you want the 'candle' to show...i don't think the shade looks too small-the problem with bigger shades is that they might hang too low...i am changing out my chandy shades to rh drum shades-significantly bigger than what i currently have, but wanted a change in look! i do have to change my lightbulbs tho...am putting in halogen bulbs that are taller and keep the shade from coming down too low on the 'candle'.

Fransmom, I feel your pain - I just hate buying, trying and returning lampshades! Especially on the ones where you can't just bring it to the store. This is an excerpt from an article I found by googling "how to measure for a chandelier shade" by bluemarble222 on ebay. I would link the whole article if I knew how. Part 4 of 5: What Size Shade Should I Buy for my Chandelier or Wall Sconce? Chandelier and wall sconces typically have candle type sockets, so be sure to choose a shade that has a clip on torpedo/candle style fitter. Shades are sized based on their bottom diameter or width. The simplest way to determine the correct size shade is to measure the length of your candle cover. Candle covers usually come in standard lengths such as 2,3,4,5, and 6 inches. The length of the candle cover should approximate the bottom diameter of the shade you select. In other words, if you have a 4 inch length candle cover on your chandelier or wall sconce, you should select a 4 inch bottom diameter shade. Bulb clip fitters are usually found on small and miniature type shades that are sized for chandeliers and sconces. The torpedo clip fitters are narrower in shade and are designed for torpedo/candle shaped light bulbs. Chris

Everyone has been most helpful. Thank you for all the suggestions. I think gayle brought up a good point about having both lamps on the fireplace wall. I tried some different arrangements and decided I did not like the ginger jar lamp on the drapery wall though as it competes/clashes with my drapes. I feel it works best to the right of the fireplace. However, I swapped the floor lamp and the drum table, moved some of the items closer together plus took down some of the wall decor and would like feedback to see if I'm on the right track. Galye's idea of moving the curio to the left side does not work. There is no pic yet in the little red frame, but that is the plan. Here it is with the gold shade back. Perhaps it does not look so off now that the floor lamp has moved. I'm going to go back to Lamps Plus tomorrow and look at some different shapes in gold. I haven't been able to find a black one in the size I need and even with the excellent virtuals squirrel has provided, I'm a bit leary of ordering one online. squirrel: I really appreciate all of your PS virtuals. I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating. You are incredibly talented. If I could please ask (when life settles down) if you could PS the sconces on either side of the painting in the above picture. I am not quite decided it I want the sconces there or elsewhere. I did try the floor lamp where you placed it and from that perspective I really like it, but from the other angle it blocks the view more than I would like of my drapery. While I do love the virtuals of the pics to either side of the fireplace IRL it just feels like the pictures are competing with one another as the room is not that large. With the taller table top decor to either side of the fireplace (which I still need to work on), I'm thinking perhaps I don't need so many pics on the wall. I also liked Les' idea of putting some greenery/plants in the sconces instead of the candles. Les, can you suggest any particular plants or place to shop for them? Do you see it as more upright or cascading? Here is a close up of my corner curio: It was not a deal and I paid more than I wanted to. I spied it some months ago at an antique store, but didn't get it since I was not far enough along with this room. When I decided a few months later I still wanted it and had not seen anything on CL for sale, I decided to go back to the antique store and bought it. They didn't want to haggle on the price, though it was on a 10% off sale. I still need to work on items for the center shelf. I just love the little key that I need to use to open the cabinets. squirrel, did you notice the fern on top like you had added (though yours does cascade better than mine)? Do you even realize how much influence you've had on this room? You picked out my floor lamp too.

@nexp, I hear you with recessed lighting. Our house is original plaster and lathe from 1851 so projects such as that are a whole lot of work that often lead to cracks and big patches and it is like pulling the thread on a sweater and watching it unravel. After 7 years in this house, which I love, I have learned to work with the path of least resistance as my first choice. I went ahead and made the purchase of the chandelier because I new the sale price wasn't going to last long. I may need to change or remove shades, paint, who knows. Now to figure out what to do with the crystal chandelier I loved so much! It was our first purchase when we bought this house, which had Ikea lighting throughout, including one of the silver medusa Ikea fixtures in the dining room. Maybe I will put this into storage in our basement. Don't think I can part with it yet.