Nothing creates a lighting and decor statement like a chandelier, and designers increasingly are using them in nontraditional ways and unexpected places.
“I really like using chandeliers in carriage houses and garages,” said Catherine Lowe, senior interior designer with Alt Breeding Schwarz, an Annapolis architectural firm. “Using chandeliers in these rooms is a surprise element and a major improvement over fluorescent or bare-bulbs lighting you might typically expect to find.”
Although formal dining rooms still feature chandeliers as a chief lighting source, today’s casual lifestyles find more people gravitating to the kitchen or a great room.
| Resources: |
| Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, 410-268-1213, absarchitects.com |
| Aidan Design LLC, Bethesda, 301-320-8735, aidandesign.com |
| Niermann Weeks, Millersville, Md., 410-923-0123, niermannweeks.com |
| The Welcome Home: Interior Design Solutions, Ellicott City, Md., 443-812-6339 |
| interiordesignsolutionsmaryland.com |
Chandeliers are right at home in these more informal spaces, lending style to breakfast nooks, island bars and dining tables in view of the kitchen’s work areas.
“Don’t limit yourself to the ornate, more formal and traditional chandeliers of the past. Think streamlined, sleek, sculptural and elegant,” said Nadia Subaran, co-owner of Aidan Design in Bethesda. “Chandeliers are a great way to bring in an airy and open feeling to the kitchen. They add a level of polish to any space and are a great way to add a little ‘bling.’ ”
Adding a chandelier over the breakfast table offers visual interest and brings balance to a kitchen, she said.
Bedrooms and modern spa bath suites are other rooms where chandeliers can be used creatively to supply a touch of luxury or whimsy.
“A chandelier in the bathroom can add to your sense of relaxation and offer a more soothing source of light instead of task-oriented lighting most of use on a daily basis,” said Jill Valeri, president of the Welcome Home: Interior Design Solutions, a staging and interior decorating firm in Ellicott City, Md.
If a power source is lacking for a chandelier, said Valeri, a swag light that mounts on the ceiling and plugs into a wall can work.
Another option is a candle chandelier. These can be purchased or an old chandelier can be repurposed by removing the wiring and adding candles.
“An easy DIY project is painting a chandelier to coordinate with other finishes in a room,” Valeri said. “Chandeliers work well in the bedroom for the same reasons that they work well in a bath: They add drama, elegance and romance to a space. Many houses today are wired for a ceiling fan, but a chandelier is much more elegant — and switching the fixtures is an easy task.”
Hundreds of chandelier designs are available through lighting suppliers, retailers, antique shops and manufacturers. They run from classic and ornate to more contemporary but trends are pointing to more dynamic, geometric shapes, said Eleanor Niermann, vice president of merchandising for Niermann Weeks, a manufacturer of luxury to-the-trade furniture and accessories based just outside Annapolis.
“We’re seeing a demand for more pared-down designs with less adornment,” Niermann said.
One of company’s better-selling pieces is the Crevecoeur, a traditionally shaped, two-tier, 12-light chandelier finished in a Veronese silver leaf.
“By paring away the antique excess, we’ve created a simple yet dynamic sculptural form,” she said.
“Another popular chandelier is the Danieli. We’ve offered it for over 10 years, but it’s shown a resurgence in sales. It’s a late 19th century design that’s free of excess adornment and it makes a strong statement.
“These are both classic designs that have been transformed. The silhouettes are new, but have a timeless appeal,” Niermann said.
