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Thursday, April 17, 2008
People with high ceilings are fortunate in that they can have full sized crystal chandeliers. To my eye, vast overhead spaces look positively vacant without a chandelier.
But you can still have the pleasure of brilliant prismatic light with somewhat low ceilings. Schonbek makes beautiful ceiling baskets in styles that complement Schonbek crystal chandeliers. Some of them are so grand and elaborate, they feel like full chandeliers that happen to attach close to the ceiling.
A Renaissance ceiling basket, for example, is positively magnificent. I’m linking to the one that’s 18 inches long, but it does come smaller. This one has eight lights and a glorious display of oversized faceted crystal drops, not to mention crystal octagons and rosettes. Many full sized chandeliers you’ll see in the market are less opulent than this luxuriant ceiling basket.
The same style comes in rock crystal. I particularly like a Renaissance ceiling basket trimmed with a mix of rock crystal and clear and colored crystal. This one is 15 inches long. The Heirloom Gold finish adds a lot to the vibrant feeling of this ceiling basket. But there are many finish options, as with most Schonbek ceiling baskets. You choose what works with your decor.
If you’re really short of ceiling height, Rialto is a dazzling design only 7 inches long. There are five lights hidden inside the dense chains of crystal octagons, so this is a significant light source. I’ve shown it with Strass® Golden Teak crystal, but clear crystal is also an option.
Schonbek has a genius for making crystal look leafy and flowery, and you can get this look in a number of ceiling basket designs, including Rivendell, Trilliane and Tiara.
For more ideas, visit a showroom with a large display of Schonbek crystal chandeliers. They’ll know all about ceiling baskets too. For a dealer near you call Schonbek at 800-836-1892.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Your taxes are in, or maybe you’re on extension. Either way, by now you probably know if you’re getting a refund or not.
If you’re getting a refund, this is cause for celebration. A little windfall is a good incentive to buy a Schonbek crystal chandelier.
If you had to write the government a check, you probably need some consolation. A new Schonbek crystal chandelier is well designed to cheer you up.
Statistics show that at this time of year people’s thoughts turn to redecorating. Buds are popping, flowers are sprouting and your home feels like it wants a fresh look.
Inertia is bad for the spirits. If January is good for resolutions, spring is ideal for glorious changes to your personal living space.
If I had a fat rebate in hand, what Schonbek crystal chandelier would be my choice?
There’s a springtime feeling to a Hamilton chandelier with amethyst quartz, rose quartz and rock crystal. At the same time, when the weather turns cold again, there’s a weightiness to all these natural quartz gemstones perfectly in keeping with winter. This particular chandelier lends itself to poetic interpretation. You can convince yourself it’s a tribute to the season, whatever the season!
And then there’s the new Milano cast crystal chandelier. The delicate flowering motifs incised in the castings make one think of woodland nymphs in a Fragonard fresco. The mood is light and pleasurable, just right for spring – or any season you want to warm up with memories of birds singing and gardens in bloom.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
You can now view two very different cast crystal chandelier designs on this website: Milano and La Scala. It might be interesting to examine their differences.
Milano is brand new. Of course new things are always exciting, but it’s perfectly reasonable to be excited about this cast chandelier collection.
The Italian castings are remarkable. You won’t find another fully cast chandelier on the market with this degree of design integrity. The leafy shapes, curlicues and trellis-like patterns flow harmoniously throughout the castings. It’s not a patchwork quilt, like certain cast chandeliers made by other manufacturers.
“Fully cast” is the significant terminology for Milano. This means that center column, arms, scrolls, bobeches and candle cups are all entirely cast, and elaborately incised with tiny decorative patterns.
La Scala is a combination of castings and crystal frame elements. Elegant blown and cut crystal column parts form the central support of the chandelier. And the bobeches beneath the candles are also formed of crystal. Arms and scrolls are cast from antique Schonbek family molds.
The castings for each design are quite different. La Scala castings, though quite ornate, have a somewhat bold look. Milano castings have a filigree quality rather like lace.
Probably because the castings of Milano are so intricate, Schonbek has simplified the crystal trim. There’s plenty of crystal, but the pendants are all one shape, large and smaller faceted drops. Whereas La Scala displays a variety of crystal shapes: faceted drops, clear crystal drops and crystal diamonds, all oversized, as well as smaller crystal jewels – drops, squares and octagons.
So with two serious style choices, you have a challenge ahead of you if you want a cast crystal chandelier. The good news is, whatever your choice, you’ll have a truly magnificent rococo chandelier with a story to tell.
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