A while back we bought this light for $29 at the Pottery Barn outlet. We originally planned to hang it over our sink “someday when we redid the kitchen” but then we got our oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights for over the peninsula, and although we love mixed metals, we just thought this silver + mercury glass light didn’t jive with them. So we started thinking about hanging it in a bathroom or something.
Then I asked tall John to hold it up as if it was hanging over the sink and surprisingly the shape was perfect. But the silver neck, black string, and silver ceiling cap were all wrong. But the glittering mercury glass shade was perfect (it tied into the chrome faucet and the stainless appliances and hardware). It was like a roller coaster. Perfect, all wrong, perfect. So I decided to call on my good friend ORB (oil-rubbed bronze spray paint with built-in primer) to take care of the all wrong department…
I figured giving it the same finish to help tie it into the other lighting over the peninsula was worth a shot.
A few thin and even coats later, I was left with a glossy oil-rubbed bronze fixture…
… that I couldn’t wait to hang above the sink and rinse dishes under.
I gave him a full day of drying time, just to be sure everything cured up and then up he went. It’s pretty cool how the dark finish helps balance the room and ties the pendants together, even though their shades are really different.
The new guy over the sink is sort of the “bridge” between the ORB pendants and the stainless/chrome/silver items touches in the room thanks to the gleaming mercury glass.
With our new stainless steel dishwasher installed (we actually did that this weekend by sliding a few pieces of cork under it without having to do the rest of the flooring quite yet – just have to take pics and write that post!) the room has even more balance now, since we have a silver thing on each side of the room. We didn’t plan that when we redid the layout, but it’s nice that it ended up that way (the dishwasher and fridge used to be sort of next to each other before we moved the fridge across the room).
Oh and we get requests to take photos of light installation but it’s rough to do since one of us holds the light while the other one wires it up (aka: no extra hands for photo or video taking) but if you search light installation videos I think they have a few good ones on youtube.
The little hexegons on the mercury glass shade make me really happy. I honestly think this fixture looks so much better with dark hardware to complement the cool silver shade. It’s so pretty and sparkly yet the dark tone sort of grounds it and makes it feel substantial and luxe.
We totally could have gone with another $60 outlet pendant over the sink like the ones over the peninsula, but there’s something really fun about having a light that goes, but doesn’t match exactly. And it’s a bit smaller in scale, which is kind of nice since the sink is a little less open and giant than the big ol’ peninsula.
Here are some “it’s on” shots for ya:
Now onto the “heading out” portion of this post’s title. As many of you know, we’re psyched and honored to be speaking at the Home & Garden show in Portland, Oregon this Wednesday. Which means we’ll be traveling for a lot of this week (hence us doing lots of projects this weekend, like the already-installed dishwasher, so we have lots to share with you throughout the week as we travel, speak, and travel again). We’re flying all day on Tuesday and are booked to be there pretty much all day on Wednesday the 22nd (from 5:30am to 8pm with just a few breaks for blogging and eating) and we’ll be giving an invite-only blogging seminar in the afternoon (they’re in charge of who gets invites, so maybe check their site/Facebook page for those details). But at 5:30pm there’s a Meet & Greet in the Smart House Remodel in Hall D. Anyone can show up for that, but they suggest your register. We’d love to meet you guys there!
Burger is actually staying back (with a house-sitter of course) since we thought it might be too stressful for him to travel there and back without much down time – but Clara is coming since we’ll actually have John’s mom and dad with us (they have family out in Portland so they decided to join us, which is a fun and very helpful plan).
So please forgive us if this week of posting is erratic and wonky! We’re going to do our best to get posts up at the regularly scheduled times, but there will definitely be moments when we’re in the air or at the show when we just can’t hop on and answer comment questions or get the next post up – so it might get a little funky. We tend to approve comments as we answer questions, so if you submit something and don’t see it pop up, we’re likely just waiting to get a moment to answer it or haven’t seen it yet!
But we can’t even tell you how excited we are to check out Portland (neither of us have ever been, but we have a list a mile long of things to check out, and of course we’ll blog about our home-related adventures during our fleeting two-day trip). Oh and to ensure that we’ll fit right in, we’ve been watching clips from Portlandia. Sounds like a solid act-like-a-local plan, right?
In all seriousness, I’m not the best with public speaking, so feel free to cross fingers/eyes/toes for me. I’m skeeered. But I’m sure I’ll survive and have at least ten highly embarrassing stories to tell you guys when it’s all said and done. We’ve even been prepping Clara for the flight. More on that here. What did you guys do this weekend? Any ORBing or lighting bid-ness in the hiz-ouse?
I like the light! It’s so pretty, but I’m a sucker for anything mercury glass.
Hope your trip goes smoothly! Fingers crossed for you. :)
We didn’t do much this weekend. Went to a few open houses in the ‘hood and that’s about it.
Love love love it!
I love the light fixture and you’re right, the stainless steel stove really balances out the kitchen. It already looked updated without it, but I think it really makes the space look 10X better and more modern- A much better flow to the room! It’s looking great! Have fun in Portland and make sure you do some sight seeing! I hear Portland is a pretty neat place!
Love this fixture! It coordinates beautifully with the other two lights over the peninsula, and the ORB is, as usual, so fabulous…really ties the kitchen together.
I am literally waiting on bated breath to see the cork floors go in. It’s going to be the cherry on top of this oh-so-fabulous kitchen makeover sundae ;)
Love what you did with the light and it looks fab! Cracked up watching that Portlandia clip! Have you seen the “Put a Bird on It?” one? Hysterical. :)
Haha, yes that one’s hilarious.
xo,
s
Have fun in Portland!! I’ve been there once before and it was really fun. Try to hit up Powell’s Books if you’re an avid reader, Por Que No if you like tacos (seriously, the best tacos I’ve ever had) and Cupcake Jones if you like cupcakes (within walking distance of Powells).
And good luck on the plane. Charlotte is exactly two years older (to the day) than Clara and has always been a pretty good flier. Hopefully Clara is the same!
Wahoo! Here’s hoping!
xo,
s
Love the new pendant – it looks perfect over the sink.
We did a little lighting work at our place this weekend too.
http://goofymonkeys.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-are-looking-up.html
Have fun in Portland!
Love it!
xo,
s
Love that video!! I’m having light envy right now- that shade is so delicious I can’t stand it!
Oh, the light urned out great! I love how your kitchen is turning out. I keep visioni g parts of it in my mid- nineties one full of white tile and my beloved Fiestaware.
Good luck and have fun on your trip!
1. I lurve the new fixture over the sink!
2. I wish I lived close enough to Portland to come to the show.
3. Porlandia is hilarious, you have to watch my two favorite clips – “Is it Local?” and “Put a Bird On It”
Good luck at your seminar!
Shannon
Oh yes those two are hilarious!
xo,
s
I ORB’ed this weekend! My front door was looking 1990’s so with some ORB and window film (oh, and mint green paint) it’s looking much more up-to-date. Cheers to ORB! The light looks fantastic – the contrast is dead on. Glad you decided to keep.
Here is the ORB’ing in action: http://www.gohausgo.com/2012/02/front-door-diy-beforeafter/
Wahoo! Go Emily!
xo,
s
We went from ORB to a nickle finish on a light for our bathroom (Gasp! The horror!) But the nickle finish definitely looked better with our set up than ORB. It’s still drying, so I don’t have the pics yet, but we finally finished tiling the full bathroom- all 5 different types of tile! Check it out! http://oneprojectatatime.blogspot.com/2012/02/138-bathroom-floor-tile.html
Looks awesome! Congrats Erin!
xo,
s
Love the light. As soon as I saw it I thought, “She’s breaking out the ORB spray paint!”
Have a great time, enjoy it. Don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine while you’re gone
<3
I’m obsessed with mercury glass, so I loooove that light fixture. Have a great time in Portland!
Good Call on the Light… that Kitchen is Rockin!
You will be a great speaker in Portland. Just imagine that everyone (as you look out into the audience) is in their underwear. Laugh it off, and just speak from your heart. You will be perfect.
Enjoy your time in the limelight. You both are so deserving. Have a blast!!!!!
Enjoy the ride…..literally and figuratively.
B.
Aw thanks Barb!
xo,
s
Oh…forgot to say….LOVE T HE LIGHT!!!
best of luck in portland!
Have a wonderful time on the trip and don’t stare Sherry! You guys will do great!
I really like the light too!
So…if you installed the dishwasher…does that mean…cork floors?1?!?!? haha, I’m dying to see the floors!
Nah, we just slid a few planks of cork under it, but haven’t started on the big expanse of floor yet! Soon hopefully. No one’s more excited to see that cork down than we are! Will keep you posted.
xo
s
I had the same thought about the floors!
The light is so beautiful! I love it! And I’m really hoping that an installed dishwasher means we’ll get to see those beautiful cork floors soon!
So does that mean you finished the floors, too?! Can’t wait to see!
And have a safe trip! Be sure to snag some time just to yourselves. All of us out here in blog land understand!
Nah, we just slid a few planks of cork under it, but haven’t started on the big expanse of floor yet! Soon hopefully! No one’s more excited to see that cork down than we are! Will keep you posted…
xo
s
So if you installed the dishwasher, does that mean you installed the cork floors too?
Nah, we just slid a few planks of cork under it, but haven’t started on the big expanse of floor yet! Soon hopefully. No one’s more excited to see that cork down than we are! Will keep you posted for sure!
xo,
s
Looks perfect above your sink. Love the glass!
Ohh! I love it! Just the right amount of similarity without being matchy-matchy.
And the dishwasher is installed!?!? I can’t wait to see it! Ok to be honest I’m not really THAT excited about the dishwasher…I’m just stoked knowing that the dishwasher is one of the last things that had to happen before the FLOORS! :D
Have fun at the Home and Garden Show! You’re gonna do great!Just picture them all covered in paint and sawdust fumbling through a home improvement project (it’s the DIYers “naked”). ;)
Bwahaha. I love it!
xo,
s
That goes so well together in your kitchen! Can’t wait to see how everything looks with the floor. It will be amazing!
You mentioned that the dishwasher is installed (yay!) – does that mean you’ve started installing the cork floor too?
Nah, we just slid a few planks of cork under it, but haven’t started on the big expanse of floor yet! Soon hopefully. No one’s more excited to see that cork down than we are! Will keep you posted!!
xo
s
This looks great! I love how well the mixed metals work here. Hard to tell… is it metallic and not particularly opaque on the outside, which would focus the light downward? — or is it semi see through, letting more light out?
-Carly
It’s sort of semi-see-through (like a weathered mercury glass that’s translucent in many areas and semi-opaque more towards the top).
xo,
s
The light looks great! And Portlandia cracks me up. We watch it on Netflix.
Does the installed dishwasher also mean installed floors, or did that plan get changed? Can’t wait to see them when they’re finished!
Nah, we just slid a few planks of cork under it, but haven’t started on the big expanse of floor yet! Soon hopefully! No one’s more excited to see that cork down than we are! Will keep you posted for sure!
xo
s
I’m a local Richmonder and have looked for the Decorating Outlet in Midlo, but it is no longer located where the internet says it is. Can you tell me where it has moved to? I love the lights you got there and wanted to check it out! Thanks!
It says it moved? It’s still right there on Midlothian near the intersection of Midlothian and Robius (on the same side of the street as the Car Pool car wash) in a small white and green colored shopping center (across the street from a car dealership). If you go past Robius you’ve gone too far. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I am glad you didn’t use the same light over the sink. It looks great and adds more visual interest to the room. Somehow Sherry, I wasn’t at all surprised you broke out the ORB. I hope y’all have a fun trip and that Clara enjoys her mini-vacay too!
It’s crazy how something so small like ORB hardware on a pendant like that can make the room look so balanced. Absolutely beautiful, I love your decision to use this pendant :)
Aw thanks Elesea!
xo,
s
Cannot WAIT to see this room with the dishwasher and flooring in. I’m so impressed with both your vision and the ability to execute it over so many weeks. Well done!
Soooo…if you’ve installed the DW does that mean you’ve also installed the floors? :D
We actually haven’t! Haha. We just put cork and underlayment under it and slid it in – so I guess we did a few square feet of the floor, but that’s it! Haha.
xo,
s
I love mercury glass and your new light fixture is fabulous. I think the ORB really makes it much more outstanding. Did you paint the string hangy thing too? Have fun in Portland!
Yup, just sprayed it all!
xo,
s
Looks great! I think I’ll give that treatment to a ceiling fan
Oh, so glad you kept this fixture. It looks awesome with the others! Have a great week…sounds like you have a super busy one coming up!
I was just in Portland for work. Just a few miles from the airport is a wonderful little eatery called Bistro 23. If you’re hungry when you first get in, you should check it out. Man, now I’m hungry!
Have a great trip!
Thanks for the Portland tips guy!
xo,
s
Have fun, travel safe! Dishwasher is in….does that mean so are the floors?! OH BOY!!!
Nah, we just slid a few planks of cork under it, but haven’t started on the big expanse of floor yet! Soon hopefully! No one’s more excited to see that cork down than we are! Will keep you posted!
xo
s
You must watch “The Dream of the 90’s is Alive in Portland.” We went there last summer for a wedding and watched it over and over to prepare. I pretty much cried the first time I saw it. Have a great time! There’s lots to see and tons of really good restaurants and food carts!
We’ll have to check it out!
xo,
s
It looks awesome! Love, love, love that kitchen!
Love that pendant! Love it even more with ORB!!!
So…if you installed the dishwasher, does that mean the floors went down also?? Can’t wait for that!! :)
Have a great trip!
Nah, we just slid a few planks of cork under it, but haven’t started on the big expanse of floor yet! Soon hopefully! No one’s more excited to see that cork down than we are! Will keep you posted!
xo,
s
Why yes, as a matter of fact. I finally installed the mason jar fixture that’s been wreaking havoc on my dining room table for the last few days!
http://www.twohandsbleedingheart.com/2012/02/mason-jar-pendant-palooza.html
I love your pendants over the peninsula so much. Do you think they throw the right light for a bathroom? That’s my next project!
Aw pretty! And yes, I think the peninsula pendants would work in a bathroom too!
xo,
s
Great choice with spray painting!!! Love it all. :)
What?!? Shut the font door!!!! I live in Portland! Well…Vancouver, WA but that’s a 10 min drive over. I go tot eh show every year. And I LOOOOVE you guys, I guess I’ll have to try and get there Wed!
Wahoo! Thanks Tara! Would love to see you there!
xo,
s
I can’t even tell you how much I LOVE your new over-the-sink light. The ORB treatment completely integrates the look into the materials you already have in the kitchen. Stunning!
We spent the weekend putting the last, final touch on our vestibule project — the coat of shiny black paint on the inside of our French doors. (Seen here unpainted: http://www.oldtownhome.com/2011/11/23/The-Final-French-Door-Hardware-Item-a-Beautiful-Antique-Slide-Bolt/index.aspx ) I’m so excited to hang them back up tomorrow and enjoy the view.
Gosh, doesn’t it feel great to put the final touches on a big project?!
Yes, yes, yes! Congrats Wendy!
xo,
s
I love the lighting!!! So gorgeous!
I also have a question… I know you are so super busy so I hope you can spare a few moments! :) Have you ever had any issues color-matching Benjamin Moore colors to the Olympic zero VOC paints? Do they come out identical to the BM colors? Do the people at Lowes hassle you? I really appreciate any and all advice you can give!! Thanks!! :)
They don’t seem to mind (they have all the formulas in their computer so it seems like something they keep on hand for a reason!) and the colors seem to be a great match! Usually 99% accurate or closer (you can ask how close they get before they mix it just to make sure it’s not really off).
xo,
s
Whenever I hear the word cacao, I snigger a little (yes, snigger. It’s a lot more snide than a chuckle or a giggle).
Love that light!
Hope you guys have so much fun!
You will LOOOOVE Portland. I live in Phoenix, but my parents live outside of Portland. I love that city. Be sure to go to VooDoo donuts…
Have a great week!
I was just going to comment to recommend VooDoo donuts too… Maple Bars with bacon on them.. how can you say no?? :)
I’m originally from Portland and absolutely LOVE it. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with you!
“Captain my Captain” is my favorite VooDoo donut, totally worth the wait in line.
I was also going to recommend VooDoo Donuts. They are amazing.