In this post: If you love vintage decor and like to express your unique point of view, here are ideas for personalizing a vintage chandelier.
Have you got one piece in your home that always stimulates conversation?
The one object I am most often asked about when entertaining or displaying my table settings is my dining room chandelier. Inevitably, when someone new comes to visit and we’re sitting around the table, eventually their eyes wander up to the fixture between us. And once it catches their eye, fascination often ensues.
So, I thought I’d head off the question here on the blog and explain its provenance. The original chandelier came to me through my family, as it belonged to my maternal grandmother. It was a lovely but traditional crystal fixture, curiously hung over the bed, but I appreciated its classic beauty and was happy to become it’s new keeper.
As my dining room was virtually empty at the time, I turned my attention to personalizing the vintage chandelier as it had such a position of prominence in the room.
My passion for collecting teacups provided the perfect avenue for this personal expression given that I had no furniture to put under my teacups. and there the concept was born to attach teacups and other trinkets to this lovely light source.
I found a local artisan named Beverlee Fisher who had a shop and interior design business here in New Jersey that displayed exactly the type of romantic products I loved, and who also reworked decorative pieces for clients.
She re-wired my piece and then took to embellishing it with my beloved teacups, antique timepieces, tiny trinkets, bits of floral, draped pearls and some rose drop crystals.
In time it became the perfect complement to my tablescapes, ultimately gracing my fully decorated and frequently used dining room.
When we moved to our new home, the chandelier was too small for our new dining room. We were adding a butler’s pantry adjacent to the dining room to store much of our china, and it became the perfect spot to hang our vintage chandelier. (You can see it in the post From Storage Closet To A Dream Butler’s Pantry.)
The chandelier is still one of my very favorite pieces, a family heirloom updated to express my personal taste. I love that it tells a story and always invites new conversation!
Vintage Chandelier Source List – Click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. (This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these (click on the links or photos):
Unique Hardware + Trim | Butler’s Pantry Renovation | Reviving an Antique Chandelier
~•~
Are you following Designthusiasm on social media? Please join us at the links below:
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram
Linking with BNOTP
What a delightful blog you have and absolutely gorgeous photos, I have added myself as a follower as I love it and want to check out more of your images. I looked at a few of the European ones, they are really gorgeous and brought back memories of my trip to Italy and France.
Lee 🙂
Thank you so much Lee! And thanks for stopping by and for the follow. There will be lots more of Italy and France upcoming… 🙂
Lory,
thank you for sharing