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matt_snyder98

Looking for chandelier style suggestions

last year

We bought a house ~5 years ago in the Boston suburbs. This beautiful room is where we spend more time than anywhere else in the house. Unfortunately it's also the darkest room in the house when the sun isn't shining. The previous owners used table lamps to light it but the time has come to finally install a chandelier of some kind on the beam in the center of the ceiling. I'd love ideas, suggestions, recommendations for the style that would look best. Long before we bought it, this house started as a pretty basic colonial New England style home surrounded by beautiful, tall white pine trees. The previous owners did a massive renovation ~20 years ago and this addition (along with other rooms around it) has a fairly "contemporary" aesthetic. Would love help and suggestions for what kind of lighting / chandelier would look best. Thanks in advance!

(P.S. the couch isn't as big as it looks in these photos and the clutter is temprary...don't judge! 😂)

Comments (43)

  • PRO
  • last year

    Hi Matt!

    The wooden ceiling/beam/planking calls for modern Tudor, the iron cast of which serves as a natural finish to complement a rustic setting — modern Tudor (Henry 8 of Wales, origin: Roman occupation of Wales) is shown by Interiors with Ease above, circular style. Any natural materials, even whimsical faux antlers! lol! would look beautiful with the ceiling! I suspect might be a little far lol! Pendant lights might be TOO modern here, but if decor is fairly minimalist, might be a clean looking aesthetic!

    Now, for the howsoever 😈❤️.

    HOWSOEVER

    As a decorator, I CANNOT recommend you go minimalist with chandelier lighting, and that fantastic renovation and ceiling.

    Pendant lighting is dental-office-chic, forgive me!

    Snowed in here in Missouri! Will ponder and post pics if i find something inspiring!

    Chandelier lighting is an adventure, houzzers will be on soon with many ideas, so keep watching and just have fun!

    ❤️

  • last year

    Pendants done right …



  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Rustic Quatrefoil (hang 3 and makes extra lighting and decor purchases a snap, follow the shape!) …



  • last year

    Outside New England, a wooden ceiling calls for the Wagonwheel Chandelier, but here a Windmill Fan would look spectacular … (The Lamp Goods)…



  • last year

    For an Entirely Elegant Nature homage … (from The Belacan)…



  • PRO
    last year

    Matt do you have room for a couple end tables or at least one with a lamp and add a floor lamp..I love the idea of a simple chandelier…fun space for the family!

  • last year

    With Tudor, you may play with any iron/metal cast and go Spanish (tge English pair Tudor with Spanish, America pairs South) the gorgeous Mexican tin star …


  • last year

    Forget a decorative chandelier. Invest in a consultation with a really good architectural lighting designer who will have access to great products that will illuminate your space beyond what a simple chandelier is going to do.


    I worked with a wonderful lighting designer in NYC who had installed these incredible architectural sconces. [Link Melete wall sconce.] They blend into the wall so you hardly see them by man are they powerful at night. Our lighting is the envy of our neighbors. We loved them so much we put them in a second home. Here they are in a portfolio of hers. They look like nothing during the day, but four of these on the white walled areas of the four corners of your space would light up .your room well.


    Chelsea Lighting Design · More Info


    You can get lighting in a lot of places in here too - on top of the valance boxes, behind the TV, architectural sconces, that are going to really illuminate this space well and go from bright to dim evenly. They will not be seen and will retain the integrity of your ceiling and room.







  • PRO
    last year

    Budget?

  • last year

    Final recommendation … And thanks to Beverly for her gracious input 🙂. Always nice to hear from the design community!

    I live in an historic town, and included in my restoration and decorating portfolio is a B.A. History, as well as TAM Mizzou — focus, restoration historical textile collection — all recommendations start with consideration for the historical base.

    Still … my pick will always be brass against wood — here it is…(inspiration ONLY, I stress this before you go to Remains Lighting)



    Have a wonderful design adventure!

    ❤️

  • last year

    Big thanks to everyone for sharing ideas and recommendations, super helpful. Uplighting by way of sconces isn't an option, just looking for chandelier design ideas / inspiration. Thanks again, keep 'em coming!

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Is there eletrical in the ceiling? i think a lot of money could be spent and you’d be disappointed. Personally I think investing in layered lighting as @BeverlyFLADeziner suggests is the best approach - too bad sconces are not an option (I don’t think the room is right for a central ceiling fixture)

    Currently the room looks like it only has one lamp in it - is that right?

  • last year

    Architectural lighting is not an option because you dont want it or because there is some other barrier to making it happen?



  • PRO
    last year

    Would suggest installing downlights throughout the space if possible.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Since your main objective is to lighten the room consider styles that will first and foremost provide optimal lighting (place on a dimmer). Suggest going on line and start to narrow down your favorites based on the above as well as size/volume/length and your vision for the room, as it will have a big impact.


    I can see warm/modern and thought the one below might be of interest, given its flexible shades to direct lighting and custom cord lengths. It’s not inexpensive, but hope the design idea helps, if over your budget.




  • PRO
    last year

    First the lighting needs to light the space not the ceiling. I find pot lights in a vaulted ceiling pretty much useless . layered lighting at human space is ideal PLEASE lower that TV . I would remove all the shelving put the TV on one side or the other above the bottom cabonets and a piece of art above the other put the TV on an articulating wall mount

  • PRO
    last year

    Matt….How high is the pitch..I am guessing 15’ please let us know…..it will help with the styles we suggest. These are all available at Home Depot..






  • PRO
    last year

    Just playing a bit…


  • last year

    I like @BeverlyFLADeziner lighting ideas to include both overhead and floor/arc lamps. I might get smackdown for this but how about 2 chandeliers that can be on dimmer switch? One in line with each bookcase so the TV/fireplace is not obstructed.


  • PRO
    last year

    Looks like the home owner already has a tv in the left cabinet and one over the fireplace..hmm maybe a big sport viewer or gamer? I agree about no tv up so high over fireplace. Matt fill us in on the tv situation.

  • last year

    Honestly, the beautiful features of this room are the view and the ceiling. The view is gone at night, and I would accent the ceiling by just putting in recessed lights that would light the room without distracting from its best features. (If you had several beams, I think up lights would be gorgeous, but I'd just do nickel cans with gimbles to point as desired.)


    MCLEAN · More Info


    Cross Lake 4 · More Info


    Kitchen · More Info

    These examples include chandeliers too, but the trick there is where to put it? A chandelier generally hangs over something, so are you going to dangle it down over your coffee table? The most likely outcome is distracting + lost in the space. Here are some others without loose chandeliers:


    Rustic Contemporary Ski Lodge · More Info


    Wayzata Dream Home Great Room · More Info


    Pinecrest Residence · More Info


    Aspen Ute Residence · More Info


    661 Walnut Valley Parkway · More Info


    70 Pheasant Tail Ln, Silverthorne · More Info


    Look how many ceiling lights get used in most modern building:


    Via Verde Residence · More Info

    Then the accent lights and lamps come after.

  • PRO
    last year

    I think a chandelier (or 2) would look fantastic in your room.

    This one from Authentic Designs in Vermont is stunning:



  • last year

    Why no sconces? They were one of my first thoughts. Yes to floor lamps and Bev’s other suggestions. Yes to hiring a professional lighting designer. Lighting this space well is goi g to take more than just a chandelier

  • last year

    I think something like this could work. Are you keeping your light fixture above the kitchen table? If so, you’ll want to make sure whatever you choose looks good with it, as well as with your sconces around the hallway.

  • last year

    I see I posted their linear chandelier, but meant to post the round one:

    https://www.rejuvenation.com/products/willamette-48-chandelier/?cm_src=WsiAitc&recstrat=AITC|AITC-GRP-AFF-QNT

  • PRO
    last year

    You should check out cable lighting it would serve many purposes and get the light wh

    ere it is needed I use it often in vaulted ceiling spaces > I use Tech but there are a few companies that do it.

  • last year

    We have a similar room, built on about 15 years ago by a previous owner. It’s about 35’ x 26’.

    Their lighting solution was a midsize chandelier hung in each quadrant; they can be operated independently and are dimmable. (Also, as you can see, a ceiling fan in the middle.) While I don’t particularly love them, I don’t hate them enough to change them. Sorry I can’t back up far enough to get a picture of all four lights but you get the idea.


  • last year

    Agree with la_la_Girl. If you don’t have electrical in the ceiling, check with an electrician first. Just went through this with a similar wood T&G, cathedral ceiling. It was costly and difficult to run electrical to chandelier location without ruining wood.

  • PRO
    last year

    Sconces seem way easier since those walls are drywall. If ceiling access is available chandeliers would be pretty but they are not great lighting by themselves. This is a big room- I could see 8-12 4” cans for some general illumination plus the two chandeliers for sparkle. But that all hinges on there being access to the area above the vault.

  • last year

    Beautiful place.


    Contemporary leaning in this area, as you mention - but I think still retains some of the original classic charm.


    I can see something along these lines:














    I know you are probably really tired of hearing about the sconces... you made it very clear that you only want a chandelier. I am not trying to push the sconces... but only mention it, because in case your concern is wiring - there are plug-in as well as battery operated sconces available. (I don’t know if those options were mentioned, as have not read through all comments.) Also, your tv may already be on a mount. If it‘s not, and if height is ever an issue for viewing, this mount is very good. mantelmount.com

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Ok... now I see that you already have some sconces in the area!



    So you’re like, enough with the sconces already.


    I don’t know if there is lighting on the shelves, but that could be an area to sneak in some additional ELL (eye level lighting) if you wanted to. Could be easy with a few remote control puck lights lights. But maybe you already have lighting there!





    And I also now see that you have (what looks like) a second tv at eye level. So I don’t know what you have going on with that... Seems you might have all the bases covered! Hence, why you are like, ”People, I just want a CHANDELIER.” :)

  • PRO
    last year

    Most rooms, but especially ones with vaulted or cathedral ceilings, benefit from a variety of lighting fixtures. We have a cathedral ceiling family room with beams. We installed recessed lighting, uplighting on the beams, sconces on the fireplace mantel, and table and floor lamps. In this way you have options for lighting the room depending on what your needs are.

  • last year

    Can your electrician easily snake an electrical line in the wood ceiling?

    If you use one ceiling chandelier, install it on a dimmer in case you find the fixture light reflects off the TV as it is mounted fairly high.


  • PRO
    last year

    Of course, all lighting should be on dimmers.

  • PRO
    last year

    Like this chandelier

  • last year

    If it were me I would go with some kind of track lighting on the beam. A chandelier seems not quite right for the long space. My feeling is that it would only light a certain area and not the whole room.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    We didnt have nearly the length nor the height, but heres an idea that we absolutely LOVE!!!

    A ”beefier” beam and more lights would definitely make a statement!

    Also - we put it on a dimmer to conrol the mood - ha


  • PRO
    last year

    Matt where are you? any thoughts

  • last year

    Because the room looks fairly large I would install 1 -3 if not more identical pendants or chandeliers at the ceiling and of course layered lighting down below. It's a fantastic space

  • PRO
    last year

    I think a ceiling fan with light will be a good choice.