The front hall brass chandelier and five other chandeliers were all candle lit when my family and I moved into Fox Hall twenty years ago. Lighting the forty-seven candles necessary to entertain in the evening was a bit daunting, so over time, we replaced them with electrified chandeliers...with dimmers!
Soft lighting is an important aspect of entertaining because it enhances your guests’ visual experience by creating a dreamy, mystical and almost magical ambiance to interiors. Candlelight and soft, dimmed light, impart an enchanting mood that your guests will experience in the evening. The artwork, food and decorative details suddenly transform from the expected normal, bright daylight (which creates harsh shadows), into a more captivating and romantic encounter. Everything and everyone look more attractive with soft, diffused lighting!
When renovating or building a house, remember that you can never have too many dimmers installed. Use them to your advantage! For lamps, install forty to sixty watt soft light bulbs in lamps, or have a three-way switch to lower the light of the bulb. Soft pink bulbs in lamps offer exceptional light to anyone seated nearby- an entertaining secret, which ladies seem to adore.
At dusk, my chandelier lights are a wee bit brighter than when it becomes dark. Once it is dark outside, I make a concerted effort to dim overhead lights more than you would expect, because it immediately transforms a room and the guests within... in a very positive way! A key part of entertaining is making the effort to ensure that your guests are comfortable.
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I will never forget the dinner that Stuart and I enjoyed at Buckingham Palace in the Picture Gallery which was elegantly lit by just the picture lights over the stellar art collection, along with a few wall sconces with silk shades. The coral damask wall upholstery gave a glorious glow. The evening was majestic and magical.