In villas, duplexes and waterside mansions, the double-height void that joins two floors is the most visible part of the house. It is seen from the ground floor, from the upper landing and from the stairs. A chandelier hung in such a void should therefore be designed like a piece seen from many angles, not just one. In this article we share what we look at for double-height voids and galleries as a workshop that makes custom-designed chandeliers.
Size: fill the void without crowding it
The most common mistake is hanging a chandelier sized for a normal ceiling in a double-height space, where it simply disappears. As a starting point, the diameter can be between about a third and a half of the void's shorter side, and the height can reach up to a third of the void's total height. Long, narrow voids suit vertical, tiered or clustered pendant designs; square voids suit fuller, round bodies.
Drop length and eye level
The lowest point should sit comfortably above head height on the ground floor, while from the upper landing the body of the chandelier should appear close to eye level. That way it reads as a whole from below and from above. Before fixing the drop, we review floor levels, balustrade height and door swings together on the drawings.
Designing with the staircase
A void often merges with the stairwell. The chandelier can then follow the turn of the stairs and offer a different view at each level. In our Bosphorus waterside mansion project we spread brass rings at different heights along the stairwell, so the piece reads as a separate composition from each floor.
Structural fixing and maintenance access
Chandeliers in double-height spaces are usually large and heavy. The suspension point must be fixed to the structural slab and checked against the chandelier's weight. Plan maintenance from the start: a position reachable from the upper floor, or space for a lowering mechanism or scaffold, makes life easier in the long run. LED reduces how often bulbs need changing.
Light: decor and illumination
By day the chandelier is a decorative object; in the evening it lights both floors. Dimmable, warm-white LED spreads a soft light through the house. With crystal, light reflects onto the ceiling and walls and makes the volume feel even larger; our spiral crystal chandelier project is one example.
Checklist
Plan dimensions and total height of the void
- Views from the ground floor and the upper landing
- Position and direction of the staircase
- Structural condition of the suspension point
- Access for maintenance and bulb changes
Send the dimensions, photos and any architectural drawings of your void via WhatsApp to +90 533 051 84 70 or to info@yonavize.com.tr, and we will prepare a 3D drawing for your space. You can read about our custom design process on our custom chandelier design page.
See also: Mosque chandeliers – custom manufacturing · Hotel chandeliers · Custom chandeliers
