Friday, March 2, 2007

There’s a new phenomenon in the world of lighting: Schonbek crystal chandeliers ornamented with Strass® Golden Teak crystal.

I had the good fortune of seeing one of these new crystal chandeliers in the Schonbek factory. My reaction made me think of a scene from a movie. A grimy, exhausted archeologist digs his way through a dim passageway and suddenly sees a gleam of gold ahead. His eyes glitter with excitement, the pickaxe falls from his hand. Music up. Zoom in to show a treasure trove of ancient artifacts in solid gold…

Golden Teak crystal chandeliers are a wonder. The crystal shimmers and catches fire rather like liquid gold. Schonbek makes the most of the amazing qualities of the Golden Teak crystal pendants by glazing the other crystal parts (columns and spikes) in a teak tonality.

Schonbek offers three crystal chandelier designs in Strass® Golden Teak: Renaissance, New Orleans and Rialto. We have only three photos on the website, so keep in mind that each of these photos represents an entire collection of crystal chandeliers, ceiling baskets and wall sconces in different sizes. You can have your golden crystal chandelier in just about any size or configuration you wish.

Schonbek’s Golden Teak chandeliers arrive on the scene just as a new fascination with gold is emerging among designers. Expect to see golden fabrics and gilded interiors everywhere. Gold is warm, rich, mysterious. Why shouldn’t we want more of this alluring color in our lives? Certainly the ancients did. They wore it, decorated their rooms with it, and occasionally even ingested it.

I wish everyone could experience a Schonbek Golden Teak chandelier in person, as I did. The thing to do is visit a large showroom that displays the new collection. You can always call Schonbek to locate a dealer near you: 800-836-1892.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

If you put a crystal chandelier in your bedroom, will it influence your dreams? Let’s assume, just for fun, that it will.

I put a tiny Renaissance crystal chandelier in our guest room, and our guests always get a great night’s sleep (or so they say). The crystal pendants are oversized multi-faceted drops that emanate a warm prismatic brilliance. Very conducive to serenity.   

Sterling with amethyst colored crystal is an interesting suggestion for a bedroom, as shown in the Decorating Game. This is a rather grand style dating back to the eighteenth century, when only the gentry and the rich merchant class could afford crystal chandeliers. Such people probably dreamed of fame and fortune, if they dreamed at all, and an elaborate crystal chandelier in the bedroom made an excellent backdrop.

Bagatelle is a clever choice for a bedroom. Its name means a short playful piece of music, and this crystal chandelier really does have a lighthearted quality. One secret to getting a good night’s sleep, as we all know, is to not be obsessive about it. The lighthearted sleep soundly.

If you like bedtime stories, consider Scheherazade. This exotic crystal chandelier was inspired by the Princess Scheherazade, greatest bedtime storyteller of all. The more intricate the plot of the book you’re reading, the more likely it is to induce sleep. With Scheherazade, you’ll have a chandelier that swirls and shimmers and mystifies like a thriller.

Monday, February 26, 2007
Is there a place in your home for a crystal chandelier with matching lamps?

Much has been said about eclecticism. Like an orchestra conductor guiding many instruments, you bring together many beautiful things that do not at all match, yet somehow deeply complement each other. This is very creative, and keeps you a little on the edge of your seat. There’s always the danger of a jarring note, but that’s what makes it fun. And when it all comes together, there’s nothing quite so exhilarating.

Crystal chandeliers are a wonderful instrument for the eclectic designer. They take a leading role, and give everything else in the room something to harmonize with.

But every now and then it’s nice to have a change from strict eclecticism. It’s nice to match. No worries about whether the lamps you’ve selected will work with your crystal chandelier. You’ll have a theme. This is particularly helpful if you choose a non-traditional crystal chandelier with a forceful personality. For example, Flamenco.

If you click on the link to this crystal chandelier, just keep in mind that the Schonbeks like it best with black shades. But I don’t have an image of that yet. So remember that you have that option.

Anyway, Flamenco is possibly my favorite contemporary crystal chandelier.  It’s a wonderfully stylish display of rock crystal, Jet Black crystal and Swarovski® crystal jewels, with crystal stars and a chic black finial tassel further enriching the presentation.

The combination of rock crystal spheres with such a light and airy design is a coup.  Rock crystal by its very nature is heavy, not just physically heavy but heavy with significance. Here you have a gemstone as old as the Earth, with mysterious internal markings that are a visual record of the formation of our planet. But in this crystal chandelier design, rock crystal seems to be released from the forces of gravity. The rock crystal spheres appear to be afloat.

How could you ever find lamps to go with such a drama queen of a chandelier? You might have difficulty, and so Schonbek makes a matching Flamenco crystal lamp.

There are actually several opportunities within the Schonbek line for matching your lamps to your crystal chandelier. But that’s a subject for another day.