Seems like it might be a bit small for the space, but it would also depend if you have a staircase in the foyer and how close it is to the chandelier once hung. I would do a cardboard cutout and hang it up there. You also need to decide on how far down you want it to hang, which you could also figure out with the cutout and some rope. I'm assuming you have a tall ladder to be able to hang your mock chandelier. Nothing worse than having the electrician dangling in the air, rushing you to decide on the chain length!

That chandelier will be a pain to keep clean and the perfect situation were a chandelier lift would make a lot of sense. Example of lift: http://unionlighting.stores.yahoo.net/chandelierlift.html

I have a chandelier lift. I was thinking that the chandelier needs to be centered in the mirror, so when looking from outside it's visible. There is a staircase in the foyer.

the 28 lights are plenty and I think 45" tall could be tall enough, but you probably would want wider than 36"...

I always think centered lights look so pretty from the outside, but in my own home, I always think the chand looks way too high for the foyer when centered in the window...

abick, perfect that you have a lift. makes it easy for you to make a cardboard cutout and hang it up. Take a few photos at different heights and with different "chain" lengths. Write down the options you try. If you do this you will probably be able to figure out pretty quickly if that is the right size chandelier and at what height it should be.

A long time ago, I read a brilliant idea to use balloons to mimic the size of a chandelier that is hung so high. In your case, I'd get some helium balloons on long strings and let them float up to see what size works best. You can use several smaller balloons taped together if needed. If the cardboard and lift is too difficult.

which one should i go with?

they're 2 totally different looks. the 1st one is very formal and more traditional and the 2nd is very formal and more 'modern'...

I think the 2nd one would look better hung higher (closer to the ceiling) so could be better seen from the outside...

# 1 .

# 2 looks like an icicle.

I think i need to go to the very first picture 36 x 45. we did a mock up of the 42 x 66 it looks way big.

This is a mock up of 42 x 66. Looks too big. Please help!

my house is more contemporary/transitional

It doesn't look too big so much as too high. Rather than trying to have the whole fixture showing through that window, consider lowering it to where the top ring (or two) shows -- instead of giving the street goers the entire view, just give them a tease. They'll still know you have a blingy chandelier. ;)

so, maybe instead of the 66 I should do 45? that is the very first post with two tiers

my window is too high up. it's about 6 ft

that fixture, regardless of the size, won't look it's best if it is hung so it can be viewed fully in the window... it will look pretty from the outside, but really, what's most impt is how it looks inside the house!!

Agree -- even the smaller size will look awkward and smooshed against the ceiling at that height. A chandelier is designed to be suspended in the open space and show itself off unfettered by walls, ceilings and furnishings. I understand the appeal of having a fixture visible from the outside, but the window wasn't designed to show off a chandelier that fits the space. I have a similar issue with a window on the front of my house, so I know the look you are after as well as the frustration of just not being able to pull it off. You have the option of making the top of the fixture visible so you still get light and sparkle from the street, but you save the WOW for when you open the door. That's not a bad thing. If it makes you feel better, my center window is a dormer. If I hung any chandelier there it would just look ridiculous.

Try your mock up hanging lower. With that first fixture, you can probably use either size. I would look at where they would be positioned if you had just the upper ring of the either fixture or the top two rings of the larger one visible through the window and see which size you like better greeting you at the front door and when viewed from the stairs. That would be how I would decide between the sizes.

so, you guys think i should go with a bigger size?

You have a mock up. I think you should lower it and look at it from inside and outside to see what is going to make you happy. If you don't believe us about the height, mock up the smaller one and look at it too.

I prefer the very first chandelier you posted, but can't tell if it will be too small. I'd make a mockup of that size and try it.

Whichever size you choose, I agree with everyone else that it should be hung much lower. I think I'd try to line up the bottom of the chandelier with the midpoint between the doors and the window.

Lower it more.....

I agree.... lower

that looks like the right size... agree, still needs to be lower...

to add: I just measured our foyer fixture ( a lantern- hung by PO) and it measures ~ 12' from the floor to the bottom of the fixture- it looks about right to me! (our foyer ceiling is 19' tall)

also, our fixture is ~ 40" tall or so, but it is a lantern and our foyer is set up differently than yours... it's only about 14' wide and the fixture is centered over a straight centered (about 4 1/2' wide) staircase that leads directly up to 2nd floor. also, the way the front door and portico are set up, there is about 5x14' area of 10'ceiling directly at the front door, so the 19'ceiling ht is further back, so the foyer isn't big and open like yours... so, without trying to confuse you any further, I still think larger is better for your foyer!

I read that a rule of thumb for determining what size chandelier you should get is to add the width and length of the room and convert to inches. So yours is 13 x 17 so that is 30". However, 30" just seems way too small to me for that grand foyer!

The height is supposed to be about 3" for each foot floor to ceiling. Not sure what your two story ceiling height is. Looks maybe 18-20'? If it was 20' then that would be 60". Again that's just what I read as a general rule. But personally, I think going a little bigger, rather then too small, is always better.

So while I like that first one, I definately think you need to go with the bigger one. I think the second one you mocked up is looking like a good height, but maybe just too wide?

Here is one I saw online at Costco that looked pretty much the same. Except it is 36" wide by 66" length. Maybe that size could work?

http://www.costco.com/Lighting-by-Pecaso-%7c-La-Rioja-Chandelier-in-Polished-Chrome-%7c-66%22L-X-36%22W-%7c-178lbs-%7c-Number-of-Lights%3a-30.product.100121469.html#

I am only guessing here as to the scale, so excuse my amateur mock up!

I would try and hang it so the top two tiers are in the window in this staircase view, with the bottom about half way between the top of arched door and the bottom of window. Something like this maybe?

rebunky you are amazing!!! I am going crazy with all the choices and decisions I have to make. Seems like everything is working against me, so now I have decision phobia :( it seems that whichever decision I make turns out to be wrong. Granite is another fiasco, but thank you for your kind words and your wonderful photo editing.

I am thinking of getting a ceiling medallion. How wide should it be if the chandelier diameter will be 42 or 36? thanks!

Just checked my plans my window is 69''.

Your space is pretty much about the same as our build. Although your foyer maybe a bit wider than ours. And I love your first choice for Chandelier! We had similar issue. We hung a large chandelier with a ceiling medalion (I don't remember the size but it is probably 36") and bought a chandelier lift on line ($600) to be able to bring it down and clean it. It was cheaper than buying it from our local light company. The light I selected in the halls is from Crystorama: It is 36.5w X 53 h. Here is a link to their site: http://www.crystorama.com/crystorama-regis-18-light-clear-crystal-bronze-chandelier_824.aspx#.VdNPG6KzG_d

Our builder hung it so that it is seen through the top window. I love how it looks when it is on outside our home. Unlike your door we ended up getting a single door with privacy glass so it would not really show outside the door. Here is a photo of our hall.

Do you have any pictures of the chandelier you chose hanging in your foyer? I am thinking about buying the Costco chandelier mentioned and stumbled on this post. I'd love to see a picture of how it looks today, if you have one and don't mind.

Oh, it looks beautiful! Thank you!

I think the key is getting the size right. Good luck.

abick2 - First of all your chandelier looks great! We have a similar setup. Can you please provide dimensions of the chandelier you selected and also the length of the chain?

As far as I can remember it was something like 42 x 60. Chain is adjustable, mine is about a ft away from the ceiling.

Thanks! Is it the same one in one of the earlier pictures above where you noted 42x66? Can you let me know where you purchased this?

yes

Could you please let me know if you bought this online or in a store? I was looking for it online but couldn't find one.