Dining Room Redo: Light Fixture Question

One of my next room projects that I am addressing is the dining room.  Here is a picture of the area as it is now.

I know I need to add color, texture and accessories. I also am not sure I care for the yellow candle sheaths on the chandelier and wall sconces.  I am thinking about painting the sheaths a different color but am not sure what products to use.  I don't know if heat will be a  factor... I need to check the wattage of the bulbs.  Adhesion (of paint on surface) is a concern as the sheaths are a hard glass-like material, although I think I know a product that would probably work as a primer/basecoat (Faux Effects PrimeEtch).  Here are some closer pics of the fixtures. 

If anyone has done this, what products did you use?  Was heat a factor in product selection, what primer, basecoat and paint did you use.  Any thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

The Kitchen Backsplash

When we were building our home, one of the choices that I had the most difficulty making was picking out a kitchen backsplash. I just wasn't sure what I wanted or material and design I wanted to commit to.... here are some "before" pics of the kitchen backsplash area.

The backsplash dilemma was so difficult for me that in retrospect, I probably should have consulted an interior decorator. But I didn’t... and for a few weeks I looked at numerous magazines, model homes and tile shops. It got to the point that I only had a few days before I had to make the decision because the tile guys had to get to their next job. Forced to choose, I knew I have always liked natural stone and decided to go with a simple 4x4 tumbled travertine. I then saw a cast metal product at a tile showroom and went with it in an oil rubbed bronze finish, specifically a 16" x 24" tile mural and a 4" x 12" listello liner. There was also a gorgeous oil rubbed nickel option… but I went with the bronze because of the color of travertine I went with. Here are is the backsplash tiled, without grout.

 

This is the backsplash after grouting. I kind of  wish I had gone with a darker grout.

Here is a close-up of the mural and listello liner simple, but still interesting) .

I also decided to bring the tumbled travertine up the arched window niche above one of my sinks.

I played it "safe," but I like it.  I still need to get accessories, switch out the white electrical plates for something that blends better with the stone and paint the arched window casing to match the stone or maybe do an oil rubbed bronze look or some darker color. I also need to get different island stools.  The ones I am using are from my old house and are about 4 inches too short for the height of the island' partly because there is an extra thickness of granite due to the edge detail I chose. Ideally, would love to have some nice upholstered stools. You can see the shortcoming of the stools in the following picture ....yikes! 

 

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On the Porch and Spotlight Yourself @ It's So Very Cheri.