apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

There was a small, Brooklyn-based design team who did these amazing chandeliers. The one I remember most was a square fabric shade, with ball-chains hanging down the middle. AT covered them right after the Brooklyn Design in Dumbo last Spring.

Also, you could consider a Venetian glass chandelier. They can be over-the-top beautiful (or awful, so be careful). They also can be very modern. I even think DWR has one (http://www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=3938)

DWR has some amazing variations right now, ranging from a red Murano glass beauty to the sputnik-meets-James Bond Kristall. Also some Panton classics. They also have the lust-worthy (and much-copied on DIY shows) traditional-meets-tech string of crystals suspended along a high-tech metal rod, with exposed bulbs.

Pottery Barn right now has a gorgeous all-glass one that looks much pricier than it is.

And don't rule out the mega-chain home improvement stores. Just look at their options with an eye toward what you could remove/add/paint, if not your exact style right out of the box.

I also love the trend to oversize drum shades and fabric boxes.

I can't remember the name, but there's a salvage store in Manhattan on W. 125th St. between 3rd & 2nd aves., on the south side of the street. They have several floors' worth of lighting fixtures, mantels, etc. and probably have just what you're looking for. I suspect you might have to get a chandelier re-wired, but they seem to be in great condition.

Right across the street, there's a smaller but same-type store called (I'm not making this up) Schmuck's. Have a good time!

These guys do custom chandeliers and lighting. They used to have a storefront shop where about 10 years ago, they sold the work of other artists, etc. They actually sold some of the chairs that I used to find on the street and do makeovers of; those were some very quirky, kitchy stuff.

But their recent work is VERY classy and modern and has been used within the rooms designed by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, who (last I heard) was the partner of one of these guys:

http://www.andbobsyouruncle.com/index.html

Also, look on Ebay. I'm serious. This guy recently had a huge 70s mod chandelier from some bowling alley in Wisconsin that closed.

I bought a much smaller traditional chandelier on Ebay from some factory in Long Island City. Husband picked it up, and they were very helpful.

Fiona's right -- if you want an old chandelier, I LOVE the one I bought on eBay for my dining area. Then you may need to have it re-wired like I did. Mine's not so splashy, but you can some that are.

there is a chandelier gallery on Broome just West of Chrystie. Space is an old garage/warehouse - you'll know they're open b/c the garage door will be open and you can walk right in. They have a stunning array of options, not sure of the prices but it's a magical place to visit. thought i had their card somewhere . . .

Coconut Company, in their new digs on Hudson Street (since moving from SoHo), has a way-cool chandelier very similar to the pic posted with this thread, except that more of the (brass) orb shows.

No idea on cost, though CC is not the cheapest player on the block. Extremely high-style with a great aesthetic, though.

Thank you for all the suggestions--curious about the gallery on Broome and Coconut Company, neither of which I've been to yet. And it seems I should be more diligent about my ebay searching. . For those who've had chandelier success on ebay: what did you search under when you looked? Thanks again!

Megan--
Coconut Company is really worth the trip.. don't be put off by the name... they are soooo not Gilligan's Island. Not HUGE amounts of inventory displayed, though I suspect they have a warehouse of other vintage-chic goodies waiting in the wings...

Oh, and I was quite surprised by the lighting offerings at Restoration Hardware on a recent trip. LOVE their "Library" line. Has an AERO feel... without the AERO price tag.

But, (to borrow a line from Seth Rudetsky) I am still *obsessed* with the a-mahhhhzing DWR Kristall, though.

Megan -
My apartment was built in the days of "Late Deco" and that's what I consider it to be, so I think I pretty much searched "Late Deco Chandelier" or "Late Deco Light Fixture". I'd say that if you were looking for something wild, you MIGHT search something with Light Fixture or Chandelier along with other words like "Modern" or "Eames Era", which is over-used on eBay, but might work.

Kind of off-topic...does anyone know where the thread about knocking off DWR's random lamp went? I can't find it on search, and I'm feeling inspired (although I can just picture my husband chortling over another crazy project of mine :)

Fiona--
Open Thread #76. Secret ingredient was sugar, no? (although I supsected cream of tartar, which is always the secret ingredient)

Although, back in the grade school day, a good soaking of Elmer's glue on string also did the trick.

And 15 bonus points for using "chortling".

(and a deduction of 15 points for "supsected". :(

Another resource consideration (though not exactly sure how you find them) would be hotel liquidiation sales.

Thanks, Patrick! Hmmm, I wonder if Elmer's glue would work. My Floridian roots still fear bugs if I used sugar, even if lacquered over. I'm sure that's just paranoia, since the thing I fear most of all are giant palmetto bugs.

I was in the same situation. I looked all over and nice antiques were 10, 15 or 20,000 dollars! I could've gone either antique or modern. In the end I decided on modern because you can get something fantastic for a lot less than a gorgeous antique and I have a lot of modern furniture.

I ended up getting an Ingo Maurer Zettel light. The one where you clip in the sheets of paper. It's quite striking and definitely a conversation piece. It requires that you become co=designer by putting in the "Zettels." You can therefore kind of make it bigger or smaller.

I also found beautiful chandeliers at ABC home.

Fiona-
I did a knock off of the random lamp. Came out great, I get compliments all the time. Beach Ball from Target ($2), 3 bottles of Elmers Glue ($6), ball of string ($3). I took the ball and drew a small circumference around the top to allow for changing the light bulb. Then placed cut string soaked in glue all over it in phases (to allow layers to dry). Popped the ball. Strung a wire across the diameter of the tops circumference. Hung a corded bulb through it. The only thing I would do differently is spray it with lacquer or something. The heat from the bulb wilts the perfect circle over time.

This isn't a real recommendation, since they're bound to be WAY too expensive, but when I was at the Tokyo Designers Week I walked past the booth for Sharon Marston and stopped in my tracks (http://www.sharonmarston.com/). Imagine an 8 foot chandelier made of butterflies. It probably only look right if your home is a swank hotel bar, but they looked amazing.

We just installed a Bacaraa Chandelier (http://www.bacaraa.com) in our dining room, and it really fills the space. It's definitely affordable too, we got ours for less than a grand direct for the manufacturer.