Question about sconce placement...
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Okay, so it’s not like I haven’t put up a thousand sconces, but I have a question.
At the end of a long day, I was called in to throw up a sconce for the same client, but at a separate property. I basically did it for free.
The client wasn’t at the house—it’s one of many properties they own. They needed light in the entryway. I suggested putting a box in the ceiling and installing a fan with a light, or just a light fixture. There was a pre-existing switch leg by the front door that ran to an outlet right there, so I even suggested just using a lamp.
Instead, I made the outlet constantly hot and ran the switch leg up to a sconce next to the front door. The client specifically requested a sconce next to the front door, between the door and the window. That’s what they wanted, so I installed it. Unfortunately, I guess I put the sconce too high.
They said it should be at eye level, but for some reason that location didn’t read as eye level to me. They didn’t specify a height ahead of time—they just said to put the sconce there. I’ve installed sconces on walls beside mirrors and on either side of fireplaces plenty of times, and they’re usually mounted about 60% of the way up the wall (eye level, maybe a tad higher). But in this spot, next to the front door and functioning as entry lighting, the proportions just looked off to me. I mounted it level with the top of the window. I was also worried that someone coming through the door might hit it or catch it with their shoulder.
This was yesterday after I’d already spent three hours in blistering heat inside another property running a circuit for under-cabinet lighting with no AC. It was sweltering and a long day overall.
This morning I woke up to the client furious that the sconce is too high. I suggested a gooseneck sconce so we could leave the base where it is and just bring the light down lower. They said it was terrible, that I must have never installed a sconce in my life, and now they have to pay for drywall repair and the whole thing is ruined.
I’m just looking for opinions on this. I take pride in my work and I’m usually pretty good at it. I feel terrible, but I’m not sure how terrible I should feel. Opinions would be great—and yes, I know what I’m getting into by asking here… lol