INSIDE & OUT : DISCOVERIES : Heavy Metal

When it comes to ironworks, Dana Creath Designs are worth their mettle.

Emphasizing proportion and detail, the chandeliers, lamps, tables and pot racks stack up with the best.

“Our ability to properly scale our designs enables us to offer flexible custom capabilities,” says Jim Creath, who co-owns the company with his brother, Dana. “Many of our pieces are copied, but never duplicated.”

The Creaths, who were born and raised in Newport Beach, achieve this one-of-a-kind quality because everything is handcrafted at their Costa Mesa factory.

For instance, the lampshades are rolled and shaped by hand using age-old techniques, and the candlewicks on the lamp frames are coated with real wax.

The pot rack (from $1,860 to $2,010 in standard finishes) features antique brass animals, and the chandeliers ($1,790; oval is $1,560) are available in several finishes, including spice, swiss, gold and verdigris. All of the finishes on the 225 items in the collection are authentic.

Dana Creath Designs are available through the showroom, 308 N. Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, (714) 662-0111.

Table Talk

When you’re serving dinner for 12 but have seating for only eight, a portable table and chairs let everyone gather together.

The Gateleg wood table and four folding chairs ($349 for the set, available only through the Hold Everything catalogue) is completely portable--it rolls on casters--and expands to a table surface that measures 60 inches wide, 36 inches deep and 29 1/2 inches high.

The table’s two leaves are attached and swing up, and the all-wood chairs are stowed in the “base. “

For information, call (800) 421-2264.

Speaking Up

Let your home computer sound off with MediaMate speakers by Bose. The speakers, which contain full-range drivers, are designed for close-up listening, whether the volume is low or blaring. They work with all multimedia hardware and have source mix and volume controls and a headphone jack. The speakers (about $300 a pair) are about 7 1/2 inches high, 3 1/3 inches wide and 8 1/3 inches deep.

For the nearest Bose dealer, call (800) 444-2673.