My Decorating Tips is a home decorating blog by Marina Klima, an interior designer in New Jersey. We help families to make home decorating projects easy by guiding them and recommending durable, safe and inspiring solutions for their homes and offices.
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I have to admit that orb crystal chandelier can totally change the look of the space. Check out my latest interior design project below – a glamorous hair lounge Industry Salon in Red Bank, New Jersey
Design: Marina Klima, Industry Salon, Red Bank, New Jersey
We used Restoration Hardware orb crystal chandeliers to create feminine glamor vibe mixed with industrial coolness. To make the space even more interesting I designed and installed metal chained swags and placed them behind custom-made cornices. They were so heavy that my wonderful installer, Chris didn’t have to do any weight lifting that day. Anyway, it was still the orb chandelier concept that sparked all the other ideas.
Tip: When you install a chandelier in the middle of the room make sure that clearance from the floor to the bottom of the chandelier is at least 7 feet.
Tip: If you are using several chandeliers, go down in size of them so that they don’t overwhelm the room.
Here are some of the winning attributes that, in my opinion, make well-designed orb lighting into a long-lasting trend:
• A round shape makes it easy to create interesting groupings of several fixtures at different heights. • It adds softness to the most angular, contemporary rooms. • It becomes a sculptural element with great impact. • Because of a two-part nature (globe and lighting part), there are no limits to a combination of different materials. You can have wood orb chandelier, metal orb chandelier or any alternative materials. • It allows for the easy mixture of different styles in the room.
This April I was fortunate to be a part of the VIP Buyer’s Tour at High Point Market, North Carolina. Together with a group of my friends-designers we had access to some exclusive resources and met amazing new designers. One of the most memorable showrooms was Currey and Company, a wonderful lighting manufacturer where each fixture is a work of art. When Cecil Adams, the talented creative director, talked about La Dolce Vita – the Italian inspiration for the new collection – I fell in love with, at least six orbs. Later I sourced much more from different manufacturers all over the world. Here are some of my favorite orbs for several price points.
Paint it with many colors, including pink ombre, gold, blue and hot pink. There are many DIY tutorials all over the web. If you are not crazy about the flowers, replace existing flowers with stars or other shapes. You can also group several orbs at different heights.
IKEA PS Maskros. Dining Room designed by Clare Basler. Photo: Mads Mogensen.
Above is an example of tasteful and elegant simplicity in design. Clare Basler, a wonderful French artist, created an effortless and whimsical dining room that looks like something from Alice in Wonderland. When the three pendants are grouped at different heights, it creates a playful pattern that is simple and almost ethereal. The room is intentionally on a darker side.
2. Hubbardton Forge Cirque 25″ Chandelier. Modern style. 4 and 8 candelabra 60 watts. Both indoor and outdoor use. $1,400 (8 bulbs).
The chandelier creates intimate, an almost mysterious vibe. Hang it in the hallway, over the island, dining room or bedroom- it is truly versatile for most decorating styles and room types. Candelabra bulbs are integrated within the metal part for the sleek and elegant look. Want to match it with your interior? No problem. It is available in six finishes, black, bronze, burnished steel, dark smoke, mahogany and natural iron. If you want, you can even use it outdoor.
Cirque Orb Pendant Grouping
This orb chandelier is made by Hubbardton Forge, a lighting manufacturer located in Vermont. I love the quality of the workmanship and flawless customer service. If you ever need a part, they will send it to you promptly. All their lamps are hand-forged steel to showcase the metal story while aluminum products are hand-rubbed.
3. Dauphin Chandelier by Currey and Company. 3 Candelabra Base 60 Watt. Height 31″. Indoor. $1,700.
Dauphin Chandelier Currey & Co
Timeless, romantic and whimsical, it is the beautiful addition to any room. It is hand carved and finished by talented artisans. A crown element above the orb completes the elegant and gracious look. It becomes a part of the room’s architecture.
Dauphin 21 inch Chandelier by Currey & Co. {found on Pinterest}
Hang it in a bedroom to add softness to the modern or contemporary look. Or put it over a small dining table to create a conversation wow your guests. Add a mirror to create more reflections and you’ve got a unique look!
The inspiration for this chandelier came from Léon Foucault gyroscope. It is a beautiful iron globe with very high-quality precision-cut and polished crystals illuminating from within for spectacular sparkling effect. It works with almost any style. Add it to industrial style bedroom and you’ve got a romantic refuge. Put it on a rustic dining table with lacy details for the vintage look. I used it for an upscale hair salon (still in the works) that was a happy marriage of industrial and modern. It works great and illuminates the whole place. This chandelier became widely popular, and now there are many wannabe copies or similar fixtures. I appreciate the quality of some better ones, but still, like the original the most.
6. Latitude by Flynn Talbot. Finish Aluminum and Steel. 15.6″. Color: White, Black and Red LED. Indoor
Show off your collections. Light up the accent wall. The lighting designer, Flynn Talbot uses his creative talent to make a centerpiece out of the spotlight.
Latitude by Flynn Talbot. Finish Aluminum and Steel. 15.6″. Color: White, Black and Red LED. Indoor
Suspension cable allows the light to point in any direction creating a flexible light that activates the surrounding space. This fixture is the Winner of Certificate for best Lighting in Professional Product Design category, A&D Trophy Awards 2014.
These are hundreds of orb chandeliers and lighting fixtures that are available both in online stores and brick-and-mortar lighting showrooms today. I believe that the better ones will stay for a long time. Don’t get me wrong, the DIY version can be great and more fun! But from my experience, only best of the best survive on the market and become classic.
Please share your thoughts here. I am dying to know more about your point of view! If you fall in love with any one of them or some others, I will be glad to help you place it the right way 🙂
Please connect with me directly at marinaklima@mydecoratingtips.com to chat.
Xo,
Marina
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Orb Crystal Chandelier:
Metal Orb Chandelier
Wood Orb Chandelier
Crystal pendants if you need X2 for a dining table
Please post your questions here below. I’ll be happy to help you!
Xo,
Marina
Comments
Jodysays
Hi Marina,
I have 2 questions that I really need your help with please….
Im so in love with the Foucault Orb chandeliers! We are building our house at the moment but I want to accomodate one of these into the living room and a smaller one in the dining room. The room/s Kitchen/dining/ living has raked ceilings of 8meters in height with polished concrete flooring and the ceiling is lined with Oak timber and a natural stone fireplace in the living room.
Ive been told that I cant or shouldn’t have this style of chandelier as it is too traditional????
1. can I use this style to bring a statement to the raked ceilings
2. Should I use a different chandelier in each space or use similar style/ materials in other chandeliers.
Do you think that the RH Foucault’s Orb looks less appealing in the smaller 21″ size? I know with orbs sometimes smaller, especially with the chandelier inside, don’t look as nice. Size-wise 21″ would be better but I wanted to get your thoughts on whether going up to the 32″ would be better. It’s for a dining room, table is 96″L.
Hi Demetra,
Uh, wow, 96 inches is a long table. What is it’s width? The rule of thumb is that the chandelier should not be more that half of the width. For example, if the width of the table is 46 inches, the chandelier should be 23 inches diameter. But, nowadays we break the rules and make the lighting fixtures a bit more dramatic, especially in the dining room. Having said that, be careful that it is not in the way when people get up off their chairs. As far as the looks go, 21 inches is just as pretty as 32 inches. Again, I don’t know your dining room lighting situation or the width of the table. If there are some additional lighting fixtures in the ceiling a 21 inch chandelier could be enough. I’m talking about 96 inch table and people in the middle of the table will have enough light while people at the ends might not. Believe it or not it does effect the mood of the diners. But actually if you even have 32 inches chandelier, which is not likely ( I’ve never seen a table that is even 60 inches wide unless it’s round). You can consider 2 chandeliers that are more like pendants for a 96 inch table. That’s what I actually have in my house. But my table is ALWAYS 96 inches. It does not extend.
Demetra,
You can click on the chandeliers I recommended above where it says ” Crystal pendants if you need X2 for a dining table” under it. Surely, You can ask me more questions. 🙂
Hi Marina,
I have 2 questions that I really need your help with please….
Im so in love with the Foucault Orb chandeliers! We are building our house at the moment but I want to accomodate one of these into the living room and a smaller one in the dining room. The room/s Kitchen/dining/ living has raked ceilings of 8meters in height with polished concrete flooring and the ceiling is lined with Oak timber and a natural stone fireplace in the living room.
Ive been told that I cant or shouldn’t have this style of chandelier as it is too traditional????
1. can I use this style to bring a statement to the raked ceilings
2. Should I use a different chandelier in each space or use similar style/ materials in other chandeliers.
Please help
Jody
Do you think that the RH Foucault’s Orb looks less appealing in the smaller 21″ size? I know with orbs sometimes smaller, especially with the chandelier inside, don’t look as nice. Size-wise 21″ would be better but I wanted to get your thoughts on whether going up to the 32″ would be better. It’s for a dining room, table is 96″L.
Thank you,
Demetra
Hi Demetra,
Uh, wow, 96 inches is a long table. What is it’s width? The rule of thumb is that the chandelier should not be more that half of the width. For example, if the width of the table is 46 inches, the chandelier should be 23 inches diameter. But, nowadays we break the rules and make the lighting fixtures a bit more dramatic, especially in the dining room. Having said that, be careful that it is not in the way when people get up off their chairs. As far as the looks go, 21 inches is just as pretty as 32 inches. Again, I don’t know your dining room lighting situation or the width of the table. If there are some additional lighting fixtures in the ceiling a 21 inch chandelier could be enough. I’m talking about 96 inch table and people in the middle of the table will have enough light while people at the ends might not. Believe it or not it does effect the mood of the diners. But actually if you even have 32 inches chandelier, which is not likely ( I’ve never seen a table that is even 60 inches wide unless it’s round). You can consider 2 chandeliers that are more like pendants for a 96 inch table. That’s what I actually have in my house. But my table is ALWAYS 96 inches. It does not extend.
Demetra,
You can click on the chandeliers I recommended above where it says ” Crystal pendants if you need X2 for a dining table” under it. Surely, You can ask me more questions. 🙂
Great suggestions. Thank you for sharing!