diff --git a/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/demo/contacts_demo.dart b/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/demo/contacts_demo.dart
index 0d2c488697..34f47207a3 100644
--- a/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/demo/contacts_demo.dart
+++ b/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/demo/contacts_demo.dart
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // found in the LICENSE file.
 
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
 
 class _ContactCategory extends StatelessWidget {
   const _ContactCategory({ Key key, this.icon, this.children }) : super(key: key);
@@ -182,49 +183,52 @@ class ContactsDemoState extends State<ContactsDemo> {
             ),
             new SliverList(
               delegate: new SliverChildListDelegate(<Widget>[
-                new _ContactCategory(
-                  icon: Icons.call,
-                  children: <Widget>[
-                    new _ContactItem(
-                      icon: Icons.message,
-                      tooltip: 'Send message',
-                      onPressed: () {
-                        _scaffoldKey.currentState.showSnackBar(const SnackBar(
-                          content: const Text('Pretend that this opened your SMS application.')
-                        ));
-                      },
-                      lines: const <String>[
-                        '(650) 555-1234',
-                        'Mobile',
-                      ],
-                    ),
-                    new _ContactItem(
-                      icon: Icons.message,
-                      tooltip: 'Send message',
-                      onPressed: () {
-                        _scaffoldKey.currentState.showSnackBar(const SnackBar(
-                          content: const Text('A messaging app appears.')
-                        ));
-                      },
-                      lines: const <String>[
-                        '(323) 555-6789',
-                        'Work',
-                      ],
-                    ),
-                    new _ContactItem(
-                      icon: Icons.message,
-                      tooltip: 'Send message',
-                      onPressed: () {
-                        _scaffoldKey.currentState.showSnackBar(const SnackBar(
-                          content: const Text('Imagine if you will, a messaging application.')
-                        ));
-                      },
-                      lines: const <String>[
-                        '(650) 555-6789',
-                        'Home',
-                      ],
-                    ),
-                  ],
+                new AnnotatedRegion<SystemUiOverlayStyle>(
+                  value: SystemUiOverlayStyle.light,
+                  child: new _ContactCategory(
+                    icon: Icons.call,
+                    children: <Widget>[
+                      new _ContactItem(
+                        icon: Icons.message,
+                        tooltip: 'Send message',
+                        onPressed: () {
+                          _scaffoldKey.currentState.showSnackBar(const SnackBar(
+                            content: const Text('Pretend that this opened your SMS application.')
+                          ));
+                        },
+                        lines: const <String>[
+                          '(650) 555-1234',
+                          'Mobile',
+                        ],
+                      ),
+                      new _ContactItem(
+                        icon: Icons.message,
+                        tooltip: 'Send message',
+                        onPressed: () {
+                          _scaffoldKey.currentState.showSnackBar(const SnackBar(
+                            content: const Text('A messaging app appears.')
+                          ));
+                        },
+                        lines: const <String>[
+                          '(323) 555-6789',
+                          'Work',
+                        ],
+                      ),
+                      new _ContactItem(
+                        icon: Icons.message,
+                        tooltip: 'Send message',
+                        onPressed: () {
+                          _scaffoldKey.currentState.showSnackBar(const SnackBar(
+                            content: const Text('Imagine if you will, a messaging application.')
+                          ));
+                        },
+                        lines: const <String>[
+                          '(650) 555-6789',
+                          'Home',
+                        ],
+                      ),
+                    ],
+                  ),
                 ),
                 new _ContactCategory(
                   icon: Icons.contact_mail,
diff --git a/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/gallery/home.dart b/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/gallery/home.dart
index 2c7e1ec70b..b11761cd31 100644
--- a/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/gallery/home.dart
+++ b/examples/flutter_gallery/lib/gallery/home.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import 'dart:developer';
 import 'dart:math' as math;
 
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
 
 import 'backdrop.dart';
 import 'demos.dart';
@@ -399,6 +400,10 @@ class _GalleryHomeState extends State<GalleryHome> with SingleTickerProviderStat
         ]
       );
     }
+    home = new AnnotatedRegion<SystemUiOverlayStyle>(
+      child: home,
+      value: SystemUiOverlayStyle.dark
+    );
 
     return home;
   }
diff --git a/packages/flutter/lib/src/services/system_chrome.dart b/packages/flutter/lib/src/services/system_chrome.dart
index 0c9f864f66..344afbd4bd 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/lib/src/services/system_chrome.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/lib/src/services/system_chrome.dart
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class SystemUiOverlayStyle {
     statusBarColor: null,
     systemNavigationBarIconBrightness: Brightness.dark,
     statusBarIconBrightness: Brightness.dark,
-    statusBarBrightness: Brightness.dark,
+    statusBarBrightness: Brightness.light,
   );
 
   /// System overlays should be drawn with a dark color. Intended for
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class SystemUiOverlayStyle {
     statusBarColor: null,
     systemNavigationBarIconBrightness: Brightness.light,
     statusBarIconBrightness: Brightness.light,
-    statusBarBrightness: Brightness.light,
+    statusBarBrightness: Brightness.dark,
   );
 
   /// Creates a new [SystemUiOverlayStyle].
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class SystemUiOverlayStyle {
 
   /// The brightness of top status bar.
   /// 
-  /// Only honored in iOS .
+  /// Only honored in iOS.
   final Brightness statusBarBrightness;
 
   /// The brightness of the top status bar icons.