“Never go to bed angry” is a familiar piece of folk wisdom. A crystal chandelier in your bedroom can be helpful with this.

If it’s a Schonbek crystal chandelier, it’s a harmonious design replete with captivating details. And the prismatic play of light off the crystal is mesmerizing. It can only be good for you to open yourself to the influences of something so beautiful.

If your spouse or partner is engrossed in a book and won’t turn off the lights, keeping you awake (as often happens to me), instead of fuming about it, you can take the time to enjoy the charms of your crystal chandelier.

It’s really good to spend a few minutes doing nothing at bedtime, letting go of all your preoccupations. But if you’re tightly wound up from a long and eventful day, unwinding is difficult. Contemplating your crystal chandelier can make doing nothing a little more doable.

We have a very modest Artifact crystal chandelier in our bedroom. Before we got it, I would often notice the defects of my bedroom décor at bedtime. The chipped paint on the windowsills. The tightness of space around the bed. But the light that emanates from a crystal chandelier is so flattering, you tend not to notice imperfections in your surroundings. Someday we’ll repaint the windows, but no hurry. I go to bed content with the room I’m sleeping in.

No bedroom is too small for a crystal chandelier, since Schonbek introduced tiny crystal chandeliers. People with large bedrooms, of course, can go all out. Either way, you’ll be bringing a positive presence into your bedroom.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

How will I celebrate Valentine’s Day? Actually, I’ve already started, with a breakfast of chocolate chip strawberry scones in the kitchen with my husband, under a crystal chandelier.

My husband is Prince Charming in my eyes, so a backdrop of crystal chandeliers suits him.

But no chocolate during the day, and no crystal chandeliers either. I may write some crystal chandelier copy, but I’ll be focused on work.

In the evening, more chocolate, enjoyed again by the light of a crystal chandelier. This time it will be just a few squares of very dark chocolate, which medical experts have declared is good for your heart. (I still can't believe it.)

The moral of this blog? Crystal chandeliers always add to the fun of a holiday. The chocolate is really optional.

Monday, February 13, 2006

This weekend I was sitting at my computer with five minutes to spare, so I looked up Louis XIV on the Internet. This led me to a photo of the famous Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, which is brilliantly lighted by a plethora of crystal chandeliers and crystal candelabra.

A traditional crystal chandelier is dazzling in any space. But hang multiples and multiply the multiples with mirrors, and the effect is awe-inspiring.

I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never been to Versailles. So I’m just basing my musings on photography. But it’s pretty clear that crystal chandeliers alone were not enough for Louis. He had to have complimentary candelabra, and lots of them.

I’ve seen quite a few photos of present day homes with Schonbek crystal chandeliers. Often there will be matching candelabra on a sideboard, cabinet or mantle. So the urge Louis felt to elaborate on a theme is still felt today.

Schonbek makes a variety of crystal candelabra, and each style echoes the design of a traditional crystal chandelier in the Schonbek portfolio. You can go to the crystal candelabra page to see them.

If wax candles don’t appeal to you, you can go the route of electrified candelabra. Schonbek makes beautiful examples.

If you have spacious rooms, lofty ceilings, elegant moldings, noble archways and/or an ornamental column or pilaster or two, you have the exactly right setting for matching crystal chandeliers and candelabra.