Light Conversation

Right-sized vs. Wrong-sized Chandelier 0

When you WANT to break the rules!  

Thinking outside of the proper sized box when it comes to chandeliers.

Talking with a friend yesterday, I reminded her of the common method of finding the proper sized chandelier for any given room... room length + room width = approximately the width of the right chandelier (in inches).  a 12' x 10' room calls for a 22" wide chandelier.  

But, what if you want to be different.  Or what if the chandelier love of your life is too big (or small)?  As they say, it is all good.  It really is!  Ultimately, it is your room, and as long as your head doesn't hit the chandelier, you can do what you want. 

For example, I have a 26" wide chandelier in my dining room, a room that really calls for a 22" wide chandelier.  It is a small room, but I don't want a small chandelier - I own a chandelier store, for goodness sake!  Because the room is small, it only houses a table and the 6 chairs to the table, plus the over-sized chandelier.  I love it!

Conversely, a friend has an undersized chandelier in her dining room.  Her dining room calls for a 26" wide chandelier, and she opted to use the one that was original to her early 1950's home.  It is only 18" wide, but looks perfect with her small chairs and over-sized lamps.

Just wanted to pop in with a reminder that home decorating rules are meant to be broken!

The History of the Baron Chandelier 0

We have great pride in our original designs, but we also find joy in creating reproductions.  There is something satisfying about being able to recreate things of beauty from our past.

Over the many, many years we have been building crystal chandeliers, we have been called upon to work on any reproduction projects.  One of our favorites was for Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida.

The building itself is impressive!  Originally built in 1888 by Henry Flagler as the Alcazar Hotel, it has been through a few variations and purposes over the years, but is now, most spectacularly, the Lightner Museum. (You can read more about the building at visitstaug.com  and at https://lightnermuseum.org/history.)

Also in 1888, Mr. Flagler built the Ponce de Leon Hotel, across the street from the Alcazar Hotel. The Ponce de Leon Hotel is currently the heart of Flagler College and home of these beauties, the inspiration for our Baron chandelier:

Compare the instagram capture above to this great old photo:

And the history in this photo!

In the early 1990's we were approached by Lightner Museum about reproducing these chandeliers for the current phase of their amazing restoration journey.  

With a few little changes and the blessing of all involved, we decided to keep the chandelier in our line of crystal reproductions and named it, fittingly, the Baron.  It remains one of my favorite chandeliers.

If you haven't visited The Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, you are really missing out on a fascinating collection of artwork and antiques.  You will find updated exhibits along with learning experiences and an awesome staff of knowledgeable volunteers.  Tell them the folks at King's Chandelier sent you!

Lowering Your Crystal Chandelier 0

A common dilemma...how do I lower my chandelier? 

Maybe you have moved to a home with higher ceilings, or maybe you just think your chandelier should be lower... but either way, you want to add chain to your chandelier so that it hangs closer to the table or floor.  How do you do this?

Most importantly, is there enough wire (lamp and ground) on the fixture to accommodate the new length?  If not, you will have to change the entire electrical wire from the ceiling box through the stem to where the center wire connects to the arm wires.  You will also need to replace the ground wire. 

Safety dictates that the wire has to be whole or connected within the proper wire nuts, and because most folks don't want colorful wire nuts visible, we recommend changing the entire length. You can purchase wire here.

Cut the power to the chandelier!  To get to the wire connections, you can unscrew the bottom of your chandelier, separate the center wire from the arm wires, pull the old center wire and then replace that center wire with a new one. It should thread through the center pipe easily. Make sure you are using an appropriate wire. The new center wire must connect to the arm wires.

Once you have solved the wire issue, you can turn your attention to adding chain.  Either match your existing chain and add in what you need to get the chandelier to the proper height, or replace all the chain with something new. 

Make sure you are using an appropriate chain gauge.  Using proper tools, such as chain spreaders, makes your job easier. Using care and strength, and cutting the power to your fixture, you can change the wire and chain on a modest sized chandelier without taking the chandelier all the way down. 

Keep in mind that these instructions are specific to our crystal chandeliers.  If you have one of our Tier models or Victorian models, we can talk you through how to change the wire in those.

Traditional Crystal Chandelier with a Contemporary Twist 0

We love when our clients bring us new ideas!  Recently, we were approached by a designer to help achieve her vision for a fresh take on a traditional-style chandelier.  

Katy Krider, owner of Katy Krider Interior Design, wanted to blend our classic crystal baskets with a contemporary cascading pendant design for an impressive historic home renovation in Portland Oregon.  The uncomplicated, over-sized ceiling pan conveys a modern look to the lighting fixture, while the cloth-look wire brings an antique aspect. The pendant lights are our Sally Ann and Mary Beth crystal baskets that have been simplified just a bit. 

The final product exceeded even our expectations and was the perfect blend of old and new - an excellent lighting solution for this extraordinary home.

Working on this design with Katy and her client was so much fun, and they were kind enough to share installation photos with us.

Check out the photos below and make sure to follow Katy on Instragram: @katydrider.id.  And, while you are there, follow us...@kingschandelier.  

To Shade or Not to Shade 0

Should you put clip-on shades on your chandelier or sconce?

There are many things to consider when deciding whether to add fabric shades to your fixtures.  I am addressing crystal fixtures specifically, but many of the same ideas can be applied to other types of lighting.

One of the greatest things about adding shades to crystal chandeliers is that it softens the light.  And, if the shades have white linings, the bulbs will reflect off that fabric and back into all the crystals.  It really is quite stunning.

You can see in the photos above how the chandelier itself is lit by the way the shades push the light from the bulbs down onto the chandelier arms and prisms.  

A few things to be aware of when purchasing:

1. Make sure that you are using a low wattage bulb - if using incandescent, between 15w and 40w, depending upon how big the shades are.  If the bulbs become too hot, they will discolor the shades, or even worse, they will cause a fire. Most LED bulbs don't get hot enough to be of concern.

2. Clip on shades will fit either a candelabra bulb or a regular A15 or A19 (household type).  Double check that you are purchasing the right type of shade. 

3. Look at the interior color of the shade.  We really like white interior for maximum brightness.

4. Most lighting fixtures will look best with a shade that has a bottom diameter of 4" to 6", depending upon how large the fixture is.  Most of what we sell in the showroom is 4" to 5" bottom diameter.

5. If purchasing shades for sconces, ensure that the bottom of the shade isn't too wide.  Measure the distance from the wall to the center of the socket.  Half the diameter of your shade should be smaller than the distance from the wall to the center of the socket.

If you think that the light from wall sconces is a bit excessive, shades, either traditional or contemporary styles, are a beautiful way to soften that light.  

From a decorating point of view, shades can be a way to change design perspectives of a fixture.  An elegant drum shade can make a traditional chandelier seem more modern, or a bell shade can make a straight line chandelier seem more classic.  In many cases, a shade can make a fancy chandelier just a bit less so.

Whether for practical reasons or aesthetic reasons, clip on shades can change the look of your lighting fixture.  

How to Cut a Candle Cover 0

If you are looking for candle covers for your chandelier, you have realized that not only are they available in different diameters, they are available in different heights, too.

We offer the option of ordering your candle covers cut to your specification.  

However, we do have many folks that inquire about cutting their own.  So, how do you do that?  The best way to do it is with a band saw.  With a band saw, you can make clean, quick cuts no matter how thick the cover is.

Many folks do try to cut their covers with scissors... sometimes that works, sometimes it does not.  If the candle cover is thin enough, you can trim down the plastic a bit at a time:

It is best NOT to try to cut it all at once.  Although it is quick, that method will crease the plastic:

We have had customers cut them with hack saws and bread knives... though we just don't recommend it.

The easiest way is to let us do it for you!  Order here.