[Debfrommaine]

Thinking about replacing the chandelier with two or three recessed lights - trouble is the chandelier isn't right over the table and not sure I even like it. So, new thought is replacing it with recessed lights - anyone out there do this? Thanks for the feedback.

[Sable99]

We have a chandelier in our home in TV but we have recessed lights in many rooms in our Michigan home. I like the recessed lights but. I am vertically challenged, and its a pain to change the bulbs. A few months ago, I had to change the bulb in the light that highlights a painting over the fireplace. Somehow, the new bulb went in crooked and I had to hire someone to get it out! Yikes!

Some of the lightbulbs are more pricey. We also have three light fixtures that are long rods with 4-5 light fixture attached to them. Each bulb is around $10 to replace. After Christmas, Mom and I are going to take out the fixture in our breakfast room and put in a chandelier! Now, the problem is to find one that sorta matches the huge chandelier in our living room.

[JoMar]

We had the same issue, the Chandelier was centered around or over nothing....what a design. Anyway, we took it down, installed 4 recessed LED's on dimmers, a point light on the back wall to highlight a painting and all on dimmers. Pike electric did the installation, provided the name of a contractor to repair the hole left by the Chandelier and now we have an area that is bright and open. The Chandelier was donated to Habitat for Humanity. If you talk to Pike, ask for Sue.

[Shimpy]

It seems to be a common problem of the chandelier not being over the center of the table. What I did in my last home and am considering doing here is to swag the chain of the chandelier to put it over the table. Very inexpensive solution. You'll need to buy a new chain and wire since once swag the old ones will be too short. While you're at it you may as well replace the chandelier with one you like. I like a lot of light and recessed lights to me don't put out enough light.

[CFrance]

We had a chandelier between two pot lights in our dinette. When we had a pantry built on the back wall of the dinette, we had Pikes remove the chandelier and replace with another pot light. It wasn't too expensive because the wiring was there and they didn't have to disturb the ceiling.

That chandelier placement was a joke. Did any designer actually put a table under where they place their chandeliers?

[jdsl1998]

We swagged ours in the dining room. Now our table is not tucked deep into the corner....love it,

[N44125]

Our problem with the kitchen hanging light was, in addition to not being aligned with the table, we were always hitting our head on it. We took the easy (I.e., cheap) way out. Purchase an 'S' hook at Ace for 79 cents and used it to shorten the chain that the light is on and raise the light up. Someday will go for a more permanent solution, but this works just fine.

[pbkmaine]

We replaced the chandeliers in our house with fans with light kits. Much better for air movement in the summer, and you don't notice so much whether it's centered.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by pbkmaine

We replaced the chandeliers in our house with fans with light kits. Much better for air movement in the summer, and you don't notice so much whether it's centered.

That's a good one. We did that with our dining room chandelier because it was just too darn low.

[Villager Joyce]

Originally Posted by pbkmaine

We replaced the chandeliers in our house with fans with light kits. Much better for air movement in the summer, and you don't notice so much whether it's centered.

Thanks for letting us that worked for you. This is on my 2015 To Do List. Can't wait.

[NYGUY]

When we moved in to our house, we had the same problem of poorly centered chandeliers in the kitchen and dining room. We also felt that chandeliers were a very dated design feature whose time had come and gone. We solved the problem by replacing them with LED track lighting. The centering problem was gone and they look so much better.

[philnpat]

Originally Posted by NYGUY

When we moved in to our house, we had the same problem of poorly centered chandeliers in the kitchen and dining room. We also felt that chandeliers were a very dated design feature whose time had come and gone. We solved the problem by replacing them with LED track lighting. The centering problem was gone and they look so much better.

Another plus to using LED lights is that their lifetime is almost 10 times that of incandescent lights. For those that find replacing bulbs a problem, LED bulbs are the way to go!

[bonrich]

Yes, we opted out of the hanging light in our kitchen nook and replaced it with 4 recessed lights when we built our house. Worked out great and happy we did it. Nothing hanging over your head when you are serving, etc. Put lights on a dimmer switch also. Now light is dispersed over table and the nook area instead of being over your head.