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Lifestyle stores around town are flooded with a host
of crystal showpieces ? from fingernail-sized hearts to replicas of humans, birds
and animals. But even as you dish out the thousands to pick up these eternally
elegant pieces, it?s time to rearrange the positions of your enviable crystal
collection at home.
Moving the limited edition piece of an international
brand that you bought a couple of years ago from the centre table in the drawing
room to a more humble haven seems to be the right thing to do. Crystals ? once
a rage and still a style in home decor ? ought to be shown off in subdued settings,
feel interior designers.
Set it right
The most important aspect of owning a crystal piece,
no matter how small or big, is to showcase it well. It would make little sense
to buy a huge piece of crystal and place it amidst a clutter of other knick knacks.
?A crystal placed on a glass rack with a focussed
light shining over it accentuates the beauty of the piece,? says interior designer
Manjari Sahay. Thus, corners in a room can be used effectively by putting up small
glass racks and positioning the pieces stylishly on them. The reflection from
a crystal piece placed under a light brightens the room.
Soft style
Crystals, unless a special edition piece, ought to
be placed in subtle settings and off-set with things like flowers and candles,
emphasises Sahay. While the drawing room has been the all-time favourite venue
for showcasing these pieces, the newer and now ?in? positioning options are side
cabinets, bar tops and the study. The dining table bedecked by a crystal fruit
bowl might also be considered. For a more jazzy and formal arrangement, crystal
candle stands can also be coupled with fruit bowls.
?Putting a sparkling decanter on the bar is a good
way to include some crystal in your house,? says Sahay, who also advocates the
use of a crystal bowl to hold floating candles in a cosy corner. Placing some
tiny pieces at the base of a big table lamp could also be a favoured set-up.
?Crystal birds and animals that people used to collect
earlier are not so fashionable any longer,? says interior designer Anita Mansata.
Light note
Picking up the once-popular animal figures might not
be the smartest shopping idea, but it?s the heavy-on-the-pocket crystal lights
that you should consider as the next home decor thing to pick up.
?Crystal lights are very fashionable and they are
quite new to Calcutta. The lights come in various forms like chandeliers, reflectors,
ceiling lights, optic fibre lights and swimming pool lights,? says Ballabh Daga
of the Swarovski outlet in Forum.
With price points starting at Rs 3,000 for ceiling
lights, Rs 5,000 for reflectors and Rs 30,000 for chandeliers, the demand is definitely
on the rise, say store owners.
?These lights are special since they provide focussed
lighting and are yet easy on the eye,? says Daga.
The optic fibre lights that create the effect of a
star-studded sky if placed across the ceiling have a wire fitted with crystals
that glow when turned on.
Pictures by Pabitra Das
Courtesy: Swarovski, Forum
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