Hi e57;
I think the other rooms will probably have switches, etc, upgraded in the future, but the adjacent rooms all have one/two chandeliers and picture lights, basically, so I don't think they would benefit from a more complex control system. When events are held in this room, they are general contained within it, unless it's just something like a reception or gallery event, where I think it's mostly lights on.
The structure of the chandelier itself is in very fine condition. It's just the sockets, etc. They date to the 1920s and some have failed.
I have thought about back lighting the stained glass as well. Fortunately, the
balcony for the upstairs ballroom runs along that wall as the windows for this room are lined up exactly with the balcony doors above. That also lends to the possibility of lighting the stained glass upstairs as well, as the the ballroom has gothic stained glass windows that open to reveal the balcony doors. The balcony is iron, about 70' long and has decking.
As for recessed lighting, that too sounds like a good idea, although I'm not sure how that would be accomplished easily at this time. I'm sure it was a hassle to route the singular feet to that one central chandelier and I don't think that Mrs T is quite ready to be putting holes in her ceiling right now.
The room is actually quite dazzling when the other chandeliers are fully lit,
or even dimmed down a little, and part of the atmosphere of this residence is not to have it completely bright. It is comfortably bright now, it is just a matter of fixing the wiring in this chandelier. "Authentically", this room would have been rather dark with its north facing windows and now-gone four singular lanterns.
I have thought about suggesting moving the banquet lamps away from the end walls and having them against the pilasters of the two longer walls, two on each side of the room. It might, however, crowd the collection of rather handsome Gothic and Renaissance sideboards and chests along the north wall (there is one under each of the six double windows).
Sconces, I don't think, would suit this room. The banquet lamps on high pedestals would certainly have the effect that torchières would provide.
The recessed lighting though is tempting to push for, even though this isn't my house. It may come at a later point. Part of the saving grace of this house is that not too much has been done to physically disrupt the interiors. Many other local mansions were gutted, torn down, etc.
The owner and her family restored antiques and designed, built and restored stained glass windows. Indeed, the house was purchased to house their immense collection of antiques which started with "only" 17 transport van loads several decades ago.
They even designed, constructed and decorated a room in the house which used to be an open loggia on the second floor.
I'm sure that the owner is certainly qualified to have the restoration done by one of her teams. The electrical of the chandelier and switching will, at the least, be done by a qualified electrician. I think I would lean for the three switched legs to the chandelier, if I were the one making the decision, although a more cohesive system would at least be desired or thought of even if not implemented at this time.
