Ever since we moved into this house in 2005, I have wanted to paint every wall and change out every light fixture. Before we moved in, most walls were painted and the most egregious of the lighting was replaced. I have been on a quest ever since to change out a few more of the light fixtures. My dining room chandelier was NOT my priority must-go fixture. I actually didn’t mind it, I just didn’t think it was me. I wanted my dining room to better reflect us, and thus I started with the chandelier. I put together a budget and started searching for THE LOOK. My back up plan was to just paint the darn thing white.
After searching high and low, these were my top three chandeliers I found:
Option 1:
Picture of that Serena Bowl Chandelier by OLY STUDIO found in designer Brooke Giannetti’s home in California. Click this picture to see her blog Velvet and Linen.
Oly Studio $3000- but my decorator said she could get it for me for quite a bit less bringing it into the realm of possibility
Option 2:
At $4200 and hefty shipping fees added, I loved this one best, but could not afford it.
Option 3:
By Neirmann Weeks, I love this chandelier. Isn’t it gorgeous?
My favorite was Option 2. I loved it because it is made from old wine barrels and I knew my husband would love it. We honeymooned in the Wine Country and this one just seemed more us than simplyme. If it were just me, I would have picked that first one listed by Oly Studio. So, this #2 chandelier had me convinced that it needed to come live in our house. It was listed for $4,200 and that was too high for my budget. Dang.
Then, Restoration Hardware picked up this same line of lighting and was selling the smaller one-tiered version of Option 2 for $2,695. Part of me was elated that my eye for good taste had just been validated because, hey, Restoration Hardware agreed. But I also was saddened that if I could afford my chandelier, these chandeliers might become prolific with their new catalog and mall store presence. However, it was just available via catalog/online. How many people are going to order a $2,695 (before tax and shipping) item without ever being able to see it up close? So, I crossed off that hurdle to then decided that I needed to move on as I didn’t have the 5K (after shipping that’s what it would be) to spend on it.
From Restoration Hardware
I love Option 3, by Neirmann Weeks, but it, too, was hovering in that 4 – 5K price range. Also, one of my best friends has that chandelier, so I thought it in poor taste to even consider copying her exact chandelier, even though she insisted she would be tickled pink for us to have the same chandelier. I think she was lying. So, Option #1 it was.
About to put the quest to rest and order the Oly chandelier, I decided to wait until after I picked up my girls from Camp Greystone. On the way back, I wanted to make a quick stop in Waynesville, NC and check out this ONE store to see if they had anything. We love the Pheasant Hill Cafe and Gallery as it is an ice cream/coffee/furniture store all wrapped up into one.
So, with all three children in tow, and a captains chair and dog left behind in Nashville in hopes that just perhaps I would find something, I stumbled upon this (please excuse the iphone photo!):
on close out sale for $1100! NC sales tax is just 4.5% and no shipping!
I furiously texted Rachel Halvorson, my decorator. Is it too big? Can it fit in my dining room with 10 foot ceilings? Should I buy it? I next called my husband, “Can I please buy it?” He doubted my deal I insisted I was getting – $3,100 off! But he said “Sure” and all that was left was ensuring that the Chandelier, plus two camp trunks, three children and myself fit into the Honda Odessey.
It didn’t fit. It couldn’t fit into the space allowed by the sliding door. This Chandelier is 58″ tall! But I was determined and the owner was more than happy to assist the crazy lady with the thousand dollar purchase whose three kids were chowing down on ice cream also purchased in his store.
We took EVERYTHING out of the car: two camp trunks, all car seats and all the extra luggage were placed on the pavement. The back seat was lowered and we got the chandelier into the missing Captains chair spot by pushing it forward from the back. Because my oldest was tall and old enough to sit on the front with me, she was moved to the front, my middle was was now in the third row back with part of the chandelier next to her. My son had very little room with the bulk of the chandelier wedged next to him. We reloaded the trunks in the back and closed the doors and drove away. It took 35 minutes to load it in and we needed to get home!
Here is what my dining room looked like last year when our house was on the market.
Luckily, we decided to stay in Nashville. We took our house off the market and here it was it looks like today with my new chandelier:
We added host/hostess chairs, recovered the seat cushions and replaced the chandelier. I’d like to cover the walls with a sandy/tan grass cloth as well. But, now, I think the room has the feel that I wanted and I’m thrilled.
I also would like to note the color orange here. Notice the first picture of my dining room. That is the color orange that it is. The updated picture is far too coral to be an accurate portrayal.
