is not available anywhere except from someone on Canadian Craigslist. Oh well!!!! I'll just head over the my local IKEA this weekend and see what else might work. BTW, that MMDH in Canada is just wonderful! I always seem to find what I really love outside of the USA - don't know why. Any time I want anything a little different with a clean look to it, I can count on that I won't see it here.
If anyone can recomend any other source for IKEA priced fixtures that might fit the bill, I'm still listening.
I do have to keep reminding myself that I am putting my home on the market and not for decore critique on the pages of AD.
So if you're not doing this...
So if you're not doing this for decor critique, then perhaps the "KROBY" model would work (from Ikea). It's only $20, uses std bulbs, is 2" smaller than the KALCIUM, and in stock in New Haven, and has a more traditional look (ie. the chain), yet still modern enough to go with a Saarinen.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90089408
If its too small, there's even a double version of it for $5 bucks more:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70089414
Be sure to check the AS IS section!
I'm staging my house for selling right now too, so important in this current market climate. IKEA has definitely been my friend during this. I just got a twin bed frame for $20 in the AS IS section. Totally NIB it was just overstock from a discontinued line. Can't beat that price! You can find all sorts of good stuff in that section!
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