Guides and ideas

Journal

Notes on living with solid brass. How to choose the right size, hang it at the right height, care for its patina and light every room with warmth, so you get it right the first time.

All Brass care Sizing and height Style ideas Fixture guides
Bathroom pendant lighting idea: brass double glass globe vanity light in a bathroom
Bathroom Pendant Lighting: Where to Hang It and How to Choose
Where bathroom pendant lighting can hang, how high to set it and how many pendants a vanity needs. Plus the best shades, finishes and bulbs for a steamy room. Read more...
Brass dome pendant, one of the best lights for slanted ceilings
Lights for Slanted Ceilings: Pendants, Chandeliers and More
How to choose and hang lights for slanted ceilings, from cord pendants and chain chandeliers to sconces, with pitch, height and size charts. Read more...
High end brass lighting alternatives: the Duane Brass Globe Chandelier in solid brass
High End Brass Lighting Alternatives: What to Look For
How to find high end brass lighting alternatives that keep the solid metal and craft of a designer fixture. Learn what to check, which finish to choose and where to... Read more...
Solid brass swing arm sconce with a cone shade beside a bed
Swing Arm Sconce Guide: Height, Reach and Where to Use One
How high to mount a swing arm sconce, how far the arm should reach and where adjustable wall lights work best, from the bedside to the reading chair. Read more...
Mid century pendant light with a solid brass dome shade
Mid Century Pendant Light Guide: Shapes, Sizes and Placement
How to choose a mid century pendant light: the classic shapes, the right size and the right hanging height for islands, tables and entries. Read more...
Solid brass chandelier showing how to tell the difference between copper and brass by color
How to Tell the Difference Between Copper and Brass
Copper is pink and pure, brass is yellow gold and harder. Here is how to tell them apart at home in a minute, plus where bronze fits in. Read more...
What is brass made of: a solid brass two-light chandelier in a warm interior
What Is Brass Made Of? Copper, Zinc and Why It Matters
What is brass made of? Mostly copper with zinc. Here are the metals in brass, the classic recipes and why the mix matters for lighting. Read more...
Brass chandelier over a dining table set with brass Christmas decorations
Brass Christmas Decorations: Warm Ideas for Every Room
Ideas for brass Christmas decorations on the mantel, the dining table and in every room. Plus finishes, colors and care tips for holiday brass lighting that lasts. Read more...
Solid brass bell chandelier in a dining room: does brass rust? No, it develops a patina
Does Brass Rust? Rust, Tarnish and Patina Explained
Does brass rust? No. Here is why solid brass never rusts, how tarnish and patina differ and how to care for brass light fixtures at home. Read more...
Brass globe ceiling light in a hallway, an example of what is flush mount lighting
What Is Flush Mount Lighting? Flush vs Semi Flush Explained
What flush mount lighting is, how it differs from semi flush and how to size and choose a brass flush mount light for low ceilings, hallways and bedrooms. Read more...
Brass and glass pendant light with a clear globe shade, solid brass
Brass and Glass Pendant Light Guide: Shades, Sizes and Rooms
How to choose a brass and glass pendant light: opal or clear glass, globe, dome or bell shapes, the right size and how high to hang it in every room. Read more...
Black and brass chandelier with brass globes over a dining table
Black and Brass Chandelier Ideas: Styles, Sizes and Pairings
How to choose, size and style a black and brass chandelier, with ideas for pendants, sconces, wall colors and finishes. Read more...
What are sconces: perforated brass wall sconce glowing in a living room
What Are Sconces? A Complete Guide to Wall Sconces
What are sconces? A clear guide to wall sconces: what they are, the main types, where they work best and how high to mount them in every room. Read more...
Brass desk lamp with a swing arm and dome shade in a warm living room
Brass Desk Lamp Guide: How to Choose the Best One
How to choose a brass desk lamp that lights your work and looks right for decades. Height, placement, shades, bulbs and finishes explained. Read more...
Brass floor lamp with a dome shade beside a sofa in a warm living room
Brass Floor Lamp Guide: How to Choose Height, Style and Light
How to choose a brass floor lamp that fits your room: the right height, shade, bulb and placement, plus vintage and mid century styles in solid brass. Read more...
Antique brass light fixture: Kingston brass chandelier over a dining table
Antique Brass Light Fixture Guide: Every Brass Finish Explained
What makes an antique brass light fixture and how antique, aged, unlacquered, polished and brushed brass differ. Learn how each finish ages and which one suits each room. Read more...
Vintage brass chandelier with bell shades over a dining table
Vintage Brass Chandelier Guide: Eras, Styles and Sizing
How to choose a vintage brass chandelier: what separates vintage, antique and retro, the main styles by era, how to size it and how to get a naturally aged brass... Read more...
Gold vanity light in solid brass and marble above a bathroom mirror
Gold Vanity Light or Brass? How to Choose for Your Bathroom
Most gold vanity lights are brass, plating or paint. Here is how to choose a finish that lasts and how to size and hang your fixture. Read more...
Newburgh brass picture light over a framed painting in a living room
Brass Picture Light Guide: Size, Placement and How to Hang
How to choose a brass picture light: the right size for your frame, where to mount it over a painting and how to hang it step by step. Read more...
Brass glass globe chandelier over a dining table, one of the best dining room lighting ideas
Dining Room Lighting Ideas: 8 Brass Looks for Every Table
Eight dining room lighting ideas in solid brass, from globe and linear chandeliers to pendants, sconces and buffet lamps, with sizes and hanging heights for every table. Read more...
Brass cone chandelier hung at the ideal chandelier height above table in a dining room
Chandelier Height Above Table: How High to Hang It
The right chandelier height above table is 30 to 36 inches on an 8 foot ceiling. Here is how to measure it for every ceiling height, table shape and fixture... Read more...
Brass sputnik chandelier with glass globes hanging over a dining table
Sputnik Chandelier Guide: History, Sizes and How to Style It
What defines a sputnik chandelier, where the mid century shape came from and how to size, hang and style one in your dining room, living room or entry. Read more...
How to tell if brass is real: the Lispenard solid brass mushroom table lamp in a living room
How to Tell If Brass Is Real: 6 Simple Tests at Home
Six simple home tests show how to tell if brass is real, from the magnet test to a hidden scratch. Learn what brass plated means and what to check on... Read more...
Brass pendant over kitchen island: the Stanton Brass Dome Pendant in solid brass
Brass Pendant Over Kitchen Island: How Many, How Far Apart and How High
How many pendants to hang over a kitchen island, how far apart to space them and how high to hang them, with simple charts for every island size. Read more...
Are brass light fixtures in style: a brass globe chandelier over a dining table
Are Brass Light Fixtures in Style? What to Know in 2026
Brass light fixtures are firmly in style in 2026. Here is which finishes and shapes feel current, which look dated and how to use brass in every room. Read more...
Brass sputnik chandelier over a dining table, brass vs gold lighting guide
Brass vs Gold: How to Tell Them Apart in Lighting
Brass vs gold, explained simply: what each metal is made of, how to tell them apart and how to get the warm gold look with solid brass lighting. Read more...
Brass vanity light with three opal glass shades above a bathroom mirror
How High to Hang Wall Sconces in Every Room
Recommended wall sconce heights and spacing for the bathroom vanity, bedside, hallway and living room. Read more...
Brass globe chandelier with opal glass globes above a dining table
What Size Chandelier for Your Dining Table? A Simple Guide
Easy rules and a size chart to choose the right chandelier size and hanging height for round, square and rectangular dining tables. Read more...
Antique brass swing arm wall lamp with cream cone shade in a bedroom
How to Clean Brass Without Removing the Patina
Gentle ways to clean brass light fixtures while keeping their patina, plus how to polish brass back to a bright shine when you want it. Read more...
Unlacquered brass wall sconce with bell shade beside a bathroom mirror
What Is Unlacquered Brass? Patina, Tarnish and Care Explained
Unlacquered brass is raw brass with no protective coating. Here is how it ages, whether it tarnishes or turns green and how to choose unlacquered brass lighting. Read more...