There’s something new and cheerful happening in our sunroom. No, not the fireflies Clara insists on trying to catch and keep (she told me she wants one to live in her room forever). Call it befriending or imprisoning—semantics.
Our sunroom—veranda if you prefer the fancier term—now has real lighting, all thanks to new fixtures mounted to the posts at each corner.
Last summer we had planned to add light kits to the two fans, but we never found fan lights we liked. Over time we warmed to the idea of installing sconces around the room instead—they seemed like a better fit for the ambiance we wanted. Until now the sunroom’s usefulness ended with the sunset, but our electricians (shout-out to S.J. Ryan for locals) helped add the new junction boxes and wiring so the space can be used night and day. They charge by the hour; we’ll share cost details once we have the itemized bill.
To control all sconces from a single switch, the electricians tapped into an existing outlet that was already switched from inside the house. From there they ran conduit under the deck to each of the other three posts. The job was a bit complicated because the sunroom sits on a slab foundation—so we couldn’t run wiring beneath it or drill through the slab. That meant most runs had to be inside the posts or routed under the deck. If we’d known we wanted post-mounted sconces back when we had the room opened up for ceiling work, the installation would have been much easier. Live and learn.
Because of the route they used, small pieces of conduit are visible on the outside of each post. Once painted the house color they should blend in, and Sherry is already planning to add planters in front of them if they’re still noticeable. Big plans, indeed.
We found the lights on Joss & Main. They appealed to us for several reasons: they compliment our other outdoor fixtures, they were the right size for the posts, we could buy four matching fixtures (hard to find sometimes), and they fit our budget at $51 each with free shipping.
The fixtures aren’t so large that you risk bumping into them, and the dark bronze finish provides nice contrast with the fans and other elements in the room.
While the electricians were here we also had them remove an old intercom and properly terminate the wires. We were relieved it left only a tiny spot where the wires exited and a couple of small screw holes in the mortar—much better than the big hole or missing brick we had feared.
The sunroom wasn’t the only room to get electrical attention. We also had a ceiling fixture box and a floor outlet added under the floating desk in the office, consolidating a batch of wiring tasks at once to save time and money.
We kept a running list of lighting and wiring to-dos and decided to have them all handled in one visit. There’s still drywall patching and a few more fixtures to install, so we’ll share progress and costs once those details are wrapped up and we have the final bill.
Of all the indoor work, the new exterior sconces are the most transformative. They provide a warm, cozy glow without feeling like spotlights and they extend how long we can use the space in the evenings—sometimes that means a later bedtime (and maybe an extra popsicle), other nights it just means not sitting in the dark while Burger takes his last potty break. Either way, it’s a win.
How are your summer nights going? I’m tempted to rent a projector and watch a movie out here—seems like a perfect spot, even if the lighting isn’t required for the idea.
Psst—Teddy’s weekly picture is up and he’s definitely the man.