When it comes to Romance, the French really get it! And as we approach St. Valentine’s Day, I started thinking about some of my favorite design elements that add Romance to a room.  Nothing sets the stage for a Romantic Dinner better than a fabulous Chandelier. One of my favorite styles…The French Empire Chandelier from the 19th Century.

If you are looking for the real thing, 1st Dibs has many varieties including the one above plus some as recent as the early 20th Century. If you are looking for something new, here are a few other great chandeliers that were obviously inspired by this classic French form. Check out their magnificient designs.  Some are traditional and others a more modern take, but all are equally Romantic!

Visual Comfort makes this petite version as well as a full-size replica of our inspiration piece.

Marjorie Skouras designed this beautiful Empire-style fixture made from pieces of turquoise natural stone.  I am awaiting the arrival of this fixture for a client as we speak!!

The Creative Husband and Wife team at Zia Priven designed the Troy, an Empire style chandelier comprised of ping-pong balls.  I saw this piece in the Hamptons Show House a couple of years ago and fell in love!

Currey and Company’s wooden bead version is a great study in contrasts. The formal shape verses the casual material is very interesting and in my opinion, a great success!

An even more rustic variety is this wine-barrell chandelier from Bobo’s intriguing objects.  If it has to do with wine, I am automatically on board and I feel like French-speaking Oenophiles would feel the same way!

I have been dying to use this one for several years now after seeing it in the same Hamptons designer house as the Troy.  I noticed on her website, that Phoebe Howard has put it to great use in one of her projects.