Oversized Dilemma

 

The Oversized Dilemma

My daughter-in-law loves to decorate her home in the most magazine-like ways.  She has a knack for putting together colors and a style that is appealing.  It is somewhat of a minimalist approach, with choice pieces to complete every look.  They had just remodeled their kitchen, and she had purchased a new light fixture for the adjacent family room.  It was a statement piece!  To adorn the 2-story ceiling that had always had a mundane ceiling fan, she had purchased a large spherical light fixture made from capiz shells.  It would hang from a long chain in the middle of the space to complete her vision.  The day of the installation, a team was assembled.  That is, all of my sons were called together to attempt this feat.  I lived next door so, of course, I was there to “aide”.  It was a fragile sphere that was stored carefully in a box in the garage.  Once removed from the packaging, it became apparent the light fixture would not fit through any of the exterior doors to the home.  It was probably a 36-inch diameter sphere that was basically the same width as the largest doorway.  There was no turning it on its side or squeezing it through as the capiz shells were subject to break with any pressure on them.  After much deliberation, my daughter-in-law resigned to the fact that she would just resale the item and get something else.  Oh, but they only needed a tiny bit more space!  It was decided that they would remove the framing from around the front door.  They ended up destroying the wood trim around the front door which had to then be replaced, but they inevitably got the huge fragile sphere inside.  It was at that point that they decided to hire someone to actually hang it, but today it is hanging there, completing the intended look.  It makes me smile each time to look up and see it because I remember the day it was so gingerly brought inside!

Tammy Harvey

9/8/2026