Fiat Lux!

Welcome back to Day 2 of the tour. Today we reveal the foyer chandelier in its full glory.

The chandelier is 6' x 6' and comprises several hundred pounds of Austrian crystal. It has 64 candle lights, which have been fitted with warm LED lighting. We spent a lot of time ensuring the finished effect is as close to incandescent light as possible, not wanting to use tungsten bulbs due to their poor energy efficiency and increased rate of blowing (as you will see from the photos below, it would not be an easy task to change blown bulbs. Luckily thanks to long feather dusters, it shouldn't be too difficult to keep it sparkling).

Above: The electrician putting together the frame of the chandelier and wiring up the candles.

Below: They built a scaffold in the foyer and then hoisted it up bit by bit to the right height. It is fixed by a large chain which is connected directly to the framing of the roof. One of the electricians put their full weight on it to make sure it would hold tight - not that we plan to swing from it.

They then completed the wiring and bulb fitting and crystal hanging. Not a job for those scared of heights...

They left some of the scaffolding in situ until I got back from Dubbo, just in case I wasn't happy with the height.

The finished fitting, with subtle up-lighting in the recesses of the dome - which makes a nice night light for the atrium.

The web of crystals viewed from below...

Please join us tomorrow when the tour will continue with a viewing of the bridal suite.

Hold That Elevator...

Further to my previous post 2 years ago on elevators we are now in the process of getting quotations for a domestic lift, so I thought I would write a second more comprehensive post.

There are essentially 2 types of lift mechanism - mechanical winch from above or hydraulic jack from below. Most domestic lifts are run by the second means, and the most common (because it is the least expensive) is a simple square carpeted platform that is pushed up the shaft from below, without a ceiling or sides to the carriage (well, in fact no carriage full stop, unlike the winch models which require a box to pull up the lift shaft.). This platform idea seems very rudimentary, so we are varying it by having a full carriage but pushed from below. This will allow us to go to town on the detailing inside the carriage with wooden paneling, beveled mirrors and a chandelier. As with everything at WBP, it is the detail that will set us apart.

I am fascinated by the fin de ciecle wrought iron lifts. They were amazing...

and Art Deco lifts:

Modern copies...

I would like to have a glass and wrought iron door as an homage to these great contraptions of yesteryear. Also, it will be next door to the wine cellar, so the wrought iron and glass doors will compliment each other.

The Inside:

The wooden paneling will be similar to that below: 

 The bare light bulb lets it down somewhat.

I like the 2 tone paneling below, although we will have beveled mirror where they have lighter panels, to give a sense of space. No one wants to feel like they are in a vertical coffin.

although there are simpler forms of paneling...

It must have a charming light in the ceiling...

Something like the basket below would be suitably sparkly (c.f. top photo).

Down lights are just not the same...

It would be nice to have ornate brass-work for the buttons...

and maybe a brass floor indicator (that would be pushing it in a 2 story house)...

No seating, though an interesting idea...

now all we need is a bell boy...

or girl... 

Though we don't want a bumbling Bell Boy, we need to be more Hotel Babylon than Faulty Towers...

But I digress. Other lift ideas...

Swinging from the Chandeliers...

We have bought our first chandelier! It is the largest of the chandeliers we plan to have at WBP and will hang in the foyer. It is 6 feet wide and 6 feet tall. It is a Maria Therese chandelier, made from Austrian crystal and gold plate, and has 64 lights (Happy Birthday Peter)!

Below: Actual Photo

We have also been researching the other sparkly things for around the manor house. We have found some possibilities...

Lighting in the lift:

 for the chandeliers in the ballroom and music room:

 paired with these wall scones...

In the informal entertainment area we shall have 3 of these chandeliers (same as ballroom, but a size smaller)...

with 3 of these sweet little modern chandeliers for above the bar:

For one of the drawing rooms...

  paired with sconces

Then we might have two of these gold empire-styled chandeliers for the dining room:

or these 

with 2 candelabras for the side board:

Billiard Room:

Powder Room sconces for either side of the mirrors:

We have chosen traditional Georgian hanging lanterns for the hallways (which we will have gilded):

Dressing Room:

Above Kitchen Island:

We are still on the look out, as apart from the first one, which is winging its way to NZ, we are not 100% sure about these choices. As always, it is a compromise between budget and desire. And one huge problem is that we can not buy anything from the USA, as it does not meet NZ's code of  building compliance or safety standards (which is a real shame, as there is a lot of really neat lighting we have found on US websites).  If anyone knows of any good British or European websites, do please let us know. 

In the meantime, here are some more inspirational sparklers...