Warm Up Your Home with Old-World Wrought Iron Lighting
Traditional chandeliers, pendants, orbs and lanterns glow with European Style
Debbie Snider
October 14, 2011
Houzz Contributor.
Old World lighting from Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial, and Tuscan style interiors adds warmth, charm and timelessness to a space. Typically made from wrought iron, these light fixtures are characterized by quality materials and fine craftsmanship. Scroll patterns and curves are common features in the designs. Let's take a look at some great old European-inspired lighting.
Here is a traditional chandelier in oil rubbed bronze.
You can give these fixtures a whole new look by adding shades.
This chandelier, in a classic Empire form, has a pleasing sinuous shape. Notice the coordinating ribbon-like wall sconces that light up this room and the stairs.
Another classic shape is the hoop or ring chandelier. This style has been around since Medieval times, and its simple design has inspired many modern light fixtures.
A variation is the double hoop chandelier. The top ring is smaller than the bottom, giving it a tiered appearance. You need a high ceiling to show this one off.
accentsinthegarden.com
These fixtures are typically finished in matte black.
Island pendants are designed to hang over, you guessed it, islands. This modern creation of suspended lanterns has Old World charm.
Outdoor lanterns are just as decorative. These two large ones hang over the dining table creating a cozy outdoor room. The matching sconce brings down additional light in this Mediterranean style home.
These indoor lanterns look welcoming lining the hall. I love the artistic pedestals in the foreground.
Orb chandeliers are inspired by the 19th-century physicist Foucault, who created a gyroscope to illustrate the earth's rotation. In iron, this fixture suits a Spanish-style interior.
couturedreams.com
This one from Solaria Lighting is available in several sizes and finishes.
These intricately scrolled pendants look elegant, punctuating each intersection of Moorish arches.
This Tuscan setting gives us a sense of being in another time and place. The floor candelabra is the perfect finishing touch.
A hoop chandelier and candelabra look at home in another Old World style room.
In this wine cellar, heavy iron sconces look rustic against the stone covered walls. I'll bet if you were to look closely, you would see the hammer marks from hand forging.
This lighter, more delicate Spanish inspired candelabra sconce suits the stucco walls and plays nicely with the wavy railing.
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Any recommendations on where to purchase fixtures like this? We are currently building a Old World Mediterranean home for a client and are looking for a supplier.
Arte De Mexico in North Hollywood, CA
Love all these styles! We also specialize in custom hand-forged iron lighting. We are located in Los Angeles and ship nationwide!
www.lauraleedesign.com