We rarely mention our hall bathroom. In the 17 months we’ve lived here it’s only been the subject of two posts (removing a towel bar and fixing the toilet). Since we later used nearly the same hue as our inspiration room in the guest bedroom, we decided not to repeat that color here, so the room has been in limbo. Still, we finally made a small lighting upgrade, which is the focus of this post.
The old fixture wasn’t awful, just very builder-basic — the long row of exposed bulbs gave a backstage makeup-room vibe (long vanity, long mirror, long fixture). We agreed we’d replace it if we found something with more vertical presence and less horizontal bulk, something that wouldn’t look too delicate above such a large vanity. The plan was to install a new fixture and donate the old one.
We wandered through a few home improvement stores over the last year and a half but didn’t find anything that clicked. A month ago Sherry spotted a light on Joss & Main that felt like the right fit.
We liked the dark bronze finish and the industrial-outdoor look. It echoed the outdoor-style fixture we installed inside the guest bathroom and the front porch light that came with the house. At $60 (marked down from $100) it was cheaper than many of the other options we’d dismissed at local stores, so we bought it.
It sat on the counter for a few weeks while we procrastinated, but we finally installed it. Because of the mirror’s position I ended up photographing myself a lot during the process — and even used the tub as a tripod once or twice.
To remove the old fixture I shut off the power to the whole house (our fuse box isn’t labeled well enough to risk turning breakers on and off blindly), removed the glass shades and bulbs, and unscrewed the fixture from the wall. I’m careful with glass and bulbs since I’ve had accidents before.
Behind the fixture was a large metal mounting plate and a fair amount of dust, which made for less-than-pleasing visuals.
Unscrewing the plate revealed an imprint of where the old fixture had been: unpainted spots, some rust, dust, and paint drips.
Sherry tested the area with a lead paint test stick we keep on hand and we were relieved it came back negative. I used a palm sander to smooth the ridges left by the previous paint so our next paint job will blend better. Painting will wait until we settle on a color for the room.
With the old fixture removed, we unboxed the new light and prepared to install it.
I mounted the bar, though the included screws didn’t fit our junction box so we had to stop for the correct hardware. Once that was sorted I attached the wires and secured the fixture to the wall. Ignore the unpainted patch — that’s on the to-do list.
After attaching the metal shades and replacing the bulbs, the new fixture was ready. The two 100-watt bulbs provide more than enough light for our small bathroom, and the darker finish ties in with the room’s dark accent tile.
The fixture fills the space above the mirror better thanks to its height, which balances the ceiling-height shower curtain on the opposite side of the room. We’re impressed with the quality — it feels sturdy and the matte finish looks authentic rather than cheap. The subtle distressing gives it character without feeling overly country.
We dropped the old fixture at our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, so the swap is complete. We have more plans for this bathroom: framing the mirror, painting the walls and vanity, updating hardware, treating the window, and adding art. It’ll take time, but the new light is a meaningful step forward.
What have you been hanging in your bathroom — art, new mirrors, lighting? Any favorite paint colors or installation tips to share? We were a little nervous ordering a light we hadn’t seen in person, but we’re glad we took the chance.