Friday, September 28, 2012

My Haunted House Chandelier


Many months ago I spotted a chandelier in a local boutique. There was no price tag on it, and the salesgirl didn't know how much it was. She took my name and number and said she'd call me with more information. I never heard from her.

I assumed it was out of my price range and forgot about it.




Fast forward several months. I am sitting by the pool, checking Facebook. I see that the boutique is having an online auction to clear out merchandise and make room for new items. I start scrolling through the auction items, and what do I see?

My chandelier!





The auction is ending in a couple of hours and I don't have time to go back to the store and look at it in person again. I nervously place the minimum bid and hope that my memory serves me and I still like it as much as I did when I first spotted it.

Guess who wins the auction with the minimum bid?



Of course instead of being thrilled, I immediately started freaking out. Why didn't anyone else bid on it? Do I really want it? Did the excitement of the auction push me into making a rash decision? I usually take a year to make up my mind about things like this... aaaahhhh...

To make matters worse, when I showed it to my mother, she said, "I hope you didn't pay very much for  that thing. It looks like it belongs in a haunted house."  Thanks, mom. Just the reassurance I needed.




I started googling the chandelier to find out more about it. First, I learned that it was the Manoir Chandelier by Canopy Designs Ltd. Second, I realized that I would never have been able to purchase this chandelier at its regular retail price. (Okay. Blood pressure going back down.)

Third, I discovered that my design idol, Sarah Richardson, had chosen the exact same chandelier for her farmhouse dining room...


HA! Do you see that, Mom?? If it's good enough for Sarah....

Now that it's finally hanging up in my dining room, my initial doubts have dissipated. I'm loving the chandelier.

And I'm not just saying that because my husband and father risked their lives hanging it during a horrible thunderstorm and my husband received a pretty big shock before he agreed that turning off the power was a good idea. Mmmm hmmmm....





So, what do you think? Nice chandelier ... or awesome Halloween decoration? :)


19 comments:

  1. This is absolutely beautiful, Carolyn! I love it. Love the blue chairs also. It looks so pretty and calm in your dining room.

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  2. SCORE!!! Love it! Awesome! I want it!!!
    Linda @ A Toile Tale

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  3. Love that it's unique and doesn't look like every other chandelier out there!

    (and I'm with you: if Sarah liked it, it MUST be good!)

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  4. You know, I never thought about it, but it does look like the kind you see in a haunted house! Ha! But.....I happen to know that those chandeliers are very popular right now with the new Belgium style rage. I really love it! Just don't add any spiderwebs to it for Halloween. Ha! Great score!

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  5. You have great taste, Carolyn, and the chandelier is perfect for your space!

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  6. Carolyn I LOVE it!! It looks fabulous in your dining room!

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  7. I just love your new chandelier, Carolyn! It is perfect in your space. So glad you got it and that it was such a good deal, too.

    Oh, and glad your Honey's okay! :)

    Happy weekend,

    Barbara

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  8. your mom's response made me laugh out loud. gotta love us moms lol chandelier looks great. it's neat when things work out like that! Nita

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  9. I'm your newest fan..I found myself drawn to your sweet smile..you remind me of my talented friend down the street..and I love your home. Can't wait to read!

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  10. I'm happy everything fell into place for you, Carolyn! It is an awesome chandy, very pretty! I love this view into your living room...I don't think I have seen it before.

    XO,
    Jane

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  11. It is perfect! I'd say worth risking your husbands life for! :) x Sharon

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  12. I happen to love "weird" chandeliers. Everyone thinks I am crazy for installing a blue and white Italian porcelain one in my studio, but I love it!

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  13. It's perfect! Great job and clearly meant to be:)

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  14. Sarah and you have divine taste in lighting!! I would have been bidding against you if I had known (and had room for it)!!

    Kelly

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  15. Absolutely LOVE it! great score! :)

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  16. I LOVE the chandelier! I saw Sarah's show and loved it then, too. Great story!

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