I think the whole "showing through the window" looks gorgeous. Someone on this forum has a window with a chandi showing and I complimented them on it. I hope they'll post it again so you can see it.

Would it be possible for you to frost the glass or add frosted window wallpaper to the palladian window? Or, have sheer drapery panels added?

I don't see any reason why you have to live with some big honkin' chandelier in the window if you hate it. However, I think you do need to be sure that you will like the look of the smaller, lower-hung chandy within your space. It might feel dwarfed by all the open space around it. And if you have a staircase right there, you want to consider how the new chandy height works with the staircase as it rises.

What you might consider is eliminating a chandy all together, and using wall sconces and lamps in the foyer to give you your light. No rule that you have to have a chandy in there.

Sorry, I have to disagree with the others and say it's definitely permissible to hang the chandelier where you propose. No one is going to see the chain through the window, and the light should be down where the people are so it can give light to them. Well, I love two-story chandeliers and I LOVE palladian windows more than I can say. And I love big Williamsburg brass chandeliers. I have all three in this house, LOL, and my chandelier is hanging with the tip of its bottom about 8.5' off the floor. The chain is not visible through the window. Two decorators and a very smart lighting store owner have told me this is permissible, so I'm sticking with it.

You mention getting a small fixture. How small? You want to make sure it's not too tiny for the space it will be filling. Now that would be bad! LOL. Light store lady and decorator #1 once told me the formula for size vs. space, but I do not remember, sorry.

As I see it, the chain being visible through the window isn't a problem because it won't be that noticeable. But the size of the chandelier could look inappropriate for the space.

Without knowing how tall the two story foyer is, I can't guess where "10 feet from the ceiling" places the chandelier in the room relative to the floor. I'm imaginging it about 10 feet from the floor, and I think it would look strange unless you have a table directly under it.

I side with Logic on this one. The less you fight what the house wants to do, the easier things are.

I think a smaller, lower chandelier would look "off" for the space. Les had a great idea, though, about using sconces and lamps instead of a chandelier. Could that be done?

As the saying goes..........Pictures would help. Maybe if you are able to post a picture of the space and pic of lighting that you are considering, the situation could be assessed better.

How big is the space? How narrow is the foyer? And how high? How many doorways? Stairs both up and down? Do you have furniture in the foyer? Art on the walls?

I'm thinking that hanging a chandy low or using sconces may make the bottom of the foyer look too crowded and busy, and the upper area look vast and empty. Maybe not.

Do you guys mean lighted sconces like these, with shades on them?
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/9/3/1/8/9/3/webimg/210257706_tp.jpg

I'll try to post some pics later. The foyer is good-sized. I have a demilune table on one wall and art on the others. There is a staircase with a catwalk. A lot of the others homes in my neighborhood have the big, big chandelier that you can see through the window. I just don't think they look that great, plus to get one big enough to hang that high, you're looking at several thousand dollars. I don't want to spend that much money on a design feature that I dislike.
Hopefully I will upload some pics this afternoon and yall can give me some suggestions. I'd really appreciate it!

Consider a carriage lamp style for the hanging fixture...and it does have to big enough to be in scale for the space, or it will throw the proportion of the room off. I think you do need a fixture of some kind in a two-story foyer...otherwise, you will have a shadowy effect over your head, which feels sort of creepy.

Alternatively, an elongated bowl-type that hangs from rods in a simplified neo-classical style can be very effective and subtle, giving you light without making you look at the light bulbs, and without being visually overpowering or distracting.

I'd also recommend putting the fixture on a dimmer, if it isn't already. Then you can have bright light if you have guests arriving, and dim it down for yourself, and dim it more if you are going out but want some glow in the window.

Your foyer sounds lovely and I agree about it filling the space properly and after saying mine doesn't show through the window I looked and actually part of it does, about the top 2/3, as it is a large three-tier Williamsburg type. I still contend, though, that the whole thing doesn't need to be "way up there" centered vertically in the window.

As much as I love these big chandeliers I wouldn't want to pay that much either, I got all mine in consignment stores for prices in the hundreds (under $500). They have all kinds. Consignment store shopping can be very fun! :-)

I agree that the light fixture needs to be in proportion to the space it is in. A small fixture would throw things out of balance.

Rather than spend thousands on a large fixture that could be seen through the window, you could consider having plantation shutters made for the palladian. I think that would play down the 80's/90/s "Dynasty" look you speak of. Then if you have a fixture slightly lower, you wouldn't have to worry about the chain showing, or how an empty window would look from the outside.

I do think there are some lovely foyer fixtures that would be large enough to balance the space, but not ostentatious or tacky. I helped my mother choose the lighting for her new condo, and we found a gorgeous large carriage type fixture that is classic and tasteful.

Just a little more food for thought!

I'd love the chance to hang an impressive Calderesque mobile, with upward pointing spotlights. Imagine glimpsing this through the Palladian window!

Could you de-Dynasty the chandelier? Paint or patina any brass, remove any glass plates, add ornaments that go with your style?

-Lena