This is a custom version of our chandelier 144/8. Check out this short video.
]]>If you have to cover a light fixture, disconnect the power first!! Remove the light bulbs, tape the light switches to the off position, disconnect the wires and put wire nuts on the ends, and turn off the breaker. Sounds like over kill, but we've heard enough stories over the years (and I heard a new one this morning) to know that folks will try their darndest to turn lights on without thinking about what may be covered. And, if they succeed, the end result will probably be a fire in your home.
Whether plastic, paper, or cloth is touching a lit light bulb, it will cause a fire quicker than you would think. We've repaired numerous light fixtures for customers that were trying to keep sanding dust out of their chandelier and they had a fire. Some folks had severe damage to their homes.
So, if you have already installed a fixture and want to protect it, the best way is to remove it, seal the wires from the ceiling with wire nuts, and store it away. If you can't do that, then cut the power to the fixture in all of the ways mentioned above before you cover it.
From personal experience, I can tell you that dust will find a way. Sanding dust is the worst and will get through and around any barrier you put up. If you have just purchased a chandelier, we always recommend that you wait until your build or reno is completely finished before installing your new chandelier.
Always be safe!
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We have replaced Swarovski crystal with Asfour crystal which is just as beautiful and a bit heavier than the Swarovski Strass crystal that we used on our Signature line for decades. We are very pleased with the results.
As a matter of fact, a customer here in NC who has several of our Strass chandeliers just received a Raleigh chandelier trimmed in the new crystal. Upon installation, she sent me a text: "the chandelier is just beautiful, it's perfect!!!" This Raleigh is hanging within site of a Raleigh with Swarovski and she sees no difference.
The biggest upside of this shift is that the prices on our Signature line are lower than they were when these fixtures were trimmed in Swarovski. If you are a repeat customer, you will notice this and notice the lack of reference to Swarovski. If you are a past customer and need some replacement pieces of Swarovski, please contact us.
- Nancy
]]>My favorite version is this 22" wide, 12 light. The Berkeley 12S has 6 lower lights and 6 upper lights and is shown in this photo with polished nickel details which give it a very crisp look . I love the little, final crystal piece on the bottom (we call it a crystal donut).
Very similar to the Berkeley 12S is the Berkeley 6. The 6 design has the same structural pieces, with only 6 arms one level. Below, it is shown with the brass metal details, and that brass adds a bit of warmth to the fixture. Made as shown, the Berkeley 6 has been one of the most popular choices this winter.
We have, in our line, a larger version called the Madison. The Madison is 32" wide. Our customers frequently look to this chandelier with added prisms as a simple alternative for a large room. Call us for numerous ideas or give us your vision of how it could look.
]]>What do you need to know before you start? Some best practices here.
How do you clean a chandelier? Check out our best advice!
Having trouble figuring out the placement of crystal? Click here.
Want to replace your candle covers? Read this post for more info.
Enjoy your shiny and clean fixtures and Happy Holidays!
]]>If you have candelabra sockets on your chandelier or sconce, you have probably had to change the covers/sleeves at some point due to discoloration or disintegration. Ideally, you can measure those covers and replace them with something the same size. See ours for standard and custom sizes. The cover is designed to cover only what is there... it does not dictate the length.
What happens if you want to make the appearance of your candle longer or shorter? You must first examine your sockets. To do so, remove the bulb (not while it is hot) and the cover to see what is underneath. Keep in mind, this is an electrical connection. The safest way to proceed it to make sure the power to the fixture is turned off at the breaker.
Hopefully, your socket is an adjustable one. By loosening the correct screws, the socket will slide up and down (like a slide trombone). It is important that you loosen the correct screw - NOT the one holding the wires.
If the socket has room to move down, then shortening it is pretty easy.
Lengthening it is more of an undertaking and we recommend an electrician. In order for an adjustable socket to rise, you must have enough wire through the arm to make the extra distance. If you do not, the arm will have to have a new, longer wire run from the socket to the main wire of the chandelier. Do NOT piece together wire. And, do NOT force the length of the wire.
In short, usually if you want a taller socket/cover, you will have to rewire the arms of your chandeliers. Our website includes kits for this, and we always recommend an electrician.
We'd love to hear your stories of how you have changed the look of your chandelier. Leave us a comment below.
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If you want an extremely over-sized chandelier, wider than or as wide as your table, you have to hang it higher than normal range. The chandelier, or at the very least, the bulk of the chandelier, must be above the heads of anyone standing at your table. I know we don't normally think of folks standing at the table; we envision them sitting, but you do have to consider where the chandelier is if you are standing at the edge of the table, and you do not want a light fixture right in the face, or forehead, of your guests. I am a fan of over-sized chandeliers in the right space, but just be wary of how low it is.
To help you visualize... the closer the chandelier's diameter is to the width of your table, the higher the chandelier needs to hang.
We pay more attention to the room measurements to get the correct sizing for your chandelier, and only consider sizing for the table if the table is unusually sized for the room. There are a few guidelines out there... some say leave 6" from the edge of the widest part of the table. Others say to use a chandelier that is anywhere from 1/3 to 2/3 the diameter of your table - which is a big range. Again, unless you have a very large dining room, if you purchase a chandelier that is appropriately sized for the room dimensions and ceiling heights that you have, then your chandelier will most likely be sized appropriately for the table you have.
Here are some additional links to help you choose the best chandelier size for your room.
A chandelier over a drop-leaf table.
Guidelines for how high to hang a chandelier over a table.
How wide of a chandelier to choose.
We are happy to answer specific questions about this topic. Feel free to send us your dimensions, and we will give you our recommendations.
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Making for a beautiful transitional style chandelier, these can be thought of as a modern Empire style chandelier, or a little Regency and a little Contemporary.
We make a few different styles, and each style can be made in varying sizes or your choice of metal finish.
All of these Tier Models can be customized.. different sizes and different trimmings.
We've been called upon to make larger versions as well. The two below are 24'' wide and 60" long.
How would it look in your foyer?
]]>Measurement:
Ideally you want to get that measurement correct the first time as most folks, including us, charge restocking fees on returns of parts or they don't accept returns at all.
Replacement crystals frequently are sold with an attached octagon or button and a hook. Keep in mind that this top piece is not included in most measurements. In other words, a 2.5" almond is just that... 2.5" of almond shaped crystal with the added bonus of a top piece.
Below is a 2" measured.
We try to include the overall length (in this case 3.5"), but this height includes the pinning which can make the overall height vary a bit.
When trying to match crystals, it is more important to compare the height than the width. An off width will blend with different crystals better in most cases.
Details:
It can be quite difficult to verify that top "button" and the pinning on the piece you are wanting to purchase is the same as the piece that you need to match. If you are examining our parts, feel free to send specific questions. In most cases, we are happy to change the pinning or top piece for a small fee.
Quality:
Quality is very difficult to determine by photo. Generally, if you tell us the chandelier is pre-1980's, we can assume that the crystal are Italian quality, Czech quality, or Swarovski Strass. What does this mean?
Older Strass is unmistakable. It is thick, heavy and blindingly refractive. Newer Strass is a lighter due to the lack of lead oxide, but it is still gorgeous. (It is also thinner and etched with a trademark.)
"Italian Quality" usually means leaded crystal without great clarity. It is heavy, but whitish looking. Frequently the edges are duller and more molded looking as opposed to cut.
Czech Quality means the good, old stuff! It is a heavy, clear crystal, but not brilliantly sparkly like Strass. Sadly, this is being replaced by a newer, lighter crystal. Good for the environment (no lead) but sad for us traditionalists. Czech quality has edges that look more polished instead of molded.
Hope this is helpful.
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While working at home last week, I tuned into HGTV and the show "You Live in What" as background noise. "You Live in What" features a wide variety of buildings that have been transformed into homes, and in back to back episodes, I saw a bourbon distillery, a slaughterhouse, a grist mill, a synagogue, and a few churches.
One church caught my eye. I saw a flash of a dining room with a tin ceiling and purple walls, and thought, "I know that room!". Many years ago, a thoughtful customer sent us a photo of his restoration/reformation in progress that showed that same tin ceiling. At the time, he told me it was a church, but the details of the location have been lost over the years. After some frantic pausing and rewiring on Thursday, I could confirm it was the same room, and I was able take a photo of the TV screen.
The ceiling is just beautiful, though my photo does no justice to any elements in this room, including our Windsor chandelier.
I love happening upon photos and videos of our chandeliers. And, if anyone knows this home, I would enjoy hearing about more about it.
]]>We are continuing to deliver on time and have had no delays in fulfillment! Just let us know how we can help you with your home projects.
We hope everyone is staying healthy and in good spirits!
-Nancy
]]>A past customer sent us a lovely photo this week of a chandelier that they received as a wedding gift in 1978. It is one of my favorites - The Small Tryon.
Mr. King created this chandelier in the 1940s and named it for the Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina. (When the world returns to normal, fans of Diana Gabaldon should take their Outlander tour.)
Unfortunately, the beautiful German wood-polished almonds that characterized the Tryon of all sizes are no longer available so we have removed the Tryon from our line of chandeliers. However, a variation of it is available in the Bedford:
We can duplicate the structure of the Tryon for anyone interested in a Georgian style chandelier. We have many alternative crystals for trimming.
As always, feel free to contact us for any custom chandelier creations!
]]>I've made a few posts about cleaning and safety which you can access from the tags to your right. I haven't addressed how to figure out where everything hangs once you have it clean.
First things first... or, maybe I should say for next time.... take a photo of the chandelier before you start removing crystal. I know we all THINK we will remember where it goes, but trust me, you probably won't.
So, let's assume you have a pile of crystal in front of you and a bare chandelier with no idea what to do.
Okay... so that takes care of the sorting. Now turn your attention to the frame of your chandelier. I find it easiest to sketch it out. I can't draw, so mine are laughable, but helpful.
These numbers give me quite a bit of info.
If you have strands, they will match the number of arms. If they are coming from the stem, then they will come from the 2nd bobeche where there are 8 pins, not the top where there are 12 pins. Look at where the loops are on the arm, under the bobeche. One center loop means those strands probably stretch from the front of that arm to front of the next. No loop on the arm means they probably connect to the bobeche on the arm itself.
If I have 12 of one type of crystal, they probably go on the top. 5 of a different would go on the bottom. Just start matching crystal counts to the number of pins. It is a puzzle, but you will figure it out eventually. As you start to populate the chandelier, you will be able to complete the bits and pieces.
If it is one of ours, you can send us a photo and we can guide you. If not, just web search crystal chandeliers and look at the images shown for ideas.
Some chandeliers, most particularly the metal cage framed chandeliers, are a bit more difficult to figure out. But, work on levels for your counts. Usually, each level of the chandelier will have one style of crystal.
These are not the best of times, and we wish everyone health and comfort. Keep sending your questions... our response time may be a bit slower, but we will answer.
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You can find our cleaning instructions on this website.
Before you begin cleaning, however, there are a few safe guards you should take.
You can find more tips and cleaning advice on our blog
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We'd love to help you design that perfect light! Call us at 336-623-6188 or email us at crystal@chandelier.com.
]]>As long as our community is not in quarantine and we all remain healthy and unexposed, the shop will remain open. Monday through Friday, 9-5 and Saturday 10-2. We do not expect any delays in ordering time - we are stocked and able to produce. If anything changes, I will post it on our web site and social media.
We are a small business that considers staff and customers as family, and we are committed to keeping everyone safe and and every surface sanitized. The majority of our business is conducted via phone and email so we feel safe in operating with our small staff maintaining all recommended precautions. We've all worked together for years, even decades, and long ago learned the healthful importance of maintaining private work spaces and tools.
We pray that you all remain healthy, listen to the experts, help one another, and call your elderly family every day as this is most isolating for them. Don't forget to find the joy and sparkle in your day!
& Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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The first in the series of Whitaker chandeliers was created by Mr. King in the 1980's during the boom of popularity of Victorian homes. He wanted something in our line of reproduction chandeliers that wasn't quite so ornate but yet still evoked the sense of grandeur that the Victorian age epitomized.
Like our Charleston series, the Whitakers are crafted of solid brass tubing and banding and trimmed with 4" notched crystals, but there is a bit more spacing between all the crystals.
The old Whitaker 6 differs a tiny bit from the new (graduated crystal instead of baguettes stretching to the top).
As the chandelier grew popular, Mr. King introduced new version, including this lovely 4 armed version with solid brass cast eagles adorning the band.
The eagles, though no longer included on the design, are still available to use on any of the Whitakers, and we welcome your inquiry.
Although the collection was designed in the spirit of Victoriana, it looks beautiful in modern rooms with a warm decor - paneling, dark or rich colors... and just about anywhere!
If you find that the Whitaker chandeliers are the perfect choice for your home, consider a set of scones to flank your favorite painting, mirror or piece of furniture.
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I enjoy looking at and sharing old photos, and I am especially excited to be able to include them on our blog making them a perpetual part of our story. The following photos show our showroom over the years.
Mr. DF King and daughter Adele King in the 1950s. First dedicated chandelier space on Boone Rd. in Leaksville, NC.
1960s - Newly opened 3000 square feet of showroom and workshop on Highway 14 in Leaksville (shortly to become Eden), NC. Mr. Durward King is on the sofa in the back ground.
The photo above shows the 1970's addition taking us to 8,000 square feet of showroom and work space. This photo was taken in the 1990s in our "Strass Room" by Albert Cardwell.
Our same "Strass Room" a decade or so later. Photo by Frank Van Valkenburg.
]]>Our "Strass Room" now.
The Stables at the Virginian is a beautiful space... fun, classy, elegant and rustic all at the same time! The design is upscale stable, and it manifests the warmth and hospitality that one would expect in the perfect venue space. I can't imagine any better setting for a wedding.
Check out this article written by Karen Dillon for the Smith Mountain Laker. Photography is by Heather Turner. Heather's photos are worlds better than mine, but below are some pics from my phone.
The main space houses the Schonbrunn flanked by custom chandeliers - Baltimores that we made to be 32" wide instead of 30" wide. The radiant crystal looks magnificent against the gorgeous wood of the ceiling and banisters.
A variation of our Wentworth chandelier hangs in threes here in the Bride's Room. They accompany 2 sconces. Jackie custom designed these chandeliers in order to get just the right amount of sparkle. This ambiance will make all bride's feel beautiful!
We worked with Jackie on the rest of the interior lighting, as well as the exterior lighting and fans, to achieve that perfect balance of rustic and sophistication.
Jackie and Mike know the importance of lighting - both practically and aesthetically. Each fixture (over 75 of them) was carefully selected to blend the elegant and rustic aspects of the decor.
It is gorgeous, and we are so proud to be part of this project. Congratulations to Jackie and Mike.
]]>How will the 1920's influence the 2020's? Hopefully, lots of sparkles, feathers, and fringe. Glorious colors and patterns -- maybe even velvet! It is exciting to anticipate.
We will be ready with our 1920's inspired chandeliers!
Our collection of tier model chandeliers is led by the Zelda. The name and the design were inspired by that golden age.
When King's chandelier started advertising our product nationally, it was the precursor of the Zelda chandelier that we marketed. $35 plus shipping and handling... the good old days.
If you want to start the 2020's in style, check out all of our tier models and choose one for your home.
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Most of the lovelies that Somer has cataloged for us are these beautiful glass shades. Some of them date back to the 1860's we are sure, but any particular information about them has been lost over the years as we have lost the good folks that worked with them. Even if you don't need one of these shades, you will be impressed by the beauty and variety of our collection.
As with all of our antique and vintage pieces, we've done our best to describe the condition of the particular piece, but we welcome all of your inquiries and requests for more photos.
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Let's tackle the hows first.
Some folks opt for storing a chandelier, intact, hanging in a crate or from a bar of some type in an out of way place. This isn't a bad method as long as you have the room, and everyone knows not to touch. The chandelier should be covered to keep as much dust as possible off of the fixture. Of course, once it is covered no one will know the fragility of the contents underneath, so a CAUTION sign may be a good idea. We don't recommend moving a crystal chandelier in a crate, but for stationary storage, it works well.
We frequently recommend storing crystal chandeliers as if they were packed for moving. That is, each arm taken out of the main stem and wrapped with paper or bubble wrap for cushioning. Crystal trimmings should be wrapped in tissue paper and labeled carefully. Including a diagram of where the crystal belongs on the fixture is a must!
Once everything is wrapped, place the piece in a strong cardboard box with cushioning between the pieces. You want to make sure that pieces can't knock against each other.
Where to store it?
We don't like attics..temperatures are too extreme in attics, at least in most parts of the country. The heat isn't good for the electrical wiring and the candle covers. Garages are better unless your climate is really extreme.
A more climate controlled area is best - somewhere inside the home is ideal. But, of course, the best place to store a chandelier is hanging from your ceiling where everyone can enjoy it.
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The Alexandria (one of my favorites) in the newly restored Mildred Grant House in Mason Texas. Stay tuned for news about this historic home and inn, The Mildred Inn.
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It is ideal for what we call a "medium sized" dining room - a room that is 12' x 15' or 13' x 14'. However, this is a very full chandelier with abundant trimmings, so it looks a bit larger than its 26" diameter and can enhance even a larger space, including a foyer.
In an 8' ceiling, using 1' of chain, this chandelier will hang about 29" off the table which is a tiny bit closer than our guidelines indicate, but no one will be the wiser! (One link of chain really looks like more because there will be a screw loop protruding from the canopy. Don't be afraid of one link!)
In the photo above, you can see how well it works in an uncomplicated space. It also fits a more decorative space.
This truly is the perfect chandelier! But, just in case you want a smaller, or larger, bit of 8+4 perfection, check out the 8+4 Small or the 8+4 EXL (the 8+4 Large was lost in history).
All of our Signature sconces are a perfect fit for this chandelier.
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(Speaking of wallpaper... we frequently share the stage with Bradbury and Bradbury - check them out if you aren't familiar.)
Double parlors were common in Grand Victoriana, and those spaces just beg for fantastic, show stopping chandeliers. There is just something luxurious about twin crystal chandeliers and these photos are true examples of that lavish decor.
Our lovely Richmond 6 is lighting the space shown below, a historic home in the Algiers Point neighborhood of New Orleans.
Victorian Splendor in New Orleans... written by R. Stephanie Bruno and Photography by Eugenia Uhl. Victorian Homes October 2011.
Our Charleston 6 is doing a fine job of adding to the historic feel of this Brooklyn Brownstone's double parlor.
Decorating a Brooklyn Brownstone ... written by Frances Gay and photography by Rob Kern. Victorian Homes issue Winter of 1994.
Stay tuned for more pretty photos and archives!
]]>This photo does a good job of showing the diameter - both inside and outside. Also, you can see how thick the plastic is. This is a very thick, white matte plastic.
These covers are cut to order and we have added them to our site! As always, if you have any questions, email or call us.
]]>Above is the popular 8+4 Medium.
Above is the Chesapeake.
]]>And, lastly, the Rosalie.