Frequently Asked Questions

How big should my chandelier be?

Sizing a chandelier is not an exact science. Interior designers often warn against picking a size too small for the space. On the other hand, interesting effects can be achieved with deliberately teensy chandeliers where appropriate.

There are formulas to help you, but don't apply them blindly. Take into account the overall configuration of the space and the style of the chandelier. Guidelines below are for residential spaces only.

One-story living rooms and bedrooms

Here's a formula for average rooms ranging from 100 to 250 square feet. To rough out a diameter, add together the room dimensions in feet and call them inches. If the room is 13 by 15 feet, add those numbers together to get 28. This suggests a chandelier with a minimum 28 inch diameter.

If the ceiling is high, you can add up to six inches. Go even bigger if the ceiling is very high.

Don't use this formula if the room is exceptionally narrow. You may be better served by two or more smaller chandeliers.

Dining rooms

Choose a chandelier that has a diameter one-half the width of the table over which it will hang.

For a banquet-style table in an elongated or oversized dining room, two or more chandeliers will work better than one.

Foyers, great rooms, two-story spaces

Schonbek offers elongated chandeliers for foyers and two-story spaces.

The chandelier should always be at least 7 feet from the floor, but may be hung higher in a lofty space. Just be cautious not to hang it too high. Consider the entire space. Staircases need special consideration.

If there's a narrow stairwell, would you rather see the chandelier from upstairs or down? If the staircase is wide, a chandelier that makes the desired impression in the foyer may not be visible at the top of the stairs. We suggest giving the foyer the most importance.

Some homeowners want to show off their chandelier through a palladium window. This can result in a chandelier hung unattractively high. We feel that the view inside the home is more important than the neighbors' view.

If the you feel compelled to hang the chandelier high, consider lining up the bottom tier of candles with the balcony. Another option is to call our custom department. We can custom-design a chandelier long enough to be visible high and low.

Ask your electrician to position the chandelier at different heights for you to consider before installation is complete.

Hallways and intimate spaces

Schonbek offers a great variety of ceiling baskets 8 to 14 inches in diameter, the classic solution for small spaces.

And now there's another, trendier option: the new Schonbek collection of tiny chandeliers. Tight spaces are no obstacle to elegance with these dainty, dressy, miniaturized chandeliers.

Bathrooms and walk-in closets are good candidates for tiny chandeliers. They may also be used to create a vignette or define an intimate space within a great room. And two or three teensy chandeliers over a kitchen island can be very dramatic.

How high should I hang my chandelier?

Interior designers advise that the worst thing you can do is hang a crystal chandelier too high. Below are some guidelines for hanging height, but taste and judgment should also apply.

One-story living rooms, bedrooms, hallways

In most rooms, a chandelier should be about 7 feet above the floor. If the chandelier hangs over an accent table, it can hang 5 1/2 feet from the floor.

Dining Rooms

Chandeliers should be hung about 30 inches above the dining room table, assuming an 8-foot ceiling. Add 3 inches to the suspension height for each foot of additional ceiling height.

Where can I buy Schonbek products?

From Our Preferred Dealer Bowery Lights

Can I buy a chandelier direct from Schonbek?

Schonbek is a manufacturer, and we do not sell our products directly to end consumers. We also do not give prices over the internet. Please refer to our preferred dealer Bowery Lights

Can you email me the price of a certain chandelier?

Please e-mail our preferred dealer for pricing.

Where are Schonbek chandeliers made?

Schonbek chandeliers are designed and manufactured in the USA.

While most lighting companies are now going offshore to make their products, at Schonbek we continue to make our chandeliers, lamps, wall sconces and candelabra in our own factory in Plattsburgh, New York. We do some crystal assembly in our plant in St. Jerome, QC, Canada.

Schonbek family members are committed to quality. We feel that the best way to maintain high standards is through hands-on management of production, working closely with skilled local designers, engineers and craftspeople.

How important is lead content in crystal?

Lead content is not at all a guarantee of fine quality crystal. Let us give you the real story on lead crystal.

Crystal must be painstakingly polished to look its most brilliant. When you mix lead with glass, the lead acts as a softening agent so it's easier and faster to cut and polish the crystal.

Manufacturers in third world countries will often use lead for self-serving reasons, to produce crystal with less effort, even though this may not be safe for the artisans involved.

Schonbek deliberately chooses fine handcut crystal without lead content.

The factors to consider when you're determining the quality of crystal are optical clarity, sharpness of faceting and prismatic brilliance. These characteristics can be verified visually by any careful observer.

If you're determined to have lead crystal, we'd recommend machine-cut Strass®. Lead content is in excess of 30 percent.

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