[Amanda_R]

Amanda_R are you a light expert? I have learnt lots from your advice, I'm hating the light research atm.

Lol no, just opinionated.

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

Hi again, it's me

I hope he replies quickly, he responded promptly when I inquired about the butterfly pendant. The one I bought didn't come with the light fixture itself, just the shade, but the pendant fixture costs next to nothing, the electrician provided them for free when he installed the light, and I bought an SS one for my room for about $10 (bought the light from the US so had to change the electrical part of it).

I only know of one reseller in Vic but there may be others interstate. The light I bought was around $300 from memory? Which is a lot for a light in a childs room but I figured it's the sort of style that she'll like for a while so I'll get my monies worth. I don't regret buying it, even if it cost more than the light in my bedroom. The Orb light might be a bit more expensive because of it's size and it's made from plywood, but then again it might not because it probably has less bits to it. I hope you can work out a way to get it, I can't imagine there would be that much trouble getting one shipped to you.

well after a few emails to Alex Earl Pinto to ask about the orb light, I finally got an answer. It's 900mm in diameter, no stockists in NSW, cost is $2800 and freight would be $200. So, as much as I love the light, it's not happening. No way could I convince DH to spend $3000 on a single light, not in my life. Plus, it's too big for the dining area. A bit sad really, because I really liked it, more than I realised. I was hoping it would come in as affordable & a suitable size.

So, still on the hunt for a pendant light for the dining area.....

Just had a quick look at the other lights on your blog, I think the drum pendants are a good light to go with, they are aren't as 'grand' in terms of wow factor and the like, but they are flexible in terms of adapting to changes in style and decor. I think I prefer the Pod slightly more than the Donut, but it would be good if there was something a bit more interesting going on with the glass on the Pod. The Donut may work better though, depending on what sort of table you're going with. But I still like the idea of the Alex Earl light, so hopefully you get a reply soon!

I think the Mara drum pendant will be our backstop default light for the dining area. I'll keep looking in the meantime.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Amanda_R are you a light expert? I have learnt lots from your advice, I'm hating the light research atm.

Amanda's great, isn't she? It makes light research bearable when she offers a few suggestions. She's great with all sorts of building/fixing/decorating wisdom.

[Amanda_R]

$2800? Ooh that is depressingly painful. Too massive as well like you said. What about something like katpaws has, it's a bit more of a common style so it may be easier and more affordable. I'll have a look and grab the link to her thread where she shows it if you can't remember it off the top of your head.

Argh, I wish I could remember the company that made the pendant I saw in one of my mums decorating magazines last week. It was around $695 and I've just checked the website which I thought sells it and it's not there. It was along the lines of the plywood feature lights, but more of a vague shell type shape. It might not be something you liked but I could see it working as a feature light. I may have to call my mum and ask if I can't work out who makes it, for my own benefit if any because I'll drive myself nuts trying to work it out, lol.

I guess if you're willing, you could always design your own orb pendant inspired by Alex Earl and others, and get it cut, either from ply or even steel or similar. It's actually a lot cheaper than you'd expect to get stuff laser cut, it would just be a matter of making the frame to fix it on and designing the panels. You could practice with paper and card getting the right size and patterns etc. Hell, on the plywood theme you could do all sorts of interesting things, chandeliers, a Tord Boontje style drum pendant, whatever suited your style really. Actually, on the Tord Boontje theme, you could always DIY something like this:

http://mocoloco.com/archives/024900.php Boontje pendant from here and find a simple clear glass orb pendant somewhere. Depends if you like his style or not though. Or you could go for something fairly simple like this http://www.mattblatt.com.au/Pendants/Stefa...ht.aspx?p9112c0, it's not massively interesting but size wise it would probably work ok.

Ahh, it's so disappointing the light was so big and so expensive, I hate when that happens, get fixated on something and just can't have it. I'm still pining after a floor lamp I love, but it's $1300 worth, I can't justify spending that much, as much as I love the damn thing!

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

I've been light trawling again more possible lights

Opinions on these??

[Amanda_R]

With the Elgo Oxana, do you know how the outer part of the light is fixed to the cables? I don't mind it, and in the right space it could look nice, but I worry it's something you'd tire of after a while. But if it's easily removable from the suspension cables then you could in theory replace it with something that suits a new style in the future. The central orb is pretty simple so would blend with numerous outer 'shell' styles.

The Fiji pendant is like you said probably a touch on the bland side. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but isn't ideal if you do want the light to make a statement.

The knot 5 light pendant I don't actually mind even though it is very over the top. Not something I'd ever use, but I have an easier job picturing that in spaces where it works than the Oxana. But yeah it's definitely something that needs to work in the house it's put in, lol.

I like the Ritz for it's simplicity. It's got a bit more interest than a plain pendant, and for some reason doesn't seem as bland as the Fiji, even though the Fiji probably really comes into it's own when it's actually turned on. Without seeing the Ritz switched on, it's hard to say which one would look better, but in it's 'off' daytime state I prefer the Ritz. Nice without being over the top.

The Romeo Louis II I'm not a massive fan of, purely because I think you'd have a harder time making it fit if your house was more of a modern style. It would work well with other styles, but not so much a modern home (not really sure what you're aiming for though, of if I do it's fallen out of my brain, lol). And I think part of the reason it puts me off is because I can't detach it for my lack of enthusiasm for crystalware, lol. I just keep seeing a bowl hanging upside down from the ceiling.

The Indo is funny, from the picture I'd have never imagined it was a fabric shade without looking really closely, I see it and just think it's frosted glass. For a dining area you're sort of stuck with rectangular tables only with a light like that, otherwise it can seem odd, but if that's what you're going for then it'd work.

As for the kitchen pendants, my picks would probably be the Mercator Aries and the Cougar Carla. I don't mind the Elgo Fargo but the colour puts me off. However if you're wanting splashes of colour in the kitchen it could work nicely. The Bastista is also not bad too, nice and simple. Actually maybe I prefer that more. I don't know! The Elgo Siren I don't mind, but I'm immediately reminded of the other more industrial style lights that have a similar shape, with just a bit more 'oomph'.

Crap, wasting time, better get DD#1 to school!