Wall Sconces for the Kitchen
Behold these charming lights. I recently had the idea to install wall sconces on either side of my kitchen window, recessed into the subway-tiled walls around the opening. Thankfully, our kitchen is still in the middle of a renovation, so it wasn’t too late to prepare the wiring for the new fixtures.
It took only a few minutes to find the perfect sconces online at Restoration Hardware and immediately fall in love. I started by browsing many options and quickly found that some favorites were priced between $300 and $800 each. That felt excessive, so I kept searching until I found these pieces that offered the look I wanted at a much more reasonable price.
They aren’t bargain-basement fixtures, but they provide a lot of style and personality for the cost. When renovating, I try to view purchases in the context of the overall budget rather than fixating on single-item prices. That approach lets you prioritize the elements that will make the biggest impact.
Evoking early-20th-century industrial lighting, our reproductions of vintage fixtures retain the classic lines and exposed hardware of the originals. Designed to showcase the warmth of Edison-style filament bulbs. –Restoration Hardware
I love the mixed-metal finish and the vintage character the Edison-style bulbs provide. The sconces are similar in spirit to the new fixtures on my stair wall (I’ll share those in another post) while still being distinctive, which makes me excited to give them a prominent place in the kitchen.
Replacing builder-grade lighting with well-made fixtures is one of my favorite ways to add timeless character. I prefer early 20th-century reproduction lighting for the personality it brings. Because of budget constraints I replace items gradually, but it’s worth waiting for pieces that truly elevate the space.
Adding the sconces does affect an earlier plan I had for the wall above the new cabinet to the right of the sink. I originally planned two open shelves there, and I still hope to include shelving, but I’ll need to adjust the layout to accommodate the light, or possibly install only one sconce on the left. New ideas often mean revising previous plans, and that’s part of the process.
Renovation rarely follows a perfectly linear path, but the challenges are part of the fun. For now, I’m waiting on a few remaining items before work can continue, so the house still looks a bit chaotic. That interim phase has been useful—removing things I didn’t love and living with the changes, even temporarily, has helped me envision the home’s potential instead of staying stuck on the original condition.
Do you ever fall in love with a new piece for your home and have to change your original plans because of it?