A while back we bought this light for $29 at the Pottery Barn outlet. We originally planned to hang it over the sink “someday when we redid the kitchen,” but after installing oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights over the peninsula, the silver and mercury glass fixture felt out of place. We love mixed metals, but the silver neck, black cord, and silver ceiling cap didn’t quite jive. The glittering mercury glass shade, however, matched the chrome faucet and stainless appliances, so I started thinking about using it over the sink instead of in the kitchen redo.
To see how it would look, I had Tall John hold it up over the sink. The shape was perfect, but the finishes were all wrong. I decided to spray the metal parts with oil-rubbed bronze (ORB) spray paint with built-in primer to match the other pendants and give the fixture a cohesive look.
I applied a few thin, even coats and let everything dry thoroughly. The result was a glossy oil-rubbed bronze finish that tied the piece into the rest of the room while preserving the mercury glass’s sparkle.
After a full day of curing, we installed the fixture above the sink. The darker finish balances the space and visually links the pendants over the peninsula, even though the shades are different. The mercury glass keeps the light reflective and bright while the oil-rubbed bronze grounds it.
The new pendant acts as a bridge between the oil-rubbed bronze pendants and the stainless and chrome elements in the room. The mercury glass brings in the silver tones while the dark hardware ties everything together, creating a cohesive look with depth.
We also recently installed a stainless steel dishwasher, which further balances the room by adding another silver element opposite the sink. The placement wasn’t planned originally, but the result makes the space feel more intentional and visually balanced.
People often ask for photos of light installation, but it’s tricky because one of us holds the fixture while the other wires it up. That leaves no extra hands for photography. If you want a good tutorial, searching light installation videos online will turn up helpful guides.
The hexagon pattern in the mercury glass is one of my favorite details. The glittering shade paired with darker hardware gives the fixture a luxe, grounded feel—sparkly but substantial.
We could have used another outlet pendant to match the ones over the peninsula, but I like that this fixture coordinates without matching exactly. Its slightly smaller scale suits the sink area better than a larger pendant would.
Here are some shots of the light turned on:
On another note, we’re excited and honored to be speaking at the Home & Garden show in Portland, Oregon this Wednesday. We’ll be traveling most of the week and have a busy schedule at the show, including a public Meet & Greet in the Smart House Remodel on Wednesday evening. We’ll also give an invite-only blogging seminar that afternoon. Because of the travel schedule, posting may be a bit irregular this week, and we might be slow answering comments while we’re in transit or at the event.
Burger is staying home with a house-sitter to avoid a stressful trip, but Clara is coming with us. John’s parents are joining for the visit, which will be helpful and fun. We’re both looking forward to exploring Portland and sharing some home-related adventures from the trip.
Public speaking makes me nervous, so wish me luck. We’ll try to keep posts coming while we’re away, but please be patient if responses and updates are slower than usual. What did you do this weekend? Any painting, ORB projects, or lighting tweaks at your place?