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Continuing shade saga! (pic heavy)

12 years ago

So, as you know, I thought I found the perfect shade but not so. The light was too cold for me and because of the wide drum shape, the entire lightbulb was visible when sitting on the sofa. Not only did it look bad, but it was very distracting. I was hoping to find a rectangle bell shade (it flares at the bottom) that would work but no one has them in stock and if you have them ordered, you can't return them. I ended up with these instead. I like the color but think a more textured silk would have been better. And I'm not sure if these are just a little too clean/modern looking for the room. The folks at the lighting store are going to think I'm a complete knucklehead if I make another return. I really didn't want a traditional shade and though I really loved the way the drum looked, I'm beginning to think I should stick to something more traditional. I posted pics of the whole room and would appreciate any feedback as to whether these work. Thanks so much.

Oh and one other thing. The woman at the store liked the shade with a smaller harp even though it covers the figures top knot. Which height do you think looks better?

8" harp

9" harp

The rest of the room (it's still a work in progress)

(ignore the blue chair; it's still waiting to be recovered)

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Comments (11)

caminnc
12 years ago
Have you tried a dark lamp shade. I think it would anchor it more. Your room is lovely!
cheri127
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, Caminnc. We use this room almost exclusively and I'm afraid a dark shade wont provide enough light, especially for anyone sitting in the chairs facing the sofa. I just realized how awful the pics I posted are. The color really doesn't look bad but I'm worried the shape and texture are too modern for the space.
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User
12 years ago
9 inch harp, but then the shade needs to be taller. Can you mock up a larger/taller shade using additional paper stock folded around that shade?
cheri127
Original Author
12 years ago
Javachik, here it is with a 13" shade. I think it's looking a little too big but that could be because it's so wide at the top. What did you think of the shade style with the room?
bac717
12 years ago
I've been looking around for some information on sizing a lamp shade to a lamp and here's what I've found so far.

This is from browns lamp shades:
The shade is normally 40% of the total height of the lamp, from the top of the slant to the bottom of the lamp.

This is from antique lamp supply:
The best way to determine the bottom diameter of the shade for your table lamp is to measure the lamp height from the bottom edge of the table lamp base to the top of the lamp stem, (just below the socket cap).

The shade you choose for your lamp should have a bottom diameter that is within 2", plus or minus, the measured height of your lamp. For example if your lamp height (measured by the method noted above) is 14" tall, the shade you select (depending on your preference for a small, medium, or larger looking shade) should have a bottom diameter of 12", 13", 14", 15" or 16". Our fabric shade descriptions will describe the Bottom diameter of each shade.

How do your shades meet these guidelines?

It's difficult to say from the pictures, but the 13" doesn't look too big to me. You have a gorgeous room!!!
cheri127
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, Bac717. We've been working on it for over a year and it's almost finished, thank goodness.I read that rule on Brown's as well only it's hard to imagine applying it when your lamp base is 24" tall! Hahahaha.

I found another two shades to try and am leaning toward the square bell.
livvyandbella
12 years ago
Gorgeous room! I love the lamp also!
enailes
12 years ago
Yes, beautiful room, I love the drapes, actually I need to find drapes like that in that color.
I like the square bell and the first shade pictured; black shades would be pretty too, but not alot of light at night.
cheri127
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, Enailes. The drapes are actually a coral orange color. It's a wonderful blend of cotton and linen and it drapes beautifully! The store where I bought it was devastated last year when it was discontinued because the owner had intended to stock a bolt in every color (and it came in many) in her new location. It's a Braemore fabric called Mongetto (also distributed by Fabricut but I don't know the pattern name) and is still available at interiormall.com in bittersweet ( a deeper red-orange then I have) for only 16.95 a yard.

I also think black shades would look amazing but we need more light than that. I'm keeping the square bell for now, even took the plastic off hahaha, but may order better quality, slightly darker or golder shades later.

I really appreciate everyone's imput. Thanks again.
enailes
12 years ago
Thank you Cheril for the drape information, yes they do drape perfectly! Great choice with the square bell shades too. Enjoy that beautiful room...
cheri127
Original Author
12 years ago
Enailes, I also saw that they have this fabric in coral at Schindlers fabrics for $15.95 but they don't say how much they have left. I paid double that, whcih isn't too bad except that I had to dress 7 windows lol.

(I thought I posted this yesterday. I hope i didn't put it on the wrong thread)

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