"What Measurements Do You Need Before You Make a Custom Chandelier?"

Dear Friend,

What a good question to ask first. The more we know about your space at the start, the more precisely we can design a piece that hangs beautifully in it, and the fewer surprises later. Here's the short list of what helps us most.

1. Ceiling height. From the floor to the ceiling. If there's a dropped or suspended ceiling, let us know, and tell us the height to the true structure above it as well.
2. Ceiling type and shape. Is it flat, sloped, vaulted, or domed? Are there any beams? This shapes how the piece is hung, and how long it should drop.
3. The staircase, if it's for a stairwell. How tall the stairwell is, and which floors the light will span. A staircase chandelier is designed around that vertical drop.
4. The table or surface below, if there is one. For a dining table or an island, the length and width of the table, and the height of the tabletop from the floor. This lets us size the piece and set the right hanging height above it.
5. The size or scale you have in mind. If you have a diameter and height in mind, tell us. If not, tell us the effect you're hoping for, grand and generous, or quiet and restrained, and we'll suggest the right proportions for your space.
6. Photos or a floor plan, if you have them. Not required, but they help us picture your space and design for it. A few photos looking up at the ceiling are often enough.
And one more thing, which matters most of all on a large piece.

A big chandelier is heavy, so the ceiling has to be able to hold it safely. A dropped or suspended ceiling usually can't carry the weight on its own. The load needs to reach the real structure above it, the joists or beams, and for a large fixture we always recommend having a structural engineer confirm the ceiling can safely take the weight before installation. Once our team has drawn up your piece, we'll give you its exact weight, so your engineer has a real number to work with, not a guess. For detail , please read this weight guide.

Don't worry about getting all of this perfect on your own. Send us what you have, and we'll walk through the rest with you, and confirm every measurement together before anything is made.

Tell me about your space whenever you're ready. I'd love to help you plan it.

Yours,
Marie