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What size chandelier- low ceiling/wide table?

14 years ago

I'm facing a design challenge in finding a chandelier to go in my dining room:

Ceiling height is 7' 10 1/4"

Table is 76" x 45" (with two 24" leaves that are usually in place when we are in there). 30" high.

Dining room is 13'3 W x just under 14 ( 15' counting the wide door openings to the adjacent rooms).

The problem is that the ceiling height is low in contrast to the relatively generous size of the dining room table. According to some guidelines I've read (diameter no more than the width of table minus 12") , I can do a chandelier as wide as 32" - 33". Others suggest using the size of the room - in this case 13 + 15 would be no more than 28" . Finally, many of them say that height of the fixture should be no more than 24" on an 8' foot ceiling (and mine is even less).

I'd like a dramatic chandelier of some kind to go with my traditional mahogany table but most 28-32" fixtures that I'd like to use are more than 24". Can anyone tell me what the maximum height I can get away with would be or offer any suggestions? Thanks!

Featured Answer

eastcoastmom
Original Author

14 years ago

Thanks for the responses! I happen to love those shallow, rectangular kind of fixtures, cyn427 and olychic, and had actually already given the idea some thought (though not the 15K versions !) but H wants something more traditional. They are really gorgeous, though - maybe he'd still consider. Funny that you mention Schonbek, cyn427 - I happen to love some of their classic crystal chandeliers and was just looking through their catalog.

lindac, I know they say to mount 30" from the top of the dining room table but I can easily see that seeming a bit low if you ever want a big centerpiece etc. How would you typically go about raising a chandelier?

I guess what I'm *really* asking is how little hanging chain can you get away with on top?

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Comments (6)

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
The first thing that came to mind is one of those long narrow modern chandeliers. They are expensive, but very dramatic. I am linking to one example and if I can find the one I saw several months ago, I will come back and link that one as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: rectangular chandelier
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
Schonbek also has some wonderful crystal rectangular chandeliers, but they range from $4,000-$15,000 or more. If you google rectangular chandelier, click on the Nextag link-you'll see tons of examples.

Here is a link that might be useful: another one
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Have you visited a lighting store? I'm sure they would be more than excited to help you with the dimensions and everything. I would be too excited! I would be running to the store with my house plans and pictures. LOL I know you stated that chains are a concern of yours, but when I first looked at the Sater pictures, I didn't notice the chains. Both the Cataldi and the Sterling Oaks chandeliers compliment each room and they both look very delicate and tasteful to me. Perhaps when you have your room completed it will all flow nicely for you. Actually, and I could be wrong, but it seems as though those chandeliers are hung almost 'center' of the room or slightly above center. If you were to suspend a line from the ceiling to floor, and from each four walls and have the lines intersect center point of the room, it appears as though this is the point at which the (bottom) tip of the chandeliers are hung. Just my two cents.
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One thing I do remember from Int. Des. classes (I'm *not* an Int. Designer, but an Art History major that had ID dreams many moons ago ;))was that you added the length and width of the room and used this figure as the diameter, in inches, of a chandelier (ie, a 22" in diameter fixture for a 10x12 room), *but* that was if the lighting was centered in the room (IIRC). Another was that the fixture should be half the width of the table (round or square). So with your 56" round table a 28"/diameter fixture would be the absolute perfect size. I don't see what an inch and a half smaller would really matter. Go for it!
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Anna, I too was going to mention turning the table, but if you are like me and many other's that love to change furniture around here's my suggestion. Something I wish I would have done with the chandeliers in two of our rooms. Keep the medallion for the fixture where it is (central to the main part of the room). When hanging your light fixture use enough extra chain so when you move the table at a later date, all you have to do is add a hook centered over your table and drape the chain to hang from that hook. I know some will say it would be too long then when hanging from the center. Yes, that's true, but all you have to do then is temporarily remove how ever many chain links to make it the correct length (store loose links in the hutch). Then tuck the extra cord inside the remaining links of the chain. If you use a chain cover no one will ever know. You are lucky that your chandelier isn't hung yet. Good Luck!
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olychic
14 years ago
This isn't as dramatic as the crystal...but is another option.

Here is a link that might be useful: Robert Abbey chandelier
lindac
14 years ago
Most chandeliers are hung too high...I love a chandelier that is really "on the deck" but you have to provide options to raise it if there is an occasion when you want to use tall centerpiece or candles...or move the table to the wall and serve buffet style.
And the size of the fixture you can use also depends on it's visual "density" for want of another word.
It's hard!! That's why I still have this el cheapo hanging in my room...it's "OK"...just barely!
Linda C
Doris Hastings
5 years ago
I’m working with a friend who has a dining room with a 7 ft ceiling.....did you ever get an answer to the question...how much chair/cord is necessary before the chandelier looks like a flush mount??

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