Even though we declared our kitchen project done over a month ago, the truth is, a few persistent tasks remained stubbornly unresolved, casting a literal shadow over our otherwise bright and airy space. Chief among these was the sad, shadeless stick of a pendant light hanging limply from the ceiling in the fireplace area, a constant reminder of unfinished business.
This old pendant light had been broken for what felt like an eternity, despite a previous attempt at repair. Consequently, that entire half of the room had been shrouded in a perpetual dimness for months. It was a stark contrast to the rest of the kitchen and living area, which had benefited from a comprehensive lighting overhaul during our recent kitchen renovation, leaving it wonderfully light and bright.
Our interim solution involved a floor lamp, tucked somewhat awkwardly into the corner. However, this temporary fix introduced its own set of frustrations. One of its switches had broken, transforming the simple act of turning it on or off into a yoga-like maneuver of leaning behind the chair to unplug and re-plug it. While not catastrophic, performing this “Bend & Snap” routine multiple times a day certainly wasn’t kind to the back. After a few weeks, our patience wore thin, and this cumbersome ritual became a source of ongoing irritation for several months.
We even playfully dubbed the act “The Bend & Snap,” a nod to the iconic movie “Legally Blonde,” hoping to inject a touch of humor into our daily chore. Yet, despite the mild entertainment, our eyes were constantly scanning for the perfect, permanent replacement for that broken ceiling pendant. This quest, as many homeowners can attest, proved to be far more challenging and time-consuming than anticipated.
The Elusive Search for the Ideal Flush Mount Lighting
The primary hurdle in our search for a new lighting solution was finding a fixture that would seamlessly integrate without overpowering the existing pendants in the room. Our vision was something relatively flush with the ceiling – a crucial consideration for a taller individual like myself, to prevent any feeling of the light being too close in an otherwise open space. Critically, we were determined to avoid what Sherry affectionately terms “boob lights” – those ubiquitous, often dated, dome-shaped fixtures that seem to dominate the affordable flush mount market.
It’s genuinely perplexing how many flush mount lights within a reasonable price range fall into this “boob light” category. Are there any lighting industry professionals listening? There’s a noticeable gap in the market for elegantly designed, clean-lined, and simple flush-mounted fixtures that don’t come with an exorbitant price tag. While a few crisp drum shade options exist, they don’t offer the same diverse range of styles as their more “buxom” counterparts, which seem to come in every variation imaginable: frosted, marbled, ORBed, and so on. We yearned for understated elegance, not a statement piece that would clash with our established aesthetic.
Discovering the Perfect Match: IKEA Aläng
Our persistent search finally bore fruit during a recent trip to Ikea. There, amidst the countless displays, we stumbled upon the Aläng flush mount light. Let’s affectionately refer to it as Alän, leveraging my newly acquired skill of typing that umlaut (ALT+U then the desired letter, for your information – a small victory!).
Alän was available in two sizes, and we opted for the larger 18-inch version, priced at a remarkably affordable $40. You truly can’t beat Ikea’s value; many 18-inch drum shades alone cost around $40, often without the accompanying light fixture itself. However, much like many Ikea products, Alän required assembly – a task that momentarily transported me back to the vivid memory of assembling Max, our bedroom furniture piece.
A Step-by-Step DIY Lighting Installation
The assembly process for Alän, thankfully, wasn’t nearly as daunting as my flashback suggested. The initial step involved carefully popping each of the three light sockets into the central fixture. This was straightforward, though the resulting tangle of wires initially raised an eyebrow of concern.
However, it quickly became apparent that Ikea had cleverly anticipated this, incorporating clips and channels specifically designed to neatly wrangle the cords. My eyebrow promptly returned to its usual relaxed position, a testament to thoughtful Swedish design.
The image below clearly illustrates how the wires are held securely against the sides of the central fixture. This particular photograph, however, was primarily taken to highlight how the fixture began to resemble a “Space Invader” character once I attached the spokes that would eventually cradle the shade in place.
With the Alän fixture as fully assembled as it could be without actually mounting it to the ceiling, it was time for the critical installation phase. To ensure absolute safety, and given the rather haphazard labeling (or lack thereof) in our fusebox, I decided to cut the power to the entire house. This precaution is always wise when dealing with electrical work, eliminating any uncertainty about which breaker controls what circuit. With the power off, I proceeded to carefully remove the old, broken pendant light.
Once the old light was successfully detached, Alän was ready to take its rightful pläce. Here it is, wired up and poised to be securely set flush against the ceiling, promising to bring much-needed illumination back to this corner of our home.
The mounting system for the central fixture was, surprisingly, a rather glorified zip tie. This initially struck me as a bit unconventional, as I’m accustomed to more robust screws and bolts for such applications. However, it proved to be incredibly easy to use and performed admirably, securing the fixture firmly in place. Given its efficiency and effectiveness, I certainly had no grounds for complaint.
Illuminating Our Space: From Incandescent to LED
With the central fixture mounted, the next crucial step was to restore power and verify the success of my wiring – which, I’m pleased to report, it was! At the time of installation, the only bulbs we had in sufficient quantity were incandescent ones. However, we’ve since upgraded them to modern, energy-efficient LEDs! We’re absolutely thrilled with them so far. We plan to provide a full report on their longevity and our long-term satisfaction in a future update. For now, we can confidently say they emit a beautifully bright glow, and we’re particularly excited about their incredibly long lifespan and the significant energy savings they promise over time.
Returning to the final step of installation: hanging the shade. You might be curious about how it’s secured. Well, those little spokey elements I mentioned earlier are actually MAGNETIC. Yes, they are tiny, yet incredibly powerful magnets – akin to the surprising strength found in Altoids mints.
Initially, much like the zip-tie mounting system, this magnetic attachment gave me pause. However, as soon as I felt the shade snap firmly into place with surprising force, all doubts vanished, replaced by a wide smile. The process was both easy and quick, and I’m quite confident that I won’t have to worry about the shade unexpectedly falling on my head anytime soon. Even if it were to, the shade itself is remarkably lightweight.
The Aesthetic Impact: Beauty in Subtle Details
Alän is one of those rare items that, despite our best efforts, the true beauty of which simply cannot be fully captured in photographs. Yet, in person, almost everyone who walks into the room comments on it. This particular picture comes closest to conveying its lovely, subtle woven detail and the soft, inviting glow it casts. Update: Many readers have inquired about the amount of light it emits. While it’s not a blinding beacon, it certainly provides ample brightness for a decent-sized room or hallway. It accommodates three twenty-watt bulbs, but by utilizing CFLs or LEDs, you can achieve even greater light output at significantly lower wattages, enhancing both illumination and energy efficiency.
Of course, that exquisite subtle texture tends to be lost in wider room shots – perhaps because these images are so much smaller than life-sized, unlike the experience of seeing it in person. Nevertheless, here’s Alän from a bit further away. Ta-DÄH!
I’m not entirely sure why I stood slightly (or perhaps significantly) off-center to capture both the above and the following shots. However, I assure you that in person, it is perfectly centered between the two beams and aligns beautifully with the mirror if you view it from the correct vantage point. Düh.
The Perfect Fit: Function, Form, and Flow
But enough with the celebratory umlauts. In essence, Sherry and I are absolutely thrilled with this new home improvement. It is, quite simply, almost exactly what we envisioned and tirelessly searched for. We wanted something that wouldn’t compete for attention with the other distinct pendants in the room. We needed a flush mount that wouldn’t pose a risk of us bumping our heads (specifically, my head) into it. And, of course, it had to be decidedly not “boob-like.”
Beyond these practical and aesthetic considerations, Alän significantly helps define the area around the fireplace, lending it a more intentional and cohesive feel. Its presence feels far more proportionate to the space than a single can light or a directional light aimed at the fireplace – both options we extensively weighed before making our final decision. We ultimately concluded that a clean-lined shade like Alän genuinely contributes to the “casual living zone” atmosphere we aimed to cultivate on that side of the room, enhancing both comfort and style.
From the kitchen side of the room, when Alän is switched off, its subtle design allows it to blend almost imperceptibly into the ceiling, making its presence barely noticeable.
However, the moment the light switches are flipped on, we profoundly appreciate Alän’s presence. It signifies that the room is, at long last, evenly and beautifully lit. The days of awkwardly bending over to plug and unplug that bothersome floor lamp in the corner are officially over. In fact, that temporary floor lamp has since been banished from the room entirely – we simply don’t need it anymore! Huzzah for no more “bending and snapping”! As a welcome bonus, that formerly cluttered corner, now free of the lamp, looks significantly more balanced and aesthetically pleasing.
It can be challenging to fully appreciate the details in these wide-angle room shots, as the lighting can sometimes get blown out and the subtle textures are lost due to the smaller image sizes (unlike standing in the room where everything is life-sized). Yet, in person, the texture of Alän is a truly delightful detail that makes the light feel special – but not so overwhelmingly special that it clashes with the more prominent, oversized globe pendants hanging over the peninsula. (Don’t tell Alän I said that!) It’s all about striking that delicate balance in home design. We sincerely wish we could capture this fixture’s charm more accurately for you, as these photographs genuinely don’t do it justice. Perhaps you’ll all just have to come over for tea and scones to experience its beauty firsthand!
So, that’s one significant item triumphantly crossed off our lingering kitchen to-do list. While Sherry and I have been discussing spray painting our stools at the peninsula – we wanted to live with them in their original state for a while before making any hasty decisions – we’re still undecided on the final color. We’re also actively hunting for a more permanent rug for the living area adjacent to the kitchen, specifically the zone in front of the fireplace. Our plan is to finalize the rug choice before committing to any decisions regarding the stools. This approach ensures that if we discover an amazing rug with a particular tone we might have considered for the chairs, we can avoid color overkill by having it in both places. But rest assured, we promise to keep you updated on our progress! For now, we’re simply relishing having a beautifully lit, comfortable spot for our nightly dance parties with Ms. Clara. Have you recently installed any new lights in your home? Or encountered difficulties finding the perfect flush-mounted fixture? Are you currently debating painting metal stools or any other accessories in your house? We’d love to hear about your home improvement adventures!