In March, I posted about the main light pendant for the Cross House kitchen. Reading that post will help understand my choices for kitchen lighting.
Simple Holophane shades, as would have befitted an 1890s kitchen.
In addition to the main pendant, the kitchen had two other confirmed 1894 gas/electric sconce locations. This one is in the main pantry. The 1894 nipple is left.
With some effort, I was able to attach a period-correct, simple gas/electric sconce to the original nipple. This THRILLED me.
AND…TA-DA!…after likely a century, a period-correct gas/electric sconce is back in the main pantry. Note that the Holophane shades match the central pendant – no easy task!
Another 1894 sconce on the west wall; this would have lighted the coal stove.
AND…TA-DA!…after likely a century, a period-correct gas/electric sconce is back in this location.Note, again, matching Holophane shades. The electrical box is set back a bit, so new plaster can cover over its being wider than the brass sconce canopy.
A third such sconce was almost certainly on this wall next to the huge south window, which almost certainly was the location of the 1894 sink. I fully rebuilt the wall in 2014, and all evidence of What Was was lost. But, I will be installing a third matching sconce here.
The central pendant, with a sconce lower, right. When the kitchen is restored, and the fixtures lighted, the effect will be glorious.
While the kitchen looks like a bomb has gone off in it, it is near-miraculous that I have been able to acquire what appears to be a matching set of period-correct figures, and a full set of matching Holophane shades.
The great magician, JR of Oregon, fully rewired the fixtures, converting all the gas jets to electric. He is the hero of this story.
Kudos to JR.
Now that arch behind the refrigerator. Is that the location where the stove used to be? And do you plan on putting a stove back in that location? The light there doesn’t seem very functional for a refrigerator but it would for a stove. Likewise the location for the future fixture makes sense by the sink. and of course also in the pantry. those are task locations.
I do recall you are going to have a large task area with storage in the center of the kitchen under that large pendant.
I moved a ceiling light closer to my stove to be even with one on the other side and to avoid the door of an upper cabinet constantly hitting it whenever I opened it. I think my neighbor Bob told me it was the original location when the kitchen was the back porch. It became the kitchen during a 1949 remodel.
I am so excited for your kitchen. Is it on the timeline at all, maybe for next year? I know you have the carriage house to get ready for generating income and there are the repairs to the Cross House porch. You’ve got a bathroom so if you had a kitchen, once the cat fence is up and secure and the koi pond is up and running, you could move in.
Mary, my Kitchen plan is here.
Yes, I remember vaguely but couldn’t remember what went where or what the final design was.
I would caution you if you put a French door refrigerator in that stove nook space now that the light is there, you’ll need to be very careful you don’t open the left door so wide you hit the light. Aside from being the original location I don’t see that light doing much good as far as providing task lighting.
I do love the idea of a drainboard with the large sink. (And I must have my sinks face a window, even if they are a bit too high for a view in my case.) I can’t do that in my house as the sink is in the corner, however when the tile countertop was laid, Mrs Bishop had them slope both sides toward the sink. She was brilliant, however also six feet tall so all of the counters are a few inches taller than average and me being shorter than average it is a bit of a challenge. Still, I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I do envy you that green sink you are putting in the Carriage House.
JR is a magician! And thanks for the link to the kitchen plans. I can’t wait to see the lights in person one of these happy days!
You have a way of finding amazing helpers!!
I really love that these light fixtures, through your searching or through others’ finds, keep finding their way to this magnificent house. All these little touches is what makes your revival of this house truly special. Three cheers to JR for electrifying the gas halves of the fixtures- that’s amazing!
That you were able to use the original fitted pipe nipples to mount the sconces made MY nipples perk up. I love it when things work out like that.
Methinks the refrigerator might be prone to bonking the sconce on the adjacent wall as well, if you get a french door model.
I’m not sure how deep the niche is, but maybe a counter-depth fridge would be shallow enough to avoid that scenario?
There is beauty in the simplicity of the light,,, the shades are gorgeous!!!
Excellent work, JR of Oregon and Ross. What you both achieved are proof of your marvelous talents.