Glenn Gissler - Blog - 2014 - Lourie-Light - 640x731
   Porter Teleo Wallpaper on the ceiling paired with a Charles Spada Rock Crystal Chandelier

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“Ceilings must always be considered. They are the most neglected surface in a room”.  -Albert Hadley

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A few years ago, when I was in the beginning stages of a design for a townhouse in Greenwich Village, the sales rep from Savel Inc. NYC showed us an outrageous rock crystal and bronze chandelier, made by Charles Spada; not necessarily thinking that we would purchase one, but just to share something really special. We flipped over it and soon thereafter our clients agreed to purchase it…

The chandelier reminded me of an antique fixture I had seen in a Christie’s catalogue some time ago, made of molded glass and bronze by a company called Charles J. Weinstein, Czechoslovakia and then another one popped up at David Rago this spring in cobalt blue.  The original design is from 1931; with the molded cast glass it has a decidedly Art Deco appearance: the rock crystal version is a bit more mysterious, and while not the least bit shy, it is more of a design chameleon by being less time specific.

Once we selected the light fixture it became clear that something much more interesting than a simple painted ceiling was needed. Working with the fantastic creative team at Porter Toleo, we scaled-up and custom colored one of their not-so-standard wallpapers called ‘Refracted‘: a composition of randomly placed and scaled triangles painted onto Japanese rice paper.

The extended renovation process is finally coming to completion, and these two key and very unique elements of the design finally came together; it was an exciting moment when this arranged marriage finally happened, and by all measure it looks like they have a long, rich future ahead!