Light Conversation — Our Favorite Things

Our Beautiful Berkeley Series 0

Classic, yet understated with a modern feel, our Berkeley series fits into many current decorating styles.  All versions of this chandelier have a well-balanced frame with beautiful ribbed arms. 

My favorite version is this 22" wide, 12 light.  The Berkeley 12S has 6 lower lights and 6 upper lights and is shown in this photo with polished nickel details which give it a very crisp look .  I love the little, final crystal piece on the bottom (we call it a crystal donut). 

Very similar to the Berkeley 12S is the Berkeley 6.  The 6 design has the same structural pieces, with only 6 arms one level. Below, it is shown with the brass metal details, and that brass adds a bit of warmth to the fixture.  Made as shown, the Berkeley 6 has been one of the most popular choices this winter.

We have, in our line, a larger version called the Madison.  The Madison is 32" wide.  Our customers frequently look to this chandelier with added prisms as a simple alternative for a large room.  Call us for numerous ideas or give us your vision of how it could look.

The Stables at the Virginian at Westlake 0

One of my favorite projects of 2019 is completed!  A new barn venue was conceived and created in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia by Jackie Baker and Mike Boyd, and we had the pleasure of working with them as they selected the interior and exterior lighting.  

The Stables at the Virginian is a beautiful space... fun, classy, elegant and rustic all at the same time!  The design is upscale stable, and it manifests the warmth and hospitality that one would expect in the perfect venue space. I can't imagine any better setting for a wedding. 

Check out this article written by Karen Dillon for the Smith Mountain Laker.  Photography is by Heather Turner.  Heather's photos are worlds better than mine, but below are some pics from my phone.

The main space houses the Schonbrunn flanked by custom chandeliers - Baltimores that we made to be 32" wide instead of 30" wide. The radiant crystal looks magnificent against the gorgeous wood of the ceiling and banisters.

A variation of our Wentworth chandelier hangs in threes here in the Bride's Room.  They accompany 2 sconces.  Jackie custom designed these chandeliers in order to get just the right amount of sparkle. This ambiance will make all bride's feel beautiful!

We worked with Jackie on the rest of the interior lighting, as well as the exterior lighting and fans, to achieve that perfect balance of rustic and sophistication. 

Jackie and Mike know the importance of lighting - both practically and aesthetically.  Each fixture (over 75 of them) was carefully selected to blend the elegant and rustic aspects of the decor.

It is gorgeous, and we are so proud to be part of this project.  Congratulations to Jackie and Mike.

Antique Glass Shades on the Website! 0

Summer is over, but our summer intern, Somer (you have to smile at that) has continued her project of pulling beautiful things from our treasure chests of old boxes -something we've talked about doing for, well, decades.  Thanks to her hard work and meticulous photography, we have made a good start of putting these treasures on the website.  

Most of the lovelies that Somer has cataloged for us are these beautiful glass shades.  Some of them date back to the 1860's we are sure, but any particular information about them has been lost over the years as we have lost the good folks that worked with them.  Even if you don't need one of these shades, you will be impressed by the beauty and variety of our collection.

As with all of our antique and vintage pieces, we've done our best to describe the condition of the particular piece, but we welcome all of your inquiries and requests for more photos.  

Just Gorgeous! 0

The Alexandria (one of my favorites) in the newly restored Mildred Grant House in Mason Texas.  Stay tuned for news about this historic home and inn, The Mildred Inn.

Victorian Decor 0

If you are a follower of ours, you know how much we love Victorian homes and decor.  Flowers, animal print, real brass, crystal, velvet - all gorgeous elements of the Victorian room - are perhaps a bit out of trend in this time of grey tones and farmhouses. But, Victoriana is timeless.

I am still cleaning out drawers and organizing old press.  Below are a couple of camera shots of pages from Victorian Homes which, sadly, recently ceased publication.

Our Charleston 6 chandelier and Charleston Sconce in the Heritage Hills neighborhood of Johnson County, Kansas. 

Article by Gloria Gale, Photography by Bill Mathews, Victorian Homes Magazine August 1999

Our Richmond 6 in Claybaugh House built 1892.  Anaheim California. 

Article by Rebecca Ittner, Photography by James Itagaki, Styled by Merrie Destefano.  Victorian Homes June 2010

Lighting Ideas for Your Dining Room 0

There are many ways to add ambiance to a dining room, but our favorite way is with lighting.  

Lighting can set your best mood, highlight artwork, and show off your gorgeous table setting.  

Start with the right chandelier, of course.  Something that fits both your room and your decor.  Check here for how to choose the best size, but it is about more than getting the right size.  You have to love your chandelier.  That is absolute! If you love a chandelier that has too few lights, add lamps.  If you love a chandelier that has too many, turn your dimmer down.  We've written a few blog posts about choosing the right chandelier, and we hope you find those helpful. Imagine that gorgeous chandelier shining down on your set table with your family all around.  Beautiful!

Adding wall sconces will help brighten a room and fill wall space.  Like most lighting, it is both a decor choice and a practical choice.  I think there is nothing classier looking than sconces above a sideboard or buffet placed on either side of a mirror or art. A pretty sconce is like its own work of art.

Buffet lamps!  Who doesn't love buffet lamps?  They aren't just for buffets, but for any side table in your dining room.  What distinguishes a buffet lamp from other table lamps is the size... a buffet lamp is usually slender and tall - perfect to fit elegantly on dining room furniture.  The height helps bring light up to the center of the room.  Of course any type lamp can work, either in pairs or on their own.  I've seen large based lamps fit spectacularly on a sideboard.  

And, whether you have dining room furniture beyond your table or not, you can put a floor lamp just about anywhere!  Floor lamps are ingenious that way.  My favorite floor lamps are shaded, but many folks like a torchiere which directs your light up.  I like the the traditional shaded floor lamp because it offers less competition to your chandelier's reflections on the ceiling.

The bottom line is that most folks just don't have enough light in their rooms.  And, even dining rooms need more than one source of light.  I like at least 3 sources of light, or layers of light, in a room. 

Happy Lighting!