Light Conversation — Room Ideas

Our Windsor in a Converted Church 0

I've always been intrigued by the idea of living in a converted church, and when I am in a new one, I imagine how I would make that church my home.  (I know, not what I'm supposed to be doing in church!)  I think I found the idea appealing when it was introduced to me as a teenager reading The Eiger Sanction. The book described the home, a former church, of the main character so well that I still remember it many (many) years later.

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.  

Custom Chandelier in Nashville 0

We love it when our customers are creative!  With some inspiration from our Ice Palace chandelier, this couple designed the perfect crystal chandelier for their lovely, Nashville home.  

We'd love to help you design that perfect light!  Call us at 336-623-6188 or email us at crystal@chandelier.com. 

How to add light to your historic home... 0

In my archiving, I ran across this article.  There is some good information here, for all types of homes.

Get to Know Our 8+4 Crystal Chandelier Series 0

One of our most popular chandeliers is the 8+4 Medium. It looks lovely in just about any setting.

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.

Victorian Lighting in Double Parlors 0

If you are a follower of our blog, then you know I've been using it to catalog and preserve some of the articles and press that have included our crystal chandeliers over the years.  The photos are fading, which is particularly a shame in regards to these grandly decorated Victorian homes. I truly love the wallpapers and fabrics used in these interiors.

(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!  

Victorian Decor 0

If you are a follower of ours, you know how much we love Victorian homes and decor.  Flowers, animal print, real brass, crystal, velvet - all gorgeous elements of the Victorian room - are perhaps a bit out of trend in this time of grey tones and farmhouses. But, Victoriana is timeless.

I am still cleaning out drawers and organizing old press.  Below are a couple of camera shots of pages from Victorian Homes which, sadly, recently ceased publication.

Our Charleston 6 chandelier and Charleston Sconce in the Heritage Hills neighborhood of Johnson County, Kansas. 

Article by Gloria Gale, Photography by Bill Mathews, Victorian Homes Magazine August 1999

Our Richmond 6 in Claybaugh House built 1892.  Anaheim California. 

Article by Rebecca Ittner, Photography by James Itagaki, Styled by Merrie Destefano.  Victorian Homes June 2010