As you know from last week’s post, the exterior is HAPPENING. We did our part getting the brick whipped into original shape and the stucco guys are hopefully going to start working on the rest! Now comes the fun decision I’ve been waiting my whole life for, lighting!!
When I asked on instagram who made the best exterior lights you guys came out of the woodwork and all said the same thing, Barn Light Electric. Man alive is that place like paradise or what?! No only do they have amazing designs, but you can completely customize your lights. Sign me up!
Guys, the options are endless. I ordered samples of all of the finishes and you can literally have any style in any of these colors:
Also these:
And these:
I’ve narrowed down a few of my favorite option and I am DYING to know what you guys think would look best.
The Roscoe/Wesco is definitely the shade style I’m digging. I love the rounded shape of it and at 16″ I think its the perfect size.
The question then becomes, what finish?!! You can have the arms finished different colors, but I love the steel.
After doing some research about Merc era lighting, porcelain is definitely the way to go. It’s not only true to character, but its so durable and the finish doesn’t dull or fade.
But I’m also loving the matte black, that comes in just the painted finish.
And also the raw copper..
GAH CHOICES!!!! (I was also playing around with the idea of using green, until we decided to paint the front doors green.)
As far as the arms go, the #1 on my list is style G64. Its the chain. It makes my heart do flips and I hear angels sing when I look at it. The front of the Merc, especially where these lights are going to go is just a massive expanse of white stucco, so details like the chain are going to seriously up the style cred.
Buuuuuut I also really love style G8 with its simple curve.
I’ve got to know, which combo do you like the best? PLEASE chime in below!!
Here’s a reminder of what the Merc is sort of going to look like!
MAJOR HEADS UP Barn Light Electric is running a 20% off deal right now (through tonight!!)
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I think the G64 is the way to go. It’s so UNIQUE! I’ve literally never seen other lights like that. Not only is it unique, but it also looks really awesome!
The matte black and copper look great, but since it’s exterior lighting, I think durability should def be a priority here, so I have to go with the porcelain option.
Definitely the black porcelain with the chain arm!! (I was going to say dark green but if that’s out then I love the black.) 🙂
Agree!!!
I’m a sucker for copper. AndI really like the curved arm.
I LOVE the copper sample and the style of it! It would add some contrast/interest/ custom feel/general BAM to the lovely understated black & white palette An d it would enhance the green doors. All the options are great!
I second that!! COPPER is def less common and will patinate beautifully over time…the black enamel is nice as well w the chain but less striking IMO.
Yes copper and the simple curve design!!
All those choices and you want black?!
Just kidding! I’d go for the copper if you don’t want a colored porcelain. It will be gorgeous with the green doors.
Love the chain and the matte black!
That’s my vote, too! It’s classic – but still funky and unique.
Although I love, love, love copper, I think the shiny black porcelain finish with the chain arm is the best option. It’ll give you a super-cool combo of industrial and bling (shiny thing) and will stand out just enough with the white stucco and brick on the front of the Merc.
I like the chain and curved arm. I think either will work. The black seems a bit boring but when I look at the design of the outside the black works really well. Remember that raw copper will verdigris which I think will look cool. You get the copper now which will look good with the wood door and centre portion, then the green of the verdigris later.
Or, consider different colours for different sections?
I would go with tradition: black porcelain and chain. I don’t think copper would give enough contrast, plus it is going to weather with time.
I love the black matte in the photo. Somehow I don’t see you going with it though.
Are you planning any landscaping or planted pots along the front? If you are (say agave or aloe) then a bright color along the top of the facade may be nice to balance the facade. I enjoy the yellow and mint in the second samples photo. Big risk, but a lot of fun! Also, that chain detail is fantastic.
Porcelain and G64 chain! Definitely! So beautiful!!!
black matte with the chain gets my vote
Chains with the porcelain black
Love the black matte with the chain. Something else to think about, will the shine of the porcelain show the dust more so than the matte black? The shiny is definitely beautiful but could likely be higher maintenance.
I love the chain arm with the glossy black the best but all the options are so great. You have a hard decision, I can’t wait to see what you pick!
Matte black with chain, perfect for the Merc!
Love the black textured/matte and the simplicity of the curved arm (G8). There’s so much gorgeousness going on on the exterior of the Merc those could help pull the whole thing together!
Love the copper and the chain but don’t know how well they’d work together….
How exciting to be up to choosing lights! I love the chain with the gloss black.
Could you do the black chain arm and copper shade?!
Chain arm with matte black, but it’s hard to go wrong with those choices!
I love the copper but aged a bit.
LOVE the Rosco black porcelain with the chain arm!! The texture of the pipe with the gloss of the lamp – It’s all that AND the ice cream truck. 🙂
The black looks nice in your concept, and the chain arm really is cool. But if you have green doors, the verdigris of the copper (preferably with the curved arm) will bump up the color presence a little more.
As soon as I saw the email I thought “she really needs to check out Barn Light Electric” and BAM you did not disappoint! Matte black w chain. Gorgeous!
G64 with the black porcelain finish!
Black matte and the chain !!!!! ???
Love the choice of light (G64) but why don’t you pick a color along the lines of the brick or wood color. It will tie everything in. I think black will draw your eyes only to the light and you want people to be drawn to the face of the building.
Black porcelain and chain! I love that combo.
I would definitely go for the copper one as well. It will look great with the green doors.
I think indigo blue (like the one in the second image next to the baby blue) would work great with everything. Plus it’s timeless and porcelain is durable!
Since your frontage looks like 3 separate “parts”, you could choose different lights for each part (or the same lights for the stucco and a different one for the brick), so you could have them all!
Black porcelain and the chain. You already have a lot of warm elements on the front (brick, wood double doors, etc.) and the copper, while my favorite metal ever, just wouldn’t give that crisp contrast that you need against the stucco. Maybe work the copper in somehow on the green door?
Hi Mandi – the chain arm light is the bomb! (am I dating myself, hahaha) because it’s so unique, just like the Merc!
I love the copper and the other finishes shown in the last picture, but if you’re not going to have any other copper or brass on the facade, then I love the matte black. Can’t wait to see what you pick (btw, you are very brave to ask for your readers choices. You know what they say about opinions and noses 😉 )
Love the chain and the matte black for an exterior! The copper makes my heart so happy but I love the chain element way more!
LOVE the light with the chain, but would they fit? It looks to me the junction boxes for the lights (is that the proper term??) are centered between the top of the window and the top of the building, is there room for the light with the chain detail? I think that the gooseneck lights might look the best considering the space available. Either way, I’m sure it will look beautiful when it’s all finished!!!
Digging the chain and the shiny black porcelain, but if your door and window frames are black too is that going to be too much of a good thing? What shade of green are you painting the doors? Because my eye went right to that gorgeous deep sapphire blue porcelain, but the buttery yellow or the jadeite green are also very 1920s. Or what about mixing metals and having the arm and chain in steel and the shade in copper? If it isn’t sealed it would patina beautifully, and copper and brick is like coffee and chocolate…perfect together and I always want more of it! 😀
Black w/ chain !!!!!!!
Chain with porcelain black!
Greeen!!! Dark one 🙂 Not the cooper, it’s coming outdated and there is no such of it everywhere, it’s tiring. Dark green is unique (like your place) and ‘refreshing’.
Are all 3 doors going to be green or is the retail door going to be different?? Maybe it’s too crazy, but I feel like 3 of the chain and porcelain black over the sign side would be great, and copper over the left side (or just the retail door to differentiate?)? Or some combination? Can you do the chain (honestly that design is amaze-balls) in copper with porcelain black?? I don’t love the steel out of all the options…
I can’t weigh in on the color or copper, too many choices. But that G64 fixture with the chain is the ONE! 🙂
Can’t wait to see your choice and the outside progress.
The chain adds interest. Black porcelain is the way to go. Have old porcelain barn lights all over the farm and they hold up beautifully. I love copper, but I think it wouldn’t stand out enough.
Black porcelain and chain gets my vote! So beautiful. I am usually a sucker for copper, but not in this application. I think it would lose its punch over time, unlike the classic shine of the black porcelain.
I was leaning chain with matte black but after someone brought up the patina of the copper I think it’s the way to go. It also seems more like your personality.
Raw copper ftw. It will develop a natural gorgeous patina over time.
Chain. Porcelain black. Done. 🙂
Chain and matte black!! ?
Black porcelain with chain. Durable, unique, and classic looking. The copper is trying a little too hard and a little too feminine for the Merc. Fun following along your journey.
I would choose matte for an interior light, but for the exterior – against all that “matte” brick – you need a little bling. Porcelain black will be gorgeous.
What about one or some of those copper lights on the exposed side of the building? They’re beautiful, but not as good as the chain and black for the front.