Rhonda Kieson Designs I happen to like this fixture, but a little modification can make a dramatic difference in its appearance. You might try placing small lampshades on each of the light bulbs. This will add flare to the fixture and soften the glare of the bare lights. Just for fun, try customizing your own shades. And another tip--use lighter hued shads for maxiimum effect.
Judy M If you have other metal colors in the room, like knobs on hutch etc, you might want to spray it a similiar color. I agree on spraying it and agree on trying the small shades that slip over the light bulbs. A dark shade will direct the light down onto the table and up towards ceiling, but not outwardly as much, while a lighter shade will direct the light overall.
Browse this web site for photos of chandeliers like yours for ideas.
judyg If this is your dining room, you should lower it...32-34" above your table. A chain cover would be nice...I think Ballard or Pottery Barn has them. But what really interests me is your ceiling. What is it? Tin, Anaglypta paper...you could do something extraordinary with paint and that would highlight your chandelier in a completely different way.
Judy M That looks like a version of popcorn ceilings. I call it the bird feet pattern, those remind me of bird feet. I have that in one of the beach rentals. I would not highlight it, but agree about lower the light if a dining table is under it.
feeny Yes, we have that "bird feet" plaster on the ceiling of our dining room (nowhere else, oddly) and I hate it (though not as much as popcorn ceilings). If kelcha wants to downplay the plaster ceiling pattern more, she might try painting the ceiling a 50-75% reduction of the wall color, which should make it blend in the room a bit better (and will draw attention to the nice white crown molding instead). Just a thought, not a necessity.
victorianbungalowranch What does the rest of the room look like?
I have a similar fixture and i took off the top crystals, and some of the others, put on some of those mini twig wreaths on the bottom of the candles and added shades. Or you could take off all the crystals and weave twigs or grapevine or hops through it, or wheat, with maybe a bit of berry or ribbon garnish.
At Christmas, I take off the shades, add gold napkin rings to each candle and drape wooden beads or hang apples, ornaments and greenery from it. Right now I have a little wooden bird hanging from it with a fall garland woven into it. It is fun to experiment with.
With the twigs, you could weave in some LED lights--perhaps battery operated? How about those LED branches? Bit of a pain to turn it on though. Or you could wrap the arms in jute or rafia or burlap or something.
victorianbungalowranch If you are going for glamour, you can try looking up wedding chandelier decorations. I've seen some pretty cool effects with just tulle, or balls and fishing line, or beads, etc...
Drapery and Design by Carlos you can change the "candles" for the ones with wax (which are more sophisticated) and then add little shades, besides more crystals if you can.
Browse this web site for photos of chandeliers like yours for ideas.
I have a similar fixture and i took off the top crystals, and some of the others, put on some of those mini twig wreaths on the bottom of the candles and added shades. Or you could take off all the crystals and weave twigs or grapevine or hops through it, or wheat, with maybe a bit of berry or ribbon garnish.
At Christmas, I take off the shades, add gold napkin rings to each candle and drape wooden beads or hang apples, ornaments and greenery from it. Right now I have a little wooden bird hanging from it with a fall garland woven into it. It is fun to experiment with.
With the twigs, you could weave in some LED lights--perhaps battery operated? How about those LED branches? Bit of a pain to turn it on though. Or you could wrap the arms in jute or rafia or burlap or something.
Here's a tone of ideas--wish they had pictures though http://www.ehow.com/make-chandeliers/
http://craftybutt.blogspot.com/2011/06/craft-hack-diy-rustic-chandelier.html
Takes some experimenting to keep it from looking too heavy, or crafty. Saw this alot in Germany and it looks great at night.