The ladies in my family have a lot in common. We all love our family, good food, coffee and a great crystal chandelier! The more crystals, the better!
I don’t remember when it started exactly but I bought my first crystal chandelier probably 20+ years ago. I bought it at an antique store. It was missing all of its crystals along with the bottom brass piece that covers the wiring. I bought it for $15. I took it to an electrician and had it rewired. He had a box of parts and found a brass piece that roughly matched to cover the new wires. Perfect! It hung in my dining room for years! (then I found my piece de resistance, my consignment chandelier) So, the former chandelier is hanging in my treasure room waiting for my future granddaughter, Hadley. I will replace the crystals with pink ones. (my boys are not yet married and no prospects of children any time soon, but I keep planning, hoping and naming them.) This is future Hadley’s future chandelier:
Replaced by this chandelier:
Around that time I bought a chandelier for my Mother for her birthday. She still has it hanging in her dining room. It was missing a few crystals when I gave it to her but she found some replacements at an antique store. (below on the left.) She added a few more chandeliers along the way! The one on the right is a sweet petite Schonbek chandelier that hangs in her hallway.
My older sister has a few as well. I found the dining room chandelier antiquing years ago. It changed hands a few times but ended up at my sister’s house. (naturally it’s on a dimmer and naturally has tons of crystals!)
I found this one on eBay. I shipped it to my sister and it was in a million pieces! She had it rewired and put on a plug and it swags over the chairs in her living room. Stunning!
My sister in law (whose kitchen I featured last week titled My Brother’s Kitchen) has a beautiful vintage chandelier in her dining room as well. Her’s is very unique as it has the original black and gold sleeves. It looks gorgeous in her teal dining room!
Here is another peak at the cuties she has in her kitchen:
Although prices on vintage chandeliers have gone up quite a bit, there are still some bargains to be found. Check out local consignment and antique stores and don’t count out Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity thrift stores. eBay and Craigslist can score some great finds too! Often they only need a good cleaning and sometimes rewiring. And remember that spray paint can completely change the look and feel of a light fixture! I also like to put some of them on a plug in order to hang them in tight spots or places without overhead wiring.
Here is one I found recently. It needs a lot of work, but I think it will be a beauty!
I love to give chandeliers as gifts. They are most definitely one of a kind gifts and the recipient will surely remember who gifted it! I found one on eBay recently for my new baby niece. (yes, an actual baby) I need to have it rewired and put on a chain. It will hang over the precious one’s crib. With low watt bulbs it will be the perfect night light!
Happy treasure hunting!
4 comments
I love this feature, Dell, and I will always treasure my beautiful chandeliers! Hadley will love hers too!
I love this feature, Dell, and I will always treasure my beautiful chandeliers. Hadley will love hers too!
Thank you my sweet sister! <3
I love my chandeliers too. They add class and charm to my house of collections. Thanks, Dell.