I was very nervous about this purchase at first. From the pictures online, it is difficult to tell (1) if the exposed bulbs would be assaulting to the senses and (2) if they even provided much light. Now I know that they provide plenty of light without being irritating. I love this fixture. It's a statement piece for our guest bath. When making this purchase, be sure to check the measurements. This was a bit bigger than I had expected.