Your Guide to Choosing Bicycle Glass Hardware
When you order a pendant or chandelier from Bicycle Glass, you're making a lot of choices, (glass shape, color, style) but one that can make a big difference in how your light actually lives in your space is the hardware. Every pendant-style fixture gives you the option to go with our standard hardware setup or customize it for your specific situation.
Here's a breakdown of what each option means, so you can feel confident going into your order.
Quick Answer: Standard vs. Custom Hardware, Which Do You Need?
For most homes with flat, standard-height ceilings, standard hardware is all you need. It ships with a flat-ceiling canopy and a 4-foot cord that your electrician can easily shorten during install. If you have vaulted, sloped ceilings or existing recessed lights you want to convert, choose the custom hardware option when adding your light to your cart.
Standard Hardware: The Right Fit for Most Homes
Standard hardware includes two things: a flat-ceiling canopy designed to mount flush to a typical ceiling, and a 4-foot cord, our default length that works well for most standard ceiling heights.
If 4 feet is more cord than you need, no problem. Shortening pendant cords is a completely routine part of any lighting installation. Your electrician has two options:
- Coil the excess inside the canopy, if there's room.
- Trim and re-wire the cord to your ideal length. This is standard practice for residential lighting and something any competent electrician should handle without hesitation. If yours can't, it might be time to find someone else!
Not sure how long your cords should actually be? We have a guide for that. Check out our pendant hanging height guide →
Choosing a Hardware Finish
Whether you go standard or custom, you'll also choose a finish color; the metal color for your hardware. We offer four options to match your space:
Matte Black
Brushed Nickel
Polished Brass
Antique Bronze
Custom Hardware: Built for More Complex Situations
If your space has anything beyond a flat, standard-height ceiling, or you're working with existing recessed lights, the Customize Hardware option is where you'll want to spend some time. Here's what you can add:
Extended Cord Lengths
We offer 8-foot and 16-foot cord options for spaces that need more drop. This is especially common in vaulted-ceiling kitchens with single pendants and entryway chandeliers where the ceiling is very high. If you're hanging a chandelier in a two-story entryway, extended cords are almost always the right call.
Hang Straight Adapter
Got a sloped ceiling? A hang straight adapter attaches to your canopy and redirects the cord to hang straight down . This keeps your pendant looking clean and intentional, and also relieves the stress on the cord that would otherwise be pulling at an awkward angle, extending the life of your fixture.
Downrods
Downrods are metal rods that slide over your light cords to give your pendant or chandelier a more structured, architectural look. They match the finish of the rest of the fixture. Downrods come in sets of 5 rods (two 15", two 12", one 6") that you combine to hit your ideal drop length.
Recessed Canopy Conversion Kit
Already have recessed lights in your space and want to convert one into a pendant? This kit makes it possible without new wiring. Note: this option is for single pendants only and is not compatible with chandeliers.
The good news: most of these customizations are compatible with each other, so you can stack options to dial things in for your exact situation, extended cord and a hang straight adapter, for example, if you're dealing with a high vaulted ceiling that also has a slope.
Have questions? We're here to help.
Every space is a little different, and we love helping people figure out the right setup before they order. Reach out any time; shoot us a message on the contact page, an email at info@bicycleglass.com, or give us a call at 952-95CYCLE. No question is too small.