Lighting Options For The Master Bedroom
Bring on the master bedroom decoration! The walls are plastered, the woodwork has been repaired, we've carefully dissolved 130 years of lead paint off one of the sash windows so we can actually open it for the first time since we moved in (ah, the shocking novelty of fresh air!), and we're about to get rid of the burgundy carpet once and for all and start sanding the floors. I've got fifteen samples of white paint at the ready, and a raft of curtain fabric samples including an absolutely stunning £320-a-metre embroidered linen that I ordered purely out of curiosity to see what £320-a-metre fabric could possibly look like (answer: as stunning as it would be stunningly impractical).
We also get to pick furniture! We already have a gorgeous reclaimed wooden bed, and some very nice mirrored bedside cabinets, but pretty much everything else needs purchasing. Among other things, I'm contemplating a white Barcelona sofa, a Moroccan wedding blanket, a huge antique mirror and a wow-factor ceiling pendant light fixture.
First on the research list - the pendant.
The ceilings are high (nearly twelve foot) and the room's about 6x6m so there's a big space to fill. And much as I love to DIY and upcycle, I think it's also important to buy furniture and accessories as well, partly to support talented craftspeople, and partly because otherwise houses can look a bit Pinterest-tastic, if you know what I mean. I'm looking for something organic - either in material or shape, and ideally handmade.
Here's the moodboard I created for the room a while back.
Here are some of the options I'm considering for the light fixture.
From left to right, and top to bottom: Chandelier from Christopher Wray, White turquoise chandelier by Marjorie Skouras, Foscarini Caboche, Banana fibre light from Pinch Design, Egyptian pendant from Lombok, Butterfly pendant by Tom Raffield, Hawaiian Tropic Leaves by Alexander and Pearl, Crystal orb pendant by John Lewis, Vita Eos feather pendant
Here's a closer look at the banana fibre pendant:
And the classic arctic pear chandelier by Ochre:
The banana fibre pendant is just extraordinary (it was a recommendation by the very talented Sian Astley) but I'd have to wait for a 50% off sale before it became vaguely affordable. I like the Foscarini Caboche, even after spotting it in Gloria and Jay's house on Modern Family, and the John Lewis option is almost prettier, but I really fancy something made by an independent artist. We like everything in the house to have a story behind it; some history about where it came from and how we acquired it - the carved wooden mirror that we bought from a florist in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in Provence and drove it 1000 miles home; our wedding china; the huge abstract canvases painted by my artist Grandpa - and "we bought this from John Lewis" doesn't quite cut it...
I adore the white turquoise chandelier but it's made from actual gemstones and I can't even begin to imagine the price so I think that would have to be a DIY job (I've got a turquoise one in mind for the landing outside our bedroom). Ditto the Ochre 'Arctic Pear' chandelier - it's basically perfect but the cost runs into the thousands.
I saw the feather orb in real life at the Manchester Independent Interiors Show and it's amazing, but we're planning an all-white, cream and ivory room so it might not stand out sufficiently. I love the antique chandelier but it feels like too much of a predictable choice... I also love the Tom Raffield butterfly pendant - I think it would look amazing in the hallway - but I think it would be a really great option in here as well, although perhaps a touch too modern? Ditto the tropic leaves light - it's gorgeous and unusual but might look better in a more contemporary space. Yes, yes, I'm fussy.
And the Egyptian pendant? I think this is my favourite. The pendants are hand-hammered from silver-plated brass and then drilled full of tiny holes that throw beautiful patterns around the room. We honeymooned in Marrakech and this style of lighting really reminds me of the decor there. The one shown above is from Lombok but I bet I could source one directly if I put my mind to it - or buy from independent Le Souk (see image below).
Which one would you choose?