The chandelier used to mark your arrival.
Clad in crystal, it met you in the foyer of
a well-appointed home, then dazzled you from
a power position over the diningroom table.
Rarely did you find a chandelier in a starter
home. To see them illuminating any room other
than one used for entry or dining, more unusual
still.
My, how times have changed.
Today chandeliers rate as a brilliant idea
just about anywhere -- from modest homes to
magnificent mansions, contemporary digs to
traditional houses. They dangle decorously
in almost every room of the house.
Credit our bigger-is-better building boom.
Taller ceilings and increased volume in today’s
homes means chandeliers are less likely to
crowd a room.
“Nine-and-10-foot ceilings almost demand
something hanging to fill the space”
Colorful chandeliers create drama in the
kitchen. Teeny ones provide elegance to powder
rooms. Even walk-in closets go upscale when
lit with a small chandelier.
“Beyond laundry rooms and garages,
any room is an open target for hanging a chandelier,”
adds Rey-Barreau. “More commonly, kitchens
and bathrooms have become the popular locations
for chandeliers.”
Chandeliers add twinkle to a boudier. “People
are treating their bedroom suites as more
luxurious personal spaces with elaborate bathroom
areas, so it is not unreasonable to consider
chandeliers there, either,” says Dan
Blitzer, Director of Education for the ALA..
“Chandelettes,” or mini chandeliers,
add a new sense of intimacy to small rooms
and to corner spaces and alcoves of larger
ones. “Minis are even being used as
wall sconces in some instances -- and they
look fantastic.”
These compact chandeliers are nine-12 inches
in diameter to slip easily into tight spaces.
For added impact, consider grouping them.
“You can hang two small ones over
a kitchen counter and the result is gorgeous.”
“These smaller chandeliers also work
in more modest homes or where there are 8
ft. ceilings.”
Chandeliers have also sized up to accommodate
the soaring foyers and sweeping two-story
spaces of larger homes. “The demand
for massive chandeliers to fill these areas
has also increased,”. “A 20 ft.
ceiling today is no longer unusual.”
The experts at the American Lighting Association
have spotted the following trends in chandeliers:
MIXED MESSAGES: Mixing of materials and styles
within one fixture is now a common design
trend.
It is not unusual, for example, to find a
rustic cast-iron fixture with crystals hanging
from it, or different metals and types of
glass all incorporated into one fixture.
“American styles are decidedly eclectic
and homeowners today are very comfortable
mixings styles,” “Chandeliers
lends themselves neatly to that process. You
can look for a chandelier that is inspired
by the period reflected in the room you are
putting it, but you don’t have to. Many
contemporary designs are a blend of traditional
elements with modern materials -- glass and
alabaster with polished chromoe or satin nickel,
which makes them work with a variety of styles.”
COLOR ME BEAUTIFUL: While sparkling clear
crystal refracts and reflects light, designers
offer chandeliers in a rainbow of shades to
complement decor. Colored crystal can combine
with clear to create a prism of hue. Smokey
quartz, rock crystal and amethyst offer an
antique feel.
FINISH LINE: Chandeliers no longer feature
just one metal or just one finish. The latest
looks offer multi-tone finishes created by
painted or chemical processes.
MOD SQUAD: The freshest face in chandeliers
is clean and simple, designed to work in more
contemporary spaces. “We just introduced
a dramatic new categor of crystal product
that is very contemporary,” says Schonbek.
“It features colored crystal geometic
shapes -- cubes, rectangles, spirals, pyramids.
The colors mix together to create auras of
light for a vibrant rich look.”
DIM LIT: Whether they are ornate and multi-armed
or simply feature a large-scale bowl, chandeliers
need a dimmer so homeowners can control the
intensity of light. “Most of the time,
the lighting capability of a chandelier is
more than is actually necessary to light the
space,” says Rey-Barreua. “They
should always be controlled by a dimmer to
add to the aesthetic appeal.”
MATCH POINT: Once a design preference has
been identified, the chandelier should simply
be another decorative element. “There
is a trend to eclectic interiors where traditional,
transitional and modern will blur even within
the same room,” says Rey-Barreau. “The
chandelier doesn't need to "match"
the decor in a very rigid manner. If it works
visually for the user, then it's fine.”
STORY #2 - SIZING UP THE SITUATION
Chandeliers are designed to float in a room
as an important part of the decor. Too large
and this fixture will overpower the space.
Too small and it will look out of place.
“Placing a chandelier that is too small
in a space is likely the biggest mistake because
it's very noticeable,” says Joe Rey-Barreau,
educational consultant for the American Lighting
Association (ALA) and assistant professor
of interior design at the University of Kentucky.
“Great designers, therefore, tend to
make their decisions on fixtures that may
appear slightly larger than might be appropriate.
It's generally always best to make the mistake
on a fixture being too big than too small.”
To make sure your chandelier is the right
size for the room in which it will hang, consider
the following questions.
1. How high is your ceiling? Taller ceilings
demand larger fixtures.
2. What is the size and shape of your table?
island? The chandelier should complement,
not overpower, anything you plan to suspend
it over.
3. How big is the room you are trying to
illuminate? Again, be sure the chandelier
is not too big or too small for the room.
4. What is the form and design of the chandelier?
Light, airy fixtures tend to look larger.
STORY #3 - SHOPPING FOR A CHANDELIER
Fashionable and functional, chandeliers should
be incorporated into the home just as any
decorative accessory or object of art would
be chosen.
“I would urge consumers to view this
purchase with same enjoyment they would use
in buying fine furniture,” says Dan
Blitzer, educational consultant for the American
Lighting Association. “A fine chandelier
is an investment that will add to the value
of your home.”
To find the right style chandelier for your
home, simply begin with a color or a material
that is predominant in the decoration scheme
of the room. What catches your eye in the
room? What type of statement do you want to
make? If the room is more traditional, choose
chandeliers with more ornamentation and decorative
details. If your home is modern, opt for less
ornamentation and simpler details.
If the choices are not clear, it's always
best to rely on the help of a lighting consultant
in a lighting showroom to help guide the decision.
“Sometimes, it's simply a matter of
choosing what feels good,” says Joe
Rey-Barreau. “Lighting consultants often
have design backgrounds and help move you
in the right direction.”
When shopping for a chandelier, the American
Lighting Association suggests the following
tips to help you find the fixture of your
dreams.
BE PREPARED: Visit lighting showrooms armed
with a photo or sketch of space you are trying
to light. “Fabrics, photos of furniture,
or images of the house are of great help in
this process,” says Rey-Barreau. “And
don’t forget to ask the sales associate
for assistance.”
CHECK ITOUT: Scrutinize the chandelier before
buying. Look at detail and finish quality.
Castings should be neat out of the mould so
they look clean. Shades or other attachments
should sit neatly in a plumb fashion. Ask
the cut and quality of the crystal and durability
of finishes.
LIGHT IT RIGHT: Be sure to choose the correct
lightbulbs for your particular chandelier.
According to the experts, clear bulbs in chandeliers
with exposed bulbs, or crystal glass enclosures
will enhance sparkle. In chandeliers with
linen shades, frosted bulbs cast a pleasing
glow and won’t create shadows.
Buy a few extra lightbulbs for chandeliers
at the time of purchase. Nothing’s worse
that having a bulb go out right before a dinner
party!
WEIGHT THERE: Always consider the weight of
the chandelier. Chandeliers heavier than 50
pounds have to be mounted more securely to
the house’s structure. “This is
a criteria of the National Electrical Code,
and the electrician hanging the fixture should
be aware of this,” says Rey-Barreau.
“It doesn't hurt to remind them, however.”
MORE IS MORE: Don’t let a chandelier
stand alone in a room. Like a star, they need
a supporting cast of characters to help them
do their job. “A chandelier needs supplemental
lighting around it," says Blitzer. "Don’t
sweat to find the one fixture that does everything.
It is best to achieve a layer of light in
the rooms with sconces, table and floor lamps.”