Thursday, October 25, 2007

When Schonbek introduced Geometrix® high tech lighting designs, Eileen Schonbek Beer told me they’d be wonderful over a kitchen island.

We had no pictures or other evidence to prove it. Geometrix® designs were still just astonishing products in search of an application. But Eileen had the vision to see that kitchen islands all over the world were just waiting for Geometrix®.

Andrew Schonbek, too, fantasized about chopping parsley under a Geometrix® pendant. He mentions this in the Geometrix® DVD. You might like to send for it.

We have a new photo on the website showing a long skinny Matrix crystal chandelier over a kitchen island. Matrix is a major design family in the Geometrix® collection.

This is not a photo set up or taken by Schonbek. It appeared spontaneously in a magazine as an example of beautiful kitchen design. But it’s exactly the application that the Schonbeks envisioned for Geometrix® designs.

The down light you get from this particular Matrix chandelier really is phenomenal. It runs along the entire length of the chandelier. Reading recipes in small type, coring an apple with no seeds missed, or chopping up scallions exceedingly fine should be no problem at all.

Many people love a minimalist kitchen. It sends a message of cleanliness and efficiency. But cleanliness can easily become sterility. A kitchen should be inviting, however that's accomplished. With a Matrix crystal chandelier, you get a stark geometric shape to support your minimalist theme, but you also get the come-hither dazzle of crystal.

The rusty orange color in this kitchen adds a lot of warmth and is quite dominant, so the designer choose Matrix in clear crystal. But if your kitchen is mostly white and/or stainless steel, you could consider going colorful with the crystal. The new Matrix premium colors are particularly vibrant and appealing. And there are some marvelously subtle palettes, too, made up of several shimmering tonalities. Like Moss, Sage and Forest Floor.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

You hear people complaining that the days go by too fast. Or the seasons, or the years.

I maintain that the centuries are speeding by, too. We should do what we can to keep the memory of past centuries alive. When you live with a traditional crystal chandelier, you’re taking serious steps to preserve the past.

A Versailles crystal chandelier, for example, keeps alive the memory of King Louis XIV and his outrageously extravagant court. An absolute monarch, Louis radiated power, to the point that he was dubbed the Sun King. It’s easy to understand how a dazzling ruler might be attracted to crystal chandeliers. Louis had tons of them, multiplying the splendor of his palaces.

King Louis was into elegance and lived a refined lifestyle, leaving far behind the primitive Middle Ages. Crystal chandeliers were essential to living beautifully in a renaissance of art and culture. 

Schonbek went to infinite trouble to re-create the authentic open cage construction of Versailles style crystal chandeliers. And the crystal displayed is also representative of the period, from the crystal pendeloques in varied shapes to the dramatic crystal spikes.

If you’re fascinated by the Napoleonic era, you might wish to live with an empire style crystal chandelier, like Camelot or Roman Empire.

If you’d prefer to honor a noble, clever and courageous empress with your decor, consider a Maria Theresa crystal chandelier.

Maria Theresa saved her empire from royal marauders, reformed taxation and improved the treatment of serfs – all while raising sixteen children. Modern women who are stressed out from the complexities of their lives might make a heroine of Maria Theresa.

Not surprisingly, the crystal chandeliers named after her exhibit considerable complexity themselves. Not only is a Maria Theresa chandelier lavishly ornamented with crystal pendants, stars and rosettes. The frame, too, is intricately clad in crystal.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Schonbek has raised the wall sconce to the level of an independent art form. You can, of course, match your wall sconces to your crystal chandelier, and this is a delightful look. But I’m just pointing out that Schonbek wall sconces are so exquisite in themselves, they can substitute for chandeliers in spaces and rooms with low ceilings.

We just updated the wall sconce pages on this website, and you can now view many of the newest Schonbek designs.

One-light wall sconces are generally considered accents. Certainly the one-light Jasmine sconce and the Diva sconce are quite simple, but these minimalist designs are dramatic to an unusual degree for their size. On the other hand, sometimes Schonbek trims a one-light wall sconce quite lavishly, as with The Rose and Kirov. Again, these one-light sconces demand attention. They are not just providing accent light.

Empire wall sconces are quite interesting. They look rather like crystal baskets emerging from the wall. The crystal gems are densely arranged, and there’s a lot of crystal involved. These sconces are dazzling, as befits a style reminiscent of the Napoleonic empire. Examples are Rialto and Petit Crystal Deluxe, among others.

A Schonbek wall sconce can be as big, or bigger than, a mini chandelier. See Hamilton, which is 14 inches in diameter and 24 inches long. Or the fascinating five-light Genesis with a 17-inch diameter. I’ve seen the Genesis wall sconce in person, and it’s enchanting. Install several of them in a large space, and they make a strong statement. Or you might put two of them in a small room to dominate the space.

I especially like wall sconces with rock crystal ornaments. Because sconces are somewhat eye-level, you can see the rock crystal up close and examine the curious internal markings of the quartz. Note the highly ornate Buckingham wall sconce, and the whimsical Tesoro. There are quite a few traditional rock crystal sconces not on this website. A Schonbek rock crystal dealer can show you examples.

The wall sconce designs we display on this website represent quite a diversity of styles. But even so, they’re not the whole story. The Schonbek website isn’t a catalog but rather an idea source. If you see a design you like, you should visit a showroom that carries Schonbek and inquire about the various sizes and configurations available. There’s also the possibility of custom sizing. Schonbek has  a custom capability rare among lighting manufacturers. A Schonbek dealer can arrange for a custom design as well. Call 800-836-1892 for a recommended showroom in your vicinity.