Currently playing on my computer (tune in: pls, asx)
     

Thu, 25 Sep 2008

Olivia's New Light
For the past six or seven months (or maybe even longer?), the light fixture in Olivia's bedroom has been a $2 porcelain single-bulb incandescent lamp holder. Think the classic pull-chain type of fixtures you'd find in an unfinished basement (minus the pull chain). During these past months we have looked at and hemmed and hawed over probably tens of dozens of light fixtures. We have bought a couple fixtures (one on-line and one at a store) but then returned them after opening the box and discovered either how cheap the fixture looked, or how cheap the fixture was made. Indeed, a quality light fixture is truly hard to find... or least one that I approve of (and yes, I'm the picky one out of the two of us).

About 6 weeks ago (while browsing the inventory at Seattle Lighting in Bellevue) we finally found a light for Olivia's room that we both really liked. It is an authentic colored mini crystal chandelier manufactured by Schonbek - a lighting company owned by Swarovski. The fixture is just about perfect; small, compact, sturdy, and completely configurable. We were able to pick out the finish of the chandelier body that closely matched Livy's furniture, and we were also able to select the color of the crystals to match Livy's wall paint color. Nice options.

The downside: we were told it would take approximately six weeks to fulfill our custom order and, uh, then there was the little thing called the price tag... $550! The dainty 18" chandelier is easily the most expensive fixture in the house. Only the massive (by comparison) 52" ceiling fans that I have installed in Berkeley's bedroom, my office, and out on the patio even come close... and those are fixtures which, you know, include substantial parts like reversible electric motors, RF electronic fan controls, etc. So, anyway, my feeling is that we couldn't win for trying on this one. We looked at so much junk that was half as much in price (but not nearly half as nice) that the decision to indulge in such an expensive light really was a no-brainer.

The light finally arrived... yesterday via UPS.

So, this morning I set to the task of installing and assembling the light for Olivia. I had no shortage of willing assistants eager to hang the crystals on the frame of the fixture... two to be exact:

Eliana helping. Olivia helping.

Eliana helped quite a bit actually. If I recall correctly, she installed pretty much all of the crystal on the chandelier except the crystals hanging from the ceiling medallion. Here are a couple of pictures of the light after installation was complete... with both the lights on and off.

Install complete. Install complete.

:: Posted by rus on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:49 pm
:: Filed under /daily_journal/2008

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