The Perfect Chandelier for Your Home

Chandeliers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Deciding and selecting the perfect chandelier for your home may prove to be a very tedious task. Although most people go for shiny brass multi-arms with faux candle socket and flame-shaped bulbs, you can always choose your own unique chandelier in order to make it fit perfectly into your home.

The first important thing that you need to do before your chandelier-hunting activity is to measure the dimensions of the room where the chandelier will be placed. Add the width and the length of the room in feet and then convert it to inches. The number you will get in inches will be the near about diameter of the chandelier.

The second consideration is the placement of the chandelier. It should be placed in the ceiling in such a manner that the light is equally distributed in the area. In order to avoid accidents, the roughly estimated gap between the table and the chandelier should be 30 inches.

To maximize wall art decors, it is advisable to use recessed lights. For dining and for special occasions, a dimmer light can create a preset level

Two or three low-voltage pendants can be used, in cases where your table is long and narrow. This will distribute light properly.

Finding the right chandelier will do wonders for the beauty and style of your home. In the past, chandeliers were designed for the usage of the wealthy and the powerful. It is believed that to build an impressive and complete home structure, there is a need to find the perfect chandelier that is capable of creating its own unique and elegant beauty.

Ma. Roma Agsalud http://www.goldenageusa.com

Famous Chandeliers From Around The World

Elvis was so moved to bring a chandelier into his Graceland estate that he insisted on an impromptu late-night shopping spree at Memphis' Belvedere Lighting in 1974. While Elvis may have left the building, the breathtaking Italian cut glass chandelier now resides in the dining room.

The impressive wrought iron chandelier that hangs above the Grand Staircase in the Vanderbilt family's great Biltmore Estate requires 72 light bulbs.

The Winchester Mystery House in California, built by gun heiress Sarah Winchester to appease unhappy ghosts, contains an elegant, imported chandelier that originally contained 12 candles, but was refitted to hold the spirit-friendly number of 13.

The Blue Room, the White House's reception room, boasts a chandelier 79 feet by 36 feet, with 19-foot 10-inch ceilings. It takes one person two entire days to clean the monstrous chandelier, but as big as it is, the lighting fixture must also be removed every year to accommodate an even bigger Christmas tree.

Outside of private residences, however, one must either go to church or gamble at the card tables to find the largest chandelier. While the title for biggest chandelier isn't a clear winner, four of the world's top casinos and a Spanish mosque currently vie for the bragging rights. However, reports say a British shopping center under reconstruction will feature the largest chandelier after remodeling is completed by the beginning of 2007.

Pat Fillman, the owner of Horns a Plenty, made the world?s largest antler chandelier. He displayed the chandelier in early 2005 wowing all that saw it. The chandelier is 10 feet in diameter, 12 feet tall, and is fixed with sixty-seven light sources. With a final weight of over 850 pounds, he estimates that it took the antlers of nearly 600 dear and elk to make the chandelier.

Perhaps the most famous chandelier of all belongs, not in a house, a casino or a church, but in the theatre. Andrew Lloyd Webber's well-known chandelier crash scene from Phantom of the Opera strikes desperation in the hearts of lighting buffs everywhere.

For more information on famous chandeliers, visit http://www.chandelierblog.com

Learn more about crystal chandeliers at the Chandelier Blog

Crystal Chandeliers - Crystallizing Reflections of Ourselves

Chandeliers have that wonderful ability to engender the feeling of elegance and warmth to wherever they hang. And since the lighting of your residence is a fundamental ingredient, it makes sense to use it as a way of creating, augmenting and embellishing the ambiance in whichever way you decide. We talk of people ?lighting up? with joy and we all immediately know what?s being talked about. Well arranged lighting will automatically give life and verve to the reception rooms that you want. You can adjust the lighting like ingredients in your favorite dish. Subdued light creates restful settings; different colors set different moods. You can have fun choosing the kinds of lighting that you feel comfortable with. If you think you need to encourage certain aspects of your individuality, your personality, see if you can decide how to co-ordinate that.

You slowly get the feel that, by molding these aspects to your needs and wishes, you?re becoming at one with your surroundings. Consider the old saying, ?Your home is your castle?. Actually castles are like statements of unbeatable strength ? resisting outside intrusions. So let warriors choose castles as they may wish ? with their dungeons of decaying enemies. This is so far from the reality of the world many of us live in. Shouldn?t your dwelling be a reflection of you, of what is important to you? ? So why not make it that way! Let?s all lighten up.

Some of the nicest ways of enriching our lives is to ensure our senses are in touch with joyous objects. Chandeliers have raised the moods of all who gaze on them for many a century. They come in such a huge variety that you?re bound to find some that just fit. If you go for one of the larger imposing models, make sure that it?s what you really want. Maybe you won?t want it on all the time as your principal lighting though. It?s good to keep options open such as have matching wall sconces with different light switches, so it?s you again choosing how you set your light ? your scene.

Crystals have their own charm. It?s always been that way. People even heal themselves with them. Wherever you see clear or colored crystals, it catches your eye with its own magic. They are the womb of rainbows and give birth to joy and mirth! Who got it right by combining those together creating the ever enchanting crystal chandelier? We can also get it right by bringing in these qualities to our lives, enriching our environment, enriching ourselves. Well, it?s only a thought. But that?s the reality we live in. In the mystic realms of our unconscious, we create our world. The world isn?t in any definable way, it just is. It?s us that add our reality to it by covering it with our words, our senses. Why not add the reality we want. Taking control of your lighting makes sense from the most fundamental to the downright practical.

Julian Pollock is a freelance author and publisher of articles providing information on a wide range of subjects. He is a regular contributor to Chandelier-Mall.com and has included here his view on the qualities and value of the crystal chandelier. He has also written on the many different types of chandeliers in general and the benefits of matching wall sconces

 

History of Crystal Chandeliers

A chandelier is a fixture fixed at the ceiling with two or more arms bearing lights. It was first used in medieval churches and abbeys in order to efficiently illuminate large rooms and halls. During those times, a chandelier usually took the form of a wooden cross that has spikes in order to secure it

From then on, chandeliers took on more elaborate forms. It was not only used for lighting purposes, it took on decorative and aesthetic functions. It was not surprising that chandeliers are found in palaces and home of the rich. Chandeliers, eventually, became a symbol of wealth.

One form of chandeliers is the crystal chandelier. According to Jutta-Arnette Page, curator of the European Collection at the Corning Museum of Glass at New York, it varied and evolved through time but its height came during the development of lead glass in England in the 17th century.

The addition of lead gave old crystal its clarity and sparkle. The effect of lead is its ability to make glass highly refractive. The refraction of glass defines the quality of the chandelier. As was stated by Donna Wilkinson in her article written for Arts & Antiques Magazine, ?tiers of flickering candle flames were reflected in the diamond like drops and pendants, every color of the rainbow was dispersed throughout the room.? She even described the experience as reminiscent of Europe?s 18th and 19th century splendor.

The problem of achieving refraction during those times was that rock crystal was rare and very expensive. In addition, cristallo, was very brittle and this poses difficulty in cutting the crystal that could make fraction possible. Attempting to find a substitute, an English glassmaker, George Ravenscroft, developed in 1676 a crystalline glass that would serve as an alternative for rock crystal. He discovered after a series of experimentation that glass becomes soft and easier to cut if lead oxide is added. The ease of cutting made the glass highly refractive and became even more transparent than rock crystal.

Lead glass gave fire and life to glass crystals, according to Jessie McNab, associate curator of decorative arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She claims that ?when it was used on chandeliers with candles, it was absolutely brilliant.?

The demand for chandeliers increased. Chandeliers became luxury objects and designs soon became even more complex. Chandeliers in the 1750s were greatly influenced by Rococo. Chandeliers bore touches of cut-glass pendants and such ornaments giving it more sparkle. In 1765, the elegant style of Robert Adam made crystal chandeliers longer. The shafts of the chandeliers used Grecian-um designs. Their arms were strung with chains of pendants and their candle sockets and drip pans became very elaborate. Bells or flowers are examples of these drip pans.

The achievement of the ?English Crystal? had undergone a lot of experimentation and obstacle. However, the European continent is still hoping that it would soon be able to catch up. Such attempts can be seen in the works of J. & L. Lobmeyer in Vienna and baccarat in France who were able to achieve exceptional lead crystal chandeliers in the 1820s and 1830s. Artisans, today, have not stopped pushing themselves. Their goal to achieve perfection had surely made chandeliers a truly one of a kind art work.

Ma. Roma Agsalud http://www.goldenageusa.com

How to Install Your New Chandelier

Chandeliers offer a dazzling way of welcoming your guests inside your home. It serves as a mealtime companion while you and your guests feast on a sumptuous meal you have prepared. It adds impact to the ambience of a room. However, if you are deterred by the thought of installing your new chandelier, here are some basic steps to follow.

Switch off power

You must switch off the power to the circuit on which you intend to work.

Remove old chandelier, if any

Disconnect and remove the old chandelier, if any, from the junction box. You may need someone else to help you to support the weight of the old chandelier as you disconnect it. It is important that you should know how the old chandelier is connected before you take it off. You can also mark the wires with tape and a pencil of reference later on.

Replace junction box

Replace junction box only if it is not strong to hold the weight of your new chandelier. Once determined, you can proceed with the installation by threading your new hardware onto the mounting strap. Use the existing screw holes to secure it into the junction box. However, if there is no existing mounting strap, you will have to install one. You can buy it from a local hardware or use the one that came with the new chandelier.

Wire the chandelier

Wire the new chandelier the same way the old one came out. Simply connect the white wires with white ones and black wires with black ones. Start the wiring process by stringing wires through the last link on the chain, and then through the support nut, collar nut, escutcheon plate, and up through the lamp nipple, and finally into the junction box. Connect your wires by tying in to the home wiring using wire nuts (plastic connectors). You?ll tie in by splicing the black hot wire from the junction box with your wire nuts. Then you will splice the white neutral wires. Connect the ground wires to the green grounding screw in the junction box. Use the manufacturer?s instruction for the new chandelier to complete the rest of the installation.

Chandeliers are varied in styles, weights and designs. Styles may have ornate fixtures, a just simply a fixture which hangs from a chain or wire. Weights of chandeliers are important with regards with the junction box. This box contains all the wiring connections in the ceiling, so it must be strong to hold the weight of the new chandelier. Sizes of chandeliers should be about 12 inches narrower than the width of the table cover which it hangs. Total wattage of bulbs must be 200 to 400 to provide sufficient light.

To give you some tips, a room size of 10? by 10? or less, use a chandelier 17? xo 20? in diameter; a room size of 12? by 12?, use a chandelier 26? or 27? in diameter; a room size of 14? x 14?, use a chandelier of 24? to 36? in diameter.

You might need the following additional tools for efficient installation aside from those enumerated above, namely: stud, hickey, utility knife, circuit tester, pliers, insulated screwdrivers, multipurpose tools.

Ma. Roma Agsalud

http://www.goldenageusa.com

How Do I Choose And Shop For The Right Size Murano Chandelier?

?A fine chandelier is an investment that will add to the value of your home.?

How To Choose The Right Size And Lighting Power Of A Murano Chandelier

Your Murano chandelier must be the most decorative element in your room. It is designed to float in a room as an important part of the d?cor. Too large and this fixture will overpower the space. Too small, and it will look out of place.

The following is a guideline for you to follow when deciding how to hang your Murano chandelier:

- 80? from the floor to the end of the chandelier would be a standard rule of thumb unless the chandelier is being hung over a table. In this case, the space can be reduced.

- To have an idea of how large your chandelier has to be, this formula is the right one: In a square room: one wall (feet) x 2.2 = width of chandelier; In a rectangular room, these formulas are for the shorter wall, but if one wall is twice the size of the other, we suggest to use two identical chandeliers.

- Wattage ? you can use bulbs from 15 to 60 watts depending upon how bright you want the area to be lit; also, with larger chandeliers, it would be a good idea to use a double switch or dimmer.

How To Shop For A Murano Chandelier

Both fashionable and functional chandeliers should be incorporated with the home d?cor just as any decorative art object.

To find the right color, begin with a color or material that is predominant in the decoration scheme of the room. Depending on the impact you may want to convey, for traditional styling you may want to consider an ornate, detailed chandelier. For a more modern style, you may want to opt for a less ornamental chandelier with a simpler design.

Visit several lighting showrooms prepared with a photo or sketch of the space you want to illuminate. It is important to also have the color palate of the space so that you will be able to find a chandelier that is complementary to these colors. When checking out your chandelier prior to your purchase, make certain to look at the quality and detail of the fixture.

Another important consideration is the weight of the chandelier. Those heavier than 50lbs have to be mounted more securely to the house?s structure.

The chandelier has been carefully assembled and hung. Perfect in every way, your Murano chandelier adds beauty and elegance to your living space. It provides the perfect accent to your d?cor. Your chandelier is not only functional, but a decorative work of art!

Russ Roman - technical advisor for Dibianco Lighting Company, which represent to the public high quality handcrafted Murano glass lamps.

Residential Art Glass Lighting - Design Trends in Chandeliers, Sconces, & Pendants

Much in the way jazz altered our concept of music, glass art has changed our expectations of residential lighting. In fact, glass art lighting is being hailed as one of the hottest new trends to hit luxury home design. According to 25-year Southern California interior designer Greg Griffith, G. Griffith & Co. of Destin, FL, “It’s emerging as a transitional point for a more energetic look. From Asian to 18th Century, every style and design can incorporate glass art lighting. The fact that these are actual sculptured pieces means you’re adding art to the room without cluttering the wall.”

Aside from aesthetics, the benefit to glass art lighting is that it’s so flexible, it ends up resolving many design conflicts. Take, for example, the story of the Wisdom Window. This stained glass piece was created by a California glass artist to create a welcoming light at the end of a dark, New York apartment hallway. The artist created four matching sconces, but wanted the end of the hallway to feel like a window. He innovated a design where a diffuser sheet will be installed underneath the stained glass piece, and lit from behind.

One New York glass artist developed a unique way to illuminate her bathroom. She created her own mosaic glass sink and lit it from underneath to create a warm, amber glow. It also doubles as her nightlight. To underscore the look of an underlit sink, matching sconces are ideal. Some kitchen designers are commissioning glass art sconces and pendants to match underlit glass kitchen countertops. This creates interesting, ambient lighting in a more finished-looking lighting package.

Glass art lighting can be a subtle accent, or a prism through which the light bathes a room in a swatch of exotic colors. “I find many decorators driving décor based on the lighting fixtures,” says Seattle-based glass artist, Suzanne Guttman. “It’s easy to fall in love with a tentacled pendant light or chandelier and make it the centerpiece of a room.”

The Cost of Beautiful

Investing in gorgeous glass art lighting is less daunting than one may assume. A Bellagio budget isn’t necessary to incorporate museum-quality glass lighting into a residential design. Sconces range from $400 to $1,200; small pendant lighting (suspended by one point in the ceiling) ranges from $300 to $600; larger pendants and chandeliers can range from $1,500 to $10,000. Serious collectors consider glass art an investment as well as being an aesthetic piece, just as they would an original painting, or a piece of antique furniture.

Glass Art Lighting 101

Once a homeowner decides on glass art lighting, it’s helpful to know a little about the glass and where it should be used, based on its physical characteristics. Here are some tips:

Blown glass has some limitations to the size and diameter that an artist can create. Some blown glass lighting utilizes many pieces in its design to create a larger, more sculptural effect.

Cast glass is very beautiful, but quite unusual in lighting because it is very heavy to suspend. One glass artist has created a woven glass technique that takes on the look of woven fabric, and results in a glass art lighting fixture that feels like a glass blanket.

Fused & slumped glass is popular for glass art lighting. Through the use of molds, fusing allows the artist to create large diameter canopied type lighting, thus enabling a single shade to be up to 48” in diameter. This creates consistency in shape and wonderful, unusual textures.

Etched glass is another wonderful medium for flat panel lighting. Pieces such as The Three Graces, by glass artist Margaret Oldman, can be lit with plain or multi-colored fiber optics, depending on the look a designer is trying to achieve.

Mosaic and stained glass are similar, in that they’re both ideal for flat panel lighting. Artists will often incorporate Italian smalti glass, blown sheets of transparent glass broken into small pieces, or dichroic glass, which is coated on one side with a metallic-like mirror finish.

Buyer Beware

One thing homeowners should remember, especially with lighting, is to be sure that the glass artist they’ve chosen understands how the electrical specs will dovetail with the piece, and that they know U.L. standards. As founder of Glass Artists Gallery, I estimate that close to 30% of our first-time customers come to us because they had negative experiences commissioning residential glass art lighting on their own. We are very careful about screening the artists we represent to make sure they understand the technical specifications

In short, glass art lighting choices become a very personal way to reveal a homeowner’s fingerprint on the interior design. As George Bernard Shaw once said, “You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.”

For more information or to see thousands of images of art glass lighting, visit Art Lighting Gallery

Jack Healy is part owner of Functional Art Gallery, LLC - Functional Art Gallery - a growing family of online resources for the designer, architect, builder and discerning homeowner. The company focuses on handcrafted functional & architectural works of art for both residential and commercial projects. The Functional Art Gallery family includes Glass Artists Gallery, Sinks Gallery and Art Lighting Gallery. Together these resources provide the largest collection of artisan and designer products available in North America.

Art Glass Chandeliers - Something Unique

A museum in the Hakone region of Japan, (a few hours from Tokyo) houses some of the most interesting Venetian crystal ornamentation and lighting. The Venetian Glass Museum or the Hakone Glass Forest, as it’s called, is a great way to see crystal and Murano glass in all its splendor, because, unlike a typical museum, a portion of the displays begin outside where entryway trees are festooned in Murano crystal; some clear, others in beautiful rich colors. These crystal filled trees line the museum’s courtyard.

The museum itself contains some very exquisite Murano glass chandeliers dating back to the 18th century. Period piece rooms are filled with ornate crystal chandeliers – a different kind of visual experience for the Murano glass lover, a Venetian style of production that dates back hundreds of years.

Murano glass dates back to the 13th century when glassmakers in Venice were banned to the island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon. Some of this was based on safety to ensure the hot fires needed to make glass would not burn down Venice but another reason was to keep the knowledge of the craft secret and specific to the area. Glassmakers of Murano (at the time) were actually forbidden to share their trade secrets with foreigners nor were they allowed to leave the island, an offense punishable by death. Venetian glassmakers were the leaders in glassmaking throughout the middle ages, right up until the 19th and 20th century when they were finally upstaged by the Bohemian and English glassmakers.

Murano glass is still renowned throughout the world. Glassmakers on Murano work much the same way they did hundreds of years ago but now it’s possible to find much more affordable Murano reproductions.

Nicole Martins, is a senior editor at Chandeliers and Home Lighting. If you would like to read more about Italian chandeliers with Murano glass visit this site at: http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com