There is no Lowe’s in my picturesque county, so I don’t get to snoop there very often. I tend to prefer its products to those of Home Depot. Over Labor Day, though, we visited friends an hour away, and zipped into Lowe’s with them very quickly on Sunday afternoon. I quick-like went to look in kitchens and baths and then, raced through lighting. Sure enough, I spotted the Danish Modern pendant light, above, $159. I didn’t get a chance to examine it for visibly apparent quality. But at a glance it looked nice. When I got home, I went to Lowe’s website to see if I could find any more new-midcentury-style lighting, and came up with 10 more examples.
Above, a cheap and cheerful retro ceiling fixture, $38 that would look good in a bedroom, a laundry room, or office. You could spray paint the brushed chrome housing if you prefer color.
This could be very cute ceiling light for a mid century modest laundry room, or even a hall, $12.99. Repeat: Easy to repaint the housing for yet another design effect.
For $5.92, you could tuck this retro light in a closet, on an enclosed porch, on the basements stairs – any number of places. But, is it a “part-timer”? Some of the online reviews on the Lowe’s site suggest this light works intermittently, read them and decide for yourself.
Retro globe light, $24.88. Kind of cute as a button.
Pretty retro-modern ceiling light, $109. This has a bit of Scolari to it.
A kind of 70s Tiffany style retro, $99. Not sure I’d call it “authentic” retro – but it gives me happy 60s vibes. If only it were a burnt orange and red glass instead of amber/black!
Retro glamorous 4-light office, foyer, dining room or bedroom light, $88. A knock off, I’d say, of Jonathan Adler, which, for all I know, is a knock-off of someone else. Pretty much everything today is derivative of something else older…
This ceiling fixtures reminds me of old Progress lights — it has a porthole/streamline/modern feel. Progress style modern light, $58.
Single cylinder bullet light, $25. Goodness, I can’t imagine you can find these less expensively anywhere else but the Re-Store. These (and the light below) are marketed by Seagull Lighting. The body is steel — good for repainting, I’d think. I cannot find any information on their website, or on Lowe’s, indicating Country of Origin. I am guessing you can only find that out country of origin by looking at the box or on the light itself (I don’t know the regulation). And I am also going to guess – Made in China. Want bullet lights assembled in the U.S.: Try Remcraft.
Inexpensive retro lighting from Lowes 
Inexpensive porcelain bathroom sconce from Lowe’s 
Great retro pull down lights for your kitchen, from Progress vintage 1961 
Become a fan
Hmm, I think a trip to Lowe’s is in order this weekend!
I picked up a couple of these last year when I was remodeling the upstairs of my house. Pay close attention to the type of bulb that these lights need. For a couple of the ones that you posted, I bought and then took home only to find out that they require special light bulbs not included. (By special, I mean not your average screw-in bulb.)
They really have gotten in some more good interior lights with that retro feel, many drum shades!!! When I bought my house 2 years ago they didn’t have all of these and I ended up ordering a couple off of Overstock for my dining room and foyer. I had looked all over and considered many options.
What I did buy from Lowes that I don’t see pictured is something similar to item 3 but it’s a circular shape, almost like a short and fat jelly jar lamp for the ceiling – my grandmother had that in her 1955 bath and so I used it for my hall and kitchen. The other retro-ish light I got from them was a double glass shade cylinder shaped pendant for over the kitchen sink. Otherwise I got outdoor lighting and a vanity light, that were just more traditional(vanity) and storybook ranch (outside) looking in my estimation.
Wow! These are great. I am absolutely in love with the allen + roth 4-Light Chrome Flushmount for only $88! And when I visited the Lowe’s page, several other retro lights were suggested, including this kind of whimsical one: http://bit.ly/qmFyJD
Thanks Pam for posting these! While I’ve been drooling over the latest Rejuvenation catalog I just can’t afford them. I’m thrilled to see Lowe’s has some affordable alternatives!
I have #4, and FWIW, I have never had a problem with it working intermittently. The previous owners of my home installed it above my shower/bath in our main hall bathroom. I thought it was original until I saw it in Lowe’s about 6 mos after we bought the house! Haha!
I’m actually not a fan of its dark brassy/bronzey finish. I’ll soon be replacing it with the same simple brushed steel fixture we have in the hallway.
So glad to see these. The Danish Modern pendant is fabulous and very much within budget.
How I would love it if one of the big box stores would offer an affordable and authentic-looking reproduction Sputnik pendant.
Thanks for posting, Pam.
Wonderful! I have a retro swag lamp that looks a lot like the first one on the page:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/5/iphone2378.jpg/
I installed a low watt bulb into it and it makes a great shadow on the ceiling:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/249/iphone2355.jpg/
It is great to know we can find cool retro lamps like this in stores!
Thanks for the heads up, Pam!
wow – that is an amazing match! if you don’t mind, I’ll show it in the post, tooo…
Of course I don’t mind. Sorry I took so long to respond.
That is one amazingly wonderful fixture.
The shadow on the ceiling in the photo makes it look as if the mothership is beaming up the young lady (Marilyn?) in the lower right.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Lol! It is Marilyn Monroe and she does look like she is being beamed up! Too funny.
I bought a Seagull fixture through an electrical supply house, which made no difference in quality, it was made in CHINA, where else. I have previously bought Kitchler fixtures and they were from China as well. Heck the GE coil cooktop I purchased from Lowes a few years ago was made in China as well.
Anyway, when purchasing light fixtures; look for the UL seal for meeting elect. safety codes (product quality is something else).
As was pointed out, look to see what type of bulb is required. Some are designed to accept CFL only or candelabra based bulb (think chandelier bulb) or accept standard based bulbs but are rated for max. wattage of 40 or 60 watts. because I need lots of light, I am always looking for fixtures that accept 100 watt bulbs so my style choices are usually limited.
I love the Danish modern, nothing like some nice warm wood!
Thanks! these are great!
Love the pendant light! That one listed for $6 looks vaguely familiar. I think it may have been in our Bungalow when I was a kid. lol
Wow! Lowe’s doing more than one retro light. This is major mid-century recognition by a large retailer. A big picture moment for retro.
Thanks Pam.
I don’t know about new versions of the 5.92 one that might be intermittent, but it’s identical to the one in my childhood bedroom at my mom’s house that was installed in 1988. We’re actually mid-relocation and staying there now. My son is sleeping in there and the light is still going strong.
The light bulbs are easy to change on those. I learned the hard way to find out how complicated the light bulb changing process is before I get new fixtures.
Yes! That is my main criteria for choosing a light fixture! I’ve even replaced fixtures because changing the bulbs was such a PITA.
Great. My one HUGE weakness – lighting. lol I could definitely make use of the first one (square). Side entry kitchen nitch has an out of place one with relief grapes, I don’t think it’s original to the house. Also, the one in the hallway could be replaced with the one shown here. *adds to list*
These are fabulously fun and it’s great to know about. Side note: Anyone else but me notice that ‘drum’ shades are making a come back? Usually a bit on the small side re length – but hopefully the manufactures will figure out there are a lot of us in need for our shadeless MCM lamp purchases!
Thanks, Pam!
My pediatrician’s office in the 1960′s and 1970′s had lamps very similar to the Progress line.
Like the mid-cent style w/wood chandelier at Lowes!
May work, but not ready to commit to purchase a chandleier. Think it’s an opportunity to get something really kick butt for good value.
ALSO SEEKING: Looking for mid-cent in similar style to: ‘is a lamp, is it a etc’, style room divider, but not tension mount…….
Anyone know the manufactuerer of that one or any other tips?
I’ve searched endlessly….
I’m thinking what I’m looking for would have been a built-in that has since been demolished….
Any help appreciated. I’ve designed my own room divider and may be going that way, but vintage would be better.
Thx ahead……
Seeking 87 tall-ish, 60s style, double-sided room divider, max: 35 in wide.
Judy, did you see this story: http://retrorenovation.com/2011/09/14/breaking-news-crestview-doors-introduces-6-decorative-midcentury-style-wall-screens-room-dividers/
Pam, have you seen the Rocket collection: http://www.lightingdirect.com/index.cfm?page=search:browse&collection=Savoy+House+Rocket
I wasn’t sure where to post this comment, so although this is an older post, I figured it’s about new lighting, so…
Thanks, Kate. These have a Deco feel to me… I’ll take a look an consider a post…
I recently purchased a 1959 vintage cherry kitchen hanging light with a finial. When it arrived the milk glass globe with painted cherries was broken and I was using it as the focal point to design my vintage kitchen. Does anyone know where I might find a replacement. I truly adore this set and am so sorry USPS didn’t take better care of the package.
Please help.