Friday, March 9, 2007

Interior designers like to keep ahead of the trends, and they can certainly do so in the categories of high tech lighting and crystal chandeliers by attending a Schonbek Designer Night.

We just posted the dates for the next two Designer Nights on this website.

Schonbek always chooses superior venues for these events, lighting showrooms that have large displays of Schonbek crystal chandeliers. These showroom owners are adventurous about new products, not afraid to stock radical new designs (like some of the newest Geometrix® crystal chandeliers, track lights and bath bars). So a designer can expect to see the unexpected at a Designer Night.

There will be a Designer Night at De Light Ville in Woodland Hills, California May 9, and one at C Lighting in Atlanta May 16. May is an excellent time to attend these events, because Schonbek is bringing a lot of wild new product to market in May. There are some amazing additions to the Geometrix® collection, as well as crystal chandeliers that look like crystal chandeliers, but still like nothing you’ve seen before.

If you’re a homeowner, not a designer, and you feel excluded because these events are for interior designers only, there’s a way around this. Ask your interior designer to bring you along.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Because I write about Schonbek crystal chandeliers almost every day, I tend to develop longings for them all. I want the sophistication of a black crystal chandelier. I want a rock crystal chandelier. I want the brilliance of classic clear crystal.

If you’re shopping for a crystal chandelier, you may experience similar conflicting desires. (Although never to extent that I do, I hope. With me it’s an occupational hazard.)

Happily, there is a crystal chandelier that satisfies all of the above desires: Renaissance with rock crystal, Jet Black crystal and clear crystal.

This crystal chandelier is generously trimmed with oversized rock crystal gemstones, shaped like big teardrops. This particular shape shows off the internal markings of the quartz especially well. There is no faceting, so you see right through the silky hand-polished surface to whatever fissures or constellations happened to arise over the eons in that chunk of quartz.

The Jet Black crystal ornaments are chic and glossy, and relate in a cool way to the glossiness of the Jet Black finish.

And there’s plenty of prismatic fire in this chandelier. The finely faceted crystal drops are highly refractive.

Somehow this magnificence and varied display of crystal works especially well with the ornate baroque frame.

If you only have room for one Schonbek crystal chandelier, this is one to seriously consider.

Monday, March 5, 2007
Crystal connoisseurs tend to love crystal in every shape and form. They deserve a chandelier with a varied presentation of crystal. For example, a Bagatelle crystal chandelier.

The Bagatelle style is also expressed as a crystal lamp, so the crystal lover can indulge in yet more crystal.

An imposing lead crystal urn outlined by an acanthus leaf banding is central to both designs. The crystal ornaments are classic: handcut crystal pendants, swags of faceted crystal beads and crystal rosettes.

Both the crystal chandelier and the lamp feel very detailed, but without ostentation. The lamp has an ivory shade of crushed taffeta trimmed with Torchon lace.

Bagatelle means a short piece of classical music in a playful mood. And both the Bagatelle crystal chandelier and lamp reflect that quality. There’s a clear and pleasing visual melody, with embellishments in perfect harmony.

Oddly enough, Bagatelle seems rather modest, despite its obvious elegance. I think this is because of the purity of the crystal urn, and the refinement of the crystal trim.

If you’re not already a collector, owning a Bagatelle crystal chandelier might inspire you to start collecting antique crystal vases and vessels, and drinking out of crystal goblets. So be prepared for this. Crystal chandeliers do have a way of influencing one’s behavior.