Friday, February 22
It just dawned on me, when I was writing some copy about Da Vinci™  yesterday, that this crystal chandelier is entirely handmade.

Andrew Schonbek told me this, but I didn’t quite take it in. At the time we were concentrating on the remarkable fact that a Da Vinci™ crystal chandelier is dishwasher safe.

But the fact is, it takes hundreds or even thousands of crystal octagon to make a Da Vinci™ chandelier, and every crystal has to be set by hand into the stainless steel gridwork of the frame. The number of crystal jewels depends on the size of the chandelier, but even the smallest ten-inch Da Vinci™ bears a mind-boggling amount of crystal. This of course is why you get such a piercingly brilliant display of prismatic light and color.

The crystal octagons are all different sizes, strategically placed to result in a perfect moon-like roundness. The meticulous crystal pinner has to get it all right. And does.

The wonderful thing is that a Da Vinci™ crystal chandelier doesn’t look handmade. It looks flawless, and handcrafted things are never flawless.  Only a company as obsessive about engineering and workmanship as Schonbek could achieve this effect. And it helps that Da Vinci™ is made with flawless crystal by Swarovski®. So you have perfectionists at work on both construction and materials.

Da Vinci™ is high tech lighting at its most advanced. So the fact that it’s handmade is a surprise from that point of view as well. You expect high tech things to come from machines.

When you have something dramatically beautiful in your home, your friends are bound to ask you about it. With a Da Vinci™ crystal chandelier, you’ll have plenty to tell them.

Wednesday, February 20

I reserve the right to change my mind, but at the moment, my favorite Decorating Game on this website is Country Bedroom.

A chunky bed with fancy bedding appeals to me. And I’m feeling more and more that bedrooms are important and deserve a crystal chandelier.

There might be fewer sleep disorders if people had interesting ways of calming themselves at bedtime. Contemplating the play of light on crystal is a very pleasant way to relax an overactive mind. You won’t be able to get a perscription for it from your doctor, but even so, it’s worth considering. The worst that can happen is that it won’t help you relax, but you’ll have a delightful crystal chandelier in your bedroom.

All the chandeliers in this game are lovely, but I'd like to write about Bagatelle.

Bagatelle has its own very individual look. The lead crystal urn and vase that form the body of the chandelier relate very beautifully to each other. The crystal trim is quite generous, yet the chandelier is not overdressed. There’s an air of refinement about this crystal chandelier.

I particularly like the contrast between the oversized faceted crystal drops and the smooth unfaceted crystal drops and finial. The crystal rosettes are adorable, and eye-catching despite their small size. All the crystal ornaments are handcut, using methods that go back centuries.

I saw a Bagatelle crystal chandelier in person in Dallas, and I was quite taken with its charms.

Monday, February 18

President’s Day brings to mind an important observation: all presidents everywhere live with crystal chandeliers.

Well, there may be exceptions, but most presidents do manage to surround themselves with crystal chandeliers at home and often at work.

In Schonbek literature we sometimes mention that Schonbek crystal hangs in the White House. This means crystal made by the old Schonbek company, not Schonbek chandeliers. The Schonbek family made fine crystal for many decades before Adolf Schonbek began making crystal chandeliers in the nineteenth century. It’s no surprise that a magnificent coming together of antiques in a magnificent residence should include Schonbek crystal.

I’m just now looking at images of recently redecorated White House interiors, and I must say, crystal is essential to their beauty and dignity. These rooms have incredibly gorgeous draperies, in addition to the gorgeous furnishings.  Rich fabrics cry out for crystal chandeliers.

In recent years home design mavens have decided that crystal can go anywhere. But those who live in the rarefied atmosphere of the White House have always known this. The crystal chandeliers in the Queen’s Bedroom, the Lincoln Bedroom, the Vermeil sitting room and the library have always been considered fitting and proper.

The rest of us should take notice and feel free to indulge in crystal chandeliers however and wherever we wish. Mini chandeliers make this possible even in the tiniest cottage. Two-story great rooms invite indulgence in crystal on a grand scale.

From the point of view of decorating, we are very fortunate to live in a democracy. If you like the presidential style of living, filled with antiques and crystal chandeliers, you can go for it.