Our hallway is a gorgeous aspect to our home. The foyer was one of the big things we were drawn to in selecting the farmhouse to be our forever home. When we bought the house, the foyer had three sconces. The sconces didn't match, and the third one (seen over the piano) was not the same type as the other two along the left hand side of the hallway.
While I've got nothing against sconces, I wasn't a big fan of the ones installed in our hallway.
My amazing aunt who is a decor master in her own right, generously gave us a gorgeous chandelier to hang in our house. We decided the best place would be the foyer--giving the area a bit of added grandeur and charm!
We are very grateful that my father is an electrician and he was able to install this piece for us. For those who don't have that resource, I would insist on hiring an electrician to do this. Don't attempt to mess with old wiring with no experience. Our piece also involved the dangerous task of drilling a new hole in the ceiling to put the light in.
The Process:
We started by drilling the original hole to put the light in. We chose a spot in the ceiling that was halfway through the hallway. The light hangs by a chain and I wanted the light to be visible through the glass window in the front door. Choosing the location and height took a lot of measuring and time to think out.
Drilling a hole in the ceiling of an older home is a delicate process. Our ceiling had gone through many changes throughout the year. Originally, there was a tongue and lip board ceiling. However, as the ceiling aged people covered the original ceiling with plaster and popcorn ceiling. So there were several layers to get through. At least three inches of material had to be drilled away in order to reach the attic and wires above.
Our biggest fear was that the ceiling would crack above us and we'd be left with an ugly scar running out from the newly installed light.
Fortunately, we were able to successfully avoid damaging the ceiling.
After hanging the light, it was time to connect them to the wires that formerly controlled the sconce lighting.
We removed the sconces, but left the option to re-install them should another owner decide they wished to add them back. We have covered the areas for now.
We connected the wires for the chandelier and repaired the 3 way switch. We decided to keep the dimmer, especially since it adds some atmosphere at Halloween.
The Finished Product:
I'm very pleased with the finished look of the foyer! The chandelier adds a lot of charm and grandeur to the space. It's amazing what a simple change of lighting can do to an area. Drop your projects in the comments below!
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