Light Years Ahead
Old-world elegance, backed by innovative design, chandeliers are all wired up to fire your imagination
CHANDELIERS ARE TO LIGHTS WHAT what frosting is to cake; a glamour frill that you could do without, but given the right occasion, it can add that nuanced flavour your room needs. From loud patterns that scream statement to dramatic forms for the art lover; a retro revival for the old soul; and traditional lighting, straight from royal palaces, for those who prefer classic designs- there’s something for everyone. Take your pick from Baccarat and Lladro’s classic chandeliers, Bent Chair and Brand Van Egmond’s drama-drenched designs or Timothy Oulton and John Pomp’s vintage options to bring some glitter home.
THE CLASSIC
The chandelier may have evolved in size, form and function but it’s still the glamour puss of the lighting world, especially the traditional chandelier that continues to stand out with its grand size and larger-than-life elegance to light up bedrooms and bathrooms alike. Typically suspended from ceilings, it is inspired by the romance of fairy tales and the nobility of classical lamps, Lladro’s Winter Palace Côte d’Azur Chandelier is a 12-light piece built with Austrian glass beads, gloss and matte porcelain. With a burst of sea water blues and greens, beige and lavender, this chandelier creates a royal aura and is perfect to claim centrestage in living or drawing rooms of roomy villas. For a chandelier that is compact in size, classic just the same, and a traditional candle holder, the Sans Souci’s Casta Diva—built from crystal from North Bohemia—is nothing short of jewels assembled into a crown. Ideal for drawing rooms, hallways, passages and aisles, this chandelier is a tagline by itself. For the perfect horizontal centre light, try Baccarat’s Lustre Paris Chandelier that offers a nostalgic nudge to palace lighting. Designed by Stéphanie Coutas, this chandelier comes in 24 or 36 lights and is all about the glamour but finds an easy fit with almost any palette of decor. Lladro Price `13,09,200 lladro.com Sans Souci Price on request ss-gd.com Baccarat Price €69,000 baccarat.com
DRAMA IN DESIGN
A chandelier is nothing if not a statement piece and a conversation starter, especially some modern renditions that work better as a light turned into a piece of art. While some pieces play with fabrics, metals and textures, others toy with size, colours and functionality. Creating drama in all its essence is what Bent Chair’s Vogue Light is all about. It’s a glorious fit with contemporary home decor, and works for both villas and apartments to create a chic look when placed in clusters. What’s more, it weighs only around 2.5 kg and is crafted with delicate fabric meshed together with dainty metal wires in blue and black. If bold is beautiful in your lexicon, you’ve hit a home run with Brand Van Egmond’s Kelp Chandelier. Inspired by the kelp that grows in underwater forests, it is crafted from metal in curling shapes, and is available in different sizes to help liven up a party or uplift the spirit of
the space it is placed in. In the quest to marry whimsical with avant garde, Anemos’ Chandel 1 Ceiling Fan is your go-to guide. Interestingly, this is a chandelier that transforms into a fan; it is vintage in form with a delightful surprise in terms of functionality and is a good fit for traditional as well as modern interior settings. Keep your guests guessing is what we say. Bent Chair Price `9,477 bentchair.com Brand Van Egmond Price on request brandvanegmond.com Anemos Price `39,000 anemos.in
MODERN VINTAGE
Although modern vintage may sound like an oxymoron, it is a collector’s treasure for those who consider retro to be the new cool. What’s great is that it reinvents the past, while straddling the future and blends well in a modern or traditional home. The trendiest models in this sstyle re-create a vintage look but in a more compact size, employing metals such as brass and copper to highlight the traditional glass and crystal candles, lamps and scones. Inspired by nineteenth century experimental physicist Leon Foucault’s Gyroscope, Timothy Oulton’s Gyro Crystal Chandelier comprises crystals crafted from polished and K9 glass for a soft glow and better light diffusion. The frame comes in a natural metal or an antique rust finish that is in sharp contrast to the elegant crystals. The chandelier comes in nine different sizes and holds all the cards when it comes to adding drama to an entrance hall or stairwell. Retro revival is best considered in the White Teak Company’s Moonlight Shimmer Gold Chandelier that is available in a variety of finishes and inspired by twinkling stars on a full moon night rendered by delicate glass globes that twinkle in perfect harmony. This piece works well as a dandy addition to the bedroom, an off-centre piece for the drawing room or just above a coffee table in the corner. A true blue sibling, but with a completely different energy, John Pomp’s Infinity Chandelier is crafted from hand-blown glass crystal, with large-sized bulbs, a blackened steel frame and a two-way mirrored enclosure to create an infinity of light, designed to replicate a starlit night sky. This will add the necessary oomph to garden and terrace space, or areas dedicated for house parties such as the homebar corner. White Teak Company Price `67,500 whiteteak.com Timothy Oulton Price `51,000-`4,60,000 timothyoulton.com John Pomp Price $40,048 johnpomp.com