A Swedish/French Style Chandelier You Can Afford!

Gustavian Swedish style derived from French elements has gone mainstream. Even if you don't go for the whole smorgasbord of Swedish furnishings, certain key pieces are used in rooms that have a mix of styles and era.

One of the most beloved items is the wood turned chandelier. By and large they hover in price around the $2000. (and up) price range. For most of us this is too pricey. Many regular folks can furnish a whole room for $2000.

Mariestad 12 Light Chandelier - HERE
30"H x 28"Diam. LC584 - $299.00

But now...drum roll...the good folks at Ballard Designs offer the first affordable Swedish style chandelier I have ever seen. Believe me I know because I have searched on behalf of clients and customers and friends who want one, but cannot afford the going rate. Even at wholesale cost you can pay around $800. - $1000.

Mariestad 6 Light Chandelier - HERE

25"H x 26"Diam. LC583 - $199.00

It looks great in the catalog, just the perfect color and proportion. If it looks too new to you, you could always do a little antique-ing with paint.

So at $199. for the six arm model, and $299. for the twelve arm model, you can own a great piece of style.

It would look great in any room in the house.
You can dress it up with little wooden drops from Aidan Gray.
Aidan Gray also has some wood turned chandeliers for around $800.

Fancy and expensive - but check out the wooden drops
Also study the finish on this chandelier
You can do this to the budget one
photo from Cote de Texas

They are currently sold out of the gray drops, but have the gold. If you want them right away, I would buy the gold and just paint them, or maybe gild the candle cups and see how the gold mixes and matches with the gray paint on the body of the chandelier.


Happy Weekend!!!!

Twisted Dining Room Round Up

I have always liked the twist. Twisting things up. The tension between twisting modern and traditional. Old rooms with modern things excite me. Sometimes all it takes is one or two pieces to take something expected and give it edge. Edge can be pretty too.


This is a round up of some dining rooms that do the twist quite nicely.

1. Modern table, with traditional chairs, mirror, and chandelier

2. Traditional table with modern chairs in a very trad room

3. Modern vintage chandelier, trad table and rug, mod chairs and metal wall piece

4. Modern chandelier, textiles, and chair, traditional table, old room

5. Uber traditional room, modern chandelier and art, antiques and trad chairs

6. Contemporary furnishings, modern linear crystal chandelier

7. Traditional chairs and lamp shades made modern by color and scale

8. This linear crystal chandelier was pretty trendy a couple of years ago

9. Linear crystal chandelier in a modern dining room

with a traditional armoire for the twist

The linear crystal chandelier was affordable, and an easy way to achieve that perfect twist of modern and traditional.

10. New Orleans kitchen in a 150 year old house has a linear crystal chandelier

11. Another New Orleans house uses the linear crystal chandelier
with an antique Swedish dining table and French dining chairs

I love the antique looking traditional crystals on a chandelier. Who can resist the sparkle and the way the light plays?


I love my traditional French chandelier, but when my friend Kellie (picture #11) got a different chandelier, she asked me if I wanted her linear crystal one! Well how could I turn down an offer like that? Of course I had no place to hang it, so I thought perhaps I would just store it for a future project.

But as I started to untangle all the crystals, it started to grow on me. Those crystals were hypnotizing me! But I didn't like the shiny chrome.

Visual Vamp dining room with traditional French chandelier

So I gold leafed it! And I added a few more crystals I had, and now it's installed in the dining room!

Visual Vamp Dining room with a linear crystal chandelier

It provides a modern twist I really like, a tension the room can stand.

I think the gold leaf really works in the room. It's an old finish on a modern design, another twist.

Visual Vamp gold leaf linear crystal chandelier

It looks spectacular at night, when it's lighted and all the crystals are dancing with reflected light.
I can hardly wait to have a dinner party!

Thank you Kellie!

The linear shape actually works very well with the rectangular dining table.

Visual Vamp dining room in New Orleans

The crystals really look pretty in daylight too. The whole room is infused with a little extra energy.

Visual Vamp dining room

Let's twist!
Modern linear chandelier and antique wall sconce, and a modern painting

Visual Vamp dining room combines the old and the modern

So what twisted things do you like?