Lamps & lampshades

Lamps & Lampshades

Lighting in general can have a huge impact on a room, but I particularly love lamps and lampshades for their ability to introduce additional pattern, colour and warmth.

The Process of Buying

I will always start to buy lamp bases early on in a project, so that I have time to slowly collect them in a considered way as I prefer to source them from antique shops.

The lampshades come later, when the colours and patterns within a scheme are more finalised.

When choosing and designing lampshades, the priority is to make sure they go with the base rather than a specific room - this means they are able to be moved around and used in different rooms.

Perhaps the most common lampshade you will see is a cream card design, but there are so many different shapes and styles to explore.

What to Look For

• Bases in unusual bright colours to give a scheme a pop of interest.
• You can turn antique items into lamp bases, such as large candlesticks, vases or glass jars using a technique called 'Museum Wiring'.
• Consider how wide the table is that you want to put the lamp, and make sure the lamp base and shade corresponds.
• When it comes to deciding what sizes and shapes work with what base, trust your eye - there's no hard and fast rule.

Using New and Vintage Fabric for Lampshades

I like to use companies such as A Shade Above to create my own lampshades for a scheme using my choice of fabrics. This means you have something truly unique, rather than something people will recognise from elsewhere.

You can use pieces of vintage fabric for covering lampshades - it's a really good way to incorporate these beautiful textiles into a scheme.

Often you can purchase small odd lengths of new fabric, which is another great option for lampshades. This can be an affordable way to use an expensive fabric that you love.

Lightweight fabrics work best for lampshades as these allow the light to come through nicely:

• Voiles
• Sheer linens
• Silks
• Thin cottons

You can also use paper to cover lampshades for a cleaner, sharper look. I look out for:

• Wallpapers
• Book binding paper

Wall Lights

I tend not to use too many wall lights, as they need to be decided upon early on in a project due to the placement of electrical points which can be tricky.

They are very useful in some spaces such as narrow corridors, bathrooms and dining rooms. If you are going to use them, start thinking about exactly what lamp you want to use as early as possible so you have the best chance at getting the placement right.

Fittings

• Pay attention to the fittings on your lamp bases and lampshades.
• The most common fittings for lamp shades are a Duplex fitting or a Gimbal fitting.
• A duplex fitting requires a shade carrier to sit on the lamp base, and the duplex fitting sits on top of this.
• A gimbal fitting doesn't require a shade carrier and will sit directly onto the lamp base.
• Using a shade carrier on the lamp base and a duplex fitting on the lampshade is the most versatile option.
• Bulb holders can either be a bayonet fitting or a screw fitting. You may require a shade ring adapter to change the size of the lampshade fitting to attach correctly.

Sourcebook

Fluted lampshade from Susan Deliss

Cream card shades from Vaughan - I like the Empire and Pembroke shapes

Pea Pods fabric, by Robert Kime

Spot fabric, by Rose Uniacke

Penny Morrison lampshades

Alice fabric in Lawn, Sapote collection, by Raoul Textiles

Augustine silk, by Pierre Frey

Plain Stripe Voile fabric in Sage, by Flora Soames

A Shade Above

Pooky

Papyrus shades, from Robert Kime

Wall light lampshades from Rosi De Ruig

Baies Wallpaper 56A, by Antoinette Poisson

Brass lamp, by Anna Lari - available to buy at Paolo Moschino

The Decorative Fair - Antiques fair in Battersea

Make your own Lampshade kit

Wall and Ceiling

Butterfly Clip

Suitable for:

• Wall lights
• Ceiling lights
• Sizes 4" - 7"
• UK & EU

BC Gimbal

Suitable for:

• Wall lights
• Sizes 4" - 12"
• UK

BC Pendant

Suitable for:

• Wall lights
• Ceiling lights
• Sizes 6" - 12"
• UK

ES Pendant

Suitable for:

• Wall lights
• Ceiling lights
• Sizes 6" - 12"
• EU

ES Gimbal

Suitable for:

• Wall lights
• Sizes 7" - 12"
• EU

Table

BC Gimbal

Suitable for:

• Table lights
• Floor lights
• Sizes 7" - 12"
• UK

ES Gimbal

Suitable for:

• Table lights
• Floor lights
• Sizes 7" - 12"
• EU

BC Duplex

Suitable for:

• Table lights
• Floor lights
• Sizes 14" - 26"
• UK

ES Duplex

Suitable for:

• Table lights
• Floor lights
• Sizes 14" - 26"
• EU