# Ceiling fixture too high - suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976 "2009-01-12T21:01:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/1 "2009-01-12T21:01:54Z")
In addition to the usual flush ceiling-mounted fixtures such as [this](http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100468866&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&cm_mmc=affiliate_sortprice-_-product_feed-_-D27X-_-100468866&cpncode=24-18413845-2&cj=true&srccode=cii_16435691), we’ve got the oh-so-trendy two-story entrance foyer, with a lamp dangling from a long chain, like [this](http://www.lampsontheweb.com/NoFrame/Items/005387nf.html). The flush mounted fixtures are a minor pain to change but can be handled by trotting out a stepladder. The foyer lamp… requires the BIG ladder, and a willingness to balance on the ladder while fumbling with the side door of the lamp, and oh, cleaning it without falling off the ladder is a rare treat. Lucky for me, Typo Kng does most of the lightbulb changing - with my klutziness, this is a recipe for disaster. I’d sure love to find an alternative, that would allow the light to be lowered when it requires servicing, then raised again. I have a vague memory of a lamp at home when I was young, that had some sort of “globe” on the chain (it was over the kitchen table) that allowed it to be pulled down and pushed back up. I guess the wire coiled up inside the globe. Something like that might be an option if not the prettiest thing in the world. Any suggestions? This is NOT a high priority thing, it’s just something I’ve been thinking of off and on for a while. My google-fu is week - the best I’ve been able to find is some sort of attic-mounted motor! ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/2 "2009-01-12T21:44:23Z")
Maybe tie some monofilament to the chain and have a hook somewhere, like the way you pull the cord for venetian blinds and tie off the cord? Loop over a hook or small pulley on the ceiling, run to a location where you can reach it from the floor. Monofilament is strong and practically invisible…and cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/3 "2009-01-12T22:46:41Z")
Why can’t you just get a bigger ladder? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/4 "2009-01-13T03:58:12Z")
I’ve seen something simiar to your globe on the chain. What I’ve seen is a pulley system. A cable goes up from the light to a pulley, then down where it loops around a floating pulley (by floating I mean not attached to anything solid) which I presume weighs as much as the light, then back up to a box in the ceiling. With this system you can raise or lower the light just by pulling it down or pushing it back up. Your other option would be to get a chain (and power cord) that would allow the light to come down to about 4 feet from the floor, then you only need to use the ladder very a few seconds to go up and unhook it and rehook it at the end. If you get a bigger ladder, look at a little giant, they’re REALLY stable. ETA [Here’s](http://www.pulley-lights.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PL&Product_Code=600N&Category_Code=PENDANT) an example of the pulley system I was talking about. PS that’s a completely random site that I’ve never looked at before. Don’t know anything about it, I just used it for the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/5 "2009-01-13T04:06:19Z")
I should add that if you do use something like the pulley system you’ll probably either have to special order one (they’re meant to go over a dining room table) or modify it with a longer power cord. If I’m picturing it correctly, it would hang from the second floor ceiling, but would only go up as high as the first floor before the counter weight hangs below the light. ETA, you could rig up a system with two weights and that could bring the light to halfway between the first and second floor ceiling. From there you could just put a hook in the end of a long broomstick to pull it down. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/6 "2009-01-13T16:00:26Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Why can’t you just get a bigger ladder? We do have a big enough ladder… it’s just the logistics. You know: fumble with the light with both hands, and there’s no hand left to keep yourself from falling off the ladder (I’m a klutz). **Joey P** , that’s a pretty intriguing idea with the pulley lights. The ones you linked to don’t look like they’d have the length for a 2-story foyer, but the concept is very interesting. **lobotomyboy63** - also an interesting idea! The “best” solution - appearance-wise anyway - would be a motorized system such as [this one](http://www.aladdinlightlift.com/quickreference1.html), but googling around suggests this is a pretty pricey option (probably cost a thousand bucks to install). When I win the lottery, maybe :). Certainly if I ever built a house from scratch, I’d probably skip the blasted 2-story foyer - or at least have that system installed when it’s built. 'Til then, I guess we’ll keep looking around for some compromise such as the above, or stick with the very low-tech “ladder, fumble, splat” solution! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/7 "2009-01-13T16:05:27Z")
Here’s one similar to the one over my dad’s dining room table (except his is glass). [http://cgi.ebay.com/RETRACTABLE-FLY-SAUCER-CEILING-LIGHT-FIXTURE-EAMES-ERA-\_W0QQitemZ250354696261QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090110?IMSfp=TL090110113008r10520](http://cgi.ebay.com/RETRACTABLE-FLY-SAUCER-CEILING-LIGHT-FIXTURE-EAMES-ERA-_W0QQitemZ250354696261QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090110?IMSfp=TL090110113008r10520) It’s worked fine for nearly 50 years. Maybe you could buy the works and then change the fixture to compliment your decor? ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/8 "2009-01-13T16:37:26Z")
Also, if you are not already, use longer lasting light bulbs such as CFLs. They make them now in a variety of different sizes. [Here’s one](http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/products/replacement_cfl/decorative.htm) that should fit. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/9 "2009-01-13T20:44:42Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Here’s one similar to the one over my dad’s dining room table (except his is glass). > [http://cgi.ebay.com/RETRACTABLE-FLY-SAUCER-CEILING-LIGHT-FIXTURE-EAMES-ERA-\_W0QQitemZ250354696261QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090110?IMSfp=TL090110113008r10520](http://cgi.ebay.com/RETRACTABLE-FLY-SAUCER-CEILING-LIGHT-FIXTURE-EAMES-ERA-_W0QQitemZ250354696261QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090110?IMSfp=TL090110113008r10520) > It’s worked fine for nearly 50 years. > Maybe you could buy the works and then change the fixture to compliment your decor? My grandmother had one of these types of light fixtures in her hallway. A running prank for years was to lower the light about a foot then stand back and watch taller family members walk into it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fixture-too-high-suggestions/480976/10 "2009-01-13T22:27:29Z")
You might want to go to a dedicated lighting store to find a catalog of such lamps but I found [this](http://www.napastyle.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=2232) on the net. Some ideas to throw out. You could mount a mechanic’s[trouble light real](http://www.budgetlighting.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=5679426.1165&p_id=2167&xm=on&product=Bayco&ppinc=search2) in the attic and swap out the light fixture on the end. Having nothing to do with the thread but was a result of my net surfing: a hanging lamp with [retractable fan blades](http://www.stylehive.com/bookmark/Retractable-Blade-Ceiling-Fan-with-Amber-Bowl--Frontgate-188477). And I second the idea of installing CFL’s that would last longer.