Chandelierical

Remarkable, intuitive, breathtaking industrial-chic lighting from Michael McHale Designs. Both custom and affordable ready-to-light models available. Please see our website: www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/homeChandeliericalTumblr (3.0; @chandelierical)http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/Michael McHale Designs now featured on Fab.Fab.comThe...<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m57b4o1Pst1qi825po1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a href="http://fab.com/sale/6650/ad5kcp/?fref=sale-invite-tu">Michael McHale Designs now featured on Fab.</a><br/>Fab.com<br/>The chandeliers created by Michael McHale Designs are functional works of art that merge raw industrial attitude and glimmering elegance. Each piece is created in NYC, using repurposed steel pipes dressed with pure crystal. The result is an aesthetic amenable to any décor, from steampunk to shabby chic. </p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/24540639906http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/24540639906Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:02:48 -0400MMD and Furniture New York<p>Michael McHale Designs was recently selected by <strong>Furniture New York</strong> in a juried competition to display a <a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/tribeca-banqueting-chandelier/">Tribeca Collection Banqueting Chandelier</a> at the Furniture New York booth at the <strong>International Contemporary Furniture Fair</strong> (ICFF at the Javits Center in New York May 19-22nd).</p> <p><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3721" title="logo" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/logo1.png" alt="" width="186" height="127"/></a></p> <p>You can see Furniture New York’s newly re-designed and updated website by clicking <a href="http://www.furniturenewyork.org">here</a>.</p> <p>More on the ICFF later….</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/05/mmd-and-furniture-new-york/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/22783326127http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/22783326127Thu, 10 May 2012 12:21:20 -0400tumblrizeT Magazine: Armed and Glamorous<a href="http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/armed-and-glamorous/">T Magazine: Armed and Glamorous</a>: <p>Very nice octopus chandeliers from another [something else]-turned-chandelier-maker.</p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/21653167875http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/21653167875Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:11:29 -0400chandeliersteampunkColored Crystal<p>Did you know that over 95% of crystal sold in the United States is clear? We can understand that - clear crystal will always go with the colors of your room — and will pick up and reflect back a lot of that color.</p> <p>But sometimes you may want to consider a bolder move. At Michael McHale Designs, we love color and use only the finest Swarovski colored crystal, which has clarity and brilliance unmatched anywhere, in our experience.</p> <p><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/MMcHale2121.jpg"><img class="size-large wp-image-3661 aligncenter" title="Colored crystal on lighting from Michael McHale Designs" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/MMcHale2121-714x535.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="479"/></a></p> <p>So if you’re feeling bold, let us know - We’d love to help you express that.</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/04/colored-crystal/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/21281463356http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/21281463356Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:19:09 -0400tumblrizeModern Industrial Style Lighting Sale<p>All of our modern chandeliers are on sale between now and April 25th! Â 15% off all purchases of $500 or more on our industrial chic chandeliers and modern lighting.Â Use code “glam” on purchase!</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3630” align=”alignleft” width=”534” caption=”Tell your friends about our industrial chic chandelier sale, and check us out on Twitter and Pinterest!”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/industrial-chandelier-sale.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-3630" title="industrial chandelier sale" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/industrial-chandelier-sale.png" alt="" width="534" height="77"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/04/modern-industrial-style-lighting-sale/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20978200101http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20978200101Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:03:21 -0400tumblrizeKeith Olbermann is a $10 Million Chandelier<p>[caption id=”attachment_3613” align=”alignleft” width=”576” caption=”Let Michael McHale Designs build you a chandelier, Mr. Keith Olbermann sir at long last sir.”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Keith-Olberman-is-a-chandelier-but-hard-to-install.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-3613 " title="Keith Olberman is a chandelier, but hard to install" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Keith-Olberman-is-a-chandelier-but-hard-to-install-714x476.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="383"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Keith Olbermann talked with David Letterman on 4/3/2012 about his being fired from Current, and to help everybody understand the situation a little better he accepted full responsibility for the situation because he’sÂ a $10 million chandelier.</p> <p>Let it be said that Olbermann has no shortage of self-esteem.</p> <p>David Letterman is in top form here.</p> <p>And it’s great to see chandeliers in the news.</p> <p>We really hope to be able to make a chandelier for Keith Olbermann that rivals the one in his imagination. Â Therefore,Â Michael McHale Designs has put the call out on Twitter requesting that Keith Olbermann commission a chandelier from us. Â The offer stands. Â Keith, call us!</p> <p>See video below.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">[youtube]http://youtu.be/7HmE2IAfmrE?wmode=”transparent”/>[/youtube]</p> <p>Olbermann: “I didn’t say, ya know if I buy a 10 million dollar chandelier you should have a house to put it in”. Just walking around with a 10 million dollar chandelier isn’t going to do anybody a lot of good (Letterman: “No”) and it’s not gonna do any good to the chandelier”. (Letterman: Right).Â Then it turns out we didnt have a lot to put [the house in] the chandelier in or a building permit and I… I should have known that. (Letterman: UhHuh) and it is my fault at heart.Â um.. .”</p> <p>Letterman: “You’re… you’re the chandelier?”</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/04/keith-olbermann-is-a-modern-10-million-chandelier/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20478336225http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20478336225Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:16:10 -0400tumblrizeOur Showcase with Domoore Designs for DIFFA at AD2012 Show<p>Thank you <a title="Dee Kemper's Domoore Designs Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/#!/domooredesigns">Dee Kemper</a> at <a title="Domoore Designs Interior Design Webpage" href="http://domooredesigns.com">Domoore Designs</a> for joining forces with Michael McHale Desi<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Style-Chandeliers-Dining-by-Design-6.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3554 alignleft" title="Industrial Style Chandeliers Dining by Design (6)" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Style-Chandeliers-Dining-by-Design-6-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300"/></a>gns for a great cause.Â At this year’s Architectural Digest 2012Â Show in NYC we teamed up with Domoore Designs toÂ putÂ together a gorgeous showcase for DIFFA’s Dining by Design Event.</p> <p><a title="DIFFA Twitter: @DIFFANational charity" href="https://twitter.com/#!/DIFFANational">DIFFA</a>, or <a title="About DIFFA" href="http://www.diffa.org/about_mission.asp">“The Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids” (find out m</a><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Style-Chandeliers-Dining-by-Design-3.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3553 alignright" title="Industrial Style Chandeliers Dining by Design (3)" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Style-Chandeliers-Dining-by-Design-3-217x300.jpg" alt="" width="152" height="210"/></a><a title="About DIFFA" href="http://www.diffa.org/about_mission.asp">ore about this great charitable organization here)</a> “mobilizes the immense resources of the design communities andÂ has granted over $40 million to hundreds of AIDS service organizations nationwide”.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">The DIFFA organization is outstanding — and the showcase, which included our new-for-2012 industrial chic style <a title="Industrial Style Chandelier Tribeca Banqueting Chandelier" href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/tribeca-banqueting-chandelier/">Tribeca Banqueting Chandelier</a> — looked great (thanks to Dee Kemper’s amazing eye for design).Â We’ve included some pics of our Dining by Design showcase and look forward to future DIFFA events.Â We’re also very much looking forward to seeing the future works of Dee Kemper and Domoore Designs.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Style-Chandeliers-Dining-by-Design-1.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3551 aligncenter" title="Industrial Style Chandeliers Dining by Design (1)" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Style-Chandeliers-Dining-by-Design-1-300x288.jpg" alt="" width="234" height="225"/></a></p> <p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/03/our-industrial-style-chandeliers-at-diffa/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20289095479http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20289095479Sat, 31 Mar 2012 20:12:02 -0400tumblrizeMichael McHale Designs Chandelier Video<p>Hello everybody! It would be great if you checked out our new video which gives an overview of the background, inspiration and industrial chic style lighting aesthetic of Michael McHale Designs. Â We hope you enjoy it!</p> <p><iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_o6gRkZk02Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/> </p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/03/michael-mchale-designs-chandelier-video/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20072545887http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/20072545887Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:24:28 -0400tumblrizeWe're at the Architectural Digest 2012 Home Design Show<p>Just a quick reminder that this week and throughout the weekend we’re in the <a title="Michael McHale Designs Industrial Style Lighting at Architectural Digest Home Design Show 2012" href="http://www.archdigesthomeshow.com/adhds/">Architectural Digest 2012 Home Design Show</a> in NYC, booth m-33 where we’re showing off - in real life!- our industrial style lighting and modern chandeliers.</p> <p>Come say hi and check out our cool lighting and industrial style chandeliers, and see our <a title="Tribeca Banqueting Chandelier modern industrial style lighting" href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/tribeca-banqueting-chandelier/">brand new irrestistably priced Tribeca Banqueting Chandelier</a>.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3497” align=”aligncenter” width=”660” caption=”come check us out at booth m-33 and see our industrial chandeliers and lighting”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/AD-2012-Show.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3497" title="Industrial Style Lighting at Architectural Digest 2012 Home Design Show" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/AD-2012-Show.jpg" alt="" width="660" height="623"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/03/were-at-the-architectural-digest-2012-home-design-show/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/19793607059http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/19793607059Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:02:32 -0400tumblrizeLook for our Cool Modern Chandeliers under Chandelierical On Pinterest<p>Being that we’re very much into industrial chic design, architecture, and art - Michael McHale Designs (and our cool modern industrial chic chandeliers and lighting) have an ever increasing presence on Pinterest as “<a title="Cool Modern Lighting and Industrial Chic Chandeliers on Pinterest" href="http://pinterest.com/chandelierical/">Chandelierical</a>”. Whatever you fancy in terms of design: from modernist interior design, industrial chic, shabby chic, or repurposed what-have-yous turned into imaginative objects - Pinterest is a great way to find what you’re looking for or discover what you never imagined. So follow us and say hi!<br/> While you’re exploring all of the images make sure to like and repin some of Michael McHale Designs cool modern chandeliers and industrial chic lighting which we proudly make in NYC and ship worldwide.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/88594317639617607/" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://media-cdn4.pinterest.com/upload/88594317639617607_xKKTgSXS_c.jpg" alt="" width="544" height="768" border="0"/></a></div> <div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"> <p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Tribeca-Collection-Crystal-Pendant2.jpg">michaelmchaledesigns.com</a> via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/chandelierical/" target="_blank">Michael</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p> </div> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/03/look-for-our-cool-modern-chandeliers-under-chandelierical-on-pinterest/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/19527797724http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/19527797724Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:31:45 -0400tumblrizeWorld's Largest Chandelier in Doha Qatar<p><a title="Big Modern Chandelier in Doha Qatar Marketing Magazine UK" href="(http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1001887/Unusual-Rigging-installs-worlds-longest-chandelier-Doha/)">Marketing Magazine UK</a> is reporting that Doha, Qatar is now home to the world’s largest chandelier. The chandelier, called Reflective Flow, was Designed by Beau McClellan, meanders 38.5 metres and weighs 20 tons. It now resides in the artrium of the Corniche complex of offices.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3470” align=”alignleft” width=”427” caption=”Reflective Flow, recently installed in Doha Qatar is the world’s largest chandelier”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Largest-Chandelier-Doha-Qatar.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3470" title="Largest Chandelier Doha Qatar" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Largest-Chandelier-Doha-Qatar.jpg" alt="Doha Qatar Chandelier" width="427" height="285"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>This modern chandelier is comprised of 2300 individually hand-ground crystals covered with concave glass and coated with a reflective treatment.</p> <p>Michael McHale designs has recently completed a (somewhat smaller) industrial chic modern chandelier installation in Doha, Qatar - and we’ll have those pictures up soon.</p> <p><a title="Qatar is the richest country" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-richest-countries-2011-9#1-is-qatar-with-a-gdp-per-capita-of-91379-10">Fun fact: Qatar ranks #1 richest country in the world by GDP per capita ($91,379).</a></p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/03/worlds-largest-chandelier-in-doha-qatar/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/19010075183http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/19010075183Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:42:03 -0500tumblrizeHow to hang a chandelier<p>It’s not that bad!</p> <p>Most traditional chandeliers hang from a chain which is attached to the central bracket of the junction box. Â This junction box and can take more weight than you’d think, (and our chandeliers aren’t all that heavy to begin with).</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3427” align=”alignleft” width=”180” caption=”The designer himself putting the finishing touches on a chandelier installation”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/McHale-hanging-chandelier.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3427" title="McHale hanging chandelier" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/McHale-hanging-chandelier.jpg" alt="" width="180" height="240"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Most McHale industrial chic chandeliers typically hang from hooks in the ceiling (we have some exceptions to this such as pendants and other types of fixtures that hang by their own cords or with industrial tubing, but hooks are typical with our chandeliers). Â Different ceiling materials require different types of hooks (plaster, sheetrock, wood, cement, etc). Â Ask your local hardware girl or guy which hook is the appopriate hook for your type of ceiling. Â You’ll also want to verify how much weight a hook can handle, but in most cases even the Â small hooks are more than capable of holding the weight of a McHale modernist industrial chic chandelier or contemporary lighting fixture.</p> <p>When handling a McHale modern chandelier or lighting fixture, try to avoid handling the optically pure crystals with bare fingers when hanging - a soft cloth or glove is suitable to avoid fingerprints that may obstruct the beautiful light. Â Not even a smudge should obstruct the pure light refracting from the Bohemian or Swarovski crystal. Â So take your time.</p> <h2>Most importantly, the biggest mistake people make when hanging a McHale chandelier — Â or any modern chandelier for that matter, — is hanging it too high. Â <em>The chandelier isn’t meant to be looked up into from below</em>. Â The observer should be able to get a sense of the chandelier’s dimensions, not just from below — Â you have purchased a piece of functional lighting art that should be seen and appreciated, so take your time in gauging the proper height as it pertains to your lighting application.</h2> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3426” align=”alignleft” width=”322” caption=”Notice height at which this chandlier is hung over table. Take your time when hanging the chandelier to gauge height, and dont hang it too high!”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Mini-Billiards-Chandelier.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3426" title="Mini-Billiards Chandelier" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Mini-Billiards-Chandelier.jpg" alt="" width="322" height="210"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>If you have any questions about your McHale modern chandelier, contemporary pendant, or lighting fixture - or need advice on proper placement — we’re always <a title="Contact Michael McHale Designs" href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/contact/">here to help</a>.</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/03/how-to-hang-a-chandelier/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/18557457675http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/18557457675Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:00:15 -0500tumblrizePhilippe Starck<p>Carnegie Mellon’s School of Design defines design as ” the process of taking something from its existing state and moving it to a preferred state.” This transformative process is what we focus on at Michael McHale Designs in our industrial style chandeliers and lighting and — as such — we are inspired by other design trailblazers. One of our foremost design inspirations is, without a doubt, Philippe Starck.</p> <p>Pilippe Starck is an innovator of what has become known as industrial design, <a title="Philippe Starck Wikipedia New Design Industrial Design" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Starck">Philippe Starck</a>, born in Paris on January 18, 1949, attended the Ecole Camondo and has been a prolific designer, architect, and inventive thinker in pretty much everything from <a title="Philippe Starck Clock" href="http://www.tribu-design.com/collections/index.php?ac=f&pc=&pict=1&ty=12&st=20&lg=en">clocks</a> to <a title="Philippe Starck Megayacht" href="http://www.extravaganzi.com/depth-video-tour-of-philippe-starck-megayacht-a/c">yachts</a> to <a title="Philippe Starck Ring Chair" href="http://slamxhype.com/art-design/ring-by-philippe-starck/">furniture</a>. Unlike many of his New Design & industrial design peers — who tend to make one-offs or limited runs — Starck often designs for mass production - and was an early designer to have signature work in Target stores.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3417” align=”alignleft” width=”600” caption=”here Starck juxtaposes metal and wicker in this gorgeous lamp. Notice (as if it were hard to spot) the innovative play on scale, as this is essentially a desk lamp rendered huge.”]<a href="http://archindesigns.com/light-wicker-woven-lamps-from-philippe-stark"><img class="size-full wp-image-3417" title="Light-Wicker-Woven-Lamps-from-Philippe-Stark" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Light-Wicker-Woven-Lamps-from-Philippe-Stark.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="603"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Starck commonly combines contradictory elements — such as wood and chrome — in his work, seemingly juxtaposing the organic with the industrial, and we draw a lot of inspiration from this aspect of his industrial design aesthetic.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3415” align=”alignleft” width=”428” caption=”Starck incorporates contradictory organic and industrial elements (here with a chair designed for Sutherland furniture via Grandeurblog)”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Starck-Sutherland-Furniture-from-Grandeurblog1.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-3415" title="Starck Sutherland Furniture from Grandeurblog" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Starck-Sutherland-Furniture-from-Grandeurblog1.png" alt="" width="428" height="521"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Starck is quoted as having famously said “i don’t design, i dream”. The dreamlike quality of his lighting design is apparent in this <a title="Philippe Starck modern industrial design lighting" href="http://www.luxury-insider.com/luxury-news/2011/12/seeing-stars-punching-bag-marie-coquine-chandelier-by-baccarat">punching bag and umbrella light</a>. There also seems to be a kind of lighthearted and playful quality to some of his work.</p> <p>Philippe Starck’s <a title="New Design and Industrial Design Philippe Starck Juicy Salif" href="http://www.alessi.com/en/2/110/kitchen-accessories/psjs-juicy-salif-citrus-squeezer">“Juicy Salif” fruit juicer</a> design idea reportedly came to him while he squeezed a lemon over squid (the design of the juicer is shaped like a squid body). The Juicy Salif, made in 1990, is widely considered an ideal example of industrial design - at one point being displayed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Starck has said that this item “was not invented to squeeze lemons, but to start conversations”. Functional art as conversation piece, we just love it.</p> <p>Already arguably the most famous designer living today - we continue to look forward to seeing what is on the horizon with Philippe Starck’s contributions to modern design.</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/02/philippe-starck/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/18398338368http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/18398338368Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:16:26 -0500tumblrizeA McHale Modern Chandelier at Bar Paya NYC<p><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/mchale-modern-chandelier-at-bar-paya-nyc.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3382" title="mchale modern chandelier at bar paya nyc" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/mchale-modern-chandelier-at-bar-paya-nyc-300x231.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="231"/></a>Just wanted to post this shot of one of our chandeliers gracing the lovely Bar Paya in NYC.</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/02/a-mchale-modern-chandelier-at-bar-paya-nyc/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17965768008http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17965768008Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:50:16 -0500tumblrizeSteampunk Chandeliers and Lighting?<p>[caption id=”attachment_3358” align=”alignright” width=”204” caption=”Truly Steampunk Chandeliers and Lighting? Probably not, but we possess similar elements.”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Tribeca-Compact-5-Bulb-Pendant-Chandelier-Aubergine-background-1.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3358" title="Tribeca Compact 5-Bulb Pendant Chandelier (Aubergine background (1)" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Tribeca-Compact-5-Bulb-Pendant-Chandelier-Aubergine-background-1-204x300.png" alt="Steampunk Chandelier? You be the judge." width="204" height="300"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Michael McHale Designs chandeliers have sympathetic elements with the steampunk aesthetic, but the differences are too many for our modernist industrial style chandeliers and designs to be considered steampunk.</p> <p><a title="What is Steampunk?" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk">Steampunk</a> has certainly emerged as a design and artistic aesthetic. Insomuch as it can be concisely defined, steampunk is a mix of classical styles with rudimentary mechanical and industrial components and a dash of stylized high tech. The word itself seems to be a kind of play on “cyberpunk” where in “steampunk” the futuristic has been supplanted by the Victorian or Dickensian. This is an interesting development stylistically as our culture - with all of its accelerated and celebrated high tech accomplishment - seems to be looking in reverse for inspiration in style and design (the “hipster” retro aesthetic comes to mind, as does the myriad of filtering programs that soften digital images and give them a polaroid-y vibe, and in general there seems to be a longing for simplicity in the wake of the tech boom.) Volumes have already been written about this modern-turning-to-the-past-for-inspiration trend, and it gets academic and boring very fast - but steampunk has pretty cool elements that Michael McHale Designs is comfortable being associated with</p> <p>Our lighting design is not without its steampunk elements - raw steel pipe and unhidden seams and fittings provide the strong timeless industrial feel that is central to steampunk. Our modern chandeliers are made of bold re-purposed pipe, with its beautiful wear providing a sense of reliability and resilience to elements that seems contrary to the plastic high tech fragility of our high-tech age. These qualities are, without a doubt, sympathetic elements to steampunk.</p> <p>And that’s sort of where Michael McHale Designs and the steampunk aesthetic part ways.</p> <p>Michael McHale Designs’ high end designer modern chandeliers and lighting fixtures offset the bold raw steel piping with the fragility and irresistable glamour of optically pure Bohemian or Swarovski crystal. This restaging, in our opinion, separates us from the genre of steampunk. Steampunk lighting typically maintains the raw industrial context. This opulent crystal in our chandeliers complements the raw steel piping perfectly, while spreading luxurious light across the room.</p> <p>Perhaps the fragility of crystal isn’t entirely antithetical to the steampunk design concept, but we’ll leave that for others to debate. In the end, Michael McHale Designs seeks to create modern beautiful lighting incorporating the raw with the beautiful, and we think that the steampunk genre has a similar goal - so we’re content with the association whenever it’s made - even if our modern chandeliers and contemporary lighting are not exactly directly inspired by or reflective of the steampunk genre.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3377” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”A good example of a steampunk chandelier. A beautiful chandelier made from a Model T steering wheel. From the stie VandM Vintage and Modern”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/steampunk-model-t-steering-wheel-chandelier.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3377" title="steampunk model t steering wheel chandelier" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/steampunk-model-t-steering-wheel-chandelier-300x200.jpg" alt="An example of steampunk lighting and chandeliers." width="300" height="200"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>We’ve found <a title="VandM Vintage and Modern Chandeliers and Lighting Steampunk" href="http://designintell.vandm.com/2010/11/steampunk-the-new-section-at-the-pier-antiques-show/">VandM</a> to be a great resource on the steampunk design genre, definitely check them out.</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/02/steampunk-chandeliers-lighting/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17719513274http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17719513274Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:53:19 -0500tumblrizeGreat Site For Interior Lighting Design Ideas<p>Came across a great interior design resource called Dornob, their motto is “Design Ideas Daily”, and I’d say they’re living up to that quite well. Maybe I’m just a little late to discovering them, so if you’ve heard about them apologies in advance. I came across <a title="Dornob Interior Design and Lighting Ideas" href="http://dornob.com/">Dornob</a> via <a title="Dornob Twitter Page for Modern Lighting and Design" href="https://twitter.com/#!/dornobdesign">their twitter</a> (@dornobdesign), and they are a great resource for interior design ideas including but in no way limited to modern chandeliers. They’ve just got a ton of great interior design things going on there, akin to Apartment Therapy.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3303” align=”alignleft” width=”468” caption=”Spill Lamp by Yeongwoo Kim”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/clever-lamp-concept-design.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3303" title="clever-lamp-concept-design" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/clever-lamp-concept-design.jpg" alt="Yeongwoo Kim." width="468" height="657"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Theyve got <a title="Modern Lighting and Chandelier Ideas" href="http://dornob.com/design/fixtures/lighting-fans/">great lighting ideas</a> and <a title="Green living walls from Dornob" href="http://dornob.com/green-screens-tall-house-filters-light-with-planted-facades/">living walls</a> and on and on it goes. Another great interior design resource for all manner of interior design applications - whether you’re an interior designer, an architect, in the market for the perfect modern lighting solution, or just a fan of beautiful things - Dornob seems to be another fantastic resource - and we look forward to seeing all the beautiful design elements they bring to our attention.</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/02/great-site-for-interior-lighting-design-ideas/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17218869321http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17218869321Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:18:39 -0500tumblrizeTop Chandelier Designers: Today we feature Schonbek<p>The lighting design and chandelier industry is filled with fascinating and ingenuous minds who never cease to surprise and amaze.</p> <p>One doesn’t have to be an interior designer, architect, or lighting designer to appreciate great lighting designs — in fact, it could be said that the goal of any artist or craftsperson is to inspire awe or to create conversation among the uninitiated.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3272” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”The Ekaterina Chandelier by Schonbek”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Schonbek-Chandelier.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3272" title="Schonbek Chandelier" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Schonbek-Chandelier.jpg" alt="The Ekaterijna Crystal Chandelier by Schonbek" width="300" height="300"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>We thought that we would be remiss to not acknowledge the legends, rock stars and trailblazers of our craft - who have provided a tremendous amount of inspiration to Michael McHale Designs in our modern chandelier aesthetic and approach.</p> <p>We intend to make this a recurring multi-part series highlighting the ingenuity, innovation, and beautiful aesthetics of some of the lighting industry’s great minds - to show the breadth and depth of the chandelier design craft.</p> <p>Today we start with one of the biggest names in chandelier design: Schonbek.</p> <p>Schonbek is part of the Swarovski company, and was founded by Adolf Schonbek in 1870 in Bohemia, a location synonymous with the finest crystal. <a title="Schonbek is the premier name ion traditional crystal chandeliers" href="http://www.schonbek.com/ws/web/sch_group3.html?m=3">Schonbek is thusly renowned for rendering magnificent chandeliers with opulent and indulgent crystal</a>.</p> <div class="mceTemp" style="text-align: left;"> <dl id="attachment_3275" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 160px;"><dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Versailles-Rock-Crystal-by-Schonbek.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-3275" title="Versailles Chandelier by Schonbek" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Versailles-Rock-Crystal-by-Schonbek-150x150.jpg" alt="the Versailles crystal chandelier by Schonbek" width="150" height="150"/></a></dt> <dd class="wp-caption-dd">The Versailles Crystal Chandelier by Schonbek</dd> </dl></div> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3274” align=”alignleft” width=”150” caption=”The Schonbek Camelot - Indulgent Crystal Elegance in Chandelier Design”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Schonbek-Camelot.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-3274" title="Schonbek Camelot Crystal Chandelier" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Schonbek-Camelot-150x150.jpg" alt="Schonbek Swarovski Crystal Chandelier" width="150" height="150"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Early on, Schonbek manufactured high-end crystal chandeliers for a distinguished clientele in the most elegant locations - from Buckingham Palace to the White House. And that tradition lives on to this day.</p> <p>Schonbek is renowned for high quality chandelier design incorporating Swarovski crystal. Schonbek pieces are a meticulously assembled classic, traditional, and elegant incorporation of metal and crystal into what could only be described as a perfect chandelier worthy of installations in the most prestigious locations imaginable.</p> <p>Schonbek crystal chandeliers are the pinnacle of traditional chandelier design - and these chandeliers continue to inspire awe among designers and anybody who basks in their glow.</p> <p><a title="Contact us for Modern Chandelier info and sales" href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/contact/">Michael McHale Designs</a> is guided by an undeniably modern complimentary and seemingly contradictory incorporation of repurposed steel pipe with beautiful optically pure Bohemian or Swarovski crystal. While it may not seem obvious, these elements and this aesthetic is, in many ways, an homage to the genius and meticulousness of Schonbek.</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/02/top-chandelier-designers-today-we-feature-schonbek/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17159127893http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/17159127893Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:33:39 -0500tumblrizeTurning Unseen Utility into Lighting Beauty<p>Always at the center of our industrial chic lighting aesthetic is a never-ending stream of — ultimately unanswerable —Â questions: “how do we make the common uncommon”, “how do we make the hidden brought to the forefront”, “how do we transform the rugged into the appealing?”</p> <p>In other words: How do we re-purpose, re-appropriate, rearrange, and transubstantiate (a word so awesome my spell-check doesn’t know it exists) the industrial into glamourous lighting conversation pieces?</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3203” align=”alignright” width=”300” caption=”Plumbing Hose Rules!”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Chandelier-Hose.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3203" title="Industrial Chandelier Hose" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Industrial-Chandelier-Hose-300x225.jpg" alt="Plumbing Chandelier" width="300" height="225"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>Many of our industrial chic chandeliers are hung by very sturdy plastic translucent plumbing hose. These kinds of objects fascinate us, as they are so functional - and so common - yet people are, by necessity, blind to these objects’ existence no matter how much we rely upon them in everyday life.Â These objects perform necessary (not to mention herculean) tasks of delivering our drinking water and cleaning our dishes and clothes - yet despite their utility (or perhaps because of it) they remain hidden from us.</p> <p>Until now.</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3206” align=”alignright” width=”300” caption=”See what we did here?”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/plumbing-hose-in-industrial-chandelier.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3206" title="plumbing hose in industrial chandelier" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/plumbing-hose-in-industrial-chandelier-300x208.jpg" alt="translucent plumbing hose in chandelier" width="300" height="208"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p> </p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/01/turning-unseen-utility-into-lighting-beauty/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/16527356503http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/16527356503Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:36:06 -0500tumblrizeLIC Design Interview<p><a href="http://queenswestvillager.com/articles/detail/meet_michael_mchale_oxford_educated_london_attorneyturned_lics_most_innovat">Here</a> is a link to an interview we did with the Queens West Villager, which covers our home base - Long Island City. Our neighborhood faces Midtown Manhattan on the banks of New York’s East River and for the past 15 years has become, along with certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn, one of the most important engines of New York City’s artisanal and design output. Long Island City sports cultural attractions (MOMA’s experimental art parish <a href="http://momaps1.org/">PS1</a>, <a href="http://www.noguchi.org/">The Noguchi Museum</a>, and some of the city’s most innovative new residential towers.</p> <p>We’re excited to be a part of it.</p> <p><a href="http://queenswestvillager.com/articles/detail/meet_michael_mchale_oxford_educated_london_attorneyturned_lics_most_innovat"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3152" title="Meet Michael McHale_ Oxford Educated, London Attorney Turned LIC_s Most Innovative Designer - Queens West Villager-1" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Meet-Michael-McHale_-Oxford-Educated-London-Attorney-Turned-LIC_s-Most-Innovative-Designer-Queens-West-Villager-1.jpg" alt="" width="630" height="688"/></a></p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/01/lic-design-interview/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/16364310619http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/16364310619Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:59:47 -0500tumblrizeModern Chandeliers at Cranky's Cafe NYC<p>We recently installed a rather impressive and beautiful array of chandeliers in one of our favorite little cozy cafes in NYC, <a title="McHale Chandeliers at Cranky's Cafe" href="http://www.crankyscafe.com/">Cranky’s Cafe</a> (<a title="Cranky's Cafe Yelp Page" href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/crankys-cafe-long-island-city">for a review: here’s their yelp page</a>).Â Cranky’s vision was to incorporate a an arrangement of McHale chandeliers into one huge piece, creating a gorgeous lighting impression that warms the entire space - without being overwhelming (well, not overwhelming in a bad way anyway;)</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3104” align=”aligncenter” width=”500” caption=”McHale Chandeliers hung in clusters at Cranky’s Cafe in NYC”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Chandelier-at-Crankys-LIC-in-NYC.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3104" title="Chandelier at Crankys LIC in NYC" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Chandelier-at-Crankys-LIC-in-NYC.jpg" alt="Modern Lighting Installation at Cranky's Cafe" width="500" height="145"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p>oh and here’s <a title="McHale Modern Chandeliers @CrankysLIC" href="https://twitter.com/#!/CrankysLIC">Cranky’s Cafe’s Twitter page</a>, for all you interior design Twitter followers who love a good NYC cafe that features modern industrial chic lighting.Â And really, who doesn’t?</p> <p>[caption id=”attachment_3102” align=”aligncenter” width=”2606” caption=”McHale Chandeliers at Cranky’s NYC”]<a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Modern-Chandeliers-in-Crankys-LIC.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3102" title="Modern Chandeliers in Crankys LIC" src="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/Modern-Chandeliers-in-Crankys-LIC.jpg" alt="Detail of McHale Chandeliers at Cranky's Cafe NYC" width="2606" height="2231"/></a>[/caption]</p> <p class="tumblrize-permalink"><a href="http://www.michaelmchaledesigns.com/2012/01/modern-chandeliers-at-crankys-cafe-nyc/" title="Go to original post at Michael McHale Designs" rel="bookmark">Original Article</a></p>http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/15891352723http://chandelierical.tumblr.com/post/15891352723Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:16:50 -0500tumblrize