Article: Mark D. Sikes Lighting: The Collection Guide
Mark D. Sikes Lighting: The Collection Guide
Mark D. Sikes lighting for Hudson Valley Lighting translates the designer's classic, all-American style into chandeliers, pendants and sconces with traditional silhouettes, aged brass and polished nickel, painted metal shades in blues and off-white, white plaster, and opal glass. The collections are numbered families, such as Classic No.1, Painted No.2, Plaster No.1, Sphere No.1 and Signature No.1, designed to mix easily in one house.
Mark D. Sikes is a Los Angeles-based interior designer known for crisp, collected rooms: blue and white, stripes and florals, natural fibers, antiques mixed with comfortable upholstery. His lighting line with Hudson Valley Lighting brings that sensibility to fixtures you can use from the entry to the bath. This guide covers the key families, how to size them, which finishes to pick, and how to combine them.
What defines the Mark D. Sikes look?
Across the collection, a few ideas repeat, which is why the pieces work so well together:
- Traditional forms, simplified. Candle-arm chandeliers, bell and dome pendants, and swing-arm and bracket sconces with the ornament pared back.
- Color on the shade. The Painted families put color right on the metal shade, in shades such as Blue Bird, Darkest Blue and Off-White, so a pendant can pick up the blues in a rug or fabric.
- Soft, matte textures. White plaster (Plaster No.1) and opal glass (Sphere No.1) give a gentle, diffused light and an artisanal feel.
- Warm, classic metals. Aged brass leads, with polished nickel and distressed bronze options in several families.
- Numbered families. Names like Classic No.1 and Painted No.2 make it easy to repeat a style from room to room.
The key Mark D. Sikes collections at a glance
Sizes below come from the product specifications of pieces currently in stock.
| Family | Fixture types | Signature details | Example sizes | Where it shines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic No.1 | Chandelier, 1- and 2-light sconces, plug-in sconce | Candle arms with shades; aged brass, polished nickel, distressed bronze | Chandelier 40W x 25.75H; sconces 7.5W to 18.25W | Dining rooms, living rooms, flanking mirrors |
| Painted No.1 and No.2 | Pendants, sconces | Painted metal shades in Blue Bird, Darkest Blue or Off-White | Pendants 9.5W to 18W; sconce 9.5W x 11.75H | Kitchen islands, breakfast nooks, laundry and mudrooms |
| Plaster No.1 | Pendants | White plaster shade with aged brass | 10W x 13H, 15W x 19H, 20W x 25H | Kitchens, hallways, bedrooms |
| Sphere No.1 | Pendants | Opal glass globe | 11.25W x 15.25H, 16W x 20.75H | Entries, stair halls, islands |
| Glass No.1 | Semi-flush | Clear glass with aged brass or polished nickel | 19W x 12.75H | Hallways, closets, lower ceilings |
| Signature No.1 and Curves No.1 | Sconces, plug-in sconces | Tailored brackets with shades | 8W x 11.25H up to 8W x 30.25H | Bedsides, vanities, reading nooks |
Shop the look
Tap the dots to shop this room
Shop the look
How do you size Mark D. Sikes fixtures?
Apply the standard rules of thumb, then pick the closest size in the family:
- Dining chandelier: about one-half to two-thirds the table's width. The Classic No.1 8-Light at 40" wide suits a large rectangular table (roughly 44" wide or more) or a big round table, hung 30 to 36 inches above the top.
- Room-scaled fixtures: add the room's length and width in feet; use that number in inches as a starting diameter. See our chandelier size guide for a full chart.
- Island pendants: two Painted No.2 16" pendants or Sphere No.1 16" globes over a 7 to 8 foot island, hung 30 to 36 inches above the counter; three of the smaller 9.5" to 11.25" sizes for a long island.
- Sconces: about 60 to 66 inches from the floor to the center in living spaces; flanking a vanity mirror at roughly eye level.
- Walkways: keep the bottom of any pendant at least 7 feet above the floor.
Which finish should you choose?
Aged brass is the collection's signature and pairs naturally with blue and white, rattan and warm woods. Polished nickel reads crisper and cooler, lovely with marble baths and white kitchens. Distressed bronze (in the Classic No.1 sconces) suits rustic or darker-paneled rooms. On the painted pendants, Blue Bird is a lighter, fresher blue, Darkest Blue is deep and nautical, and Off-White is the quietest choice when the room already has plenty of color.
Keep bulbs warm, 2700K to 3000K, with CRI 90 or higher; the painted and plaster shades look best in warm light.
How to style Mark D. Sikes lighting in one room
His collections are designed to be mixed, but a little structure helps:
- Pick one statement piece per room, typically a Classic No.1 chandelier in a dining room or a pair of Painted pendants over an island.
- Repeat the metal in sconces from the same or a neighboring family (Classic No.1 or Signature No.1 in aged brass).
- Add one textural piece, such as a Plaster No.1 pendant in a breakfast nook or pantry, so the room is not all shiny metal.
- Use color once or twice. A Darkest Blue pendant pulls in blue from fabric or tile; resist using every color variant in the same space.
For the broader approach to combining ceiling, wall and lamp light, see how to layer lighting like a designer.
Where to use Mark D. Sikes lighting, room by room
- Entry and stair hall: a Sphere No.1 opal globe or a Glass No.1 semi-flush gives a welcoming glow without crowding a low foyer ceiling. Keep at least 7 feet of clearance underfoot.
- Dining room: the Classic No.1 chandelier over the table, with Classic No.1 sconces on the sideboard wall, all on dimmers.
- Kitchen and breakfast nook: Painted or Plaster pendants over the island; a single larger Painted pendant over a round breakfast table.
- Living room: Classic No.1 or Curves No.1 plug-in sconces beside a sofa or bookcase add reading light without rewiring.
- Bedroom: Signature No.1 sconces at each side of the bed, mounted so the shade sits just above shoulder height when you are sitting up.
- Bath: polished nickel sconces flanking the mirror at roughly eye level, about 36 to 40 inches apart, for even, flattering light.
The designer has also created an outdoor collection with Troy Lighting, with fixtures named for California counties, which is useful if you want the same classic sensibility carried out to a porch or garden. For facade and entry ideas, see our guide to improving curb appeal with outdoor lighting.
Featured in this room: six Mark D. Sikes pieces to start with
Classic No.1 8-Light Chandelier in Aged Brass is the collection's anchor: a traditional candle chandelier at 40W x 25.75H, scaled for a generous dining table or a large living room.
Painted No. 2 1-Light Pendant in Aged Brass (Darkest Blue), 16W brings a deep blue shade over an island or breakfast table and is one of the line's most distinctive pieces.
Classic No.1 2-Light Wall Sconce in Aged Brass repeats the chandelier's arms on the wall at 18.25W x 10.5H, ideal flanking a buffet, a fireplace or a wide mirror.
Plaster No.1 1-Light Pendant in Aged Brass, 15W x 19H adds a soft, matte white form to a kitchen, pantry or hallway.
Signature No.1 1-Light Wall Sconce in Aged Brass is a compact 8W x 11.25H bracket sconce for bedsides, vanities or a narrow hall.
Sphere No.1 1-Light Pendant in Aged Brass, 16W x 20.75H gives a glowing opal globe for an entry or stair hall, or as a pair over an island.
Shop the full Mark D. Sikes collection, or browse chandeliers and wall lights to pair with it. Designers can ask about our Design Trade Program, and our New York and Los Angeles showrooms can help you compare finishes in person.
Shop this post
Frequently asked questions
Who is Mark D. Sikes?
Mark D. Sikes is a Los Angeles-based interior designer known for classic, all-American interiors with a strong love of blue and white, natural textures and collected antiques. His lighting collection with Hudson Valley Lighting carries that look into chandeliers, pendants and sconces in aged brass, polished nickel, painted metal, plaster and glass.
Who makes Mark D. Sikes lighting?
The Mark D. Sikes lighting collections featured here are made by Hudson Valley Lighting. They are organized into numbered families such as Classic No.1, Painted No.1 and No.2, Plaster No.1, Glass No.1, Sphere No.1, Curves No.1 and Signature No.1, so you can repeat a style across several rooms.
What colors do the Mark D. Sikes painted pendants come in?
The Painted No.1 and Painted No.2 families offer painted metal shades in Blue Bird, a lighter fresh blue; Darkest Blue, a deep navy tone; and Off-White. They are paired with aged brass or polished nickel hardware, depending on the model, so you can match other metals in the room.
What size Mark D. Sikes chandelier do I need for a dining table?
Choose a chandelier about one-half to two-thirds the width of the table and hang it 30 to 36 inches above the tabletop. The Classic No.1 8-Light Chandelier is 40 inches wide, which suits larger rectangular tables around 44 inches or wider, or a generous round table in a spacious dining room.
Can I mix Mark D. Sikes families in one room?
Yes, they are designed to mix. A good approach is one statement piece, such as a Classic No.1 chandelier, sconces in the same metal from a related family, and one textural element like a Plaster No.1 pendant. Use the painted blue shades once or twice rather than in every fixture.
Designing a whole room?
Our lighting specialists help size and pair fixtures every day, and interior designers and architects can join the Design Trade Program. Browse more ideas in Inspiration.
