CHANDELIER BUYERS GUIDE 2013

WHO WROTE THIS BUYERS GUIDE AND WHY SHOULD YOU LISTEN TO IT?

Below is a guide provided from Daniel Feldman (director of Designer Chandelier Australia). Daniel has been a leader in the Chandelier and Crystal Lighting Industry for over 15 years and has completed over 20,000 residential and 3000 commercial projects throughout every corner of Australia. In this process Daniel has been commissioned to work with many of Australia's top Architecs and Interior Designers giving him a wealth of combined knowledge.

We hope our Chandelier Buyers Guide assists you in detail with your important purchase and we are always here to assist further if you would like to talk to us directly. Ph: 1300 890 225 

WHAT SIZE CHANDELIER IS SUITABLE FOR MY AREA?

When choosing what size chandelier will be most suitable for your area the most important thing you need to look at is your ceiling heights, your ceiling heights will decide what size chandelier you can have in the area in most cases except for over tables, benches & beds in which case you can afford to drop the chandelier lower as no one will be walking underneath it. We have listed ceiling heights below as a guideline to assist you in choosing a suitable size chandelier for your height ceiling.

If you are placing your chandelier over a table, bench of bed then please continue reading after this section.

2.4m (Lowest Standard Ceiling)  -        

This allows you a maximum drop of 30cm from  your ceiling which will give you a 210cm clearance from the ground up.  

2.7m  (Slightly Raised Ceiling)  -              

This allows you a maximum drop of 60cm from your ceiling which will give you a 210cm clearance from the ground up.

3.0m  (Raised Ceilings) -                           

This allows you a maximum drop of 90cm from your ceiling which will give you a 210cm clearance from the ground up.

3.2m  (Raised and Vintage Buildings)    

This allows you a maximum drop of 110cm from your ceiling which will give you a 210cm clearance from the ground up.

Dining Table & Kitchen Bench      

The idea of placing a feature chandelier over a Dining Table or Kitchen Island Bench is to create a great wow factor without loosing any functionality in that area. When you install a chandelier over a table or bench it should always have the perfect balance between the ceiling height and the bench / table top height. If you create this perfect balance it will look complete without needing any additional features such as vases or flowers in the center of the table or bench, yet still have a perfectly clear vision when sitting down to enjoy the company of your family and friends.

As an example, if you have 2.4m ceilings and your table height is 90cm off the ground, it will leave you with a space of 150cm from the top of the table to the ceiling, simply divide that in half it will give you the appropriate size of chandelier that will be perfect for that space (75cm).

Width of your chandelier always comes down to personal taste, however we suggest not to be too conservative in the width and always remember crystal chandeliers were not made to be conservative or just to simply blend into an environment. The whole purpose of your crystal chandelier is to make a real WOW factor and stand out as a serious feature for the area.

As an example, if your area is approx 5m x 6m with 3m ceilings, a suitable size chandelier might have a width of 65cm to 85cm and a height of 90cm. And if your area is approx 3m x 4m with 2.4m ceilings, a suitable chandelier width might be 30cm to 50cm and a flush mount chandelier is advisable unless it will be hanging over a table of bed.

Void / Entrance & Staircase Areas

If you are looking for a chandelier as a feature in an Open Void, Double Story Entrance or Staircase area you need to make sure you choose something of appropriate size as these areas are quick to swallow up light fittings, so it very important you choose something of decent proportions.

There are many different shapes and styles of void areas, however we will try and cover as many as possible below. 

Open Void / Entrance Area - Open Void Area's generally consist of a double height / two story open area which in some cases have staircases on either side. This environment is great for crystal chandeliers as there are no obsticals to get in the way of you choosing something that will make a generous feature that your area deserves. Generally houses with two story void areas will have a minimum downstairs ceiling height of 2.7m and upstairs will have the lower ceiling height of 2.4m. The ideal position for the bottom crystal on your chandelier to hang is around 60cm either way of the second floor level so it creates impact as soon as you enter the area.

Staircase Landing- Chandeliers that hang over your staircase are still the perfect place to hang a crystal chandelier as it can compliment and enhance your staircase. If the chandelier is to hang over the staircase above the landing, measure the distance between the ceiling at the top of landing, then minus 220cm off your measurement and that will give you the perfect height for your chandelier to hang.

What Style Of Chandelier is most suited to my decore?

Choosing a style of chandelier can be a very different experience to choosing a style of furniture or door fixtures. Many furniture and door fixtures have a particular style for different periods like Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco ect... However Crystal Chandeliers have had timeless styles that have been used to compliment all of these period styles. This means that if you are purchasing a crystal chandelier for any traditional period house it really will come down to personal taste on whether it is going to be the perfect style for your house.

Sometimes it is nice to have a uniformed look throughout your house if you want to match the finish of the chandelier to the finish in your door handles, tap wear or staircase railing ect..

Purchasing a contemporary crystal chandelier for a modern environment is one of the most spectacular things you could do as it adds that touch of glamour and brings warmth back into an area that can otherwise look stark. You can either choose a contemporary / modern crystal lighting design which will continue that modern look throughout your house, or you can mix it up abit and choose a traditional style chandelier to add a classy look. The choice is yours!

HOW TO IDENTIFY A QUALITY CHANDELIER