If you’re a fan of Swarovski Crystal Jewellery here’s a little history? In 1892, Daniel Swarovski registered a patent for his machine that cut crystal on an industrial scale with greater speed and precision than the manual process. This was the start of one of the most sought after crystal production centres in art history. Daniel Swarovski founded his company in the Alps, named for his family, in 1895.

In the late 19th Century, crystal was regularly used to enhance formal evening wear. Crystal pieces were actually sewn into formal jackets and gowns. Swarovski took advantage of this fashion trend and in 1913; he created his own crystals exclusively for the fashion industry.

Always the entrepreneur, Swarovski used the storage of cutting machines and materials during World War I to enhance his business. For the war effort, Swarovski produced grinding and dressing tools that were used to process crystal stones and he marketed them under the name of Tyrolit from 1917 to 1919. Until about 1956, Swarovski would often use the innovations of his original crystal company by developing subsidiary companies which provided products for automotive and roadway reflectors, telescopes, and lenses.

By mid 20th Century, Swarovski returned to the work of jewellery-making and crystal promotion using special treatments to produce colourful effects within crystal. This new found popularity of Swarovski pieces made the firm’s crystal the desired crystal for famous chandeliers that graced such sites as the Metropolitan Opera House, major museums, and the castles owned by European monarchs. By the late 1960s, Swarovski stones were utilized in home design, fashion, and jewellery markets worldwide.

By 1976, Swarovski business expanded from that of a cutting, manufacturing, and jewellery production facility to a business committed to silver crystal as an end product for figurines and collectibles. The first crystal collectible sold by Swarovski was a mouse figurine. The mouse, a best seller at the Innsbruck Olympic Games, enjoyed prominence throughout the world. In the early 1990s, exhibitions featured Swarovski crystal and its crystal technology. In 1995, the company celebrated its 100th anniversary with the production of a prominent Swarovski century swan in silver crystal. In that same year, the firm opened its exhibition centre featuring a history of crystal and the Swarovski Company.

Some of Swarovski notable crystal designers include:

Max Schreck who is responsible for the popular animal line of fine crystal collectibles, Anton Hirzinger whose designs include the famous Swarovski trademark swan and the Centenary Swan, Edith Maier who joined Swarovski in 1990 and designed the Roe Deer Fawn, the Fairy Tales series, and the popular Sweetheart piece, Gabriele Stamey who designed Swarovski popular Columbine figurine, and Adi Stocker who is arguably Swarovski best known designer creating two major Limited Edition pieces for Swarovski crystal.

And the tradition lives on.

Here are essential tips to help you maintain this furniture: 

Check it regularly 

Cleaning every couple of months, even twice a year, is enough for a crystal chandelier. You don’t have to clean it everyday but you shouldn’t forget, though, to check it regularly. Dirt can easily accumulate and turn to grime without being seen; and once it does, the crystals might lose their sheen and radiance. 

The same goes for the frame. It’s crucial to retain the patina of the frame and never let it yield to outstanding amounts of dirt and dust. If the luminescence is decreasing, on the other hand, check the light bulbs. This can either be caused by faulty light bulbs or, again, eventual buildup of dirt. 

Clean it when necessary 

Once every couple of months, you should schedule cleaning. Doing so will lessen the risk of permanent damage from lingering dust and other foreign materials. Don’t take the task lightly, too, because cleaning a crystal chandelier can eat up your time. It would be better to reserve a day or half-a-day for the task or schedule it on the weekends. 

As for the cleaning materials, you can use a cleaning solution of one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts distilled water, and put it on a spraying bottle. If you’re not disassembling the furniture, use a ladder. Don’t forget also to use white gloves. Use one glove when handling the dirty crystals and another solely for wiping them clean. Furthermore, divide the chandelier in sections, instead of rotating it. Once you’re done with one part, move the ladder to the next. Avoid rotating the furniture otherwise you’ll loosen the bolts or support that keeps it from falling. 

Repair for damage 

If your crystal chandelier gets damaged, don’t forget to have it repaired. Unless you’re an expert repairman with experience with these sorts of things, you should hire a professional to do it for you. Most homeowners, however, cannot just let strangers handle the furniture. A great solution for this would be to contact the manufacturer. Many chandelier producers feature supply services for buyers. These are rather effective, too, owing to the fact that their product, their expertise. 

Mark Michael Ferrer 
Crystal Chandelier

Wall Lanterns
Wall lanterns can fit any style room depending on what materials they are made of. Wood, brass, and pewter are excellent for a country or traditional style home. Brushed nickel and chrome update lanterns and fit perfectly in a contemporary room. If you are looking for Zen like accents, then try square wooden bases in dark tones, such as mahogany or ebony. Metal scones in cream, black, or brown look great in many rooms. If you place the lanterns near your bed, they will pick of different tones in your fabric, enhancing them. Wall lanterns also provide the perfect lighting for metal wall art and paintings.

Dramatic Groupings
You can make a dramatic display by grouping a large number of candles. You can find wall holders that will accommodate a number of votive or tea light candles, allowing you to create a focal piece. If you want a symmetric arrangement, try putting a sconce over each nightstand on either side of the bed. You could also try a large arrangement directly over the bed to act as a centerpiece. Be careful when placing a candleholder above a bed or any other piece of furniture because the wax may drip if it is not level.

Mirrors on the Wall
If you want to enhance the atmosphere even more, try placing wall mirrors strategically around the room to catch the candlelight and reflect it. You can also purchase sconces with mirrors already attached as part of the design. You can find the perfect one for your style. There are contemporary mirrors with clean, simple lines; elegant Venetian glass perfect for a Tuscan or French country style; primitive, whimsical styles for a country room.

Versatile Glass Chimneys
One option you may want to consider is a glass chimney. Glass chimneys add class to any room and come in a huge selection. You can get them in colored glass, mosaic glass, and engraved glass. Glass chimneys give an added layer of elegance to any room, and you can find a chimney to match any style you are looking for, including missionary style, minimalist modernism, or traditional elegance.

A Treat for the Senses
If you want to complete the mood, try scented candles. With new scents being created all the time, you will find the perfect one. If you want your room to feel clean and fresh try citrus or fresh linen. If you are missing summer, try lilac, honeysuckle or other floral fragrances. If you are looking for more exotic scents, then choose cinnamon, or other fragrances from India and China like sandalwood and jasmine. Scented candles will provide the finishing touch for the senses when combined with visually stunning candle sconce arrangements.

Daniel Swarovski (1862-1956) was born in Bohemia which is currently the Czech Republic. His father was a glass cutter and had his own factory for glass cutting.  Daniel learned the art and became skilled at it.  The patented electric glass cutting machine led to lead crystal glass production in 1892.  He soon found financing assistance from Armand Kosman and Franz Weis and they joined up in business.  The business was conducted at Wattens, Austria because locally there was hydroelectricity available that proved useful in the grinding processes it took to run the electronic machine and grind and cut the extraordinarily beautiful lead crystal glass.

The products they company put out over the years include crystal sculptures and miniatures, chandeliers, couture and jewelry, each containing the Swarovski logo.  That logo originally was an edelweiss flower (a European mountain flower) but became the initials S.A.L.  Then in 1988 a Swan was in favor.  Now even the Swan logo is about to be phased out and replaced by the name Swarovski only.

Specially applied metallic chemicals are used to coat some of the crystals, thus allowing them to refract light into a virtual rainbow of colors.  Among the more popular coatings applied to this cut glass are Aurora Borealis (AB) and Crystal Transmission.  The AB coating provides the surface with a rainbow like oil slick in appearance that reflects many different colors and shades of colors.  Some coatings are applied more than once, creating much depth of color.

The Swarovski Group incorporates several smaller companies that provide materials for making their jewelry lines.  Tyrolit makes cutting and abrasive tools, while Swareflex manufactures luminous and reflective road markings.  Swarovski Optik makes optical instruments like rifle scopes and binoculars, and Signity is a natural and synthetic gemstone company.

There is even an indoor crystal themed park known as Swarovski Kristallwelten or Crystal Worlds where the business originally began in Wattens, Austria.  A society that includes many crystal enthusiast on a global scale is the Swarovski Crystal Society.  The membership gain the benefit of sneak previews of the latest styles and designs, events, unique offers, and classified news items of interest.

Among the many beautiful offerings from the Swarovski Crystal Jewelry business are crystal ornaments such as Christmas Tree ornaments and figurines, hand bags, accessories, lighting, crystal chandeliers.  Some of their more recent additions to their production lines include Bluetooth wireless pieces for the ear, in the ear headphones, and USB memory sticks or keys that each contain

Some pool tables already come with some basic items (like balls), others you order everything separately so that you can fully customize your experience. There are a few pool table accessories that are an absolute must, some which you need but can get by without when in a pinch, and others that are just extras.

Some of the accessories that you must have include billiard balls and cues (though if desperate, you can play around by rolling the ball with your hand). Pool balls obviously come in a wide range of prices that reflects a range of quality and materials from which the balls are made. Besides the standard set, you can get some that are fancier, others for playing in black light (how cool is that?) as well as other types of sets for playing snooker or carom. When it comes to cues, what can I say? They range in price from $20 to hundreds of dollars, so choose accordingly.

Some pool table accessories that you need, but can do without in a pinch would include chalk for your cue (some say this is a must!), a triangle (or diamond) for racking the balls (way easier than carefully placing the balls by hand and one by one), and perhaps a bridge for those more difficult shots (totally optional by many, indispensable by others). All of these come in different varieties, including chalk, which you can get in purple or orange besides just the standard blue. Racks come in plastic or a range of wood types, and bridges also come in a variety of styles and materials.

Other pool table accessories are smart to help protect your investment. These items include table covers to protect from dust and spills, and brushes to clean, and therefore, extend the life of the playing surface. You can get brushes for the bed of the pool table, and others for under the rail. A cue rack or holder is also very good to keep your cues organized and in good condition. These truly come in a large variety of sizes and makes, so you can easily find one that suits your personality and pool room decor.

Then come the fun pool table accessories, things that personalize your pool playing experience and that can make it more fun. These can range from small chalk holders and pool gloves to billiard ball cases for storing the balls to great billiard lights for above your table and clocks and neon signs for your wall.

Of course there is a large variety of pool related clothing, books and helpful DVDs to keep a pool enthusiast covered for years worth of gifts. And when I run out of ideas and my husband has all of the pool table accessories that he could possible need? Well, maybe by then he will have a new hobby.

Some questions to ask before you start lighting your kitchen

First and foremost question you need to ask while design your kitchen lighting is how much you are ready to spend. After all the light fixtures do cost something – and this are not only the wires and switches but also the type of light fixtures, shades and bulbs. Next question that should come in your mind is whether you have a kitchen lighting plan. A good plan will surely blend lighting into the architectural and decorative details of the room. A plan will help you out it investing wisely into kitchen lighting needs. If you want to go for a gradual lighting design process seeing you don’t have enough budget say for example for a series of pendants over the center island or a glass chandelier at least install enough junction boxes The fixtures can then be purchased at a later date and easily added to the kitchen lighting needs. After determining the budget and a plan, you need to think about the space area of your kitchen. This is important in determining the amount of lighting required and in which areas of the kitchen need specific lighting. One also needs to consider whether the room apart from needing single central light, how many other multiple lighting options may be needed. This is determined by the area or space of the room, all the activities that are place in the kitchen and are important, as well as the placement of all interior objects such as the cooking range, counter top and the kitchen-cum-dining table if present. For example, small kitchens may require only a central ceiling pendant light and some recessed task lighting tucked under a cabinet. More elaborate kitchens will demand a blend of general, task and accent lighting.

Know the types of Kitchen lighting

Lighting a kitchen is a different ball game compare to lighting other rooms in your house since no single light source can provide all the necessary kitchen lighting needs. It is very important to know that good kitchen lighting is not only considered from an aesthetic standpoint, but also from a functional standpoint. This will allow us to make sure that we incorporate different types of lighting and nowadays techno paced LED lights to fulfill the various levels of Kitchen activities. This is commonly referred to as layering of lights which instead of single lighting, demands a blend of three to four varied types of lighting. To meet these demand of layered lighting, there are basically four types of lighting that meet up the mark;
Task Lighting or Chore Lighting: It illuminates the most functional and practical part of your kitchen by providing adequate lighting for kitchen core tasks like chopping vegetables, cooking food and yes, reading recipes. Most of the accidents which occur in kitchen are mostly due to this tasks and proper task lighting design can really prevent them. Task areas should have sufficient light so you can easily see what you’re working on without too much brightness or eye-straining dimness. The main thing to remember here is most of the time task lighting instead of brightening up a task area, shadows it. For this to not take place, task lights is best placed between the actual work place and your head which makes lighting located say below the upper cabinets very helpful. For example, task lighting is placed over the sink, gas cooker and food preparation area, where close work is done regularly. Most of task lighting is achieved by using conventional recessed lights that assure even illumination, surface lights or table tops lights. Remember that each task lights if possible should have its own switch and honestly you will be pleased with the result. Considering the types of bulbs for task lighting then halogen and CFL (in energy efficient bulbs category) being bright and shadow less with large surface area are best to go for. It electrifies the look of granite and marble countertops and it even let you enjoy your food cooking task, seriously.
Ambient or Glow or Indirect Lighting: This type of lighting lends a pleasant glow to your kitchen, thus giving a warm welcome to the people entering into the kitchen. It plays a major role in softening unwanted shadows, reducing kitchen room contrast and lighting vertical surfaces to give the space a brighter feel. It is generally observed that out of the four types of lighting, ambient is most often overlooked. In fact, the most dramatic and soft look you can achieve in a kitchen is by blending indirect lighting with other types of lighting. It is often created by hiding the light source from view where it bounces off a ceiling or a wall and produces a warm glow that adds enormous amounts of ambiance if done correctly. Best places for ambient lights can be hidden on top of wall cabinets if the ceiling is bit high or they can be installed in layered ceiling areas that surround the entire kitchen space. In case your kitchen has light colored surfaces and lots of windows then you can desire to have plenty of natural ambient light during the day. CFL based lights tubes (light link) are well suited to the job of providing ambient light.

Accent or Prominent lighting: This type of lighting gives a depth and dimension to your kitchen. It helps you to display your most decorative items in your kitchen like a fancy glassware or tableware, stylish luxury cutlery sets, beautiful canvas art prints or may be your nicely prepared food. For example lighting fixtures can be placed inside glass-front cabinets to illuminate glassware, and other collections as well as recessed, adjustable low-voltage fixtures used to spotlight canvas art prints. You can put to use spotlights to illuminate your cooked food which will also help it remain hot for longer period of time.
Decorative or ornamental lighting: This type of lighting is basically used for adding sparkling effects to the kitchen that can be envious to your neighbours. It can be further helpful to look at this type of lighting especially if kitchen is also used as the dining area of the house. Nowadays due to wide range of lights available, you can opt for decorative lights which can be functional also. For example, many functional lighting fixtures come in a number of finishes like wrought iron, rust, nickel which will provides an aesthetic feel to your kitchen. Painted finishes are also popular along with catchy colored glass bypasses plain white. You can also consider a decorative fixture with three or more lights. Like a trio over an island provides good light since it breaks up the kitchen into decorative module areas but you can still see through it. Some other decorative lighting ideas could be like dinner table space is illuminated with a decorative candelabra-style fixture, which provides ambient light during meals.

Finally some tips and common mistakes to avoid

No matter how many lights you install in your kitchen, it is recommended to circuit them separately so the lighting is zoned. This allows you to create ambiance by mixing the various lights which is turned on.

If possible even while you shop online, take a picture of your kitchen or at least know your kitchen dimensions. How tall is the ceiling? How much space is there between the cabinets and the ceiling? How much space is there between the cabinets and the countertop? To make sure you cook up the best lighting scheme for your kitchen, use some free advice from light shop professional. The best thing is to do some window shopping before the actual purchase.

You might have found the perfect light fixture, but we can’t forget the equally important light bulbs. To make the most of your lighting, try using bulbs with different beam spreads for different effects. Flood lights are great for creating widespread lighting like a on central ceiling, while spotlights are ideal for shedding light on specific areas like for accent lighting.

No matter how many types of lighting or fixtures you install, use lights of the same color for all the kitchen lighting

If you are spending the money on nice cabinets or a dinner table in the kitchen, for example, you want to make sure they are lit properly. If not, the light actually creates gray shadow areas. If you have deep cabinets in dark corners, you might even want to consider installing lights inside them so you can see what’s hiding in the back

When it comes to kitchen lighting, the most common mistake is trying to light the entire room with one ceiling-mounted light fixture. The result ends up visually overpowering everything in the kitchen space. Recessed lighting, if installed in a generic grid, isn’t much better. A lot of people do it incorrectly, and they’ll end up with too much light in some areas and shadows everywhere else

On the other end, another common mistake we all do is over-lighting and result is, the kitchen gets too hot. The goal here is to have moderate, even lighting and more importantly blends of different lightings. For example, you just can’t keep on adding recessed lights for the sake of visual look, instead of mixing various lighting types.

We at For your home in trying to make your better homes gardens really hope the above provided information will help you to make a sound decision on your kitchen lighting design and let you enjoy your food more. So when are you inviting us over a meal!!

You can also view the article in our news and articles section at;

http://www.foryourhome.co.uk/how-to-prepare-good-recipe-for-your-kitchen-lighting-needs/articles/34.html