Fun with Electricity

Classic Mid-Century Modern globe light.  Photo file found at Modern Charlotte Realty.

If two men are going to be involved with lighting their home, then it will be dramatic on any budget. Classic Eichler homes mostly used simple globe lights for pendants, as seen here. Other Mid-Century Modern homes would also use globe lights, however our home did not have the original lighting. Exposed bulbs and half-shell wall sconces just do not add value to this interior.

We did not feel any obligation in recreating lighting that at this time is an unknown.  If we do find out more information, then switching out a light or two could be considered.  For now, we opted for something in keeping with a fun Atomic style.

Kitchen Lighting.  Photo by Thomas Eddy

Some retailers have embraced the public interest for period lighting, and we can see using a few of these in key locations throughout our home. Torpedo lights were the rage at the time, so in keeping with their appeal, we found this simple track lighting at Home Depot.  It enabled us to replace the low hanging bare bulb pendents with more lighting where we needed it at the sink, range, and counters.  As the halogen bulbs burn out, we intend to replace them with LED.

This is a good time to digress and talk about the heating vent seen in the photo to the left.  The home originally had radiant heating within the slab floor.  According to a long time resident of the neighborhood, it was shortly after the home's construction that an earthquake damaged the pipes. This tells us that our furnaces appear to be almost as old as the home.  Unfortunately, the duct work was poorly done and needs replacing, not to mention that they cut into the groovy redwood siding in several locations.  We will talk more about heating later.

What doesn't represent the atomic period more than cold wars, stellar imaginations, and UFOs?  So, in a flight of whimsy, I replaced the half shell sconces with a couple flying objects I identified at Bellacor.  They are fun, but they also pivot on the wall to direct the lighting where you need it.  Change of mood? Just rotate the light!